Terra Schaad
Founder & Executive Director
Terra Schaad, is the Executive Director and founder of Hunkapi Programs, Inc. and Hunkapi Farms, in Scottsdale, Arizona where the focus is “teaching the world to fear less and love more” through equine assisted psychotherapy and somatic healing. Terra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University, a Master of Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University and holds specialty training in Somatic Experience.
In the years 2010-2012, Terra had the extraordinary opportunity to live in Italy and work at the University of Iowa’s CIMBA, and international MBA Business program. Her time there allowed her to lead and coach international students and executives through a rigorous leadership development program while researching the effect of applying neurobiofeedback, psychological assessments, and mindfulness on emotional regulation in leadership and the workplace.
For the past 23 years, Terra has combined her love of horses and her passion to help people live optimally. Terra has been honored by the Arizona Capitol Times with the “Women Achievers of Arizona in 2019”, recognized by Governor Douglas A. Ducey when given the State of Arizona Commendation in 2020, and was featured in the Phoenix of Business Journal’s “20 Names to Know in Valley” for Nonprofits. She is a three-time Ironman Finisher and recently fulfilled a long-time goal of running the Boston Marathon. Terra combines her education, intuition, and experience to observe and interpret individual and group behavior while giving immediate, tangible feedback that will challenge you to move mindfully and live optimally.
*If you are seeing Terra for equine assisted psychotherapy services, this is a supervised private practice. It is owned and/or managed by a masters level, non-independent licensee under board approved clinical supervision pursuant to AACR4-6-211. The Board approved clinical supervisor of this practice is: David Seth Jenkins, 480-318-9707, email DavidSethJenkins@gmail.com
Jennifer Warner
Accounts Manager
Jennifer is a native of Phoenix, Arizona and joined the Hunkapi team in January 2020. She currently serves as our Accounts Manager and has 30 years of management and accounting experience. Jennifer loves working at Hunkapi because of the incredible impact made on our community every day. The farm provides such a vital resource to the community and enriches so many lives, and Jennifer feels incredibly fortunate to be part of this family.
Nancy Jo Sutton-McLeod
Clinical Director
Nancy Jo is a mother of 2 and an Arizona native who has loved horses since she was a little girl. She is a clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in a wide range of areas and has a passion for helping others. Nancy Jo began her career working with law enforcement helping crime victims. Through the years she has worked with therapeutic foster children, geriatric patients, soldiers before and after deployment and with medical personnel, among many others. She has owned her own consulting business and authored “Called to Duty: How We Stayed Together While We Were Apart.” She has years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing programs. She has gained valuable experience that has helped her expand her abilities to foster positive growth in clients, employees and organizations.
Kristi Shambaugh
HR Representative
Kristi Shambaugh began volunteering at Hunkapi Programs in February 2019 and joined the staff later that year as a part-time HR Representative. Kristi leverages her years of experience in HR and training environments in large corporations to help build and guide practices at Hunkapi. Her love for the mission and work of the organization, as well as admiration for the two and four-legged staff, inspires her desire to make a difference with her contributions.
Crista Gofron
HR Representative
Crista moved out to Scottsdale, Arizona to live on a one-acre ranch with her parents, brother and grandma 34 years ago, but she's originally from a small town in central New Jersey. She considered herself a city girl but when they arrived in 1988 and her street was dirt and the only things nearby were the library and hospital, she felt like she was living in the country. She is currently married, a mother of an 11-year-old boy and loves to travel to different places. On her home’s land, we have an Arabian horse, three mini horses, two goats and 3 dogs. Crista has a passion for animals and believes strongly in their healing abilities so she is very excited to join the team at Hunkapi Farms. She feels most relaxed and full of joy when she is hanging out with her son or with the animals in the barn.
Seth Jenkins
Clinical Supervisor
Seth has been working in the behavioral health field since 2005 when he began as a Behavioral Health Technician while putting himself through graduate school. Seth has had a broad range of experience and titles. Seth has enjoyed being a leader of groups as a facilitator, as well as a leader of clinical teams through program direction, development and clinical supervision. Seth was employed by Calvary Healing Center until June 2016 and served numerous roles from primary therapist to Director of Outpatient services.
Roxanne Holcomb
Office Manager & Compliance Coordinator
The beautiful state of Arizona and all it has to offer brought Roxanne here in 1979. She started out her career in the medical industry. This gave a path to many different opportunities, most of which consisted of practice management for family care as well as surgical specialties. Roxanne also attended a surgical technology program and graduated with honors. While managing practices, her love of horses never went unnoticed and eventually brought her to running a very large equine facility for boarding and training in the Cave Creek area. While managing the property and business she also taught medical front office at Arizona College of Allied Health. Her diverse career has now landed her here to enjoy both loves in one, horses and the health and wellbeing of fellow communities. She has raised two successful children and has 2 beautiful granddaughters.
