Board Candidates 2025

This Fall TWHBEA members will elect 23 individuals to serve three (3) year terms on the International Board of Directors beginning next year. As directed by the TWHBEA By-Laws, the Executive Committee confirmed the positions of directors from states and aligned regions for the coming election. There is a total of 23 seats to fill and listed below are declared candidates as of August 1, 2025.

Electronic Ballots must be submitted by and Paper Ballots must arrive at the post office box by October 15, 2025 to be tabulated.

Proposed 2025 By-Law Amendments: CLICK HERE 

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

Ginger Evans

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? Was born into it, as my father was raising TWHs when I was born 71 years ago.

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) Breeder, owner and exhibitor

Hannah Padgett

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 5 years

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) Owner

Hannah Padgett brings a unique blend of professional expertise and lifelong passion for the equine industry to her candidacy for the TWHBEA Board of Directors. She is the Founder and CEO of Phoenix Accounting, a nationwide firm specializing in equine accounting services, and the creator of EquiAssist, a sister organization providing administrative and show support exclusively for horse owners and trainers.

Beyond her professional ventures, Hannah is the owner of Twin Lakes Stable, home to several Tennessee Walking Horses, trained by Koda Downs. In addition to their string of show horses, Hannah is a small-time breeder of American Saddlebred Horses and a Level II Saddleseat Certified Riding Instructor through the American Riding Instructors Association. She enjoys spending her free time judging horse shows in the summer and being a guest clinician at clinics during the winter.

She is an active member of numerous equine organizations, including TWHBEA, ASHBA, ASHAA, ETSA, ASHAG, AHHS, UPHA, USEF, IFSHA, RHBAA, ARIA, and the Kentucky Horse Council. Hannah also part of the Programs Council Committee for ASHBA.

Hannah holds an Executive MBA from the University of North Alabama and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, graduating summa cum laude with honors including Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. Her professional background includes high-level financial roles as a subject matter expert in the defense sector, providing her with the skills, leadership, and attention to detail needed to serve the Association effectively.

Above all, Hannah is passionate about strengthening TWHBEA's role as both a guardian of the breeds heritage and leader in its future growth. She is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and innovative thinking in board decisions, while always keeping the best interest of the Tennessee Walking Horse community at the forefront. Dedicated to supporting breeders, exhibitors, and the broader equine community, Hannah seeks to bring creative, business-minded leadership to the TWHBEA Board of Directors while honoring the history and traditions of the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Terry Stone

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

Dale Daniels

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

Mona McMillan

to elect (2) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

Sellers Veazey

Charlene B. Cook DVM 

The daughter of an Air Force navigator Dr. Cook grew up in a military family where families are relocated on a regular basis. The family bounced from Georgia to Massachusetts to Montana & Colorado before finally landing in Georgia. A 1978 honor graduate of Warner Robins High School she was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-veterinary medicine following three years of undergraduate work at the University of Georgia. After an early admission she completed her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1985. While in veterinary school Dr. Cook developed a special interest in reproduction and spent an externship in central Kentucky where ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was brand new technology. She was also keen on pediatrics and spent a concentrated block with Dr. Susan White. Working her way through school she held a variety of part-time jobs; training horses for an Atlanta family, flipping hamburgers at McDonalds and large volume food preparation in Bolton Cafeteria at the University of Georgia. Following graduation in 1985 she was employed as an associate veterinarian in mixed practice at Houston Veterinary Clinic in Warner Robins. In 1988 she started her own business Central Georgia Equine Services, Inc., a veterinary practice devoted exclusively to horses.

Dr. Cook is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Georgia Equine Practitioners Association. 

Appointed by the Georgia State Veterinarian she served for three years on the Georgia Equine Advisory board. She was then appointed to serve on the Georgia Horse Council.  Elected by the Georgia membership Dr. Cook served two terms on the board of directors of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder’s & Exhibitor’s Association and spent two years serving on the Breeders committee. In 1996 TWHBEA appointed Dr. Cook to serve on the Equine Viral Arteritis Working Group of the American Horse Council to develop guidelines for the control of this contagious virus. A longtime member of the Georgia Walking Horse Exhibitor’s Association, Dr. Cook served several terms on the board of directors.

Married to Fred Cook since 1981 the couple combined their efforts to build CGES. Together they have been breeding, raising and showing Tennessee Walking horses for more than 40 years. In 2003 Dr. Cook’s hard work paid off as she won the English Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration on her Amateur Owned and Trained mare, She’s Legal Tender. When she’s not working Dr. Cook would rather be riding but she is also rumored to enjoy gardening and snow skiing.

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

Ron Paska

to elect (4) directors for full terms 

CANDIDATES:

Leslie Collins

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 39 years

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) Owner, exhibitor, breeder, instructor

I founded the Equiskill equitation program and was on the ground floor development of the Instructor certification program. I have participated in all aspects over the years and shown halter, model, performance, english and western of all pleasure divisions, showmanship, driving, equitation.
My daughter, Ruth Collins, shows youth classes.

