Stephanie Smith

Lead PATH Certified Instructor & Mentor

On staff since Fall 2017
Hometown: Elkhart, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Dolly

What do you do outside of LoveWay: Trail ride my horses, bake, and watch The Office (U.S. version)

Fun fact about yourself: I am a BIG Harry Potter fan!

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: Juan Pablo (my dog), boots and a blanket

Erin Thompson

Development Associate

On staff since Spring 2014
Hometown: Tinley Park, IL

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Cole, Shanna, & Junior

What do you do outside of LoveWay: Spend time with family, friends and my dog, Deacon. 

Fun fact about yourself: I like to knit, but am limited to scarves 

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: My dog, books and an umbrella

Jess Shelner

PATH Certified Instructor

On staff since Fall 2018
Hometown: Rockford, MI

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Teddy, or as I like to call him, Theodore (All time favorite was Flirt)

What do you do outside of LoveWay: I get to stay at home with my 3 crazy kids and serve at our church whenever possible!

Fun fact about yourself: I lived in Vienna, Austria for a short time and have traveled to over 15 different countries.

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: My bible, Christmas music, and a speedboat

Shelley Becker

Executive Director, PATH Certified Instructor

Back on staff since Fall 2017
Hometown: Elkhart, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay:  Junior – he is big and strong yet he instills confidence to all who lead and ride him.  He has a kind heart and patient demeanor.

What do you do outside of LoveWay:  I eat, sleep and shower and then come back. LOL. When i have a few minutes I am an “m-uber” for my kids.

Fun fact about yourself:  I talk to my animals at home with special voices for each one

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: My bible, my family and my frenchie

Kayla Abbott

PATH Certified Instructor

On staff since Fall 2018
Hometown: Granger, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: THIS QUESTION IS SO HARD TO ANSWER!! I HAVE TO MANY FAVORITES!!! Either Kayla or Patches

What do you do outside of LoveWay: Read in my hammock, work on my aunt and uncle’s farm, trail ride, bake

Fun fact about yourself: I like to run 10k’s and half marathons

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: hammock, books, dog

Chris Stice

Programs Coordinator, PATH Certified Instructor

On staff since Fall 2006
Hometown: Billings, MT

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: My favorite horse is Junior

What do you do outside of LoveWay: After work I like to relax and watch Korean dramas (I really didn’t want to put this in my bio but was forced into it by my office buddies!)

Fun fact about yourself: I like to travel overseas.  I’ve been to Israel, Rome, England, Scotland, the Philippines and South Korea.

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: A book about how to survive on a deserted island, glasses so that I can read the book and my dog Lucy even though she is a being and not a thing.

Ryan Eash

Director of Equine Development

On staff since Fall 2018
Hometown: Goshen, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LW: All of them

What do you do outside of LW: I am also a dad, husband, pastor and I train cowhorses

Fun fact about yourself: I used to train dogs

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: matches, an axe and a bucket

Daryl Abbott

Community Ambassador

On staff since Spring 2009
Hometown: White Pigeon, MI

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Penny

What do you do outside of LoveWay: I am very involved with my church including our Teen Club, Vacation Bible School, Prayer Ministry and greeter.

Fun fact about yourself: I had a variety of summer jobs while in college; orderly in a nursing home, painter, worker in a couple of RV factories, ambulance attendant and a security guard. 

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: Cellphone/iPad, bicycle and McDonalds coffee

Nicole Romo

Administrative Assistant

On staff since Spring 2019
Hometown: Schoolcraft, MI

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: I have two, Cole & Sunny

What do you do outside of LoveWay: Spend time at home with my family, 5 horses, 2 dogs and many other animals. We like to spend weekends at our family cottage on Bass Lake in Knox, IN.

Fun fact about yourself: I LOVE all things decorating and have been known to paint rooms yearly… I also love Latin trap music and Reggaeton even though I do not speak Spanish.

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: A survival pack, a watermaker, my Puggle, Bugsy

Katie Price

Volunteer Coordinator

On staff since Spring 2019
Hometown: Bristol, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Teddy

What do you do outside of LoveWay: I love to go fishing, spend time at our boat in St. Joseph, MI, and spend time with my fiance Nathan and our dog Hope out on the water.

Fun fact about yourself: I have met president Obama and Mark Cuban

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: A tool kit, a magnifying glass, and twine

Tim Krecsmar

PATH Certified Instructor

On staff since 1993
Hometown: Elkhart, IN

Updated bio coming soon!

Ashley Pooler

Barn Assistant

On staff since Spring 2019
Hometown: Bristol, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Dolly & Shanna

What do you do outside of LoveWay: I am a full time QC at Keystone RV, I ride/own a 6yo Dutch Harness and we do dressage

Fun fact about yourself: My second rated show ever was Arabian Nationals in Oklahoma at Second level, placing 2 top 10s!

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: My 2 dogs, my fiancé and my horse!

Vern Moore

Bookkeeper

On staff since Spring 2019
Hometown: Sparta, MI

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Teddy

What do you do outside of LoveWay: Enjoy time with my wife

Fun fact about yourself: I enjoy being around people so much I’m having a hard time retiring

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: My wife, water, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Amy Hochstetler

Barn Assistant

On staff since Spring 2019
Hometown: Howe, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Gerard

What do you do outside of LoveWay: Outside of LoveWay I work with horses. I’ve been training for myself since I was 10 and just started training for other people  and hope to continue my training. I just graduated high school and have no current plans to attend college.  I’ve been a Horse and Pony Club member for the full 10 years at LaGrange Co. fair and have loved every minute of it. This year was also my last year competing in IEA, which is a school based equestrian competition. We travel to different barns and compete on their horses. Most of the time we don’t know the horses we ride.

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve been riding since I was about 6 weeks old and I got a pony of my own at 1 1/5 years old.

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: My horse for sure, my bible, and a knife

Cheryl Johnson

Barn Assistant

On staff since Spring 2019
Hometown: Goshen, IN

Favorite 4-legged team member at LoveWay: Elvis

What do you do outside of LoveWay: I enjoy bicycling, swimming, hunting, fishing, playing the piano or mandolin, singing, taking care of my 2 dogs, spending time with family, church activities and community work.

Fun fact about yourself: I like to chew ice and dip my pizza in ranch dressing.

If you had to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring: Cell phone, sweet tea and a fishing pole