HHHVets

Joe Cottingham, Co-founder, CEO/Executive Director

Claudia Cottingham, Co-founder

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Through the years since their marriage in 1970 when Joe returned from duty with a rifle company in the 199th Light Infantry Brigate in Vietnam, Claudia and Joe have had personal experience with some of the challenges of post-combat adjustments and the problems PTSD causes veterans and their families. They came to realize they wanted to do something to help PTSD-coping veterans who were not as fortunate as they, and to help their families.

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Knowing that many friends, as well as veterans unknown to them, did not have the support of family and friends, or adequate access to meaningful private and VA healthcare, they researched treatment and support options that have proven effective for many veterans, but they are not available to most. A year or so prior to their retirement the Cottinghams began to work to form a charity organization to offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to some of these veterans. Following extensive research and consultation with experts, this unique model of combining therapy for PTSD-coping veterans and rescued horses was born.

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A gathering of a few interested friends and new contacts quickly evolved into a fast growing network of men and women who are willing to roll up their sleeves and assist our veterans in need and women and men who love animals and are anxious to give of their time and resources to bring rescued horses into this mutually beneficial bonding experience. The officers, directors, and advisors listed here have been instrumental in making this dream a flourishing reality.

Jeff Shearer, Treasurer, Finance Committee Member, Executive Committee for Business Matters and Strategic Planning

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As one of the earliest and most active of our board members, Jeff has relied on his years of experience as a project manager with one of the Big Four accounting firms in the U.S. to set up a model non-profit accounting and funds control system for HHHvets. Besides the extensive time Jeff devotes to ensuring that every penny donated for our veterans and our horses is accounted for and spent in the wisest and most effective manner, Jeff is active in recruiting volunteers and giving hands-on assistance with the full range of HHHvets activities. His attention to detail and his vision help ensure that strong financial planning and execution are the backbone of our program's future.

Doc Jones, Member Board of Directors Finance Committee

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In the early 70s, after graduating from the University of Colorado with a MS degree in Organic Photochemistry, Doc entered the micro-electronics industry, an emerging marketplace producing large scale semiconductor computer chips. During his tenure as a manufacturing process engineer, specializing in photolithography and chemical cleaning of the integrated circuits, he was active in producing these state of the art circuits with higher than expected product yields.

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Utilizing his technical background/experience, and with other technologists, Doc ventured into the entrepreneurial phase of his career. He was instrumental in the startup generation of cleaning chemicals for the semiconductor industry. He rounded out his career in Business Development, Sales and Marketing. Doc authored more than 25 publications/seminar papers and was granted 5 US Patents. His Board of Director experience includes: Chairman of the Board for Williamson Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Prescott, AZ, and Board Member for Chemical Suppliers, Inc. which was purchased by Air Liquide of France in 1996.

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After an early retirement in 1997, Doc and his wife Loretta started Rainbow Quarter Horses, LLC in Prescott, AZ which was a successful horse breeding operation specializing in Buckskin Quarter Horses. Doc and his wife are currently residents of Rock Island, TN with their horses and dogs.

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Doc and Loretta regularly make the 5 hour round trip drive to Nashville to participate in board meetings, events and class.

Bryan Cottingham, Member, Board of Directors, Media and Publicity

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Bryan began his career in broadcasting at age 15, and has worked as TV news director, national producer for major charity telethon for several years, director for nationally televised major sports events. He has a Master's degree in Broadcast Communications. ​Since the inception of our project, before Heroes and Horses Healing was incorporated, Bryan has worked tirelessly to research necessary government filings, help identify donor markets, and assist in every facet of the startup. He has developed communications and publicity plans to allow us to reach veterans and their families, and those who want to help us help them.

Dede Beasley, Clinical Director

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When the founders of HHHvets were referred to Dede Beasley as one of Tennessee's most experienced and successful psychotherapists for people attempting to cope with all sorts of mental and emotional health issues in their lives, we were delighted to learn that she was willing to spend unlimited hours discussing with us the challenges of setting up an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy program for PTSD-coping veterans and rescued horses. We quickly learned that she had a great breadth of insight into the practical considerations of how to effectively deal with these people and horses, and an abounding compassion for people and animals.

Jane McAllister, Director of Rescued Horse Operations

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Jane has been a lifelong horse lover and has a BS and MS in Animal Industry from Penn State University. Jane founded and operates River Edge Farm Horse Rescue in Hickman County, TN. She has four grown children. After raising her family, she returned to school and got an RD with an ADN and BSN from Penn State. Since then, she has worked full-time in nursing. In addition to running the Rescue, Jane is an active member of the Hickman County Humane Society. River Edge Farm Horse Rescue provides specially selected, specially trained rescued horses for Heroes and Horses Healing therapy with our Veterans.