Terra Schaad, LPC, SEP
Founder & Executive Director
Terra Schaad, is the Executive Director and founder of Hunkapi Programs, Inc., 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 mindfulness on emotional regulation in leadership and the workplace. In recent years, Terra has created a trademarked the Somatic Equine Experience ©, a curriculum specific for working with First Responders living with PTSD. In March 2024, Terra traveled to Israel to train the curriculum to trauma therapists and soldiers coming out of battle. Her passion for helping people heal through trauma with grace, compassion and a little bit of humor has given way to her speaking to numerous groups of people, organizations, and leaders including the United States Prosecuting Attorney Association, Utah Prosecuting Attorney Association, and Scottdale Police Department. 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 honored with the Phoenix Business Journal’s 2023 Outstanding Women in Business Award and “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.
Lacey Schuster
Clinical Supervisor
Lacey Schuster obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Human Development from Arizona State University and a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health with an emphasis in Equine-assisted Mental Health from Prescott College. She later completed her certificate from the Somatic Training Institute to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Lacey is a lifelong lover of horses and an outdoor enthusiast. She fondly remembers volunteering as a teenager to support horse programming at summer camps for American Cancer Society where she supported children with cancer and their siblings on trail rides. She holds a special memory of leading a young man who was vision impaired on horse back for a 20 minute trail ride and the profound experience of both trusting the horse to carry him and trusting herself to support the experience. She knew at a young age she wanted to help people with horses and felt her calling to the field of equine-assisted psychotherapy during her undergraduate studies. Lacey believes deeply in the power of the relationship between human and horse and the ability to find healing, connection, and self growth with these sentient beings. Lacey feels working with horses as a youth afforded her the opportunity to become her best self and is passionate to offer this to others. Lacey specializes in treating trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and ADHD, for children and adults. When she is not at the farm, Lacey can be found adventuring in our beautiful state with her family.
Lezlie Strolle
Office Manager
Lezlie's more detailed bio will be available soon.
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.
Sandra Dantes
Licensed Master Social Worker
Sandra describes her role as a therapist as her life’s calling. She is passionate about helping children and adults to overcome barriers that prevent them from living the best versions of themselves. Sandra’s clinical focus is trauma informed care, equine assisted psychotherapy, addiction & recovery, somatic therapies, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic disease/terminal illness. Her approach to therapy is strength based and layered with compassion providing individual, group, and family therapies tailored to meet the needs of her clients.
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.
Gabbie Krause
BHT
Gabbie is a California native who fell in love with Arizona while attending Northern Arizona University. After completing her undergraduate degree at NAU in Learning and Pedagogy, Gabbie went on to pursue her Master’s in Elementary Education from ASU. At Hunkapi, she combines her passions of teaching, riding horses, and farm life at large. As a young girl, Gabbie rode as a show-jumper and still holds many memories of how peaceful and free horses made her feel. As an adult, she enjoys sharing that passion with clients at Hunkapi. Her favorite part of working at the farm is matching clients with horses that will brighten their smile and open their heart. When she isn’t in session, Gabbie enjoys grooming and connecting with horses Jimmy, Gorgeous, and Ari.
Isabella Wells
BHT
Born in upstate New York, Issy received her BS in Animal Sciences with a minor in Criminology from Colorado State University. Last year she completed her MS in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Her dissertation was on horse behavior and equine assisted therapy. In December 2022, Issy volunteered with Asian Elephants in the mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand where she promoted ethical ecotourism and researched the health of elephants. When she isn’t at the farm, Issy loves competing in 3-day eventing, playing instruments, and reading. Issy is also a local fantasy indie author.
Natalie DeMartini
BHT
Natalie's more detailed bio will be available soon.
