Board of Directors Biographies

Jamie Wright 

 Jamie has been involved with Arabians, and a member of WAHA in particular, for over 20 years. Jamie is the current Vice President, WAHA Youth Coordinator, and participant in several committees, including the open and rated show committees. Recently, she has been the barn and show manager for the WAHA Spring Fling and the WAHA August Show. In her younger years, Jamie was on the executive board of the WAHA Youth group as well as her 4-H group, which is part of what prompted her to take on the WAHA Youth Coordinator role. She longs to see the youth group grow into the active club it once was – providing opportunities for youth members to be on the judging team and/or be a delegate at Youth Convention, or to simply get the youth members together routinely so they can continue to build relationships outside of the show ring, and she would love to have a similar impact on the larger club as well. Jamie is interested in building relationships and encouraging people to try something new – joining a committee in which they see room for improvement, volunteering at a horse show or other event, promoting the Arabian breed, etc. Jamie shows her Half-Arabian, PHF On the Virg++/, in sport horse and dressage. 

 Nyssa Sheridan 

Nyssa Sheridan is a scientist at heart.  She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from UW-River Falls in 2009 followed by a Master’s in Bacteriology in 2012 from UW-Madison.  She has been working as a medical microbiologist for the past decade. 

Outside of the laboratory, she spends her time in equestrian activities.  First introduced to horses as a youth through Camp Anokijig, a non-profit summer camp in the Kettle Moraine, she now owns two Arabian horses of her own.  She is a board member of the non-profit therapeutic riding group, Horse Power Healing Center.  Nyssa is often found in the show ring with her amateur trained, owned, and bred purebred mare “No Greater Honor” aka “Chili”. Chili does a bit of everything: trail riding, driving, dressage, western dressage, and sport horse in hand.

Nyssa strives to include others that don’t normally show, or typically just show at open shows.  She loves the Arabian horse and can often be found promoting in and out of the show ring, especially with the therapeutic riding group Horse Power Healing Center—one of the few therapy groups that prefers and loves Arabian and part-Arabian horses. 

Nyssa has been on the board of directors since 2016.

Nicole Fink 

My name is Nicole Fink, and I am serving the Wisconsin Arabian Horse Association as Secretary. I have been involved with Arabians since the young age of 5. I was riding before I could walk! I grew up as a 4H and FFA kid, learning about agriculture in my small country community. My passion within the Arabian community is Sport Horse and Dressage, but I have also shown in the Pleasure ring and bring knowledge of both to the club. I serve on several committees within WAHA, and I also am a part of the Region 10 Sport Horse Committee.   I currently own two amateur trained and shown mares, FVF Seakhret Always++ and FVF Mandarin Fizz. Being around horses basically my entire life, has given me confidence to start my own from babies. These two have taken me to the national level of competition for in hand, dressage and under saddle. Professionally, I am heavily involved in the dental field. Oral Hygiene is a second passion of mine when I’m not horsing around.   My mom and I own and operate Valley Hill Arabians, located in South Central Wisconsin. As of January 2025, our farmette is a registered Discovery Farm with the Arabian Horse Association and we look forward to sharing our girls with the country community. 

Deb Duick 

I have owned and bred Arabian horses for over 40 years and have been involved as an exhibitor, officer, show committee member, and delegate.  I have seen a lot of changes in the clubs, shows, and even the horses during this time.  As a delegate I am a voting member of the amateur committee and the equine stress/research and education committee.  I have no strong alliance to any one discipline and believe we need to show people all the things our breed can do in order to attract new owners/members and keep existing members with us.  Professionally, I am a CPA with my company offices in Elkhorn and Clinton.  I have over 40 years' experience in accounting, tax, and dealing with people.  I have been the treasurer of Elkhorn Rotary for 21 years, WAHA & NIAHAC for about 12, and Region 10 for 7 years.  I am well aware of changes in the economy and in technology and the effects they have on our horse industry, both good and bad.  I live outside of Whitewater on the property Steve and I built and own 13 horses.

 Jessica Dillingham 

 Jessica is a camp person at heart, I went to summer camp at Camp Anokijig as a kid where my parents thought I would swim all week in a lake and instead I walked down the hill and rode my first horse. It’s easy to say I was hooked on horses.

 I have been a member since 2013 and on the board since 2017, and horses have been part of my life since I was a kid. Fast forward to now I am a Program Director at Camp Anokijig the summer camp I rode my first horse, which has led me to horse ownership and I currently own an Arabian mare Nisa WRA. I have had a few horses over the last few years, but currently Tulip who is a younger mare I hope to show in hand, dressage, all sorts of things and most importantly being an ambassador for the breed at camp. In the past I have shown in the main ring Hunter Division, Sport Horse in Hand, Trail and Dressage.  As a summer camp director I organize a lot of events, I work with a lot volunteers, and enjoy making events happening.  I have been involved in multiple committees in my time with the board, most recently the rated show committee and I am Region 10 Delegate for the club. I am also a Volunteer EMT for Elkhart Lake EMS at home and enjoy this volunteer role.  

