Our Team
Dana Hollenzer
Executive Director
Dana Hollenzer
Executive Director
Growing up amid the beauty of New York’s Catskill Mountains, I followed streams, picked blueberries, and rode my bike until dusk. As a young adult, Rochester, New York, was home while pursuing my education at SUNY Brockport (B.S. Health Science Education) and Nazareth College (M.A Liberal Studies.) Then, with five years of teaching behind me and a heart full of dreams, I moved to St. James City, Florida, in the summer of 2004. My greatest honor were the births of my two beautiful daughters, Kathryn Helen and Lilly Madeline. I’ve spent most of my professional career teaching and saying yes to every opportunity thrown my way. I was a tutor, coach, theater director, and magazine editor, earned a M. Ed. Educational Leadership, and held many positions in schools while working to serve and advocate for outliers. All the while, a horse thread ran through the quilt of my life, tugging me along until I bought an AQHA golden buckskin mare. Horses nudge us toward self-discovery, implore us to explore the possibilities, connect us to spiritual realms, and beckon us to live more passionately. They ignite the creative, compassionate, and courageous parts of our brains which inspired me to integrate my life’s work and serve others alongside horses. The skills we gain along the way amount to nothing until we recognize God’s work in our lives, a flash of royal blue light that we can suddenly grasp for the first time. I’m far from mountain air, old logging trails, and Princess Pine, but that foundation armed me with a fierce sense of freedom, fueled an everlasting ember, and sent me on an availing adventure!
Melissa Velez
Volunteer Coordinator
Melissa Velez
Volunteer Coordinator
Born and raised in Florida, I've only ever known sunshine, orange blossoms, oak trees, springs, and beaches. Straight from high school in 2001, I started my career as a civilian for the Lee County Sheriff's Office and worked there for over ten years. During that time, I obtained my A.A. in General Studies and was awarded Civilian of the Year in 2006. I also pursued my bachelor’s in applied psychology. In 2012, my husband, a retired law enforcement officer, and I made the decision that I would focus on being a stay-at-home mom. I've been blessed to raise my son, Kaden, 18, and my daughter Maliya,12. Thus, I have been fortunate to be very active in my children's lives.
Lisa Coy
Administrative Assistant
Lisa Coy
Administrative Assistant
Born in Plaistow, New Hampshire, I’m no stranger to icy winter weather. As a child, I relentlessly begged my parents for a horse, was a cheerleader throughout elementary and high school, enjoyed roller skating, and swimming in my grandparents’ lake. After graduating from Keene State College, I entered a rewarding career as a Career Counselor for young adults and at-risk youth. As a way to connect with a group of teens, I sought out opportunities at Windrush Therapeutic Riding Center. My group of students quickly gained social skills and experienced unexpected changes that armed them with valuable life lessons and career skills. I now knew there was something special about a horse. I moved to Florida in 2018 to live my dream of owning a horse property. Although I've always loved horses, it wasn't until I was 40 when my children were old enough to not miss me when I snuck off to the barn and began riding again. Now, I have my very own herd of two on my own Florida horse property. Astro, my handsome AQHA retired reiner enjoys trail riding and watching the antics of his baby sister an Arabian Thoroughbred cross, Roo. A full circle moment occurred in my life when I began volunteering at Special Equestrians as a Sidewalker and Horse Leader in December 2022. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the magic of SE and I happily joined the team as an Administrative Assistant in April 2023. This position is bringing another dream to fruition by combining my passion of helping people and working with horses. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family, trail riding with my husband Mike, and learning dressage. I’m working on building a connection and partnering with Roo. I’m thrilled to be part of the SE team!
Diane Shaw
PATH INTL. CTRI
PATH INTL. Mentor
Diane Shaw
Instructor, PATH INTL. CTRI
Diane Shaw is one of our Path Intl Certified Instructors. Diane began volunteering for Special Equestrians in 2007 and has always had a great love for our program. After years of sidewalking and horse leading, Diane decided to mesh her love of horses, the students, and teaching by becoming a certified instructor. She has owned horses off and on since seventh grade and rides Western and English. Diane also volunteers with our Special Partners program and the sidewalker training program.