Ira Kilburn

Jerry Sizemore

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? Well over 25 years

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) I have been involved as an owner, breeder, and exhibitor of both pleasure and performance horses. I have been involved as an owner, breeder, and exhibitor of both pleasure and performance horses.

From the rail to the trail, I enjoy all aspects of our horse, and as a father of four, I want my kids to be able to enjoy all that our breed has to offer for generations to come. I believe one of the greatest attributes of our horse is the versatility of the breed. Each division is important and it's our job to find the best division that suits each individual horse. Each division brings a different type of excitement and that is why they all are equally important.

Howard Eastridge

Hello, my name is Howard Eastridge. I am the owner of Howard Eastridge Construction, a business I have successfully operated for 42 years. In addition, I manage a cow/calf farm operation.

For the past 30 years, I have been actively involved in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. I enjoy all aspects of the breed—showing, breeding, and raising colts—and I take great pride in having purchased, raised, and trained numerous Walking Horses over the years.

If elected, I look forward to working with others in the industry to share ideas and continue supporting and promoting the wonderful breed that I truly love.

to elect (1) directors for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

No Current Candidates

Michigan Write-In Ballot Eligible Candidate Options:

Kayla Victoria Barber

Karen Bochenek

Jennifer Boismier

Phillip J. Boring

Jeremy Collings

Chrys J. Coons

Bryan S. Dove

Julie Emerton

Brenda Freshcorn

Kristina Hering

Leah Kunzelman

John Richard Nagel

Barbara Nickell

Janice Sue Noel

Charles Pirtle

Amanda J. Pitsch

Melissa Faye Sawicki

David J. Segroves

Sarah Mars Smith

Vernonell Smith

Denise Tasca Tomkinson

Mackenzie E. Toutant

Diane Voelker

Michelle Wiegand

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES: 

Steve Glidewell

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 38 years

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) owner

Steve Glidewell is married to his wife, Michelle, and together they have a daughter, Julia. He is an active member of Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, where he serves on the Board of Trustees. Steve is the Chief Operations Officer at United industries in Selmer, Tennessee. A 1995 graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in Industrial Engineering, he brings more than 30 years of expertise to the engineering and manufacturing field. In addition to his professional role, Steve also serves his community as an elected county supervisor in Alcorn County, Mississippi, where he is serving his third term. Outside of work, Steve enjoys judging and attending walking horse shows and spending time with family and friends. He has dedicated his entire adulthood to the walking horse industry by actively buying, selling, and showing throughout the Southeast.

Bradley Prewitt 

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES: 

No Current Candidates

Missouri Write-In Ballot Eligible Candidate Options:

James (Jimmy) Daryll Adams

Dr. Julie Alford

Dr. Alan H. Bachert

Nathaniel J. Bahr

Robin Wayne Banion

Christine M. Beasley

Debra A. Boxdorfer

Tammy Boykin

Kyle Carlisle

Larry Carriger

Elizabeth Puckett Carter

Sheila Chapman

Miles Cline

Alicia M. Coble

David E. Cox

Anita Dunham

Patricia Espinoza

Kelly Frizzell

Michael R. Gibbs

Debra K. Grace-Sims

Randall R. Hanlin

Anne M. Hardin

Debbie Hennemann

David W. Heuer

Jeff D. Heuer

Dennis R. Hills

Susan J. Hills

Laura C. Hinson

Ronald C. Hitt

Caroline M. Hoffman

James A. Huffman

Leroy Johnson

Susan Justice

Beth M. Kearns

Isaac Hessman Kiepe

April M. Klaproth

Kay Koeller

William Kribs

Mary Lamar

Jay R. Laughlin

Jerry Laughlin

Jesse Dale Laughlin

Wendy M. Laughlin

Dr. Kirk A. Loftin

Julie Ann Lowe

Mary Lynn Maring

Richard E. Mitch

Jason Thomas Morris

Jim Morris

Kyndra Myers

Brian W. Nichols

Glenda Nichols

Nicholas Nickels

Scott Parry

Dr. Marybeth Pereira

Colette Pfender

Jason Pingel

Julie Anne Pomicter

Paul C. Reimann

Sherry Roberts

Mark Roy

Nancy S. Russell

Scott Russell

John Scafe

Vickie Long Scafe

Kelsey Leigh Seward

Miki N Shobe

Tamara J. Sissom

Stephanie R. Smith

Colonel Larry Neil Stewart

C. Sullivan Jr.

Beth Ellen Swarts

Sherri L. Tangsrud

Bud Thomas

Dale W. Thompson

Kathryn C. Thompson

Robyn Van Kooten                     

Gina Vehige                         

Megan Wagner

Eric M. Wahlers

Robert E. Wallach

Pamela J. Williams

Dr. Ruth Ann Wood-Humiston    

Nancy Wood

Evan Lee York

Kris York

to elect (5) directors for full terms

CANDIDATES: 

Wayne Dean

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 58 years

James Wayne Dean was born and raised in Paris, Tennessee. He is the son of Jimmy and Charlene Dean, and great nephew of Audie Dean, who raised Sun’s Delight. From the day Jimmy took him to Murfreesboro to visit his uncle and that great stallion, he was hooked. Dean and his dad began raising colts, but his interests were in riding. At the ripe age of 13, he began working summers with Chalmus Davenport in Humboldt, competing in the juvenile West Tennessee circuit. For Wayne, the career of a full time TWH trainer was a young boy’s dream until 1973, when he opened his own training facility in Paris. Dean’s chosen career spans fifty-eight years and seven decades. Even with the many changes and all the various challenges of this industry, the thrill of stepping astride a good one for Dean is just as exciting today as it was on that first ride.

