Heartfelt with HETRA: Thirty-Five
Erin Bevington: 30 years of dedication
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When you ask HETRA’s team who the organization’s anchor is, amongst Edye Godden and founder Steve Henthorn, people will point you in the direction of Erin Bevington. Known as the “Tech Guru” and fur-mom of the office mascot, Tucker, Erin serves as the Chief Operating Officer and has dedicated her last 30 years to helping the organization bloom. She started at HETRA following her graduation from Colorado State University in Equine Science and quickly grew to love the mission, impact, and her new HETRA family.
“I never imagined that Equine Assisted Services were in my future, but the opportunity presented itself, and I jumped on it. I quickly found a passion for working with these amazing animals that I had grown up loving, as well as helping others.”
Helping HETRA Hit the Ground Running
When HETRA began in 1989, we had just one participant, one horse, and three dedicated volunteers. With the help of Erin’s leadership and the efforts of a growing staff, the organization expanded and moved to our Gretna location in 2014. Today, HETRA’s team consists of 250 volunteers and 30 horses, and serves 170 participants every week!
“One of my favorite memories was the crazy couple of months when we moved to our location in Gretna. The stars aligned for us in an amazing way that gave us the opportunity to purchase this amazing facility and spread our mission to so many. It was some of the longest days of my life, but also the most rewarding.”
Not Just a Nonprofit, But a Family
Over the years, the HETRA team has bonded and become a family that Erin is incredibly proud to work alongside. When asked about her experience with the team, she had this to say, “It’s been fun to build the team and have such expertise in a plethora of areas. I am most proud of all the staff I get to work with every day; we really are a family.”
Erin has played a massive role in the organization’s growth and has experienced many aspects of HETRA, from working with the horses and serving as a volunteer during riding sessions to being the Chief Operating Officer. After 30 years, it’s fair to say that her values have become synonymous with the organization, and she looks forward to continuing the mission put forth in 1989.
“I can’t wait to see our next chapter unfold. Despite our team thinking this land in Gretna was so vast just 12 years ago, we are nearing capacity. I know exciting things are coming in the future as this organization continues to grow!”
Want to be a part of HETRA’s continued growth?
Every donation helps support more than just the cost of keeping the lights on; it supports our wonderful participants and the lifelong impact that we provide to the community for people of all socioeconomic statuses and ability levels.
