meet our board
Debora Lay, Founder, Executive Director & President
Debora Lay is a professional equine behaviorist and horsemanship instructor who founded the Wings Programs, Inc. in 2013. A BLM approved Mustang trainer, Debora has owned and operated LayzD Equine Services LLC since 2003. Debora specializes in Natural Equine Health Care, is an Advanced Certified Natural Hoof Care Professional and Equine Nutritional Consultant. She has extensive experience in treating metabolic conditions. She has studied and mentored under national experts in these fields and consults internationally herself. She believes in a natural approach to equine health and Nutrition as Therapy in treating and rehabilitation of both rescue and client horses.
Her horses have been used in the Black Stallion Literacy Project, Reno Rodeo and on award-winning parade teams in addition to various Equine Therapy Programs. An EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist, Debora co-founded Haven’s Horses PLLC and has worked with other equine programs prior to starting The Wings Programs, Inc. Debora is also a instructor and consultant at the Oregon School of Natural Hoof Care.
Debora Lay is a professional equine behaviorist and horsemanship instructor who founded the Wings Programs, Inc. in 2013. A BLM approved Mustang trainer, Debora has owned and operated LayzD Equine Services LLC since 2003. Debora specializes in Natural Equine Health Care, is an Advanced Certified Natural Hoof Care Professional and Equine Nutritional Consultant. She has extensive experience in treating metabolic conditions. She has studied and mentored under national experts in these fields and consults internationally herself. She believes in a natural approach to equine health and Nutrition as Therapy in treating and rehabilitation of both rescue and client horses.
Her horses have been used in the Black Stallion Literacy Project, Reno Rodeo and on award-winning parade teams in addition to various Equine Therapy Programs. An EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist, Debora co-founded Haven’s Horses PLLC and has worked with other equine programs prior to starting The Wings Programs, Inc. Debora is also a instructor and consultant at the Oregon School of Natural Hoof Care.
Sherry Herman
Sherry has been involved with the Wings Programs since 2020 . A true animal lover, rescuing cats, dogs and horses is second nature to Sherry. Her responsibility at the ranch is to improve the facility for the safety and security of the horses and make any improvements that will directly affect the horses. Sherry devotes countless hours as Facilities Manager, fixing fences and repairing just about anything that breaks.
Sherry has been involved with the Wings Programs since 2020 . A true animal lover, rescuing cats, dogs and horses is second nature to Sherry. Her responsibility at the ranch is to improve the facility for the safety and security of the horses and make any improvements that will directly affect the horses. Sherry devotes countless hours as Facilities Manager, fixing fences and repairing just about anything that breaks.
Elise Sweg
Elise has volunteered with the Wings Programs when it was just a concept, and has assisted Debora in all aspects developing Wings as a non-profit rescue. Her love of the horses and mules, and being with them, has helped her to overcome fear and the staff and volunteers at the ranch are like family. Elise and her husband have owned mules for the past 10 years. Elise is a strong financial supporter and ambassador in the community.
Elise has volunteered with the Wings Programs when it was just a concept, and has assisted Debora in all aspects developing Wings as a non-profit rescue. Her love of the horses and mules, and being with them, has helped her to overcome fear and the staff and volunteers at the ranch are like family. Elise and her husband have owned mules for the past 10 years. Elise is a strong financial supporter and ambassador in the community.
Alicia Mara
Alicia began volunteering with Wings in 2021. She immediately felt a connection during her first volunteer day, surrounded by donkeys and horses in need, and witnessing the wonderful dedication of those she met at Wings. She has volunteered in various animal rescue organizations around the country for over 20 years. She also volunteers as a CASA, helping children in need. Both causes she is passionate about.
Alicia has shared her life with horses, mules, and donkeys for over twenty years. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys photography, making art, hiking and exploring MT with her two dogs, and her mammoth donkey Abe.
Alicia has a B.A. in Organizational Psychology, an MBA, and over 20 years of training development, program management, and business operations experience. She currently works for a global learning company in strategic planning and operations. Alicia looks forward to leveraging her animal rescue and business experience as a Wing’s board member, focusing in the areas of grant writing and strategic planning.
Alicia began volunteering with Wings in 2021. She immediately felt a connection during her first volunteer day, surrounded by donkeys and horses in need, and witnessing the wonderful dedication of those she met at Wings. She has volunteered in various animal rescue organizations around the country for over 20 years. She also volunteers as a CASA, helping children in need. Both causes she is passionate about.
Alicia has shared her life with horses, mules, and donkeys for over twenty years. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys photography, making art, hiking and exploring MT with her two dogs, and her mammoth donkey Abe.
Alicia has a B.A. in Organizational Psychology, an MBA, and over 20 years of training development, program management, and business operations experience. She currently works for a global learning company in strategic planning and operations. Alicia looks forward to leveraging her animal rescue and business experience as a Wing’s board member, focusing in the areas of grant writing and strategic planning.
Jewel is responsible for coordinating the volunteer effort at the ranch.Laura Weise
Laura joined Wings in 2021 as a volunteer and a newcomer to the horse world. She has a varied background in photography, website design, computer tech support, office management, gardening, animal communication and dog wrangling. She has become part of the Wings feed staff and joined the board in January of 2022. Along with volunteering and feeding, Laura is also focused on website administration, blogging and social media management. Her greatest joys are interacting with the horses and donkeys, learning everything she can about caring for them, and knowing that all of her tasks at the ranch directly benefit the equines. Laura is also responsible for coordinating our volunteer effort.
Laura joined Wings in 2021 as a volunteer and a newcomer to the horse world. She has a varied background in photography, website design, computer tech support, office management, gardening, animal communication and dog wrangling. She has become part of the Wings feed staff and joined the board in January of 2022. Along with volunteering and feeding, Laura is also focused on website administration, blogging and social media management. Her greatest joys are interacting with the horses and donkeys, learning everything she can about caring for them, and knowing that all of her tasks at the ranch directly benefit the equines. Laura is also responsible for coordinating our volunteer effort.
Jewel Willis, Past President
Jewel has been involved in dog training and boarding for more than 20 years. She is a Tellington Touch practitioner, an herbalist, Reiki Master and teacher for animals. She enjoys nature, meditation and indigenous studies. Her goal for being involved with the Wings Programs is to support the emotional and physical healing of the equines, and helping the adoptable ones go to good homes. She participates in body and energy work with the equines as well as herbalism. Jewel finds the equines to be great teachers. She has learned to slow down and look at an entire situation, rather than just one aspect. To her, the equine language, both body and verbal, is subtle yet clear, and is a beautiful thing to learn. It’s a continuing education in looking at the world from another species’ point of view.
Jewel has been involved in dog training and boarding for more than 20 years. She is a Tellington Touch practitioner, an herbalist, Reiki Master and teacher for animals. She enjoys nature, meditation and indigenous studies. Her goal for being involved with the Wings Programs is to support the emotional and physical healing of the equines, and helping the adoptable ones go to good homes. She participates in body and energy work with the equines as well as herbalism. Jewel finds the equines to be great teachers. She has learned to slow down and look at an entire situation, rather than just one aspect. To her, the equine language, both body and verbal, is subtle yet clear, and is a beautiful thing to learn. It’s a continuing education in looking at the world from another species’ point of view.