Efter flera år av framgångar och en sport som växer snabbt, har man nu satt igång en förändringsprocess i NRHA, läs pressmeddelandet:
Morris, Rinehart, Wrigley and Megel Promoted • Potter, Bergin and Pigg Join Team
The NRHA has witnessed tremendous success over the past decade in membership growth, show and event participation, affiliate development and membership programs, as well as expansion in marketing and sponsorship efforts. To continue with this forward momentum, NRHA is proud to announce department structure changes including four in-house promotions, the creation of two new positions and three new hires. In-house promotions include Christa Morris, Melanie Rinehart, Michelle Wrigley and Shianne Megel. Lauren Bergin and Chris Potter fill roles newly created at NRHA while Kasie Pigg steps in to fill an open position.
Morris will now serve as the Senior Director of Marketing with duties in marketing, communications and animal welfare. She joined NRHA in 2008 as Manager of Marketing & Communications and has headed the department since 2010. Her responsibilities include serving as staff liaison for the Marketing and Animal Welfare Committees. Before being employed at NRHA, she was Senior Manager of Youth Activities/AQHYA for the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Director of Racing Programs for AQHA, board member of the American Youth Horse Council and Director of Communications for the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association. Morris is a Yukon, Oklahoma native with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science – Business and a minor in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University.
Rinehart has now been promoted to Director of Events for the organization. The Events Department manages all of NRHA’s major annual events like the NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby. Rinehart started her career at NRHA in 2004 in the Member Services Department as a Customer Service Representative and was then promoted to Member Services Supervisor. Rinehart has been an asset to NRHA with involvement in many membership, show and affiliate projects including serving as the Supervisor of the Show Department, Eligibility Committee liaison, Show Standards Committee liaison and Futurity and Derby Stalling coordinator. Rinehart, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, attended the University of Oklahoma and received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations.
Now serving as the Director of Membership Services & Judges is Michelle Wrigley. In her seven years at NRHA, Wrigley has obtained a wealth of knowledge in virtually every program area related to membership services. She began as Sire & Dam Program Coordinator, but was later promoted to Judges Program Supervisor. In her most recent function, she led the department as Manager of Member Services & Judges Program. Wrigley interacted with numerous committees as staff liaison for the Sire & Dam, NRHA Professionals, Affiliate, Judges, Show Steward and Bylaw committees. She earned an associate’s degree from Redlands Community College, bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in Animal Science – Equine Nutrition from West Texas A&M University.
Shianne Megel joined NRHA in 2010 as RHSF & NRHA Youth Programs Assistant. The Seibert, Colorado native now leads these areas as Supervisor of RHSF & NRHA Youth Programs. Before her employment at NRHA, Megel worked for the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project as Outreach & Communications Assistant, Texas Beef Council as Consumer Marketing Specialist and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum as Administrative Assistant. She has contributed to the agriculture industry as a member for Great Plains Ag Credit Board, a university representative for Ag Workers Mutual Insurance and a member for the Texas A&M System Chancellors Student Advisory Board. Prior to graduating from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Agriculture Education and Leadership, she served her home state as a State FFA and 4-H Officer.
Moving into the new position of Senior Director of Shows & Affiliate Programs is Chris Potter. As such, Potter will oversee Affiliate, Events, Membership and Show departments. His experience will add greatly to all departments, as well as NRHA’s new initiatives for affiliate development. In his most recent capacity, Potter worked with many clients including the National Reining Breeders Classic and National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) as Vice President of Pro Management. He also served as show manager for the NRCHA. The Port Allegany, Pennsylvania native worked for NRHA from 1997 to 2002 as Events Coordinator and then Director of Events. Potter continued his involvement with the Association by serving on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2008. He attended Pennsylvania State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science – Business. He and his wife Kelly reside in Purcell, Oklahoma and are expecting their first child this summer.
NRHA has enlisted Lauren Bergin to serve in the newly created role of Marketing & Sponsorship Coordinator. Bergin has gained tremendous professional experience through internships with Fleishman-Hillard, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the High Plains Observer. She also worked as Marketing and Public Relations Assistant at the Texas A&M Career Center, columnist for Maroon Weekly and Student Worker for Dean’s Office in the College of Agriculture. Bergin was elected to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Council for terms as President and Vice President of Relations. She will complete her Master of Science in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Texas A&M University this summer.
Pueblo, Colorado native Kasie Pigg has joined the team as RHSF & NRHA Youth Programs Assistant. Pigg has acquired knowledge in various areas of equine and agriculture activities working for Show Champions in livestock show photo sales, Texas Tech University Office of Marketing and Communications as a video services intern, The Pueblo Chieftan as a city reporter/intern and MyHorse.com with product reviews. The National FFA American Degree recipient is a former Miss Rodeo Colorado, Miss Rodeo America fourth runner-up, Colorado State FFA Reporter and Colorado State High School Rodeo Association Queen. Pigg graduated from Texas Tech University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications with an emphasis in Electronic Communications.
