BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Samantha Sandford - President
Dennis Kampe - Vice President
John Lane - Treasurer
Laura Venneri - Secretary
Kelly Kidd - Board Member
SAMANTHA SANDFORD - pRESIDENT
Samantha Sandford is one of the founding members of the Foundation. She has a longstanding passion and life with horses. She has been riding since she was a child where she was active in 4-H (14 years as Participant / 4-H Leader) and participant in various equine events (barrel racing, rodeo, gaming, trail riding). She understands the positive impact equine activities has had on her from a very young age and is passionate about continuing the opportunity for equine events in the community for generations to come.
Samantha is a resident of Battle Ground, Washington. She has over 18 years of experience in the banking industry, primarily in commercial lending. She currently is a Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager for Columbia Credit Union. Samantha has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Eastern Oregon University. She is a graduate of Leadership Clark County. She volunteers for the Free Clinic of SW Washington, as part of their Development Committee and the Friends of the Free Clinic. She is a member and volunteer of the Washington Trail Riders Association, Back Country Horsemen Association and Clark County Saddle Club.
During her free time, you will typically find Samantha outdoors either horseback riding, camping, kayaking, hiking, gardening, playing fetch with her dogs or taking in the sights local and abroad.
DENNIS KAMPE - VICE PRESIDENT
Dennis Kampe is one of the founding members of the Foundation. He has been involved with horses and rodeos since his membership in the Clark County Saddle Club as a youth. Both his father and mother as well as his son have been the Chair of the Saddle Club Board.
Dennis began his working career as a journeyman machinist before starting his career in education. Dennis served as the Director of the Clark County Skills Center (Cascadia Technical Academy) for 22 years where he led the center in earning the status as one of the top three schools in the nation by Business Week Magazine. Throughout his career as an educator he was awarded such recognition as the Washington State Career and Technical Educator of the Year in 2011, the Washington State Outstanding Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year in 2010, an outstanding civic leader in 2009 by Clark County Mayors and a Red Cross Good Samaritan Hero in 2000 as well as several other accolades.
Dennis has been a board member of several organizations including Leadership Clark County, Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, Washington Association of Vocational Administrators, Washington State Skills Center Association and the Southwest Washington CTE Directors Association. He is currently employed by Cascadia Technical Academy Foundation.
JOHN LANE - TREASURER
John Lane is a founding member of Clark County Equine Foundation. John has been involved in the local horse industry since his youth, competing in 4-H, Top Ten Gaming Shows and Rodeo. Although he no longer competes, he has remained connected in the horse industry, judging WAHSET competitions locally and in the Puget Sound Region as well as game shows at Clark County Saddle Club.
John has experienced and seen many positive changes first hand with youth who are involved with equine activities. The youth judging has shown him the positive changes that occur with youth who are involved in the horse industry, as well as the community as a whole. As a lifelong Clark County resident, John is dedicated to see these same opportunities continue for future generations.
John has over 18 years of commercial construction experience as a Senior Project Manager, as well as experience with team building and development. John has been a member of the Clark County Saddle Club on and off over the last 40 years and currently serves on the Board of Directors. John and his wife Kim are also members of the Clark County Home Winemakers Club.
To unwind, John enjoys relaxing at home on the back patio when time allows, enjoying the view of their future vineyard and winery in Brush Prairie with his wife and their two Beagles, Rosie and Bailey. John also enjoys traveling and visiting new places.
LAURA VENNERI - SECRETARY
Laura Venneri had a passion for horses before she could even walk. At the age of seven her parents bought her a horse after years of her trying to ride their Polled Herefords. She grew up riding her horse bareback, exploring the countryside and visiting the neighbors from sun up to sunset.
Laura and her family have a small farm in Battle Ground and she has passed her love for horses onto her daughter. Together they enjoy participating at local competitions and trail riding.
Being involved with the community is a priority to Laura and you can find her donating time and resources to a variety of organizations. She is an active member of the Clark County Saddle Club, vice chairman for the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce, fundraising coordinator for the Battle Ground High School Equestrian Team and an advocate for Connect Battle Ground. She has helped with 4H Clubs, AFJROTC, Cub Scouts and many other organizations. In 2018 she joined the Clark County Equine Foundation with the goal of supporting the equestrian community.
With a degree in Marketing and a minor in Communications, Laura started her working career at a large health insurance company in Portland, Oregon. After an 11 year career Laura was ready to be closer to her local community so she changed career paths and went to The Reflector Newspaper for the next 14 years with her last position as Publisher. In 2018 she decided to venture into the construction industry and took a position at Tapani, Inc. as their HR Manager.
You never know what Laura will be up to next but you can guarantee that family, friends, horses and making the community a better place will be high on her list.
KELLY KIDD - BOARD MEMBER
Kelly Kidd is one of the owners of Cantera Equestrian stables and has a passion for the equine industry and the difference it can make in the lives of children and adults. Kelly is actively involved in the United States Pony Club and is currently the Regional Supervisor.
Kelly Kidd is the Human Resource Director for Core, Heath and Fitness in Vancouver, Washington. Kelly has over 15 years experience in Human Resource leadership in various industries. Kelly has a BA in English and Political Science from The University of South Dakota. Kelly has been a board member of the Humane Society of Southwest Washington.