A CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
Where horses and nature bring the best of leadership together for the dignity and benefit of all.
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Staff and Board
Foundation Staff
Dr. Kerul Kassel
President and Founder
Dr. Kerul Kassel has almost two and a half decades of leadership coaching and transformative facilitation experience, with multiple coaching credentials. She has been quoted in TIME magazine, Real Simple, the Chicago Tribune, and elsewhere. Dr. Kassel received a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University, where she was recruited to help develop and teach in the Sustainability Leadership certificate program within the Organizational Development and Leadership Masters program. She’s the author of The Thinking Executive’s Guide to Sustainability (Business Expert Press, 2014) and other books, and the lead editor of Developing a Sustainability Mindset in Management Education (Routledge, 2018). Kerul also served as an elected official on the Harmony Community Development District Board of Supervisors for 16 years, and has led a number of community initiatives. Her horses are her leadership gurus, always teaching her leadership and life lessons that she shares with her playshop participants.
Allyn Carnahan
Executive Director
Allyn is an educator who received her Master's degree in elementary education from NC State University. She continues to have a passion for education and leadership after working as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. Assisting in the various programs, particularly with the veterans and teens, allows her to flex that teaching and mentoring muscle.
She is well-travelled and loves meeting people of different backgrounds and cultures. Allyn is a proud wife and mother of two, as well as a fervent dog lover and owner of a pack of Australian Shepherds. Her love of animals and nurturing those around her is part of what drives her to be a part of First Nature's impact on the community.
Victoria Dume
Community Engagement Director
Victoria is passionate about creating spaces that bring individuals and organizations together to grow, collaborate, and make an impact.
As the founder of Fueled by Gratitude, a personal development and events brand, Victoria guides women in reconnecting with themselves and stepping into their highest potential.
Through retreats, workshops, and community collaborations, she’s built a vibrant network rooted in self-awareness, healing, and transformation.
She currently serves as our Community Engagement Director where she helps connect people, purpose, and possibility through meaningful community experiences.
Ranch Staff
Jason Wright
Facility Manager
Raised right here in Osceola County, on Deseret Ranch, Jason has been in the farm and ranch business for over 30 years. He lives in Crystal Springs with his wife Erica. Jason and Erica have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Jason spends his days off from the ranch working as a part time musician as well.
Callie Hanson
Horse Care Staff
Callie has been around horses off and on for the past 7 years, and more consistently the past 4. She's loved horses since she was old enough to know what a horse was, and Callie fulfilled her dream in 2022 of owning a horse. Callie has been part of the ranch team since August 2023 and has loved learning the art of natural horsemanship.
Paige Bartlett
Horse Care Staff
Paige is a college student striving to achieve her bachelors degree in emergency management at UCF. In the future, she plans to become a firefighter/paramedic with the city of St. Cloud. She has had a love for horses since a very young age, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work at First Nature Foundation.
Kylee Jobe
Horse Care Staff
Kylee started volunteering in Summer of 2024 and learned the ropes amazingly quickly. She then became a staff member in November and has been incredibly reliable. She’s studying in virtual school, so she can help us with our morning feedings, horse care, facility care, and even programs. Kylee has an awesome work ethic, always asking what else she can do, and doing everything with excellence. She’s made huge strides in her horsemanship knowledge and skills.
Isabella Sical
Horse Care Staff
Isabella started out as a volunteer. But very quickly we saw how capable she was, as well as dependable, and very easy to get along with. So she was brought on as a staff member just a few months later.
Haylei Romack
Horse Care Staff
Haylei has been with us since September 2024 and has owned and took care of her own horse for a while. She’s in high school and has just a few credits to complete before graduating, and she’s been settling in well at the ranch. Her favorite horse is Max, the most amusing and also the most challenging member of our herd, as she identifies with him.
Board of Directors
Argerie Vasilakes
Board Member and Collaborator
Argerie Vasilakes has more than twenty years of experience as a business leader designing prosperous organizations. As an independent consultant, she works in cross-sector settings to turn industry, social and public health disruptions into sources of innovation and well-being. She co-authored Transforming Ourselves to Transform our Organizations (OD Practitioner, 2017) and writes about her partnerships within communities that learn to become resilient living systems. She holds Masters degrees in Adult Education from Cleveland State University and Positive Organization Development from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
Dr. Katrina Rogers
Board Member
Dr. Katrina Rogers is the President of Fielding Graduate University, a position she has held since 2013. She began her time at Fielding in 2005 first as the Associate Dean for Fielding and Director of the Institute for Social Innovation and in 2011 moved into the role of Provost and Senior Vice President. From 1988 – 1990 she was a Fulbright Scholar in History. She is also a recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation scholarship, a post-doctoral fellowship, where she taught global environmental politics at the University of Konstanz, Germany. Rogers is an advocate for environmental and social justice issues. She has served on a number of committees and worked with international organizations such as the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and the European Union. She led conservation projects in rural communities, lobbied Congress for stronger environmental legislation, and raised more than $20 million in grants and donations for conservation efforts throughout the country.
Lisandra Gonzalez
Board Member
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Lisandra Gonzalez is the Financial Controller for The Transition House. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Everett University and holds professional industry certifications from the Construction Financial Management Association. She has over fifteen years of experience in the behavioral health, manufacturing, distribution, construction, engineering, education, and hotel industries. She finds her position highly rewarding as it combines her love of accounting and analytical and organizational expertise with her passionate commitment to supporting the progress of clients.
Her personal interests are enjoying outdoor activities with her family, volunteering at her church and at The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida.
Dr. Johnola Morales
Board Member
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Dr. Johnola Morales, DSW, MSW, LMSW, is a devoted social worker who assists distressed individuals and families regain life balance. Her proficiency encompasses family restoration, marital therapy, and personal growth. She has assisted children and families encountering difficulties for over thirty-five years. Johnola obtained a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Mount Ida College, a master's degree in social work from Fordham University, and a doctorate in social work from Simmons University. She holds the position of Chief of Staff for the Osceola Council on Aging. She is the CEO of her empowerment coaching enterprise, Inner Hope for Transformative Healing, LLC.
Patty Foley
Board Member Emeritus
The late Patty Foley, CPA, owned a CPA firm developed to assist the small business and its owner/family. Her firm focused on financial consulting and tax compliance as they are crucial to the small business owner. Patty had extensive experience with non-profit and community boards, was president and trustee of a fifteen member volunteer board to raise awareness and funds to support the Lucy Robbins Welles Library, served with Friends of Connecticut Libraries, was president of the New England Lace Group and Membership Chairperson and Public Relations Director of Newington Community Television. In 2008, she was awarded the Outstanding Friend of the year by Friends of Connecticut Libraries, and she was honored as a Distinguished Alumna and inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at Housatonic Community College.
Playshop Collaborators
Debbie Zmorenski
Program Collaborator
Debbie is an accomplished Senior Leader with more than 40 years of experience in operational leadership, training and development, customer service, production manufacturing, and corporate cultural engineering. Debbie has collaborated with established and start-up organizations to assist them in creating long-term success. Her broad areas of expertise include management consulting, change management, instructional design, organizational development, management and executive coaching and training. Throughout her career, Debbie has held leadership positions with Walt Disney World and has founded, owned, and operated three advisory and training companies.
She is a skilled speaker and dynamic trainer, who has designed and delivered training for both the private and public sector.