Board of Directors
Our professional and caring board of directors enables Forever Amber Acres to meet the needs of our growing organization, as we continue to fulfill our mission to offer hope and healing to those who have served, which includes our herd.
In November of 2017, Michele earned her certification as an Equine Specialist (ES) in the EAGALA model so that she and her team can provide Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) to NE Ohio’s Military Veterans, their family’s and civilians who have experienced trauma in our community. She’s continued to further her education in this field and got re-certified in 2020. In 2021 Michele got certified in the Arenas for Change (ARCH) Horses for Mental Health SEEN through horses framework. Today she actively practices both of these modalities with our treatment team.
Michele’s lifelong “dream” became reality and her vision came full circle, to formally offer therapy services to veterans, by utilizing these special needs horses in 2018. She hopes to give all participants of this program healing and a new lease on life!
With more than 25 years of hands-on and professional experience in many areas including animal care (rescue, rehabilitation, retirement, and on-the-ground training of horses and animals of various breeds and special needs); sales, fundraising, retail management, human resources, benefits administration, project management, accounting, customer service, and business administration; Michele wears many hats as the volunteer Executive Director of our organization.
When not in the barn, you can find Michele active in the great outdoors or enjoying the arts with her family.
Michele Bolinger
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Our founder Michele resides in Medina, Ohio with her family. She is the lead equine specialist on our therapy treatment team and is also a reiki certified, levels I and II. She self-funded this nearly 12-acre farm for 6 years before gaining nonprofit 501(c)(3) status in 2013.
Michele has been at the forefront of animal welfare, working in conjunction and networking with other animal welfare organizations and rescues, at the local, national, and international levels; including The RaceFund, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Medina County SPCA, and Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary.
Michele became involved in horse rescue in 2006 with the rescue of Foreveramber and has rescued and assisted in the rescue of in excess of 50 horses since that time; raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations for animals in need. Michele has been used to investigate animal abuse cases and has testified in high-profile animal abuse and related trials in the states of Ohio and West Virginia.
James Moran
Board Director & Chairman
James Moran is originally from the Detroit area in Michigan and moved to Ohio in the Cleveland/Akron area in 2003. He has worked in retail management, marketing, client services, and business intelligence and analytics for the past 30 years. James has worked with many of the top nonprofit organizations across the country to improve donor acquisition, retention, and lifetime value.
Currently, he is the Vice President of Marketing Intelligence and Analytics for the eleventy marketing group in Akron, Ohio. James holds an MBA in Marketing and is an avid reader of history. He is married and has two children, and two dogs named Izzy and Gizmo. Jim and his family enjoy being active, the outdoors, and all types of animals.
Deb Loesel:
Board Director, Treasurer
A long-time resident of Charleston, SC, Deb is a founding member of the FAA Board of Directors and served as Secretary for 6 years, assuming the role of Treasurer in 2020. In her role as Treasurer, Deb is responsible for financial oversight of our growing organization, as well as focusing on development, marketing, and funding initiatives. Prior to leaving the private sector in 2009, Deb played a critical role in numerous, highly successful new business launches, acquisitions, and turnaround projects requiring extensive hands-on experience in program development and administration, fiscal management, process planning, and logistics for such industry leaders as Reebok International, and Totes Isotoner Corporation, and most recently, the Lowcountry Food Bank.
Active in several local volunteer efforts, Deb’s professional expertise includes leadership in building collaborative partnerships and inspiring community investment to sustain, develop, and expand effective, innovative programs for underserved populations in tri-county Charleston, South Carolina. Deb is a graduate of Bellevue University and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human and Social Services Administration. She shares her home with her best buddy, Jackson Browne, a feisty, completely adorable Maltese.
Rebecca Wildman
Board Director , Secretary
Rebecca Wildman hails from Columbus Ohio and received her B.S. in Finance from The Ohio State University. A longtime resident of the Cleveland area, she has worked in various capacities for Ernst & Young for the past 25 years. Rebecca began fostering in 2017 and has successfully transitioned 26 dogs from the shelter to new forever homes. She currently shares her property in Granger Township with her mother, two cats, three dogs, and a chihuahua. Previous to joining the board in 2019, Rebecca volunteered at FAA assisting in updating financial reports. In her free time, you’ll find her playing upright bass in a rockabilly band and electric bass in a rock band.
Cindy Wise:
Board Director
Cindy is a lifelong Ohio native and has resided in Medina since 2009. She is a wife, mother, and a devoted dog mom. She works full-time in the digital marketing field for a large CPG company in the area. Cindy began volunteering as a Barn Buddy for FAA in late 2019 and also serves as an Equine Specialist assisting with equine-assisted workshops and events. As a member of the Board for FAA, she assists with fundraising efforts, and develops marketing materials, event flyers, program brochures, and social media content.
