Meet the 2010 AETA Officers and Board of Directors

OFFICERS

 

PRESIDENT
Don Warren – Owner – Cabin Branch Tack Shop
232 SW Broad Street, Southern Pines, NC 28388
910-692-8241

Don Warren was born in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill with a BS and DDS degree, and completed his residency training, MS and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1963, he joined UNC’s dental and medical school faculty. For 39 years, Warren acted as the Director of UNC’s Craniofacial Center. He was named Distinguished Professor in 1980 and held council positions and presidency of the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. Warren was honored with multiple other distinguished awards throughout his medical career. In 2004, Warren retired from teaching, treating patients and doing NIH-supported research. Warren and his wife, Perci, purchased Cabin Branch Tack Shop in 1996 after moving to Southern Pines, NC in 1992. The shop has been in operation since 1954. The Warrens have been involved in breeding, training, boarding and selling horses for more than 40 years. They hunt with the Moore County Hounds. Warren served as the president of the Red Mountain Foxhounds for several years. He and his wife were both founding members of the organization.

 

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VICE PRESIDENT
Marvin Wilker – Owner – Wilker’s Custom Horse Products
130 Seaboard Lane, #14, Franklin, TN 37064
615-377-6077
 
Marvin Wilker has been actively involved in the equine industry for more than 35 years. In addition, he also has experience manufacturing pajamas and bathrobes. Marvin owns and rides horses.

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TREASURER
Cathy Sacher – President -- Essex Classics
223 West Poplar Street, Fleetwood, PA 19522
800-433-1802

Cathy Sacher graduated from Duke University with a degree in Economics. She later attended Tulane University where she got her MBA. After graduating, Cathy worked in corporate banking at Wachovia in North Carolina and Republic Bank in Texas. Since 1986, her company, Essex Classics, has been a trend-setting manufacturer of riding shirts for men and women.

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PRESIDENT-ELECT
Tony Coppola – President – The Tackeria, Inc.
13501 South Shore Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414
561-793-2012
t.c.polo@worldnet.att.net
Tony Coppola has been actively involved in the equine industry for more than 35 years. His industry experience includes wholesale and manufacturing, and importing of leather goods and polo equipment. Coppola has ridden horses for 50 years and played polo for more than 40 years. He is on the Board of the Polo Hall of Fame and Museum, the Board of the U.S. Polo Association and the Polo Training Foundation. His son also competes in shows and polo.

 

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IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Frances Bowers – Owner – Saddlers Row
Palatine, IL

847-776-7600

Frances Bower’s first retail store was Barrington Saddlery, in Barrington, IL. In 1976 she opened the doors of Saddlers Row in Palatine, IL, and in 2009 she added a second store, Saddlers Row North in Bristol, WI to her retail operations. The mother of a daughter and three grandchildren (the lights of her life), Frances spends as much of what little spare time she has with her family.

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DIRECTORS

Ron Cimini – President – Tory Leather Co.
1318 Commerce Park Drive, Williamsport, PA 17701
570-321-5423

Ron Cimini began his equestrian career in 1969 as a Sales Rep for Tex Tan Western. Two years later, he was promoted to Sales Manager for Tex Tan. In 1976, Cimini purchased Dr. Davies Products Co., which manufactured Barring Saddlery horse products and rat poison. In the fall of that year, he started Tory Belt & Leather Co. making Western belts. At the same time that he started Tory, he went to work for Roy Martin at Buford Saddlery developing a line of straps for Billy Cook. Today, Cimini spends his time running Tory Leather Co.

 

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John Craven – Vice President – Intrepid International
116 King Court, New Holland, PA 17557
717-354-4822

John Craven completed his undergraduate degree in International Business from the University of Salamanca in Spain. After finishing his graduate degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Craven managed Southland’s Farm in Rhinebeck, NY where he was the head trainer, instructor and farm manager. In 1990-1991, Craven was the sales manager for Ulster International. From 1991-2002, he worked for Miller’s Harness Company doing International Sales. Later Craven and his partner Kim Roberts created and ran Haddington Green Gift and Stationary Company. In 2004, he sold Haddington Green to Intrepid International. Craven has worked for Intrepid International ever since as the Vice President.

 

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Holly Lemanski – Midwest Equestrian Sales Rep – Lemanski Sales Associates
23277 N. Providence Drive, Kildeer, IL 60047
847-404-4667

Holly Lemanski is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Prior to her work in the equestrian market, she worked in the toy industry for two years. Holly also worked for Saddlers Row, a prominent retail operation. For the
last eight years, Holly has worked as an equestrian sales representative in the Midwest. Holly currently represents Charles Owen, World Equestrian Brands, Union Hill and The Walsh Companies. She is married to Tom Lemanski and has two children – Kevin, 28 and Laura 24. Her daughter, Laura, rides and competes in intercollegiate competitions for Purdue University.

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Lilo Navales – President and Designer – Leather Goods of Spain/LILO Collections
12733 Oak Lake Court, Suite A, Midlothian, VA 23112
804-744-0900
 
Prior to founding Leather Goods of Spain, Lilo Navales worked for 13 years at a prominent New England financial institution in community affairs and also worked for their foundation as a grant maker. Lilo is fluent in Spanish and looks forward to putting her skills towards developing a stronger Hispanic equestrian presence. She has been riding English for pleasure since she was five. Lilo owns and rides her Thoroughbred and is an avid skier and triathlete, training towards her first Ironman.

 

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Carla Perri – President – Perri’s Leather & Metal Crafters, Inc.
1882 New London Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352
610-255-4199 x 108

Carla Perri graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Carla has been in the tack business since she graduated college in 1986 – first working for a tack store for 13 years before starting Perri’s Leather. Perri’s Leather will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary in March 2010. Carla has been active with horses ever since she received her first pony at 8-years-old. As a child, she was an active member of 4-H and later competed in the Quarter Horse Circuit as an adult. Carla believes that it is very important to give back to an industry that has given her so much. At Perri’s, they focus on helping others in the industry by sponsoring the IHSA, IDA, USPC and the PA State 4-H Horse Show along with many other dealer-related events. When Carla is not working, she and her husband spend time caring for all the animals on their farm, which includes one horse, one miniature horse, two miniature donkeys, three miniature cows, five dogs and a cat.

 

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Izzy Strauss – President – Intec Corporation
21 Industrial Drive, Clifford Beach, NJ 07735
732-290-3000

Izzy Strauss graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Management Engineering Technology. He spent more than two decades as senior management with several major apparel companies before helping Miller Harness through the next decade as a Product Division Executive. In 1997, Izzy and his partner Frank Plastino started Intec Performance Gear. After 10 years, Intec holds numerous equine-related patents and has expanded its offerings to include hundreds of best-selling equestrian products.