United States Eventing Association

2014 Annual Meeting Preview: Eventing Calendar Planning with Lou Leslie and Intercollegiate Eventing with Rob Burk

Eventing Calendar Planning for 2016 and Beyond, and Applying for Grants with Lou Leslie

Louise 'Lou' Leslie lives in Redmond, Washington of USEA Area VII. A former Adult Rider Coordinator, who transitioned to Area Chair, and later transitioned onto the USEA Board in 2010. She serves as a Chairperson on the USEA Endowment Trust and serves as VP on the Area Affairs committee. As VP of Area Affairs, Lou is charged with ensuring each Area Chair has the resources and support they need in conducting the business of their respective Areas. As a member of USEA ICP Committee and Adult Riders group, she focuses on the evolution of eventing education at the highest level for the USEA membership and strives to keep Eventing fun for the base membership of the sport, the adult amateur. Lou is an active amateur rider competing at the Intermediate level with her horse Santarae and Novice with her horse, Souvenir. In the spare time, she is the Mom Taxi for her family.

USEA Intercollegiate Program Jumpstart with Rob Burk

Rob Burk is the Chief Operating Officer for the United States Eventing Association, Inc. In this capacity he works in tandem with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Governors, and colleagues to further expand the association’s current programs as well as aid in the design and implementation of new programs. Rob worked previously as an Executive Director and Senior Adviser within the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and from 2003 until 2010 Rob worked 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. He is a graduate Fellow of the LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc., and he worked as a Lecturer (Horse Management) at the University of Maryland - Institute of Applied Agriculture, and at Virginia Tech. He has evented for most of his life with notable success as a Young Rider in California, and served as an intercollegiate equestrian coach for Otterbein University (OH), and the United States Naval Academy (MD). Rob 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 in Animal and Poultry Sciences (focus: equine nutrition). Rob, a graduate H-A Pony Clubber, attributes much of his success to his upbringing through Pony Club and his trainers and mentors based in California, Ohio, and Maryland. Rob is married to Dr. Amy Burk, an Associate Professor with the University of Maryland – Equine Studies Program and has two daughters.