TRACC Board of Directors

Mr. Rob Frey, Esq - Board President

A graduate of Carlisle High School, Rob received his Bachelor's Degree from Franklin and Marshall College and his Juris Doctorate from the Dickinson School of Law. He is a partner in the law firm of Frey & Tiley and has practiced law in Carlisle for 20 years.

He and his wife, Deb, are the parents of two girls, Courtney, an enthusiastic TRACC rider for several years, and Angela, a budding rider and supporter of TRACC's horse, Timmy. In addition to the TRACC board, Rob has served on the Dickinson Township Municipal Authority and various boards and committees of Second Presbyterian Church, Carlisle.

Mr. Bill Chain - Vice President

Bill makes his home in Carlisle in a beautiful 1849 farm house with his wife Jane and daughter Julia. Bill's background has included owner/operator of a farm in Newburg, PA for 19 years while also enjoying a teaching career in Agriculture at the Shippensburg Area School District. Educational leadership has become his career focus as Bill serves as Superintendent of Schools in the Fairfield Area School District, Adams County. Bill enjoys volunteering with the Therapeutic Riding Association of Cumberland County and other non-profit organizations. Hobbies include accompanying his daughter to horse event outings, flying, kayaking, antiquing, and visiting historic sites.

Ms. Janelle Bender - Treasurer

Janelle Bender, a Cumberland County native, has volunteered with therapeutic riding programs for several years. As member of the Pennsylvania Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship, she is currently enrolled in their Instructor in Training Program. She is employed at Stackpole Books in Mechanicsburg, and enjoys speaking of herself in the third person.

Dr. David Twining

Dr. Twining is a graduate of Michigan State University with masters degrees from both Syracuse University and Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University. After 30 years in the Army with two tours in Vietnam, he retired as a Colonel. He previously served as Associate Dean at Shippensburg University. Dr Twining is now retired and serves as a supervisor in West Pennsboro Twp. He is a past president of TRACC and current board member.

Ms. Tara Brenner, MPT
Tara been practicing as a Physical Therapist for the last 13 years. Areas of focus have been in outpatient practice and acute inpatient care. At present, Tara is employed by Carlisle Regional Medical Center as a senior therapist and serves as Clinical Supervisor for the outpatient therapy department.

She has been an active participant with TRACC since 1997 as a volunteer, physical therapist, and Board Member. Her active role in TRACC stems from both her Physical Therapy background and as well as a long history of equine-related activities.

Ms. Patricia B. Grier, PT - Secretary

Graduate of Russel Sage College-Albany Medical College School of Physical Therapy in 1975. Originally a native of upstate New York, Pat, spouse Robert, and 3 children have resided in Carlisle since 1975. Physical Therapy has been performed in a variety of settings, home base, hospital, extended care facility, CAIU, and private practice. Pat has worked with all ages, infants to geriatrics. She started her own practice in 1982, and developed her current private practice, known as Alexander Spring Rehab , in 1987. That business is in its twentieth year of providing Physical Therapy services to folks in the Carlisle area. Enticed by a PT colleague, she has been involved with the TRACC program since 1998. TRACC continues to be her passion, working with families, volunteers and horses.

Trish Bankes and Dakota

Ms. Trish Bankes - Friends of TRACC

Trish Bankes, a specialty sales manager of Stackpole Books, calls Doubling Gap her home. Three of their four children have flown the nest with the fourth slated to finish high school next year. Trish is often found at work on the endless “it’ll only take a weekend” and “round-to-it projects” with her husband. In between work and home she and her husband escape to and explore trout streams with a fly rod. Trish finds peace at the barn with her 15 year old half-Mustang pinto, Dakota.

Horses and ponies have always been a part of Trish’s life and as a volunteer she shares her passion for them with the children who participate in TRACC’s program. Trish looks forward to the challenge of her new role as Friends of TRACC president. She anticipates Friends of TRACC will create more public awareness, and enable TRACC to gain additional community support and resources so more children will enjoy and participate in TRACC’s therapeutic riding program in the future.

Mr. Kent Frese

President of Leadership Management Institute, a local leadership and organizational development firm. Kent holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University. He is also certified for high and low ropes training. He has also served as a skiing instructor and coach for over 16 years. Kent is married to Lisa Marie Frese and the father of two girls, Olivia and Nevina. Olivia is an avid TRACC rider and horse lover.

Mr. Denny Carney

I got my Private License in the Cessna 150 in 1966 and took my test at Alleghany County Airport with an FAA examiner. I had a Demonstration of Ability Test with the FAA. A lot of the test was taxing to demonstrate my ability to control the aircraft on the ground.

I did have an interesting experience during the flight test the Examiner ask me "IF the engine quits should you stop the prop for better gliding?" I wasn't sure sooo he reached over and turned off the engine and pulled up the plane till the prop stopped turning and then said "where are we going to land" I picked out a field south of Alleghany County Airport and proceeded to set up a landing in a field that had been an old coal strip mine. The FAA Examiner reached over and pulled out the starter and the little Cessna 150's engine came alive and we climbed back up and went back to the airport and signed my student license. I was a Private Pilot. "WOW"

In 1993, after reading about the IWA's airplane rides for special needs children at the John Wayne airport, I decided to call a Spina Bifida Chapter and ask them if they were interesting in having me give their Spina Bifida kids airplane rides with me a Spina Bifida person...