Meet Our Board

Cassi is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Health Policy and Administration. She is a long time resident of Loudoun County who has focused her career on serving people through many facets of the healthcare industry. Cassi has spent many years working on the insurance carrier side of the business with Aetna, Innovation Health and United Healthcare. She has also spent many years working as an insurance consultant in the world of insurance brokerage. Cassi’s focus is on improving the consumer experience by building relationships and providing superior customer service.

As the Director of Operations of the Hilb Group, Cassi manages profit and loss, service and sales, and staffing and marketing. Cassi is a process-minded leader that delivers measurable, cost-effective results to turn the organization’s vision into reality. With 18 years of experience in personnel management as well as operations, Cassi is able to design efficient and effective systems to increase organizational productivity.

Andrew has worked with Project Horse since its founding in 2008 and supports the organization as a board member, donor and volunteer. Over the years, Andrew has been involved in everything from facilities improvements, to staffing special events, to providing leadership in strategic planning sessions.

Andrew is CEO of Telogical Systems, a mid-size privately held competitive intelligence and software development firm. Andrew’s management philosophy focuses on building a strong company culture based on transparency, respect, and intellectual vigilance. Since taking over as CEO of Telogical Systems, the organization has grown ten-fold.

Andrew possesses 18 years of experience in financial management, and in his role as Treasurer, Andrew brings best practices from the for-profit sector to Project Horse’s not-for-profit reporting, metrics development and tracking, and budget and cashflow forecasting, to ensure optimal utilization of resources.

Andrew received a BA in Modern Languages and a BS in Economics from The College of William and Mary in 1987 and a Master’s in International Business Studies from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in 1992.

Tom has nearly 20 years of experience as a consultant to non-profit, government, and business organizations. For over half of his career, he advised and supported executive- and management-level clients as a member of “Big 4” firms BearingPoint and Deloitte Consulting, the latter in which he served as Organization Strategies Service Offering Lead. Tom has helped more than 60 organizations across sectors and industries, in the US and abroad, to be at their best through strategic planning, market engagement, talent management, organization design, and change acceptance and integration.

In 2014, Tom launched Snowflake, a small consultancy based in Loudoun County, Virginia, specifically to help organizations that work to improve the quality of life for individuals and their communities. Tom offers his large consulting firm background experiences, perspectives, and professionalism to all organizations dedicated to making positive social impact. In addition to consulting, Tom writes articles and provides trainings to non-profits, on a broad range of topics. Tom graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with Distinction from the University of Delaware, and earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland.

Tom plays an integral role in Project Horse’s strategic planning process, including advising on board development and recruitment, donor engagement and retention, and strategic marketing in order to achieve sustainability.

Darcy grew up riding and competing horses, then left for other pursuits as a young adult. Darcy holds an MBA in International Business, with a specialization in marketing, and has worked for large multinational corporations like Michelin Tire Corporation and Colgate-Palmolive. She has also worked as a marketing and business development consultant in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

During a period of professional soul-searching, Darcy returned to her passion for horses. It was at this time that Darcy serendipitously came across the Thoroughbred horse, now known as Reeses. The mare had been neglected and tossed aside since she could no longer be ridden due to an untreated injury. Rescuing and rehabilitating Reeses strengthened Darcy's long-time belief that horses are powerful and intuitive healers, and together Reeses and Darcy officially founded Project Horse in 2008.

In addition to managing Project Horse’s continued growth and expanding operations, Darcy is very involved with new program development, delivery of client services, marketing and fundraising. Darcy is an EAGALA-certified Equine Specialist, co-facilitating individual, family and group programs. Darcy is currently in the process of becoming certified in Trauma Focused-Equine Assisted Psychotherapy™ as an equine specialist. Darcy and Fiona Fudge, one of the Mobile Minis™ outreach team members, have appeared on NBC News Channel 4/Today and The Pet Show with Dr. Katy by ABC/News Channel 8.

Damon is an accomplished veteran, technology consultant, and business leader with nearly 20 years of diversified defense, corporate sales, marketing, and business operations experience. 

Damon has worked for a variety of technology consulting firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, and CACI. Most recently, Damon serves as a Senior Director of BAE Systems for business development and capture, providing technical subject matter expertise to the U.S. Government and Defense Industry.  During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Damon deployed as a forward senior program manager and embedded technical advisor for the U.S. Intelligence and Special Operations communities.

Damon and his family are residents of Loudoun County. Over the years, Damon has advocated for causes supporting disabled Veterans and their families who have suffered traumatic experiences. Damon will enhance Project Horse’s outreach to new patrons, donors, as well as other advocacy support groups.

Prior to joining the defense industry, Damon enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry and was later commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer. In May 2003, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and received his Executive MBA at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in 2015.

Stephanie is a charter member of 100 Women Strong, a private foundation serving Loudoun County, and currently serves as Grant Coordinator. Stephanie serves on the boards of both Project Horse and A Place to Be.  She volunteers with The Equine Rescue League and with other animal organizations, and is also active in bringing awareness to childhood cancer.

Stephanie Place was born in Southern California and moved to Northern Virginia at the age of 13.  She is a graduate of Virginia Tech with an Animal Science Degree.  She is a stay at home mom, currently lives in Broadlands with her husband of 24 years, 21-year-old son, two dogs, two cats and two horses.  Stephanie has owned and showed horses since she was eight years old.  She has competed in Hunters, Jumpers, Western and Eventing.  Stephanie currently rides Dressage and competes with her Morgan Pony at Prix St. George.

She is an avid sports fan, especially anything related to The Washington Nationals and Virginia Tech Hokies. In her spare time, she loves playing tennis, riding her horses and training dogs.