Meet Our Team
Staff
Tim Ackerman, B.S. Forest Ecosystem Mgt.
Executive Director and Equine Specialist
Tim’s passion for working with horses began at young age while attending a local summer camp. There he worked in the horsemanship program and eventually became a horsemanship instructor. He owned his own horse in high school and did some competition with his Appaloosa, Rocky. While in high school he wanted to develop a career working with horses. ​
After high school, life became busy for Tim working in construction and as a pressure vessel welder in Erie.
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In 2009 Tim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he was assigned to 3rd Battalion 8th Marines aboard Camp Lejune, NC. While in the Marine Corps Tim deployed with Battalion Landing Team 3/8 attached to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit as an Infantry Assaultman and supported combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
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Upon completing his enlistment, Tim and his family returned to Pennsylvania where he enrolled into Penn State University and earned his B.S. in Forest Ecosystems Management. Making a career of his other passion, the outdoors and natural resource management. Tim worked as a forester with the PA Bureau of Forestry for 5 years and works in private consulting forestry.
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Chelsea, Tim’s wife, began volunteering at Blended Spirits ranch in 2021 and eventually became one of the therapists at the ranch. In God’s providence, Tim was reintroduced to his passion for horses helping out at BSR’s first Pig Roast fundraiser for the Veteran’s program.
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Tim was able to experience the impactful work of Blended Spirits Ranch and the horses when he volunteered in the Ranch’s veteran program. Tim has since been able to combine his experience as veteran and his long-ago passion for working with horses.
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He is honored and blessed to be selected as the new Executive Director at the ranch. Tim is certified as an Equine Specialist through Greg Kerten's OK Corral.
Tim’s faith, military experience and his desire to not only help veterans but those who are faced with the challenges of life make him particularly suited for carrying on the legacy of the founders of Blended Spirits Ranch and to move the mission forward.​
Chelsea Ackerman, M.Ed., NCC, LPC
Program Coordinator/ Staff Equine-Assisted Therapist
Chelsea is a 2006 graduate of Westminster College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She went on to receive her Master’s of Education in School Guidance and Counseling from American Military University in 2012. Chelsea is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a National Board-Certified Counselor. In her years of experience, she has provided services to individuals and families in a variety of settings. In addition to more traditional forms of talk therapy Chelsea is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and certified in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy through Greg Kersten’s OK Corral. She is passionate about using more natural paths to healing and respects the strength and courage that it takes to seek treatment.
Megan Chong, LPC
Equine-Assisted Therapist
Megan graduated from Gannon University in 2001 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She continued her education there receiving her Masters degree in Community Counseling in 2004 and her Post-Graduate certificate in Community Counseling in 2005. Megan is a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She offers specialized therapy for individuals who have experienced abuse and trauma as well as children who have problematic sexual behavior and adolescents who have sexually offended.
Joe Campasino, LAPC
Equine-Assisted Therapist
My name is Joe, I am currently a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) under supervision. As a proud father of two amazing children and a United States Navy veteran, I understand the importance of resilience, growth, and self-improvement. Over the past decade, I have been able to utilize a trauma-informed approach, along with cognitive-behavioral therapy, and various other approaches with a diverse range of individuals. Additionally, I have come to understand and realize the therapeutic power of horses. Combined with my experience in counseling, sessions with horses offer a special, non-judgmental presence with a variety of client struggles. The intuition that horses provide in therapy often helps connect healing, self-discovery, and emotions in ways that often produce profound, lasting change. Any change can be challenging, but I would be honored to help support and empower your journey to healing and growth.
Sandy Long
Equine Specialist
In 2007, Sandy co-founded Blended Spirits Ranch with her sister, Debbie Ellis. The ranch, initially envisioned as a unique non profit for rescuing horses to utilize in healing humans from trauma, soon evolved into a powerful center for equine-assisted mental health therapy. With extensive training and hands-on experience, Sandy has dedicated herself to providing mental health services to individuals across Erie, Crawford, and surrounding areas. Through the use of horses as part of the therapy process, Sandy and her team have helped countless individuals overcome personal challenges, develop confidence, and improve emotional well-being. This work has been particularly impactful for people dealing with trauma, various individual challenges, and mental health struggles.
Hope Collins, LSW
Equine Specialist
Hope graduated in 2015 from Allegheny College with a degree in English, then spent most of her early career working on tall ships as a sail trainer for students. Between 2013 - 2018, she sailed over 10,000 nautical miles on three different vessels around the Great Lakes, the Pacific Coast, the Atlantic Ocean, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Simmons University in 2023, and most of her therapy experience has centered around eating disorders, body image, neurodivergency, self-worth, identity, and relationships. An eternal outdoorswoman and animal person, Hope joined the Blended Spirits Team in the spring of 2024 to help run groups as well as some individual sessions. She is excited at the opportunity to guide clients through their mental health journey with the help of Blended Spirit’s herd.
Karyn Arnold
Barn Manager
Karyn is the Barn Manager for Blended Spirits Ranch. She began working with horses through our volunteer program in late 2017 and was brought on as Barn Manager in 2022.
Karyn is passionate about maintaining a high standard of care for our horses as well as tidy environment for our guests.
She is an avid animal lover and dog owner who finds peace working alongside our furry friends. Her main focus is to ensure proper care and attention to the health and wellbeing of the Blended Spirits Herd.