Our Board of Directors

Sandra Long - Executive Director

Sandra earned her MIS Degree in 1997 and has worked in the Technology field for 11 years. She has always had a love for horses and has always known she had a calling to help underprivileged children. When the opportunity to put these two passions together became a reality, it lit a commitment in her heart that is insatiable. She is a co-founder and Executive Director of Blended Spirits Ranch. Sandra feels blessed to be able to coordinate this outreach, and is excited and eager to watch the miracles that happen when combining the love of horses with the love of humans.

Debbie Ellis - President

As co-founder of Blended Spirits Ranch, if you were to ask Debbie when she discovered her passion for horses, she would tell you around three years of age when she tried riding the family Labrador retriever using a couch pillow for a saddle. Debbie just figures it was a passion she entered into this world with and has stayed with her all her life. From the backyard pet to the racing world she has seen a lot done for and to horses. Some of those things were good, unfortunately a lot of those things were bad. It wasn't until she was introduced to Natural Horsemanship that she realized there really is a way to communicate with a horse that is on their terms and creates a mutual understanding, which leads to a strong bond that stays for life.

Marcia Twinem - Vice President

Marcia graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In the past she has worked with elementary age children as a substitute teacherand an aid to autistic and mentally challenged children. She has spent the past 9 years in Sales and Marketing. Marcia is dedicated to helping Blended Spirits Ranch build a strong foundation through marketing, fundraising and community awareness.

Ro Foessett - Treasurer

Ro has lived in Erie her entire life. She graduated from Villa Maria High School and Mercyhurst College with a BS degree in Mathematics. Ro retired from Verizon in 2008 after 30 years of service. She began her career in IT and was a second level Manager during her final 15 years of employment. The opportunity to pursue her passion of helping others, along with her love of the outdoors, provides her with a sound foundation for her involvement with Blended Spirits Ranch.

Julie Carner - Secretary

Julie started in a career as a nurse but found that her real job was to be at home raising her children with many other opportunities to work with children in her path. Since then, she has managed a day care center, taught children’s classes at church, and worked as an aid in the learning support field at the school district. It was her daughter’s interest in the horses, and the invitation of Debbie and Sandra to participate in the ministry Blended Spirits Ranch, that brought her to the board level. Julie enjoys the opportunity to be part of the staff bringing about positive results in the classes as well as helping to grow this community asset.

Tim Kaercher - Board Member

An Erie native, Tim is employed by McManis & Monsalve Associates/newline Creations as the Business Development Manager and a Marketing and IT Consultant. Tim is a versatile professional with more than a decade of experience in management, business development, marketing, market research, IT plan development and strategic planning. Tim possesses a BS in Marketing and Communications and a minor in Finance and a MBA in International Business and a MBA in Marketing. Tim is devoted to solidifying Blended Spirits’ place among successful not-for-profit organizations in the region through marketing, networking, process development and strategic planning activities.

David Johnson, PhD - Board Member

Dr. 'J' is a Clinical Psychologist with an extensive and varied background in clinical, academic, research and experimental psychology. Dr. J. is also published in the area of 'Life-Span Developmental Psychology', as well as the area of 'Wisdom: & -Alternative Forms of Intelligence.' An Erie native, David is currently the Director of Psychology and Therapy Services for Deerfield Behavioral Health. In this role he is also responsible for the Supervision of Psychiatric-Medical Residents from the 'Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine' (LECOM). Dr. J. has been a Board Member with Blended Spirits Ranch for almost one year, and truly enjoys the work he is doing with the Ranch. His primary role at this time is 'Research/Experimentation' and Program Evaluation, in order to "Verify and Quantify" the very real 'Magic' that takes place when horses interact with people. We know and can see the 'Magic' take place, our work must now involve determining the 'How' of this process via testing and results.

Dave Bradford, Esquire - Board Member

Dave is the Department Head for the Erie County Recorder of Deeds and a practicing attorney with offices in Erie and North East. As an active member of the Bar Association he serves on the Real Estate Leadership Committee and has volunteered as a mentor with the Attorneys and Kids Together Program. Dave has also presented Continuing Legal Education programs on areas of Real Estate Law. Dave is committed to assisting Blended Spirits Ranch with its endeavor of positively influencing children and adults in the community through Equine Assisted Learning (EAL).