Board of Directors

Hello! My name is Jazmin Semple.  I have been a part of Pegasus Special Riders since I was about 15 years old.  I started as a volunteer, helping with lessons, feeding and facilities maintenance.  Now I play an active role on the board of directors. 

I grew up in Ogle County, and after a few years away, I found myself back in Oregon which reaffirmed my love for the area.  I now live in Rockford, with my dog. 

When I am not working as a banker for Blackhawk Bank, I am spending time with my family, especially my nieces, Emma and Elaina.  I also enjoy fishing, building Lego sets and reading. 

Jodi Ziegler joined the PSR team 4 years ago when she began volunteering with her daughter.  She has been enjoying a career in nursing and nursing leadership for 30 years, and serves as the Director of Nursing at Serenity Hospice and Home.  She was previously the Clinic Operations Manager for Rochelle Community Hospital, and part of the clinic management team at KSB Hospital.

Jodi has been an avid horseperson since childhood and volunteered for a therapeutic riding facility in Wisconsin as a teen.  She competed in Dressage and Eventing in her younger years, and has passed on her passion for horses to her daughter.  She and her husband, Brian, brought their family to the Oregon community 20+ years ago where they have been “hobby farmers” and sharing their love for the outdoors with their children.  Being a literal neighbor to the facility, Jodi feels invested in PSR and is excited to be a part of the board of directors.

I have lived with my husband in Ridott for 26 years.  We love going on the TCM Classic Movie cruises, books, movies, and Disney animation. I have worked in the banking industry for 40 plus years, and I am currently the Manager of loan operations with Blackhawk bank in Beloit WI.  I am in the process of training my 4 year old Friesian/Morab horse named Midnight.   She was five months old when I picked her up in Kansas, and it has been an interesting journey.  We have 5 small parrots and 2 finches, 4 of the parrots were rescue birds.  We also have a Border collie named Asta (the name comes from  the Thin Man series) and a rescue German shepherd mix named Zena.

I became interested in Pegasus Special Riders when I heard they worked with people of disabilities using horses as therapy.   I think this is an amazing organization, and I hope to help fulfill their mission.

Stacy retired from the Army in 2017 after 23 years of active-duty service as pilot and intelligence officer. During her 2+ decades in uniform she was able to travel extensively (40+ countries) and  serve with amazingly talented and dedicated Soldiers. After retiring, she returned home to the Northern IL region to complete her doctorate in education at Northern Illinois University. Currently, Stacy is working full time as an Operations Training Manager for an aerospace manufacturing organization. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities (camping, kayaking, bicycling) and spending time with family and friends—and now working with the staff and volunteers of Pegasus Special Riders.

Kelly Berns is the third generation to live on her family’s farm in Chana, Illinois, where they currently have 3 horses and a miniature donkey.  Kelly and her husband have been married for 25 years and have 4 children. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.  Kelly first became involved with Pegasus when her son, who has cerebral palsy, participated in therapeutic riding lessons. Her other 3 children and herself have all been horse feeders or helped with lessons now or in the past.  Horses are a big part of her family since both of her daughters compete nationally in the American Quarter Horse Association in western pleasure and hunter under saddle classes. She knows firsthand how beneficial therapeutic riding can be and hopes to help Pegasus Special Riders continue to provide therapeutic riding to as many individuals with disabilities as possible in our community.

I, my wife Melissa, our 2 boys Austin and Antonio moved to Lost Nation in 2017. I am originally from the small town of Ladd, where I was born and raised.  My family and I spend most of our free time outdoors if we can.  Hunting and fishing keeps the kids and me busy, but I always try making time for Melissa and me to enjoy a motorcycle ride on a nice day.  I am the Banking Center Manager for Midland States Bank in Princeton, and have previously served on the PADS homeless shelter Board.  I enjoy helping others however I can and also making sure my kids see the value in doing so too.