Board of Directors
Douglas Brimm
Executive Director
Douglas Brimm was a close friend of our founder, Sam Waldman. He had been a member of our Board since 1999 and has been invaluable to its continued success. Mr. Brimm has also been a successful local entrepreneur in the restaurant and hospitality industries. He was the founder and owner of Austin’s Restaurants in Northern Nevada, Art’s Coffee, Brimm’s Catering, Let’s Eat Catering Company, and Ponderosa Property Maintenance, LLC. Mr. Brimm learned and polished his business management skills during his lengthy tenure with Southland Corporation (7-11 Stores). He was Division Operations Manager for Southland in Central & West Texas, New Mexico, and the Carolinas. Mr. Brimm earned his BA at the University of California at Chico. Doug and his wife Gloria work passionately in all areas of the organization.
Joanna Rice
Board Chair
Joanna Rice is a top-producing real estate agent with Century 21 McGregor Realty and a partner in Let’s Eat Inspired Catering”. She has had many positions involving writing and editing and she was an international compensation analyst for two major financial institutions in San Francisco before starting a family in the early 1980’s. Prior to becoming active in real estate, she was the proprietor of two retail businesses in Incline Village. She was actively involved with The Assistance League of Southern California, National Charity League and American Association of University for Women. Originally from North Carolina, Joanna attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and continued graduate studies in literature at Florida International University. She has lived in Incline Village with her husband, David, for over twenty years.
Patti Graff
Vice Chair
Patti Graf’s business acumen began in the Bay Area of CA where has had major role at Hershey’s Chocolate in Oakdale, CA and as Warehouse Manager at a Wholesale Radiator and Brake Manufacturer. After completing her accreditations in real estate, she was a successful agent in the Bay Area. While in the Bay Area, she volunteered with the Oakdale Police Department and was the first volunteer to receive security clearances allowing her to assist in the Evidence Deportment. She received the same honor after moving to the Carson Valley in Nevada. Patti continues her interests in Real Estate and is an investor and a restored ranch owner, which is now in the “Designated Historical Places” in the State of Nevada. As an avid horsewoman, she is a smart addition to the Kids and Horses Board of Directors.
Tony Creter
Secretary
Tony Creter was raised, with his older brother, by parents who were teachers. They settled in San Diego where Tony spent many of his younger years. He attended Grossmont College and received a degree in CA Architectural and Building Technology. He has worked as a machinist, concrete mason, and carpenter. In 1985, Tony relocated to the Lake Tahoe area where he continued working as a carpenter. In 1998, he was hired as the Building Official in the County of Alpine where he continues to be responsible for all the buildings in Alpine County. He has developed strong working relationships with local contractors and is respected in his field. He has held a variety of positions, including president, of the California Building Officials Association of California. Tony enjoys skiing, paddle boarding, bike riding, and many other activities enjoyed in Lake Tahoe and other parts of the country.
Curt Wegener
Treasurer
Curt Wegener, Sam’s son-in-law, has been a member of the board since Sam’s passing. Curt has kept the program running through his ownership and maintenance of the WW Ranch until he sold the ranch to Kids and Horses near the end of 2013. Curt is a prominent financial and retail executive in Northern Nevada. He is the President and General Manager of Waldman Investments and Waldman/Wegener, Inc., as well as the owner of Bowl Incline, Pacific Pines Office Complex, Incline Car Wash, and Kings Beach Car Wash. Mr. Wegener may be best known for his nationally-recognized sports activities. He is the Director and original founder of the High Sierra Lacrosse Foundation. For 25 years, Mr. Wegener’s annual lacrosse tournament has brought youth and adult teams from across the United States and Canada to the Lake Tahoe area. Curt’s enthusiasm for lacrosse began at Syracuse University, where he played goalie while earning his BA in Economics.
Lorri Waldman
Co-Founder, Director
Lorri was born in The Bronx, NY. After her marriage to Sam Waldman she and he lived in Queens and the Long Island. When their children, David and Mindy, were three and one, respectively, the family moved to Hayward, CA, and then, later, to Lake Forest, CA. After spending twelve years in Summit, NJ, Lorri and Sam moved overseas and lived in Tokyo and Taipei. She and Sam bought their home in Incline Village in 1986 and moved permanently in 1991. Lorri and Sam founded Kids & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center in 1999. Lorri has been involved in many social and charitable organizations. She is past First Vice President and President of The Women’s Club of North Tahoe and currently is responsible for club luncheons. She is past president of the North Lake Tahoe Community Health Care Auxiliary and is now serving as treasurer. She is both past and current treasure of Incline Village Crystal Bay Republican Women and is a proud sister in the Nevada Chapter of P.E.O., Philanthropic Educational Organization.
“Farmer” Wilson
Director
Farmer and his wife spent 37 years raising their six children, living and working in Nashville, TN, and farming in Nunnley, TN. After the passing of his wife, Farmer moved to Incline Village, Nevada where he enjoys living, working, and exploring. Farmer has owned and operated several companies and businesses and has a strong background in property restoration. He also has had the pleasure to experience farming in many capacities including the following: row crops, hay, hogs, and cattle. Currently, Farmer works as a real estate agent with Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty in Northern Nevada and all of Lake Tahoe. For nearly a year before joining the board, Farmer was weekly Kids & Horses volunteer. He acknowledges that it is a unique privilege to meet and share time with several of the clients that bring joy to all.
Kristina Hill
Director
Kristina Hill has lived in the Lake Tahoe area since 1980 when she first started working for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Her passion to protect Lake Tahoe from the harmful effects of over development, has inspired her to stay involved in a variety of community matters. She left the Agency in 1984 and became a planning consultant, assisting people navigate the arduous process of obtaining a building permit. In 1998 she started her own business, Hill Planning, where she continues to work. Kristina has been on many boards including; TRPA Advisory Planning Commission, Washoe County Board of Adjustments, Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Agency as well as the Saint Joseph Community Land Trust. In addition, she is a long-term member of the homeowner’s association architectural review committee. She’s been on the Kids & Horses Board for many years and is actively involved with board matters.
Karen Marsa
Director
Karen Marsa has extensive experience in the administration of public agencies, including Chief Administrative Officer of the Los Angeles Attorney’s Office and Chief Executive Officer of both Incline Village Realtors and the Sierra Nevada Association of Realtors. She also managed two major law firms between 1973 and 2001. Her expertise in financial and operations management is a major asset to Kids & Horses. Additionally, Karen is a skilled equestrian; in 1966, she tried out for the 1968 Olympics Equestrian Team in the Hunter/Jumper Category, ranking tenth in Southern California. She earned her BA and Secondary Teaching Credential from the United States International University and studied numerous post-graduate courses in Business Management at UCLA. Her love for horses and her dedication to the program are clearly exhibited through volunteering as a horse handler for Delilah, her favorite program horse, for two lessons every week when the program is in session.
Bill Krochalis
Director
Bill Krochalis is a recently retired business executive and entrepreneur. Raised in Connecticut, he was educated at Yale University and at the University of Connecticut School of Law. He pursued a career in the insurance industry and held a variety of positions in market development, corporate acquisitions and business startup initiatives, both domestic and international. He founded ZC Sterling, a specialty insurance services company (starting in his kitchen). With the backing of Zurich Financial Services and later the private equity firm Stone Point Capital, he led it for 15 years as it grew to be a 3000 person firm. He retired three years after its acquisition by QBE, an Australia-based global carrier. Bill has three grown children and resides with his wife Sara in Incline Village.