Board of Directors
Basil Bruno MD, MBA Basil is director of Summit Pediatrics based in Hackensack, NJ and is affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center. He performs a number of the medical evaluations for our students, and has encouraged his daughter to volunteer. He is new to the board as of January.
Jeff Cohen Jeff is a member, manager and managing director of Silverado Capital Management, LLC, and has primary responsibility for implementing the partnership’s investment program. He began volunteering after reading about one of our Quarter Horses who can detect seizures. He has served on the board for four years.
Barbara Ripston Barbara is director of administration for Terrie O’Connor Realtors. Her daughter became involved as a volunteer and is now a PATH Int’l certified instructor and a licensed Occupational Therapist. She has served on the board for three years.
Susan Viniar - After practicing as a pediatric audiologist and doing strategic planning for major health care manufacturers, Sue left the workplace to raise her four children. She has been actively involved as a community volunteer for 24 years. Sue served boards at Valley Hospital for 15 years and has been actively involved in the Ridgewood Public Schools and the Ridgewood Public Library. Sue has also done fundraising for Duke University and Brown University. An avid equestrian, Sue began riding 10 years ago and now owns two Paint horses.
“Nothing brightens my day more than pulling into the parking lot at Pony Power. Watching the joy on the faces of the children as they learn to ride their ponies is magical.”
Chris Begley
Michael Jenkins – Mike is an investment banker at Goldman Sachs where he advises individuals, families and organizations with corporate finance and asset management needs. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Michael resides in Saddle River with his wife and son. Mike feels fortunate to have witnessed the impact Pony Power makes for children with developmental needs, particularly with regard to mental clarity, focus and communication skills.
“I feel honored to be a part of Pony Power, and hope to enable many more people to benefit from the programs we have to offer.”
Dana Spett, MSW Dana is the founder and executive director of Pony Power Therapies. She has served on the board since its inception. Dana graduated from NYU and went on to get her Master’s in Social Work and practiced in schools. She has been an accomplished equestrian from a young age; taking the initiative to start NYU’s equestrian team, and competed internationally with the intercollegiate show circuit. When not devoting her time to Pony Power, Dana is raising three beautiful girls and training her young horse Bravado.
Sue Hughes
Cheryl Welch, DVM