Erinn Berge
Executive Director

Erinn Berge hails from North Carolina where she managed a 40 acre Equestrian Facility.  There she initiated and developed a 4 H program, lesson program, drill team,  summer camp and boarding facility. She enjoyed all aspects of the business including creating new programs that enriched the equestrian facility, teaching children and adults to ride and training horses.  She has gentled wild corolla mustangs using natural horsemanship techniques and has experience with therapeutic riding and hippotherapy  Her passion for horses dates back to age 7 where she started riding at a local stable. In 2001 she earned a bachelor degree in Equine Science from the State University of New York.

Erinn enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, swimming and yoga.

Katie Durio, LMSW
President/Program Director
EAGALA Certified Level 2

Katie Durio is a retired Juvenile Probation Officer from Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department in Beaumont, Texas, having served the community for 29 years in that capacity. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology, with a Minor in Social Welfare, from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in 1976. She also attained her Master of Arts Degree in Criminology and Corrections from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas in 1985. She has been a Licensed Social Worker since 1984; currently holding the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). While working for the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department, Katie worked in many positions within the department; from being a Caseworker to her final position of Casework Manager. Through her work she was involved with many local and state agencies and organizations; such as Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA), Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (TDPRS), Texas Youth Commission (TYC), Family Group Conferencing (FGC), Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), and the Texas Probation Association (TPA).  Since retiring from the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department in May, 2006, Katie is a certified Equine Specialist (since October, 2005) through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA).

Katie has been athletic throughout her lifetime, playing recreational soccer and softball in her adult years. She now enjoys playing with and riding her horses. She believes in volunteering and giving back to her community. Some of her current volunteer activities are being a Mediator and Trainer with the Jefferson County Dispute Resolution Center (since 1988), a regular Apheresis Blood Donor through Life Share Blood Center, the team leader for Mental Health Services with the Beaumont Chapter of the American Red Cross, Advisory Council member for the Foster Grandparent Program, member of the Board of Directors for the South/Mid-County American Cancer Society, and the Horse Project Leader for the Jefferson County 4-H.  Katie has a son, Michael, daughter-in-law, Danielle, and two grandsons – Korben and Dylan.

Fawn Blohm
Equine Specialist
EAGALA Certified Level 2

Fawn Blohm has been working with Stable-Spirit since the summer of 2007 and brings a unique blend of education, training and experience to our Equine Experiential Development and Assisted Psychotherapy sessions.  Out of her love for horses and a desire to help people, Fawn has developed insight into equine behavior and how it relates to human interaction.  She has been a certified Equine Specialist through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) since 2001.  Fawn is also a certified Success Centered Riding/Training Instructor with emphasis on the adult beginner, a natural horsemanship Level 1 graduate currently working on her Level 2, a certified Faith-Based Counselor and holds a Bachelors degree in Biology and Secondary Education.

Michea Ford
Equine Specialist
EAGALA Certified Level 2

Michea Ford has been an instructor for The American Red Cross for 30 years.  She is currently a Water Safety Instructor and a Corp. Instructor for CPR, First Aid, AED, Oxygen and Blood Borne Pathogens.  Her 30 plus years of experience as a swim instructor has brought her to work mostly with special needs children and children with Autism.  She has a Bachelors Degree in Education and taught for many years, Pre-K to Jr. High students.  Michea grew up in Colorado with and around horses all of her life.  She currently has five beautiful horses that are her therapy at home.  Working with Stable-Spirit is a great opportunity to work with horses and people and to be able to be part of the magic that happens between participants and horses. 

Bryan Markland
Secretary

Bryan was raised in a small town in California called Norco –also officially dubbed “Horse Town USA” with horses outnumbering residents.  Horses have always been an important part of his life.  In 2002 he, his wife Bridget, children Brad, Blake, and Brianne were brought to Beaumont when Bryan was transferred here by the U.S. Coast Guard.  His lifetime of horse experience and demonstrated professional leadership abilities make him the ideal Director of Operations and Equine Services for Stable-Spirit.  Bryan’s responsibilities comprise the coordination, oversight, and much of the labor of day-to-day operations of Stable-Spirit.

Eriic Harris
Treasurer

Eriic is the Regional Manager for AT&T in southeast Texas. His bio will be posted soon.

Claire Hooper

A former juvenile probation/parole officer and adoption/custody investigator for Jefferson County, Texas, Claire Hooper has over twenty years’ experience working with at-risk children and their families in both professional and volunteer positions. She created and managed some of the first therapeutic arts programs for young offenders in Beaumont, Texas, and in Dublin, Ireland. While living in Ireland and working for the Irish Department of Justice, she served as a volunteer at the American Embassy and was also involved in cross-border programs with the Probation Board of Northern Ireland to further the peace process there. Claire is currently the manager of The Princeton Review’s School-Based Programs for the Beaumont Independent School District and she is the SAT/PSAT Instructor at Central Medical Magnet High School. She is a member of Who’s Who among America’s Teachers, 2006-2007.

Claire graduated with honors from Lamar University in 1989, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in french. She did graduate work in art therapy at the University of Ulster in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Currently she is working towards a master’s degree in counseling at Lamar University.

Claire comes from a family of artists and eccentrics, and she especially enjoys photography, theatre, and creative writing.

Pat Griffith

Pat's bio will be posted soon.

Kimberly Mendoza
Advisory Member

Kimberly is the the founder of Stable-Spirit and was the equine specialist in both equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) and equine experiential development (EED) for the first 3.5 years of Stable-Spirit's existence. She was first trained in EAP by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association in January 2003 and stays current with additional training and continuing education to maintain her certification. She has also has been certificated as an equine assisted training specialist. Kimberly has extensive experience with horses and has developed a keen understanding of their nonverbal communication. Her work experience includes co-facilitating as an equine specialist with leaders in the field of EAP working with adolescents facing the challenges of eating disorders, addictions and other associated behaviors in individual, family and group therapy activities at the Cadwalder Behavioral Clinic inpatient facility where she was actively involved in the care of the facilities 39 horses and foals. Kimberly also has 22 years experience being self-employed as a graphic designer.

When time allows, Kimberly enjoys horseback riding, yoga, painting, roller skating and dancing. She is a mother and grandmother who has paid her dues in parenting classes. She has one child still at home and is very involved in her activities including 4-H, sports and photography.

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