USEA Convention Program

18 C O N V E N T I O N S P E A K E R S SARAH BROUSSARD Sarah Broussard lives at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana and is the organizer of The Event at Rebecca Farm. She also serves as show manager for numerous local hunter/jumper shows held at Rebecca Farm throughout the summer. Sarah's mother, Becky Broussard, introduced her to eventing on the island of Jamaica when she was a small child. When the family moved to Montana, Sarah continued to compete under the guidance of Area VII's Cindy Burge. Sarah competed through the Intermediate level and represented Area VII at the North American Young Rider Championships. As a busy mother of two children, Sarah now enjoys competing mostly at the Novice and Training levels. She is the Chair of the USEA Safety and Equine Welfare Committee and a member of the USEA Classic Three-Day Task Force. MATT BROWN High performance rider Matt Brown has been studying martial arts for over 25 years and has used the principles and techniques he has learned in the dojo to help develop himself while in the tack. He has found that the partner training learned from the martial arts easily translates into working with his four-legged partners. ROY BUREK Roy Burek has over 30 years of personal experience in the safety industry. His grandfather founded Charles Owen in 1911, and the company has since established itself as the gold standard for international equestrian safety. Roy received a chemistry degree from the University of Oxford (UK) and pursued a career in the corporate world before returning to Charles Owen. Since taking the reins, he has been dynamic in leading industry research and setting new standards for safety technology. Roy has been recognized by ASTM and the British Horse Society for his contributions to safety research, and he has served on the European Standards Committee and co-chaired the task group that sets ASTM standards. Roy's passion for research has led to groundbreaking discoveries regarding the variables that determine the severity of a fall and in concussion reduction. He has led Charles Owen to think outside the box in order to construct new materials and more accurate standards for helmets and body protectors. In addition to being an integral part of the design and production of Charles Owen and Airowear products, Roy travels internationally to present on the company's latest innovations. He also served as an Honorary Visiting Professor at the School of Engineering at Cardiff University. ROB BURK In December of 2015, Rob Burk took over as the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Eventing Association (USEA). Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Director of Programs for the USEA. Rob draws much of his experience from previous roles as an Executive Director and Senior Adviser within the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and as the Executive Director of a Governor-appointed statewide equine industry advisory board and stable inspection/ licensing program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. He has provided advice and guidance to four Secretaries of Agriculture and two Governors. Rob has evented throughout his life with notable success as a Young Rider in California. He graduated from Otterbein University with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Pre-Graduate Equine Studies and earned a Master of Science from Virginia Tech. Rob, a graduate 'H-A' Pony Clubber, attributes his successes to his upbringing through Pony Club and

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