Katie Durio, LMSW
President & Executive Director
Clinical Program Director
EAGALACertified Level 1

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 holing the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and has completed her 3000 hours towards the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) under the supervision of Fran Hudgins, LCSW of Clinical Social Work Services and expects to take her test in the summer of 2007. Since working for the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department, Katie has worked many positions with in the department; from being a Caseworker to her current position of Casework Manager. Through her work she has been 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, Foster Grandparent Program, and the Texas Probation Association (TPA).

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. Currently, she is actively involved as a Mediator and Trainer with the Jefferson County Dispute Resolution Center (since 1988) and is a regular Apheresis Blood Donor through Life Share Blood Center. Katie also keeps busy remaining involved in her son, Michael's, activities. Michael is attending Lamar University.

Bryan Markland
Secretary (non-voting)

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 Bryan's 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.

Bryan and Bridget opened Tyrrell Park Stables in 2003 with 6 horses for riding lessons and trail rides for the public. The guided successes of Tyrrell Park Stables by Bryan currently thrive with students enjoying Western and English riding lessons, trail rides, birthday and company parties, and currently houses 27 horses. Strong community involvement is shown by Bryan’s commitment to serving Boy & Girls Scouts, and working with Jefferson County to provide rescue services for horses in need. In addition to horseback riding, Bryan enjoys time with family at horse shows, rodeos, and canoeing.

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.

Carl Griffith

President and CEO of Carl R. Griffith & Associates, Inc., Judge Griffith brings to bear over 30 years of public sector experience, including eight years as the elected sheriff of Jefferson County, Texas, and 10 years as the county's chief elected official. During his tenure as the county's CEO, Judge Griffith was heavily involved in economic development issues, negotiating more than $13 billion in commercial and industrial expansion projects. His work to expand and diversify the region's economic base created thousands of jobs. In addition, he headed the campaign to establish a public power pool. Public Power Pool is a non-profit political subdivision corporation designed to save taxpayer money by aggregating power usage to procure the best power contracts at the lowest cost. Appointed by Gov. Ann Richards to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, Judge Griffith served as Chairman of the Commission for two years. Judge Griffith has undergraduate degrees in law enforcement and criminal justice, and a master's degree in counseling, all from Lamar University.

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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