Sundance Team 

John Payne, DPT, OCS

Director/Owner
​John received his B.S. from Brigham Young University in Exercise Physiology. He then went on to receive a Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of Utah. He moved to Washington where he worked in a private practice in outpatient orthopedics and then returned to the University of Utah a year later to complete a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. 
​John has worked in outpatient orthopedics for 16 years and has a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). He enjoys employing manual therapy skills with exercise and movement to help his patients restore their active life styles. John is a busy father of four and enjoys the outdoors; hiking and camping when he can but most of his time he can be found working on home improvement projects around his house and farm. He also owns and operates a horse boarding facility, where he performs hippotherapy.
Education:
Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Physiology from Brigham Young University
Masters and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Utah.

Courtney Coubertier, DPT, CLT

Clinical Director 
​Courtney was born and raised in Sammamish, Washington. She stayed "local" for college going to Eastern Washington University, but then decided to explore a new place graduating from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019. 
Courtney started her career working in an outpatient orthopedic setting for a few years, but her first true physical therapy love has always been working with people with disabilities. She has had a passion for hippotherapy from an early age, volunteering at multiple hippotherapy facilities throughout her high-school and college years, eventually leading her to Sundance Circle Hippotherapy. 
In her free time, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, hiking and exploring the beautiful mountains and landscape of the PNW, and cheering on the Seahawks! 
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Demarie McCurdy

Executive Director, Foundation
Demarie grew up in Washington and graduated from Western Washington University in 2001 with a BA in Human Services. She worked as a Legal Advocate for victims of sexual assault and child abuse until 2007. After marrying her husband, Andy, in 2006, she moved to Puyallup and began her career in fundraising working at Good Samaritan Foundation. 
Demarie stepped away from work in 2009 when her twins were born 4 months early; her son is blind and on the spectrum, so she has a deep knowledge and compassion for parents/caregivers navigating the medical, therapy, and school systems. 
She began volunteering at Sundance in early 2023 and fell in love with the kids receiving therapy, as well as the horses. Her son receives hippotherapy at Sundance and her husband and daughter also volunteer here.​
She enjoys spending time with her family & friends, walking her dogs, visiting the mountains and ocean when she can, and enjoying a good cup of coffee. ​

Melanie Acheson

Physical Therapy Assistant
​Melanie received her Bachelors of Science in Physiology at CaliforniaUniversity at Fresno State, and furthered her education in Physical Therapy receiving her associates as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Denver Technical College in Denver, Colorado. 
Melanie is passionate about healing, nurturing, and making a positive impact assisting patients of all ages to gain, return, and progress functional mobility.  With over 20 years of experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant, she has had the privilege of helping countless individuals  and families learn and regain their strength in a variety of settings.  When she found the opportunity to work here at Sundance it was truly a dream job.  As a long time therapist with that little girl heart for horses it allowed her to meld the two wonderful worlds together.  It’s allowed her to further her skills and see another avenue to the power of movement.
Adapt and overcome is a motto that Melanie strives for everyday in the big and little things of daily life.
When she is not helping others recover, you'll find her balancing the demands and chaos of being a busy mom of two active and awesome teens.  She enjoys outdoor adventures , gardening, and long walks.  Swimming and staying active fuel her soul and keep me energized.

Alisa Cordell

Office Manager
Alisa is a lifelong Washington native. A dedicated professional with a passion for healthcare, Alisa earned her degree in Medical Assisting and spent six years working in pediatrics, where she gained invaluable experience working with young patients and their families.
Her career transitioned from the clinical setting to the academic world,
teaching medical assisting at a local college. Alisa later became the department chair for the medical assisting program. Her work in academia was deeply rewarding, but after the birth of her twins at 24 weeks, Alisa faced an unexpected and life-changing journey.
Navigating the NICU and experiencing the heartbreaking loss of her son led Alisa to develop a deep appreciation for the therapies that support families through difficult times. As she supported her daughter through occupational therapy and speech therapy, Alisa discovered a newfound passion for helping families access the services and care they needed. This passion led her to a position as office manager at a private pediatric therapy clinic, where she enjoyed working closely with families and ensuring they received the best possible care.
Alisa is thrilled to continue her professional journey at Sundance, a place that holds special meaning for her as her daughter was once a patient there. Outside of her work, Alisa loves spending time with her family, which includes her husband, daughter, her mother, and their two cats, Ginger and Minerva, as well as Josie, the family dog. When she’s not at the barn or supporting her daughter in dance, Alisa enjoys reading, crafting, and baking. ​​
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April Talton

