Our Board

Our Board of Directors

Exceptional Equestrians would not be possible without the help of our highly dedicated Board of Directors. These professionals volunteer time out of their busy lives to provide a trove of advice and guidance to the program. They come from a variety of backgrounds and different walks of life, but they all have one thing in common-- their passion for Exceptional Equestrians and its mission.

Board President- Bill Schuck

Bill Schuck has spent much of his life dedicating time to helping others. As a member and Past District Governor of Rotary International, he is no stranger to community service, and in fact has spearheaded many projects that have improved the lives of the disabled and less fortunate both in America and abroad. In his six years with Exceptional Equestrians, he has helped the program grow more than 400%! When Bill is not working on EE and Rotary projects, he is running his own business. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his sons and working on his backyard koi ponds.

Board Treasurer-Tim Unnerstall

Tim Unnerstall is a crucial part of Exceptional Equestrians. A Rotary International member who also serves of the board of the Emmaus Homes, Tim truly gives back to his community. In addition to his role as the EEMV treasurer, he is also a licensed CPA, and runs an accounting firm with his brother. When Tim is not crunching numbers, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lynne, hosting events at his home and searching the internet for the perfect Silent Auction items!

Dr. Dan Smith

Dr. Dan Smith spends most of his time with animals--however, not the hooved variety! As a small-animal vet in Washington, Dr. Dan has devoted his life to helping our four-legged friends. But it was his dedication to the community that led him to become involved with horses, as a board member for Exceptional Equestrians of the Missouri Valley. Dan has been a member of the EEMV board for more than 10 years, and is currently the Vice President. In his animal-free time, Dr. Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Katie Jasper

Katie is our newest member of the board as of August 2017. She became involved and passionate about EE through her sister Emily who is both a rider and volunteer. She currently works as an ICU nurse and is going to school to be a nurse practitioner. When she is not doing either of these things she is usually spending time with her family doing outdoor activities. Katie serves on our Volunteer Committee.

Jill Elbert

Jill joined Exceptional Equestrian’s board in the fall of 2016. Her passion for EE stems from her own personal experience with the organization. Her daughter McKenzie began receiving therapeutic riding at the age of two. McKenzie immediately found a love for horses and Jill immediately saw huge improvements in McKenzie’s fine and gross motor skills. When Jill was approached to join the EE board, she accepted without hesitation. She wanted to give back to an organization that has made such a huge impact on her family. Jill’s role as Business Manager at Cochran in Union, MO has provided her with both the organizational and management skills to be a huge asset to the board. She serves on the Sporting Clays and Wine, Dine and Whinny Committees as well as the Operations Committee.

Ross Braun

Ross Braun retired as a conservationist with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in 2010. He is a certified therapeutic riding instructor with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) and volunteered with Exceptional Equestrians for many years. Ross has served on a number of non-profit boards at the national and community levels and is currently the President for the PATH Intl. Board of Trustees. Ross heads up the Licensed Therapy Committee and serves on the Facility Committee.

Dave Dieckhaus

David Dieckhaus is a lifelong resident of Washington, Missouri. He has been married to Christine Wiedemann- Dieckhaus for thirty- six years. They have four adult Children, Scott, Jason, Kristin, and Lucas. David has been active in the Shriners for many years and is a past President of the Moolah Shriners of Eastern Missouri. After graduating from St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in 1978, Dieckhaus attended East Central College and earned an EMT certificate. David worked in Law Enforcement for 12 years as a road officer, as well as at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. David is the head of the Security Committee.

Mark Jasper

Mark Jasper has been around Exceptional Equestrians for many years, as his daughter is one of our most active riders and volunteers! When EE moved into the new facility on Finch Road, Mark became an invaluable resource for information on fencing, tractors, pasture maintenence and much more. He agreed to join the board as our Facility Advisor in 2010. When Mark is not working at Hillermann Nursery, he spends his time working on his own farm, and attending his children's many activities.

Josh Brinker

Josh joined the EE board in spring of 2012. He is on the Washington City Council and works at Bank of Washington in downtown Washington.
Josh is active involved in fundraising, including the Bank of Washington's Derby Day fundraiser and Washington's own Baconfest. Josh serves on the Financial Assistance Committee.

Shawn Thiemann

Shawn joined the EE board in 2010. He brings a broad scope of knowledge and experience to the program from owning his own business, SKI Cleaning, in Union.
Shawn enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his kid's baseball teams to championships! Shawn serves on the Financial Assistance Committee.

Brian Phillips

Early career experience in the retail industry—famous for its fast-paced environments, long hours and teambuilding values—positioned me for future success in the banking business, where I’ve gained leadership credibility over the past 20 years. My roles have included managing multiple branch locations; hiring, training and developing team members for promotion; and consistently delivering on the bottom line objectives. My many years of board experience have given me the opportunity to build upon and refine my leadership and community development skills which has allowed me to be a productive member of our community. Brian chairs the Facility Committee.

Tammy Dietrich

Tammy started volunteering at EE in the fall of 2013 as a side walker and has never looked back. She fell in love with the program and loves to see the progression of our riders. She currently works at Our Lady of Lourdes as a secretary. She continues to volunteer each week and serves on the Auction Committee Board. When not volunteering or working, Tammy enjoys spending time with her daughter Maria and husband Todd. Tammy chairs the Finance Committee.

Charla Shurtleff, Founder, Advisory Board Member
Charla and her husband, Tim founded Exceptional Equestrians in 1991. Charla's experience as a life-long horsewoman and a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant have lead her to start and grow Exceptional Equestrians from a small program in her back yard, to the premier center it is today. Charla continues to provide valuable guidance and support to the program as it continues to flourish.