Candidates for the 2026 - 2027 SCCHA Board of Directors

Online voting will open on March 10th.  Members will be notified via email when polls are open.  The online poll will close at 10am on March 17th.  Our annual election meeting is March 17th; you may nominate additional candidates and vote in person at that meeting up to 7pm.

 

Darren Hawks, running for President

Hi everyone! I have been on the board for a couple of years now, serving as your membership secretary, and I would be proud to serve as president this year. Our board last year got the ball rolling on many fronts, and now we would like to really see what our members want and how we can better serve them. Expect a year of reaching out, listening, and shaping our goals and ideas towards what you want to see. There will be lots of new blood on the board this year, with new ideas and fresh energy.

I personally have big goals for 2026. I really want to focus on bringing along my two 6-year-old Morgans, Hero and Ringo. Watch for us out there!

Patsy Johnston, running for Secretary

Jill Camacho, running for Treasurer

My name is Jill Camacho and I will be running for the Treasurer position.  I have a background in accounting and treasury as I do this for a living.  I am also a volunteer as treasurer for Santa Cruz Pop Warner football and cheer program.   As for my horse background, I have had horses since I was a little girl, I have shown horses, worked at packstations in the sierras, I currently work as a scribe for AQHA.  I am looking forward to supporting and being a part of this Horse community!

Karen Bish

I'm a lifelong horse lover and rider starting very young on the back of my sisters horse horrifying my mom by hanging onto my sister yelling "faster Linney go faster". In 2006 my Omega and I completed Tevis one of my proudest accomplishments. I have been on the BOD for SCCHA for a few years helping out with various things and I'm glad to participate again.  Our showgrounds are the envy of other clubs but it takes plenty of volunteers and the board works hard to keep the grounds in great shape and to host events that our members may participate in. If I'm elected to serve again I'm glad to be there and help it wherever needed. 

Eliza Cole

Hello SCCHA Members and thanks for reading,

I grew up a crazy horse obsessed girl on the east coast outside of Boston, MA. As a young girl I did everything I could to learn about horses and help my fellow equestrians. I’ve lived in the Santa Cruz Co area for around 20 years and worked at several local barns. Also a local realtor, musician, and pet/house sitter with experience in hunter/jumper, dressage, western and trail riding as a competitor and trainer. It would be my honor to be considered for a board member position at SCCHA.  

Suzanne Cornelius

I've been an SCCHA member for 5 years and have loved the facility, the events and the folks I've met there. Like many members I'm concerned about the increasing erosion of equestrian facilities all around us and would like to do what I can to support SCCHA. I'm a strong believer in supporting our area clubs and related businesses; I served on the Summit Riders Board, volunteered for the Bear Creek Stables effort and am currently trail volunteer for California State Parks Santa Cruz District, Santa Clara County Parks, Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District and San Mateo County Volunteer Trail Patrol. Currently I also volunteer for California State Horsemen's Association as newsletter editor and am gaining a much better understanding of statewide equestrian issues. My husband and I have a small paddock paradise boarding business near Summit Road for our two horses and boarders. My corporate experience includes public relations, journalism, marketing and special events; I'm also a professional musician.

Laurie DeLalla

Over the years I’ve loved listening to the stories of members who grew up at SCCHA and all the memories they have had playing with their horses and ponies.  The pictures in the Club House say it all!  Supporting the next generation of horse people has always been a large passion of mine.  The past and present board members and volunteers have created such a wonderful facility for so many life long memories to be had!  I feel I’m ready to step onto the board of directors and learn from the current leaders what it takes to keep this magical place running.

As a young child the first touch of the horse opened the door to a lifelong learning journey of everything horse!  As a young gymnast with the passion for horses, I stumbled into the sport of vaulting.  I was fortunate enough to have the freedom to be a true barn rat, caring for and exercising the vaulting horses. During the college hunt, a career counselor suggested looking at schools with Equine Programs (who knew)! 

After graduating from The University of Findlay with a BS in Equine Science, I dove head first into the high-end sport horse world.  While I have burnt out many times and worn many hats working in the Equine Industry, my current passion is connecting and listening to the horse.  With the goal of connecting to a “think it” horse.  I care for BnL Ranch, in Aptos, where I enjoy introducing humans of all ages, to horses on “horse time”.   I am also an equine bodyworker (Masterson Method ® Certified Practitioner) and enjoy helping horses move to the best of their ability.  I am very passionate about equine continuing education, and would love to bring more equine learning actives to the club!

With a life long background in everything horse, including managing large facilitates.  I truly know the amount of work, time, and money that goes into maintaining arenas and property!   I feel like, my experience working in the horse industry would be a wonderful asset to the SCCHA Board of Directors.

Lorraine Flores

Laurel Harlamoff

I’m Laurel and I grew up riding ponies around Soquel.  At 16, I started riding my aunt and uncle’s endurance horses in the Swanton area to help with conditioning.   I also helped and rode in their endurance rides that they put on for years.  After their ranch burn down in the CZU fire I was back owning my own horse.  Now that's Beau, my I can doing any Morgan! I sure admire the breed.  We’ve been on a lot of adventures together through trail riding, endurance rides, camping and solo packing into the sierras.  I enjoy helping to keep the county’s horse trails open and in good shape. 

Carol Kelley

Michael Riese