Though AQHA operates primarily upon the decisions of its members through the board of directors, the five-person executive committee is responsible for implementing these important decisions and governing AQHA between the annual meetings of the membership and the board.
The AQHA Executive Committee - consisting of a president, first vice president, second vice president and two additional members - is elected each year by the board at the AQHA Convention. Each member serves a term of one year until the selection of his/her successor. The executive committee convenes bimonthly at AQHA International Headquarters in Amarillo to conduct business and consider all disciplinary matters.
Ken Mumy and his wife, Maryellen, live in Metamora, Michigan, and have been actively involved with American Quarter Horses for more than 40 years. An AQHA member for more than 30 years, Ken has also been very involved with the Michigan Quarter Horse Association, serving in many capacities, including its presidency. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1969 and was very involved in the Block and Bridle Club, chairing its horse show in 1967. He met Maryellen at a Block and Bridle event on campus and they have included the love of quarter horses and the university as they raised their family. Ken has a primary interest in cutting, showing and recreational riding. Ken and Maryellen qualified two horses for the first AQHA World Championship Show and have been "hooked" ever since. Ken and Maryellen have also had success at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, a highlight of which was Maryellen's Hunter Under Saddle win on a horse they bred and raised.
Ken has served as an AQHA Director since 1996 and was appointed to the membership committee in 1992, serving as the vice chair from 2000 to 2003 and chairman from 2003 to 2004. He also served on the Hall of Fame committee and the governance task force and was a founding member of the Affiliate Council.
Ken is the owner of a specialized environmental consulting firm serving clients in the United States, Mexico, England and Canada. Ken and Maryellen have three children. Lisa Smith and her husband, Todd, a breeder and professional trainer, live in Holly, Michigan with daughter Bella. Daughter Michelle Sierakowski and her husband, Tom, Engineering Manager for Durakon Industries as well as a Major in the Air National Guard, reside in Hadley, Michigan, with their daughter, Kaitlyn and son Matthew. Son Kenneth Cameron "K.C." Mumy recently graduated from Michigan State University and is a Regional Marketing Manager for Powers Distributing in Orion, Michigan.
Jim Helzer is CEO and President of JEH Stallion Station, JMH Investments, The Helzer Company, JEH Company, JEH Leasing Company Inc., JEH Pipeline Company Inc., and Helzer and Helzer Company Inc.. JEH Stallion Station is a commercial horse breeding operation and the other companies are real estate and investment companies.
With his wife Marilyn, he established JEH Stallion Station in 1994 and it has become one of the leading equine facilities in the southwest. Born in Loveland, Colorado, Jim Helzer began racing American Quarter Horses in Colorado in his home state in 1962. Since then, the Helzers have successfully raced Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds throughout the U.S.
The most noteworthy Quarter Horse campaigned by the Helzers was Refrigerator, the sport's world champion in 1992 and '93. The winner of the 1990 All American futurity (GI) after the Helzers supplemented him to the race for $50,000, Refrigerator is currently Quarter Horse racing's leading all-time money earner at $2,126,309. He is the only three-time winner of the Grade 1 Champion of Champions, the sports richest and most prestigious race for older horses.
Helzer has been an AQHA Director and chairman of the AQHA Racing Council. He also is a member and past president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association and a member and past director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Currently, Helzer also serves on the board of the Texas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association as its president and as a member of the Texas Horsemen's Partnership management committee.
Johannes Orgeldinger of Grosswallstadt, Germany, is a 25-year breeder and the first person from outside the United States to serve on the executive committee.
Johannes and his wife, Astrid, own and operate a gravel and stone company and JOMM Ranches in Grosswallstadt, Germany, as well as Main River Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas. At their JOMM ranch, there are about 70 American Quarter Horses, including stallion Fritz Power, a remarkable 23-year-old buckskin stallion that was tremendously successful in the show arena and is now an equally successful sire.
Johannes bought his first American Quarter Horse in 1979 and has been involved in the industry ever since. He has earned championships in German and European competition in western pleasure, trail and cutting.
Johannes became an equally successful breeder. At their JOMM Ranch, Johannes and Astrid breed and raise all-around horses as well as reining horses. Johannes was named DQHA Leading Breeder for 10 years and was the breeder of the German Champion of Champions six times. He was key in organizing and conducting one of the largest AQHA-approved shows in Europe since 1986 and has hosted AQHA judging seminars since 1983.
At his Main River Ranch in Gainesville, Texas, Johannes and Astrid breed cutting and reining horses.
Johannes has served on the Affiliate Council as well as the Stud Book and Registration and Nomination and Credentials committees. Johannes also served as the Discipline Manager of Reining for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
The AQHA board of directors elected Dick Monahan of Walla Walla, Washington, to the AQHA Executive Committee at the 2007 AQHA Convention in Houston, Texas.
Monahan is a practicing lawyer and has been heavily involved in racing horses and promoting racing in the Northwest. After serving 20 years as an AQHA director from Washington, he is currently an AQHA Director at Large. Monahan has served as chair of the racing committee and Racing Council, has served on the Hall of Fame Committee, and has chaired the Nominations and Credentials Committee. Monahan and his wife, Brenda, have raised and raced American Quarter Horses for more than 30 years.
The Monahans have two married daughters, Bridie, who practices law with her father, and Casey, who is head of the English department at Walla Walla High School. He has four grandchildren. As a youngster, daughter Bridie Hood campaigned American Quarter Horses in AQHA shows.
The Monahans have owned numerous broodmares and running horses including Movin Niner, a multiple derby and stake winner, and Silk And Sassy, who is the 38th all-time leading AQHA broodmare by winners.
Monahan played football for the University of Idaho, where he received a bachelor’s degree before graduating from the University of Idaho law school.
New member Peter Cofrancesco III has a long heritage in the Quarter Horse business. His father, Peter J. Cofrancesco Jr., was an AQHA Director and established Peter J. Cofrancesco Farms Inc. in Sparta, New Jersey, which is now owned by Peter’s mother, Peggy Cofrancesco.
Educated at Delaware Valley College and received an honorary doctorate from Centenary College, Peter is chairman of the Grinnell Group of Companies, which includes several entities, including a solid waste and recycling, real estate and concrete products manufacturing business. Peter was AQHYA president in 1991 and is the first youth president to serve on the Executive Committee. He has served on the youth, public policy and nominations and credentials committees, as well as the Affiliate Council. He and his wife, Carmen, live in Sparta and have three children: Ireland, 7, Peter IV, 4, and Emma, 2.
