Our Leadership
The People Behind the Mission
Wild Willow Redemption Ranch is led by people who believe deeply in second chances — for horses and for people.
Organizational Leadership
Victoria Francis, M.A.
Founder & Executive Director | USMC Veteran | LPC-A | Equine Guided Coach
My work with horses and people began long before certifications, programs, or professional titles. I grew up with horses, riding from a young age and learning early that horses are teachers of presence, honesty, and humility. They shaped how I learned trust, responsibility, and relationship long before I had language for those things.
As life unfolded, horses became more than a passion. They became central to my own recovery and healing. In seasons where words fell short, horses offered regulation, grounding, and truth without judgment. That lived experience is the foundation of everything I do today.
I am a United States Marine Corps veteran. I carry a personal, lived understanding of PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma, and that experience informs how I hold space for others.
My journey into this work began as a Level 1 Certified Equine Guided Coach — and that foundation was so meaningful that I wanted to go deeper. I pursued licensure so I could offer more: I am now a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A), trained to provide equine assisted counseling. My clinical internships were completed at the Children's Advocacy Center and Trinity Challenge, where I worked with individuals and families navigating trauma, abuse, and complex relational wounds.
My clinical work is grounded in evidence-based and experiential modalities, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR, and trauma-informed experiential approaches. In addition to my work at Wild Willow, I serve as Clinical Director at Living Hope Equine Therapy, where I provide counseling services and help guide the integration of horses into the therapeutic process.
I also serve on the boards of other nonprofit organizations, and I remain committed to the broader movement of equine-assisted care — both as a clinician and as an advocate for the horses who make this work possible. At Wild Willow Redemption Ranch, horses are honored as individuals with their own stories, and humans are met with respect for theirs. This ranch exists because I believe deeply that healing happens when horses and humans are given the space to be seen, regulated, and restored together.
Nonprofit Governance
Board of Directors
Wild Willow Redemption Ranch is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors committed to protecting the organization's mission, responsibly stewarding its resources, and keeping decisions centered on the wellbeing of the horses and people we serve.
Matthew Francis
Board Member - Vice President
Biography coming soon.
Ashley Burns
Board Member - Treasurer
Ashley Burns brings a unique combination of military service, trauma-informed practice, nonprofit leadership, and professional management experience to the Wild Willow Redemption board.
An Army combat veteran, Ashley understands firsthand the challenges that can follow military service and has turned that experience into a commitment to supporting healing, connection, and community. She is the founder and owner of Burns Courage and Restoration Ranch, a veteran-focused equine-facilitated nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful, evidence-informed opportunities for healing to those who have served.
Ashley holds Level 1 and Level 2 certifications in Equine Facilitated Learning through The HERD Institute and is an Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed and trauma-informed practitioner. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), further strengthening her knowledge of veteran mental health, suicide prevention, and trauma recovery.
Outside of her nonprofit work, Ashley serves as a Senior Construction Project Manager in the oil and gas industry, where she brings extensive experience in strategic planning, budgeting, risk management, operations, and cross-functional leadership.
As a member of the Wild Willow Redemption board, Ashley brings both compassion and strategy to the table. Her experience as a combat veteran, nonprofit founder, trauma-informed practitioner, and project manager provides valuable perspective as WWR works to strengthen equine rescue efforts and expand access to equine-assisted mental health services in our community.
Allison Dooley
Board Member
Biography coming soon.
Kristy Biollo
Board Member - Secretary
Kristy brings a heart for service, a lifelong love of animals, and meaningful lived experience to the Wild Willow Redemption Board. Originally from Canada, she has extensive volunteer experience and a deep passion for helping both horses and humans find connection, support, and healing.
Kristy previously worked as a nurse in an emergency department, where she gained firsthand experience supporting people through some of life's most difficult moments. Her background also includes working closely with trauma and loss, giving her a unique understanding of what it means to walk alongside others through pain, transition, and healing.
Today, Kristy's passion centers on being of service to others and creating space for people to feel seen, supported, and safe. Her compassion for animals, commitment to helping others, and belief in the power of simply being present make her a valued part of Wild Willow Redemption's mission to help horses and humans heal.
Governance & Transparency
Our Commitment to Responsible Stewardship
Wild Willow Redemption Ranch is committed to responsible nonprofit governance, ethical stewardship, transparency, and protecting the charitable purpose of our organization.
Governance documents, conflict-of-interest policies, annual reports, financial transparency information, and public organizational documents will be made available here as the organization develops.