Susan Stratta, Executive Director Susan holds a business degree from the University of Notre Dame,
an MBA from Northwestern University, and a Masters of Science degree
in Management Information Systems from the University of Nebraska
at Omaha. She has worked as a consultant in tax-exempt finance, a
sales consultant and a marketing analyst. She has experience teaching
both children and adults. Susan served as the District Commissioner
of the United States Pony Club for 2 years, providing experience
in internationally recognized horse management, teaching and riding
curriculum. She has owned horses for 13 years, and competed in combined
training equestrian events. Susan has been working on the Take Flight
Farms project since September, 2001. She is certified as a Registered
Instructor by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
and has completed the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) Level
I training.
“Our challenge is to provide a positive experience with horses
that these young people can add to their ‘tool box’ of
life skills to help them build resiliency and become capable
young adults: gaining self-esteem by accomplishing a difficult
task, building
self-confidence by facing and overcoming fear, developing attachments
by spontaneously giving a horse a hug.”
Cindy Janecek, Assistant Director Cindy received her Bachelor's degree from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). She received
certification in Nonprofit Management through the American Humanics Student Association at
UNO. Cindy grew up on a farm just outside of Dodge, NE, and has spent many years caring for both children and animals. Since moving to Omaha, she has worked with Children’s
Hospital and volunteered with numerous agencies. She was hired as
the Assistant Director of Take Flight Farms in 2005. She has since completed the EAGALA Level I training.
“I find great satisfaction in working to improve the lives
of children. There are so many young people in this community who are under-valued and overlooked. Take Flight Farms utilizes a novel approach of incorporating horses into learning experiences for these kids, putting everyone on equal ground. The results are astounding. . . even the kids themselves are amazed at what they can learn and accomplish. I am grateful to have found such a great opportunity
to partner with some amazing people and horses to serve young individuals in need."
Beth Avolio, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Beth
Avolio graduated with her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the
University of Akron. She was employed in a variety of agency
settings while living in upstate New York, including consulting
for the Department of Social Services, Division for Youth and
Probation. In addition, she supervised doctoral students in the
graduate psychology
program at Binghamton State University and taught classes within
the program. For nine years she maintained a private practice
specializing in adolescent and family therapy. After moving to
the Omaha area
in the fall of 2002, she obtained her Nebraska Psychology License
and set up a private practice. She is a NARHA Registered Instructor
and has completed EAGALA Level II training. Beth teams with EAGALA-trained
horse specialists to provide Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions
for Take Flight Farms’ clients.
“Working with Take Flight has been unbelievably exciting.
Partnering with horses in both group and individual sessions, I
have seen kids make connections that would have taken so much longer
in
an office than it did in the arena. The knowledge of how special
these kids are has been with me for a long time, but the opportunity
to work with the horses and begin to recognize their skills and
potential in this type of work has been incredibly enriching.”
Susan holds a business degree from the University of Notre Dame,
an MBA from Northwestern University, and a Masters of Science degree
in Management Information Systems from the University of Nebraska
at Omaha. She has worked as a consultant in tax-exempt finance, a
sales consultant and a marketing analyst. She has experience teaching
both children and adults. Susan served as the District Commissioner
of the United States Pony Club for 2 years, providing experience
in internationally recognized horse management, teaching and riding
curriculum. She has owned horses for 13 years, and competed in combined
training equestrian events. Susan has been working on the Take Flight
Farms project since September, 2001. She is certified as a Registered
Instructor by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
and has completed the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) Level
I training.
Cindy received her Bachelor's degree from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). She received
certification in Nonprofit Management through the American Humanics Student Association at
UNO. Cindy grew up on a farm just outside of Dodge, NE, and has spent many years caring for both children and animals. Since moving to Omaha, she has worked with Children’s
Hospital and volunteered with numerous agencies. She was hired as
the Assistant Director of Take Flight Farms in 2005. She has since completed the EAGALA Level I training. 
Beth
Avolio graduated with her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the
University of Akron. She was employed in a variety of agency
settings while living in upstate New York, including consulting
for the Department of Social Services, Division for Youth and
Probation. In addition, she supervised doctoral students in the
graduate psychology
program at Binghamton State University and taught classes within
the program. For nine years she maintained a private practice
specializing in adolescent and family therapy. After moving to
the Omaha area
in the fall of 2002, she obtained her Nebraska Psychology License
and set up a private practice. She is a NARHA Registered Instructor
and has completed EAGALA Level II training. Beth teams with EAGALA-trained
horse specialists to provide Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions
for Take Flight Farms’ clients.
