Board of Directors

 ​Gary Gleason – President

Relationship.  If I had to use one word to define what horses represent to me it’s that word.  First, horses were a point of relationship, primarily between me and my late father, though with others, too.  I remember my father’s stories of riding his horse in what was then a rural area.  We regularly rode when on vacations, or when he visited me. One of my fondest memories is a pack trip we took together. I have tried to create some similar memories with my children and hope to do so with my grandchildren.

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Then there is the relationship with the horses themselves, and the life lessons they provide. This includes understanding that each horse, and each person, has its personality, strengths, and quirks. I believe you either learn this, and have a good working partnership, or ignore it and have an anemic relationship. 

Having spent 30+ years as a civil trial attorney, including my part in managing one law office and founding/running another, I now have the privilege of applying the skills derived from my career to my position as co-President of the wonderful organization we know as BHH.  I believe leadership involves several aspects, not the least of which is the ability to be objective and to bring together differing viewpoints, while keeping the overall mission clearly in focus. This requires many of the lessons we learn from horses, such as equanimity, patience, and observation.

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Ultimately, I hope that what I bring to BHH will add to what has come before and allow BHH to continue its mission as an even stronger organization. 

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Tammy Chako- Vice President

My passion for horses and dogs began as a very young girl growing up in rural Wisconsin. By the age of 9 I started riding and showing Appaloosas and Quarter Horses, as well as competing in Western and English riding classes, showmanship, barrel racing, and pole bending. My instructor used to tell my family that I “ate, drank and slept horses.” 

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In my early twenties, as a young single mother of two children, I began working for a family who owned a private show barn of registered, world class, Quarter Horses. My work ethic and solid equine knowledge foundation resulted in my quick promotion to Barn Manager. My expertise included working with young stock and providing necessary foundational training and groundwork to prepare them to begin training under saddle when they were physically and psychologically ready.  

I have a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and have worked in public Child Welfare for 27 years. My education and service record led me to my current position as Deputy Director for Child Welfare Services at El Dorado County Health and Human Services in the South Lake Tahoe office. I have observed firsthand the long-term effects trauma can have on children and youth who have been exposed to abuse, neglect, and unstable home lives. Being able to provide effective interventions for the treatment of trauma and stress related disorders for children and youth is a wonderful way to enable them to enhance their health and wellness while teaching life skills they can carry into adulthood. This is exactly what BHH does. I’m extremely honored to be part of this program, to work with the horses and the team of wonderful humans, and to serve on the Board of Directors.

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Nancy Downey – Secretary

I’m a Native Nevadan who grew up owning and loving horses, and I continue to enjoy trail riding to keep me grounded and connected to nature. Since receiving my Master’s Degree in Sociology from UNLV, I have owned a social research consulting firm and taught college courses for the past 30 years.

After moving to Carson Valley in 2005 to teach at UNR, I have been assisting several non-profit organizations with fund-raising events and have seen first-hand how much the children benefit from participating in the Between Horses and Humans programs. I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with this incredibly talented and dedicated group of individuals to further the mission of such an inspiring organization. I’m excited to get down to the business of helping both horses and humans!

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Kay Godbey- Treasurer

I’m a retired CPA, having worked in local government finance for over 30 years.  An Ohio native, I moved to Montana with everything I owned in the back of my VW bug and my skis strapped on back! Desperate for a job, I became a seasonal firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service, where I met my husband.  Our family moved to Henderson, Nevada in the late 90’s where I became active with several youth organizations and fundraising events. 

My two children graduated from UNR and I fell in love with northern Nevada after making several trips to Reno and visiting the area.  I retired in 2018 and moved to the peace and quiet of rural Nevada. My husband and I are beekeepers and live on the beautiful Walker River in Wellington. When not remodeling our 82-year-old rock home, I enjoy spending time with Maddie, our 14-year-old Golden Retriever, and training Gus and Sadie Mae, nine-month-old Labrador Retriever littermates.  I enjoy hiking, camping and gardening and am honored to share my skillset with this fabulous organization. 

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Jeannette Bostedt - Director

Jeannette brings 25 years of corporate leadership experience to the role of program manager at Between Horses and Humans. She has been passionate about BHH since 2012, contributing to the organization as a volunteer coordinator and fundraiser.

Jeannette is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Nevada Reno where she has found her personal mission, enabling youth in difficult life situations to embrace and develop their unique skillsets. At BHH she heads a capable and creative team who are dedicated to inspiring youth and empowering them through horses.​​

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Laura Maffitt – Director

I have lived in South Lake Tahoe for over 40 years and love the lifestyle it offers. During the summer you will find me sailing with my husband on our 27ft sailboat, boat camping, horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. During winter I love to ski, snowmobile, and horseback ride (in the valley).

I’m pretty sure my love affair with horses started at birth. I have always been attracted to horses ever since I knew what a horse was. I was able to finally have a horse of my own in my early teens in my backyard at Lake Tahoe. After that it took me about 20 years before I managed to have horses back in my life.

When I finally found my way to BHH I instantly felt I had found my people and my “home”. I started out volunteering and shadowing instructors and immediately jumped in to help with PR and Social Media. I wanted to use my background in hotel sales, marketing, and management to help support BHH. I find that volunteering at BHH not only helps the program but helps to heal myself as well and allows me to share my love of horses and helping others. 

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Trevor Pipkin - Director

My name is Trevor Pipkin. I grew up with Great Danes, so when I had my first experience with a horse, I was immediately in love. The bigger the animal, the better. Horses have a special place in my heart because they have changed my life in so many ways. As a troubled youth, I ended up in some scary situations due to my own actions. When I was about 18, I entered a program that worked with horses and young adults who were having various issues. My horse taught me accountability, humility, confidence, trust, communication, and love. Those were things I had been missing in my life for as long as I could remember.  

My wife and I believe that family, mental health, and service are some of the most important things we can devote our lives to. Therefore, we spend a great deal of our time serving the community, and youths specifically, in ways we feel are best suited to our abilities. When my wife found BHH we dove in with both feet. There are few greater pleasures than watching the bond between a child and a horse grow, and watching the child's confidence, trust, leadership, and joyfulness explode through the roof. The time I spend on the ranch is one of my greatest joys.  

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Debbie McFadden - Director

I am a lifelong lover of horses! I got my first horse at the age of 11 and horses have been a part of my life ever since! I have competed in horseshows as a youth and adult and eventually had a small boarding facility at my property in Northern Nevada where I also became involved with Between Horses and Humans. Because horses have had such a positive impact on my life, I am honored to be a part of the BHH board, where I see the positive impact our horses have on the youth in our community. I recently moved with my husband to Arizona to be closer to our family. I am still very involved with my horses and am enjoying riding and competing in my new home state!

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