Stable Hand
April supports Sundance sessions by caring for the horses and maintaining a safe, welcoming environment. After spending more than a decade as a stay-at-home mom, April reentered the workforce through a job-training program that placed her as an intern at Sundance Circle. Although the organization traditionally did not hire interns, her dedication, work ethic, and passion for the horses and riders earned her a permanent role at Sundance. April takes pride in contributing to a team that helps individuals grow, heal, and thrive through equine-assisted therapies.
Born and raised in Washington state, she loves that her job keeps her outdoors and connected with the horses that support life-changing therapy sessions. In her free time, April enjoys reading, listening to music, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her dog, Moxxie.  
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Makenna Blevins

Barn Manager
​Originally from Washington, Makenna grew up in a military family and has had the opportunity to live all over the United States. Through every move, one thing remained constant—her deep passion for working with horses and the special connections they inspire. 
She studied Equine General Studies with a concentration in Assisted Therapies at William Wood University, blending her love for horses with a desire to help others. Over the years, she has worked on guest ranches as well as with a non-profit organization in Washington State, gaining meaningful experience in both horsemanship and equine-assisted programs. She is excited to be back in Washington after many travels and doing what she loves. 
Outside of her work with horses, you can find Makenna traveling, baking, and spending time with her family. She brings that same warmth and joy into everything she does, both in and out of the barn.








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Kim Hulser

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Kim began her career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) after graduating from Bates Technical College in 2017. Embarking on her second professional journey in Occupational Therapy, she has specialized in the pediatric field, working in private clinics with expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Emotional Regulation, Sensory Processing Disorder, Social Skill Development, and Developmental Delays. Over time, her training and experience have led her to further specialize in Sensory Integration, Mental Health, Anxiety, and Social Skills Instruction.
Kim is dedicated to continuous learning and has pursued advanced education in areas such as the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Non-Medication Strategies for Managing Challenging Behaviors, and the Impact of Postural Control on Function. Her ultimate goal is to help children and their families achieve greater independence and success in their daily lives.
Before discovering her passion for Occupational Therapy, Kim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University. Her first career was as a Juvenile Probation Counselor for King County Superior Court, where she gained extensive experience working with youth of all ages in the criminal justice system.
Although Kim has lived in the Puget Sound area for many years with her husband and two children, she grew up in Walla Walla, which she still fondly calls “home.” In her free time, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, reading, spending time with her family, and playing with her yellow lab, Winston.
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Jessica Williams

Speech Language Pathologist 
Jessica earned her undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Washington State University. She went on to complete a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, with a specialized focus on speech-language therapy and therapeutic horseback riding.
Following her graduation, Jessica spent her first year as an SLP working at a facility in New Mexico, where she utilized hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. She found the movement to be an effective tool for increasing speech and language skills.
Jessica has gained diverse experience across various settings, including private practice and schools. Jessica lives in Puyallup with her husband, daughter, and two small dogs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and hiking.

Leanne Bryant

Occupational Therapist 
Leanne grew up in Federal Way, Washington, where she developed a strong appreciation for movement, connection, and purposeful activity. Spending much of her childhood around horses on her grandmother’s farm fostered an early understanding of responsibility and the therapeutic value of meaningful engagement. 
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Eastern Washington University and went on to pursue a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at the University of Puget Sound, graduating in May of 2025. Her passion for helping others led her to seek opportunities that blended her clinical interests with her lifelong connection to horses. Since 2021, Leanne has volunteered as a sidewalker at Sundance Hippotherapy, where she also completed a group research project and doctoral capstone focused on analyzing and identifying effective interventions that target executive functioning within hippotherapy settings. Her diverse clinical background, combined with her research experience and dedication to community involvement, allows her to support individuals in achieving meaningful, functional outcomes across a variety of settings.
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Morgan McCurdy

Volunteer Coordinator 
Morgan graduated from Tacoma Community College in 2024 with an Associate in Computer Science. She is currently attending Western Governors University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in User Experience Design.
She began volunteering at Sundance in 2023 and found a supportive and welcoming community in the staff, patients, families, and volunteers. She brings a heartfelt connection to the Sundance mission, along with enthusiasm and volunteer coordination experience from local campaigns. Her life goal is to work in the video game industry as an accessibility focused game designer. Morgan's brother, a patient at Sundance, is blind and on the spectrum. She noticed the lack of playable games for her brother, and was inspired to pursue developing games that are inclusive to people with disabilities. Morgan lives in Tacoma with her partner and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys writing music, playing video games, and enjoying the natural beauty of the South Sound.

Foundation Board of Directors 

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Lisa Mulligan, President

Bree Cowdrey, Vice President 

Andrea Marquez, Secretary 

Pam Giles, Treasurer

Gena Vincent, Board Member