Hannah Beardall
BHT
Originally from Utah, Hannah spent several years in Florida before making Arizona her home. She first became involved with Hunkapi as a volunteer, inspired by her lifelong passion for horses and her deep desire to support others. Her commitment to the program and its mission led her to become a member of the staff. Having grown up riding and spending time on ranches, Hannah developed a strong connection with horses early on and it is one that continues to guide her both personally and professionally. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. At Hunkapi, she blends her background in psychology with her love for horses to help create safe, supportive environments where individuals can build trust, process emotions, and experience healing.
Cara Martin
Animal Care Manager
Cara's more detailed bio will be available soon.
Luz & Mario
Farm Caretakers
Luz & Mario have been taking care of the farm for the past 24 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!
Laurel Soutus
Animal Care Assistant
Laurel was moved from Michigan to Scottsdale when she was three years old. Growing up in “The West’s Most Western Town” is where her love of horses began through local events like the annual Parada del Sol rodeo and parade. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. About 20 years ago, Laurel read a book on equine therapy and knew that she wanted to work with therapy horses when she retired. Her passion for horses never waned over the decades. She took up playing polo for 10 years with the North Scottsdale Polo Club and finally bought her first horse. The night before her first day of retirement, she saw Founder and Executive Director, Terra Schaad on the news talking about Hunkapi. Laurel signed up immediately to volunteer and is now a part-time employee assisting in the care of our herd. She really enjoys sharing her equine obsession with our volunteers and other team members and likes to continually learn more about horses from others. She has witnessed the healing that the horses experience themselves as well as the transformation they provide to our clients.
Melissa Garner
HR Manager
Melissa's more detailed bio will be available soon.
Jill Rivera
Sales & Marketing Manager
Jill Rivera is a marketing and events professional with a passion for storytelling, community impact, and visual creativity. Since joining Hunkapi Programs in June 2021, she has led successful fundraising galas as well as fundraising initiatives, built strategic influencer collaborations, and tripled the organization’s Instagram and TikTok engagement.
A Phoenix native, Jill brings a diverse background in nonprofit communications, public relations, and publishing, having previously worked with Frontdoors Media and Evans Communications. Her experience includes marketing strategy, social media management, donor relations, and large-scale event planning.
Jill holds an Associate’s Degree in Digital Photography from Phoenix College, where her award-winning work was exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum. She recently received a Certificate in Nonprofit Marketing and Strategic Communications through ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation.
Outside of work, Jill is a portrait photographer who captures connection and emotion through her lens, blending creativity with meaningful impact in all she does.
Roxanne Holcomb
Compliance & Quality Improvement Specialist
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.
Alexa Bolla
Administrative Assistant
Alexa is the Farm’s new Administrative Assistant and supports the Hunkapi team in a variety of capacities including scheduling, organization, billing, assisting with Grants/Donors, streamlining, and more administrative tasks.
Alexa has previously held roles in academia and the creative industry throughout the United States, recently with ASU for six years.
She holds a BA in Creative Writing from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
She’s a world traveler, has traversed four continents and lived in Europe. Her life journey has taken her to live in many major cities.
She worked three stupendous seasons at the Desert Botanical Garden on the weekends which enriched her customer service skills and as an events associate, invigorating her love of plants and gardening.
Her great appreciation and knowledge of fine art has given her opportunities to work and volunteer for many Museums, especially the Phoenix Art Museum for the last 6 years.
Alexa is happy to begin a new professional experience with the Farm. She will bring a fresh unique perspective to Hunkapi.
Kristi Shambaugh
Team Building Facilitator
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.
Mitzy Castro
Receptionist
Mitzy's more detailed bio will be added soon.
Phillip Parks
Intern
Phillip is a dedicated professional with a strong academic and clinical foundation in behavioral health. He completed his undergraduate studies in Criminology at Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling at Grand Canyon University. Passionate about supporting youth through therapeutic and relational approaches, Phillip brings empathy, structure, and a commitment to personal growth into every interaction. He believes that horses can offer a deeply therapeutic experience, often mirroring the emotional states and energy of those around them.
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!