Megan Riege
Executive Assistant & Behavioral Health Technician
Megan Riege joined Hunkapi Programs at the beginning of June 2021. Megan is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and moved to Scottsdale, AZ in December of 2020. Megan leverages her years of Special Education experience working with a variety of kids with special needs to meet the needs of the clients she serves at Hunkapi. While growing up around horses, her love for the four-legged animals has only grown. She looks forward to combing her two passions and positively impacting the lives of others through this program.
Luz & Mario
Farm Caretakers
Luz & Mario have been taking care of the farm for the past 23 years. They are a huge asset to Hunkapi Farms as they care for every single individual animal from feeding them to building items needed on the farm. We appreciate everything they do for the farm!
Kate Holtry
Farm Care Assistant
Kate is one of the Farm Care Assistants working with animals at Hunkapi. Her more detailed bio will be added soon.
Toni Keberlein
Volunteer Coordinator
Toni Keberlein recently moved to Scottsdale from Flagstaff. She joined Hunkapi as a volunteer in September 2020 after retiring from a 20+ year career in education as both a teacher and most recently, a school administrator. Having worked with many different populations of students over the years, Hunkapi seemed like the perfect place to volunteer especially since she always loved being around horses. She became a member of the staff in January of 2021.
Jill Rivera
Sales & Marketing Associate
Jill Rivera joined Hunkapi Programs in the beginning of June 2021. Jill is a native of Phoenix, Arizona and grew up around many different animals. Jill has a demonstrated history of working in multiple industries with a diverse client base. She is skilled in client service, sales, project management, marketing, social media and photography. She went to Phoenix College and graduated in 2016 with an Associate's Degree in digital photography.
Shelbi Nevers
Administrative Assisant
Shelbi grew up in a small farm town in Idaho and from a young age had a love for horses. Her family members owned land on the butte in her hometown and she spent much of her time running around the hills with the animals and most importantly, riding horses. Since that time, she has moved across the country and most recently moved back to Arizona from New Jersey for an opportunity to work as an administrative office assistant here at the farm. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University and hopes to get her master’s in social work, so she can become a licensed social worker one day. She is also working towards becoming PATH certified, so she can be a Therapeutic Riding Instructor.
Brittany Jones
Licensed Master Social Worker
Brittany has always had a passion for helping people and found a career in social work after working alongside an amazing social worker, who became her mentor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and masters in social work from Walden University. She holds an additional certification in Geriatrics. She grew up in a small town with not very many resources and was the first college graduate of her family.
She is passionate about making changes in the utilization of social work among our communities. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband and dogs.
Jazmine Morales
Licensed Master Social Worker
Jazmine grew up in Douglas, a small border town in Southern Arizona. Jazmine comes from a family of ranchers and she spent a lot of time around horses as she was growing up. She decided to become a social worker because she wanted to be able to help people in many different ways. Jazmine is a two time ASU graduate with her Bachelor’s of Social Work and her Master’s of Social Work- Direct Practice. Before coming to Hunkapi, she worked as a medical social worker in the end-of-life field and spent time working with the SMI population. Jazmine is extremely grateful to be a part of Hunkapi where she gets to combine two of her biggest passions, helping people and working with horses.
Jennifer Benacci
Behavioral Health Practitioner
Jen grew up in Northeast Pennsylvania where her journey and passion for horses began at the age of 5 when a neighbor gave her and her siblings a Shetland pony. Having the opportunity to care for, ride, and show horses led to an awareness and appreciation of horses’ innate ability to help us see our strengths, heal and work through our challenges. Jen graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies and a Master degree in Education. Jen is grateful to support a diverse client population working to increase personal awareness, access strength, and heal from emotional trauma by utilizing the power and grace of our herd.
Cara Martin
Behavioral Health Technician
Cara has worked for Hunkapi since June of 2018 taking care of the facilities and the Hunkapi herd. Cara says she loves working at the farm because Hunkapi is a place where she has been able to combine her love of horses with her desire to help others. The love and empowerment at Hunkapi inspires Cara to be more mindful of her abilities and the infinite potential that every person and every creature possesses.
Diana Unaitis
PATH-CTRI, BHT
Born in Portland, Oregon, Diana was raised on a farm with six brothers and sisters. At an early age she became involved in the local 4-H program where she showed sheep and horses. Specializing in horses, she competed in long distance trail rides, county fairs, and open shows. As her passion for horses grew, she began training and showing many different breeds of domesticated horses, as well as wild mustangs. At the age of 16 she began volunteering at a therapeutic riding stable, where the Executive Director introduced her to dressage eventing horses. Diana has been with Hunkapi Programs for 22 years and has seen the ever growing love of the farm each and every day.
Miranda Potter
Animal Care Assistant Manager
Miranda is the of the Session Assistant working with clients at Hunkapi. Her more detailed bio will be added soon.
Want to Join Our Staff?
Thank you for your interest in Hunkapi Programs! We are always looking for dedicated professionals to join our team. Below are the listings of jobs we are looking to fill.
If you would like to be considered for a position not listed below, please send your resume and cover sheet to love@hunkapi.org so we can keep you in mind if a position becomes available!