Dee Hollander
Head Instructor/Founder
PATH INTL. CTRI
Dee Hollander
Head Instructor/Founder
PATH Intl. CTRI
Our head Instructor, Dee Hollander, has been involved with Special Equestrians since its beginning in 1987. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor and we are delighted to have her as our head riding instructor. She is an accomplished horseperson and rider herself, competing in the past in Saddle Seat competitions in Illinois. Dee has contributed her time to all aspects of our program and, in fact, was one of the founders of Special Equestrians. She leads our evaluation team in accepting new students when they apply to the program. Dee places students in classes with other students according to their abilities and needs. Dee is an active trail rider with her horse, Slick, a Spotted Saddle Horse. They have also competed together in ACTHA competitions and local Extreme Equine Horse Shows.
Amy Oxendine
Asst. Program Director,
PATH INTL. CTRI, Mentor
Amy Oxendine
Asst. Program Director
Instructor, PATH INTL. CTRI
Amy Oxendine is one of our Saturday instructors for Special Equestrians (SE). She joined our team in 2009 as a volunteer and it became immediately clear that Amy was a very valuable asset to SE and would excel as one of our instructors. Amy completed her instructor certification and became a PATH, Intl. certified instructor in 2010. Owning horses since she was very young, Amy possesses the knowledge and riding skills necessary for the instruction and further advancement of our riders. She is the coach for our Special Equestrians Miracle Outlaws team and has ridden on her own competitive drill team as well as a fast-paced rodeo drill team. Amy owns three horses and enjoys trail riding with friends and taking lessons to learn more about reining. She works as a marketing coordinator for Johnson Engineering and participates in our Special Partners Outreach Team with her miniature horse Guinness.
Suzanne Renwick
PATH INTL. CTRI
Suzanne Renwick
PATH INTL. CTRI
My love for horses started as far back as I can remember. At age eight, my best friend and I attended summer horseback riding camp and had the time of our lives. That experience led me to lease my first horse, an Arabian named Sally, marking the start of my equestrian journey.
As a determined child, I convinced my parents to buy me a horse. My first horse was a dapple-grey Arabian named Kismet, which I rode in saddle-seat equitation. I boarded Kismet at a barn with Arabians, Morgans, and American Saddlebreds. Sadly, after months of training for my first show, Kismet had an accident that led to her being put down. The barn owner saw how devastated I was and offered to let me train on his horse, Sock Em. This was the first time I rode a Saddlebred, and the breed stole my heart. After months of searching, I found my heart horse in Kentucky; he was a 16.2, Bay American Saddlebred named "Hail to the Chief." It was his look that caught my eye, but it was his attitude that stole my heart. Those who have found their soulmate in a horse know it feels right. Together, we competed in saddle-seat equitation and 3-gaited Amateur, achieving numerous regional and national championship titles and triple qualifying for the World Championships.
I attended Michigan State University, graduating with an Interior Design degree, but became a flight attendant, hoping to return to design later. After moving to Hawaii, where I was promoted to International Flight Service Manager, I had the privilege to fly all over the South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Philippines, Tahiti, Fiji, and Korea, to name a few! and moved to Pennsylvania so my husband could pursue his career with General Electric. I continued to work part-time in design and started coaching gymnastics, which led me to coach cheerleading. With my background in gymnastics and cheerleading in high school and at MSU, I was hired by the local University in 2004, where I got the experience and bravery to start my own All-Star Cheerleading business. I embarked on a new adventure in 2010, owning and operating my competitive cheerleading, gymnastics, and birthday party business with over 200 students, nine competitive teams, and 12 employees. In 2020, my business greatly suffered the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while on holiday, I found myself re-evaluating my life. Realizing I didn't want to wait until retirement to move to Florida, I sold my business and moved to Florida in September 2021. In June of 2022, I married my husband, Jim. In November 2022, I moved my parents to Florida. In 2023, my son AJ & his wife Kaylin, who live in Columbus, blessed me with a grandson.
It wasn't until I met Adele Smith, a SE Board of Directors member and Taste of Love Fundraiser Coordinator, encouraged me to volunteer at SE, and now I serve as a CTRI, Stall Relief employee, a member of the Stable Committee, and member of the Taste of Love Fundraising Committee. When I'm not at Special Equestrians, I enjoy time with my husband, Jim, and my American Saddlebred horse, Magnolia Blossom. I enjoy learning and competing in Dressage, a new riding style for me. I feel so blessed and truly grateful to be able to share my passion and knowledge with all the riders and volunteers at Special Equestrians to help them make their dreams come true.
