Cassie Ubaldo, M.A.Ed, PCLC
Founder/President
Cassie Ubaldo is a dedicated and seasoned professional in the realm of Equine Facilitated Learning, with a profound commitment to fostering growth and healing. With over a decade of expertise in group facilitation and a solid educational background boasting a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Masters of Education with a counseling emphasis, Cassie is well-equipped to lead impactful programs. Her extensive training in esteemed certification programs such as Path International, Eagala, The Herd Institute, and Natural Lifemanship underscores her dedication to evidence-based practices in Equine Facilitated programs.
After honing her skills as a Program Manager for at-risk students at Bozeman High School, where she adeptly provided counseling and facilitated groups to support academic success, Cassie made a heartfelt decision to return to her family’s cherished guest ranch, Upper Canyon Outfitters, in 2016. Embracing her role wholeheartedly, she emerged as the lead trainer and curriculum developer for the prestigious Military Pack Animal and Horsemanship course. Furthermore, Cassie established Upper Canyon Outreach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding individuals on their journey to heal physical, psychological, and emotional wounds through horsemanship.
In addition to her role at Upper Canyon Outreach, Cassie serves as a counselor in Ennis, MT, embodying her genuine dedication to giving back to the community. Cassie Ubaldo’s journey epitomizes compassion, competence, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others through Equine Facilitated Learning and wellness. Her transformative work continues to leave a lasting impact, fostering growth, healing, and personal development within individuals and the community
Mark Gollinger – Treasurer/Director
Mark is a retired Senior Chief with 23 years of worldwide construction experience in the United States Navy Seabees. He managed construction projects, programs, and personnel while directly supporting disaster recovery, humanitarian assistance, and combat operations around the world. He retired from the Navy in August 2007, worked as a Project Superintendent, started a consulting firm, served as the Operations & Logistics officer for The Peak Inc., helped Veterans find meaningful employment as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist for the Montana Department of Labor, and served as the first State Liaison for Montana’s newest Veterans Home in Butte Montana. In June of 2021, Mark returned to The Peak where he has the privilege of providing training to military special operations units and
After retirement he returned to his hometown of Butte America where he actively follows Veteran’s issues and is involved with all the local Veteran organizations. He serves as the Financial Officer for the 15-90 Search and Rescue team and is a life member of the VFW, DAV, and Marine Corps League. Mark currently serves as the Commander of the United Veterans Council of Butte-Silver Bow. He is also a longtime member of the American Legion and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Mark is also on the board of directors for the Friends of Butte Veteran Treatment Court non-profit organization. He has also promoted and helped organize events for the Butte chapter of XSports4Vets.
Dave Chapman – Secretary/Director
Focused on establishing, building and enhancing brand value, Dave has created strategic marketing communications campaigns and tools for a wide variety of consumer and business-to-business organizations – driving each towards achieving ambitious business results. Dave brings career experience to brand identity and positioning, messaging architecture and comprehensive integrated marketing campaigns. He has considerable experience in the food, sustainability, industrial, B2B and non-profit segments.
Dave has led projects and served several ongoing clients as a communications consultant for the past five years (https://davechapmanconsulting.com). Previously he was director of the western region of Ketchum, Inc. and partner of Ketchum Purpose, the agency’s specialty practice focused on supporting clients at all stages in the sustainability lifecycle. He also served as market lead for Burson-Marsteller San Francisco and head of that agency’s consumer practice in the region. He has been active in board roles and has supported the identity and messaging architecture development processes for a variety of commercial, cultural and philanthropic organizations.
Dave has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was recognized with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
Brian Smith – Director
Brian Smith is a third generation horseman that was born and raised in Ennis, MT. Brian has spent his life evolving, developing, and adapting his horsemanship skills. He is a life-long learner that gleans information from multiple platforms. When he is not working with horses he can be found riding in the mountains as a biological science technician. In this position, Brian’s responsibilities include applying non-lethal predator damage management techniques primarily range riding to protect livestock from predation. His work is primarily involved with grizzly bears and wolves but could also include black bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. During hunting season, Brian is a senior hunting guide at Upper Canyon Outfitters.
Brian is a founding board member of Upper Canyon Outreach, an Equine Facilitated Program in which he also works as an equine specialist for the Got Your 6 Program, a Veteran Wellness Program. He has been a committed member of this program for the past since its inception.
Terri Wilson – LCSW
Terri Wilson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCASA) for a private mental health practice in Swannanoa, NC that serves groups and individuals in treating trauma and trauma related mental health diagnosis and substance use disorders. Terri is currently completing her certification in Veterinary Social Work with UT-Knoxville where she is specializing in animal assisted interventions. She is trained in the trauma treatment model of equine assisted psychotherapy through Natural Lifemanship, levels I and II. Terri has worked with survivors of complex trauma,
substance use disorder, and co-ocurring mental health diagnosis. She has worked in the public sector as a substance abuse counselor intern at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women. She has also worked in the private sector as a primary therapist a residential treatment center for women as well as Safelight Family Services, which serves survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Terri’s undergraduate degree and training as an equine veterinary assistant is where she began to recognize the power of the human/ animal bond and put her on the trajectory for providing mental health services in partnership with horses. In addition to working with individuals, Terri currently facilitates an equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) group for women in recovery through a NC state funded program at the Black Mountain Treatment Center for women. She works with groups of adolescents and adults with autism and provides programming for a summer camp that serves children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD.
Through all of this work, Terri has had the distinct honor of experiencing the healing power of the horse/human relationship and the long lasting effects of this experiential modality. She believes working with the horses allows clients the opportunity to embody change and the empowerment to translate the lessons learned in the arena to the challenges in daily life.