Wayne, along with his wife of forty-four years, Freda, reside on their farm in Lewisburg. Daughter, Monica, along with her husband Paul, and children, Carson, (who is currently working at the stables with his Pop), Landon, and Lake, live on the farm as well. Son John resides in Thompson Station and granddaughter Katie is attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville pursuing a degree in Veterinary Medicine.

Dean still daily “rides in circles”. (His answer to anyone who asks “What are you doing?”) Not only a trainer, but sought-after judge, successful show manager, accomplished auctioneer, former Executive Committee vice president of Training, and  long-time WHTA Board of Director, Dean is committed to giving back to his beloved industry.

“My door is always open and my phone is always on,” comments Wayne. If you know him personally, you know this is true. He loves helping others and is always willing to talk to anyone.

Jack Heffington

Kerri Vaughn

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 10 years

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) Breeder, owner, exhibitor

You may recognize Kerri from Facebook or TikTok, where she posts videos about important horses and people in our breed’s history! She’s much more than just “the Eighty Dollar Stables girl” though.

Kerri has been a lifelong lover of horses. While her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and mother all had horses, they were sold long before she was born. That didn’t stop her though. Any time there was a horse around, that’s where she could be found!

She begged her parents for a horse, but they decided that if she was really interested, she’d have to buy her own. She finally did, at the ripe age of 10, for the very high price of $80. Being young and fearless, she decided she wanted to barrel race. Her grandparents said absolutely not, and took her to the Celebration for the first time in 2013.

Kerri still remembers exactly how she felt that night, watching OOPs retire and Deedy Decker’s coat shining under the spotlight. She knew then and there she was hooked! After much pleading with her parents, she catch rode a registered mare at a local show one night. A few weeks later, the deal was sealed and Kerri’s first Tennessee Walking Horse came home.

Kerri has always had a mind for breeding and genetics, having grown up helping her beloved grandfather out with his small Hereford x Angus herd. She knew she wanted to start a breeding operation, and the key to that would be the purchase of a good foundation mare.

She decided to put her dreams on hold while she was in college, but when you have the bug, you can’t just give up. In March of 2020, Kerri found her first building block in a mare named Gin On Jazz. She had everything- the looks, pedigree, personality, and gait, that Kerri was looking for.

After training and showing AOT during her college years at MTSU, it was time for the next step. Kerri’s dad, Will, gifted her a stud fee for graduation to any horse she wanted. After pouring over show and breeding records, she had narrowed the field to a few of our top sires. After speaking with some breeder friends to explain her goals, she chose The Perfect Hawk, and just last year, her second building block, The Purple Rain, was born.

Kerri is not well known in the industry yet, but she is working hard towards it. She comes with an almost encyclopedic memory of modern bloodlines and history. If she doesn’t know the answer, she will research until she finds it! She firmly believes that to understand our breed’s past is to understand its current situation. Kerri would love nothing more than the opportunity to help guide our breed into the future!

Chris Payne 

Beth Reed 

Margo Urad Young

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 35+ years

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) owner

Chris Hazelwood

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES: 

Kathy Gilliam-Cole

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? 1975

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) Breeder, Exhibitor, Owner, Trail Rider

I Love the TWH and spending time with our horses

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES: 

Raymond Stiles

(CO, MN, NE, NM, ND, SD) 

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES: 

Nicole Tolle

How long have you been involved in the TWH industry? I got my first TWH when I was 12, so I’m almost a lifetime participant!

What is your industry involvement? (breeder, exhibitor, owner, etc.) I am involved in every facet of the Tennessee Walking horse industry. I am a career trainer and instructor. When I’m not putting students in the ring, I show the young horses I have developed. I have my own breeding program, consisting of 5 mares selectively kept. I do National and international clinics, cologne, the Walk N Style saddle and equipment company, and recently started a new nonprofit called the youth equestrian collective. The nonprofit is to encourage more youth to become involved with horses and experience the show ring. I am entering my second term as a director and have been honored to serve previous terms on the TWHBEA executive board.

I love the Tennessee Walking horse which is the foundation for not only my career, but my life is built around it. I have a passion for people learning about this great horse and serving in anyway that I can to promote this great breed.

(AK, AZ, HI, NV, OR, UT)

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES: 

Sherri Pollack

(ID, MT, WY)

to elect (1) director for a full term 

CANDIDATES:

Rick Wies

A complete copy of the TWHBEA By Laws and more information on the election of directors can be found at www.twhbea.com/governance/corporate-bylaws.