(WFRV) – Katie Samuelson, the CEO of Beaming Equine-Assisted Services, has been named WFRV’s 2026 Remarkable Woman of the Year. Local Five revealed the winner on Tuesday after reviewing approximately 100 nominations for inspiring women in Northeast Wisconsin.
Based in the Town of Vinland, Beaming Equine-Assisted Services provides therapeutic riding experiences for individuals with differing abilities. The nonprofit serves a diverse range of clients, including children with autism, teenagers facing emotional challenges and seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. Participants in the program currently range in age from 4 to 92.
Since Samuelson joined Beaming Equine-Assisted Services in 2010, the organization has grown from serving 40 riders to more than 4,000 annually. Samuelson, who is an accomplished rider, eventually transitioned from a participant to the nonprofit’s leader. During her tenure, the organization moved from leasing horses and paying rent to owning its ranch and property.
Walt Zerrenner, the board vice president for Beaming Equine-Assisted Services, nominated Samuelson for the award. He noted that the organization’s financial transformation was significant under her direction. “We talk about it all the time how 10 years ago she started with 37 cents and now she’s CEO of Beaming and Beaming owns the property and the horses and the ranch,” Zerrenner said. He often refers to Samuelson as the “Energizer Bunny” because she is constantly looking for new ways to expand the nonprofit’s reach.
Clinical Director Janet Hagen, who holds a PhD and an MBA, also supported the nomination. Hagen described Samuelson as a visionary with an intense focus on the mission. “I mean a lot of people are committed but this is like an all in, tremendous commitment. and the ability to work with all kinds of people,” Hagen said. She noted that Samuelson is frequently thinking of new programs even while working directly with the horses.
The organization has added several specialized programs to meet community needs, including trauma support for individuals impacted by cancer and suicide. Other initiatives include women’s empowerment events and programs specifically designed for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Samuelson said she views the work as more than a career. “I’m honored to have this position,” Samuelson said. “To me, this is not a job. It’s who I am.”
Through the development of a strong volunteer and donor network, Beaming provides $150,000 in no-cost services every year. These sessions are designed to improve fine motor skills, communication and physical balance for participants. Samuelson emphasized that she wanted to create an environment where anyone could feel welcome. “I wanted this to be a place for everyone to be included,” Samuelson said. “Where you could come as you are.”
Samuelson has stated she has plans to expand the program in the future to reach more people through equine-assisted services. “I try to help everyone and I know sometimes I can’t do it all,” Samuelson said. “But I always try to find a way.”
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WFRV Local 5. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WFRV Local 5 staff before being published.