Mike Freeman
PATH INTL.
Certified Driving Instructor
Mike Freeman
PATH INTL. Certified Driving Instructor
In 2014 Mike Freeman joined the ranks of Special Equestrians as a volunteer. Recently retired, Mike was seeking to spend some of his available time in areas that involved his love for people as well as horses.
When introduced to SE the perfect combination was obvious. Although working as a groom, side walker and horse leader was satisfying, there were new horizons that would dawn in 2015.
For several years there had been a desire to expand the opportunities at SE by adding a carriage driving option for students. When the request went out for anyone who would be interested in taking the reins of becoming a PATH certified driving instructor and heading up the driving program Mike stepped up. His years of breeding, training, and showing riding and driving horses in central Indiana along with 40 years of working with public and private schools would serve as a good foundation for a quality driving program.
Meredith Tacy
Facility Caretaker
Meredith Tacy
SE Facility Caretaker
I was born and raised in central Georgia with two sisters, horses, cats, a pack of dogs, and whatever other rescue animal came through, including deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, snakes, and turtles. As a self-taught rider, I took my first formal riding lesson in Saddle Seat when I was eleven. I became a barrel racer at thirteen and fell in love with rodeo! In high school, I competed in the GA High School Rodeo Assoc. in barrel racing, pole bending, and National Barrel Horse Association competitions. My mentor, Jody Cunningham, laid a foundation in horsemanship, developing my skills and solidifying a respect for natural horsemanship. Now, I enjoy working with "problem" horses. After high school, I ventured into the hospitality industry, working in various states. However, a life-changing event, Hurricane Ian, led me to SE. My mare, Z, and I moved to Ft. Myers to assist my Aunt, and what was meant to be a short stay turned into a two-year journey that eventually led to this opportunity with SE. I was captivated by SE's mission, which understands the transformative power of horses in people's lives. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this cause. My diverse experiences in the rodeo and hospitality industry have equipped me with the skills and mindset needed for the role of SE Caretaker.
Sarah Poindexter
MS,OTR/L
PATH INTL. Registered Therapist
PATH INTL. CTRI
Sarah Poindexter
MS,OTR/L - PATH INTL. Registered Therapist
Growing up riding and competing in hunter/jumpers and dressage, horses have always been a passion of Sarah’s. She is also passionate about helping people and has been involved with adaptive riding centers as a volunteer since 2006 in both the Tampa and Ft. Myers areas.
Sarah began volunteering for Special Equestrians in 2010 as a side walker and horse leader. She quickly discovered that there was something more to this and decided to pursue an occupational therapy graduate degree at Florida Gulf Coast University with the long-term dream of incorporating horses into her therapy practice.
Sarah joined the Special Equestrians board of directors in 2014. She attained her AHCB Certified Therapist status in 2016 after completing the American Hippotherapy Association Level 1 and 2 courses and passing the entry level board exam in hippotherapy. She now offers occupational therapy incorporating hippotherapy as a treatment strategy at Special Equestrians as a PATH Intl. Registered Therapist.
Jan Fifer
PATH INTL. CTRL
PATH INTL. ESMHL
Jan Fifer
PATH INTL CTRI, ESMHL
Jan has been a horse lover since she was a child and got her first horse. She did not own another horse until she was an adult. After her husband gave her riding lessons and a saddle for Christmas, the horse ownership opportunity came quickly. The hunter/jumper world was Jan’s love for the next fifteen years. This interest grew into purchasing and operating a large boarding stable in Fort Myers where some of the early Special Equestrians board members kept their horses. When the business sold, Jan looked for a volunteer opportunity. With a B.A. in Special Education and an M.A. in Guidance and Counseling, the fit with Special Equestrians was perfect. She has volunteered with Special Equestrians since the year 2000, serving for 13 years as the executive director. Jan shares her life with a very understanding husband, two horses, one donkey, two dogs and four cats.
Freda Jones
Instructor
PATH INTL. CTRI
Priscilla Kovalsky
Equine Specialist
PATH INTL. ESMHL
