Our Team
![Horses on the road by a fence](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/20180414_brightside-animals-39.jpg?crop=2000,858,0,440)
![Devin and Tia Tharp](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/fullsizeoutput_f0e5.jpg?crop=2000,1125,0,105)
Our Founders
Devin and Tia Tharp founded the ranch in 2014 with a desire to influence and inspire the next generation with Hope. God has used their hearts for reaching kids and teens combined with their individual gifts and experiences to bring together the unique ministry of partnering hurting kids and teens with a mentor and horse in order to share Hope.
Tia is the Executive Director of Bright Side. She has a BA in Equine Studies, a Masters in Pastoral Counseling: Crisis and Trauma, a certificate in Biblically Based Equine Assisted Programming, and is a Training Facilitator in Biblical Trauma Healing.
Devin is the Family Pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Charlotte. He has a Masters of Divinity and over 25 years of experience with the next generation.
Our Team Members
![](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/alisha-mccarthy.jpg?crop=1500,1500,0,250)
Alisha McCarthy, Program Coordinator
![](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/jennifer-m-2023.jpg?crop=1500,1500,0,351)
Jennifer Matulaitis, Herd Manager
![Mentorship team 2021](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/mentor-team-2023.jpg)
Bright Side Mentor Team
We have an amazing team of mentors who volunteer their time each week to invest in the hearts of children and teens.
![Fire pit and cross](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/img_4133.jpg)
Our Board
We are a registered 501(s)3 Non-Profit. Our board of directors are:
- Lew Evans
- Dave Howard
- Maria Vaughn
- Bekah Henderson
- Devin Tharp
Our Herd
Our ranch is growing all the time!
Here are our current four-legged team members.
![Ali](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/ali.jpg?crop=1068,1334,579,0)
![Goldie](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/goldie.jpg?crop=958,1197,311,687)
![Ojai](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/ojai.jpg?crop=1000,1250,0,54)
![Bear](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/bear.jpg?crop=1066,1334,380,0)
![Mocha](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/mocha.jpg?crop=1333,1665,0,147)
![Princess](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/princess.jpg?crop=608,760,139,0)
![Brass](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/brass.jpg?crop=1106,1382,197,0)
![Maple](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/maple.jpg?crop=1060,1326,624,4)
![Storm](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/storm.jpg?crop=1000,1250,0,52)
![Evan](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/evan.jpg?crop=536,670,244,0)
![Kahlua](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/kahlua-2-2023.jpg?crop=1235,1544,0,44)
![Mark](https://bsr-5q.b-cdn.net/image/mark.jpg?crop=1600,2000,89,0)
“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our HOPE is in you alone.”