Karissa Held 

 I first joined WAHA as a youth member, participating in the judging team, points programs, and youth board.  I joined the WAHA board of directors after graduating from college (B.S. Chemistry) and am involved in creating the newsletters and various show committees.  I have two purebred Arabian geldings that I show in the sport horse and western dressage divisions.  I have also previously shown in the hunter pleasure, western pleasure, 4H, WIHA, and open show divisions.  In addition to showing, I enjoy trail riding and camping with my older gelding.  We have enjoyed the trails in states such as Colorado, South Dakota, and North Dakota. 

Amber Severson  

I have been on the WAHA Board of Directors since January 2023. I am on several WAHA committees, as well as managing the Points Program System. I grew up with Arabians my whole life. We have a very special half Arabian pinto, Toby. He was born in 1994 with my family and was also the 2022 WAHA Ambassador. Currently my family owns 5 horses - 2 Friesians, 1 Purebred Arabian, and 2 Half Arabians. I grew up showing at open shows and in 4H, however, have stepped back from showing several years ago as my children are showing in 4H, at local shows, and the Friesian and Arabian breed level. It was always my dream to show at the breed level, so I am happy to be able to make this happen for my children. My daughter and I also exhibit our Friesians and an Arabian at Midwest Horse Fair every year. I have also been a 4H leader for a Dane County 4H club for about 10 years now. My passion is to truly help others in any way I can and watch them succeed/have fun!  In my professional side, I am a Supervisor of Quality Audit for a Health Insurance company.

Mason Spencer 

 Mason has been an animal enthusiast ever since he could walk, and the draw to horses started at about that same time. He acquired his first Arabian at 13 and there was no looking back. Mason has been a WAHA member since his youth years, but this is his first term on the board (starting in January of 2023) and he is looking forward to becoming even more involved in the future as time and experiences allow.   

Mason graduated with a degree in Dairy Science/Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville and currently work as an IVF Embryologist.  He lives in Stoughton, Wisconsin with his fiancé Jay and their house full of dogs. Mason currently owns 3 purebred mares and shows periodically from the open show level to the national level.   

Mason loves to share the Arabian horse breed with all and encourages anyone and everyone to get involved and give new experiences a try! There is always something new to learn with each experience no matter what the task is, and the relationships built through those experiences are a phenomenal bonus. 

Jessica Hornung 

I have been on the WAHA Board of Directors since January 2024.  My husband Quinn and I own a farmette in Arlington, WI.  We have our Arabian horses and mini ponies, chickens, dogs, cats and three children, Landon, Livia, and Leo. 

I worked at Exact Sciences for many years as the CEO and Board of Directors Meeting/Event Planner. I am a stay at home mom now and in my free time I teach beginner horse experience classes. In 2023 I taught over 50 kids in four months about arabian horses. I have been apart of AHA and WAHA for almost 20 years. I was WAHA youth vice president when I was in high school. I have shown on the Arabian rated A, regional and national level. I graduated from William Woods University with a BS degree in Graphic Design and minor in Equine Management. I competed on their saddle-seat and western equestrian team all four years in college.

Jeana Radosevich 

My name is Jeana Radosevich. I have been a member of WAHA since 1998. I am a current director and have previously served as club secretary as well. I work as an assistant horse trainer with Dan Barker Training Services, LLC. I also have my real estate license and currently work as an associate agent for the Redfin Corporation.

I have been involved in Arabian horses since I was a youth and have been honored to work with and show them at many levels, and in many disciplines. I currently have a half-Arab mare, Afire Love C, aka Rosé. We began our show career together last year, competing in half-Arabian hunter pleasure.

Stephanie Ernst

With over 35 years of experience in the equestrian world, I am honored to be on the WAHA Board of Directors. After a brief hiatus, I’ve recently returned to the horse community with my 3-year-old gelding, Zeus, and am thoroughly enjoying showing him, reconnecting with friends

and making new ones, and embracing the future of my equestrian journey.

My experience with Arabians spans both the main ring and, more recently, the sport horse world, allowing me to bring a well-rounded perspective and appreciation for the diversity of our breed.

As a nurse and Clinical Director of two assisted living communities, I’ve cultivated leadership skills

grounded in compassion, strategic thinking, and collaboration.

I’m excited to combine my professional expertise with my lifelong love of horses to support WAHA’s mission, strengthen our membership, and promote inclusivity across all

disciplines. I am committed to ensuring the long-term success and growth of WAHA while celebrating

the traditions that make our club what it has been for so many years.

Ashley Hoffman

With over 25 years in the dressage court and a lifelong Arabian enthusiast I am proud to be

on the WAHA Board of Directors. After college and starting my career in Agriculture I returned

back to the show ring with my mare Joie De Vivre NVF in 2019. Since then I have successful bred and

shown two homebreds HF Its Miller Thyme+/ and Semply Joieful HF to numerous Regional and National Titles. I enjoy the sport horse/dressage ring but have recently branched out to the main ring/pleasure ring as well.

Personally, I am a Territory Business Manager with Koch Agronomic Services and live on our family farm with my husband Josh and our 4-year-old daughter Scout. Agriculture runs deep in my roots.