Cindy has always had a passion for animals and supporting those who can’t advocate for themselves. Her dream in life is to own an animal sanctuary and rescue animals from abuse/neglect and slaughter. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, baking, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Peggy Whitcomb, US Navy veteran:
Board Director, Volunteer Coordinator
Peggy works in Human Resources for a local school district. Her immediate family includes her husband, son and daughter-in-law, and daughter. She has lived in Northeast Ohio for 22 years and is originally from the Washington, D.C. area. Peggy’s involvement with both the military community and animal advocacy brought her to Forever Amber Acres Animal Sanctuary in February 2021. She began volunteering as a Barn Buddy after attending a Comrades in Arms session. In December 2021, she assumed the role of Volunteer Coordinator and still volunteers weekly. She is also our Wreaths Across America Coordinator. Military service runs deep in Peggy’s family. She served in the United States Navy from 1986 to 1994 as a Religious Program Specialist (RP). Her father retired from the Navy after 30 years of service. Peggy’s husband is a retired Marine and her son currently serves in the Ohio National Guard. As a veteran, Peggy was drawn to veteran’s activities and has volunteered countless hours to support many different veterans’ events and projects throughout Ohio as well as working on projects to support active-duty military at home and abroad. She is currently serving as the National and Ohio State Chair of the NSDAR Project Patriot Committee supporting actively serving military and their families. In 2016, she became a TAPS Peer Mentor. TAPS is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. She mentors individuals who have lost family members to suicide. She is ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) certified. She is also a Soldier and Family Readiness Group Leader for an Ohio National Guard Unit. In addition to supporting veterans and the military, she is a tireless advocate and supporter of numerous animal welfare organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, genealogy, and thrifting with her daughter, Dakotah, who also volunteers at Forever Amber Acres when time permits. She is also dog-mom to her furbabies, Moose, a rescued chihuahua-pug, and cats: Wilbur, Loki, Fruitcup, Phil and Mama who are also rescued animals.
John Haake, US Army veteran:
Board Director
John comes to us following retirement from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service. The majority of John’s Army career was fulfilled as a Green Beret within the U.S. Army Special Forces and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Throughout his career, John had multiple combat deployments and tours throughout the Middle East and Afghanistan. John holds two Master’s degrees and a Project Management certification which he uses in his current Director role within the pharmaceutical industry.
John is a loving husband and father to two awesome sons and a high-spirited puppy named Campbell. John enjoys working with his hands, is an avid reader, and outdoors enthusiast, and actively supports transitioning service members as they search for their post-military job. In their spare time, you can find John and his family exploring the incredible area metro parks and enjoying all that Northeast Ohio has to offer.
John and his son Henry joined our volunteer team here at Forever Amber Acres in Spring 2023 and we are excited he has joined our board of directors where his focus will be military outreach.
Catie Schnell:
Board Director
Since 2010 Catie has resided in Lyndhurst, Ohio with her husband and cat. She has worked in various roles for an Ohio-based bank since 2007 most recently in the Wealth and Asset Management department.
Catie is actively involved in the local Croatian community. She is on the board of the local Croatian lodge and a member of a Croatian Orchestra. She enjoys traveling for performances and meeting people from all over. She also has a big family and enjoys being with her nieces and nephews.
Catie has always had a love for animals. She first found her passion for horses when she learned to ride at the age of 7 at a camp on Lake Erie and Leesville Lake. Catie began volunteering at Forever Amber Acres in the fall of 2022 and was vital to our successful Horses for Mental Health national fundraiser, and other events and most recently stepped into the role of TikTok manager.
Aneta Mullins, US Army Reserves
Board Director
Aneta is an Army combat veteran, with a deployment in Iraq in 2003-2004 with the 762nd Transportation Company out of Akron. She has been the President of Medina County Women of the Military since 2013. She is involved with many local veteran events and organizations including the American Legion Post 202, DAV Chapter 72, and the Medina County Veterans Coalition. Aneta is working on her bachelor’s degree in social work at Ursuline College, intending to work with veterans in the future. She has an associate in Liberal Arts from LCCC and an associate of Science from Tri-C.
Aneta lives in Medina with her husband Brad, two children, and a puppy. She has been an equestrian since she was eight years old when she started competing in 4-H programs and horse shows. Barrel racing, speed and control, poles, and stakes were her favorite speed competition classes. This began her love affair with horses and her addiction to speed and adventures. At an early age, Aneta learned that horses and caring for them was not only a therapeutic experience for her but a passion she could not shake. She was blessed to have her beloved 4-H horse Donerley for 22 years until he transitioned at age 33. She enjoys spending time with her family, horseback riding, long walks with dogs, art, traveling, reading, and yoga.