Corey Johnsen currently serves as the RTCA At-Large Ambassador and is the President of CJ Thoroughbreds. Corey has an extensive and varied background in horse racing. He’s been a groom, horse owner, breeder, publicity and marketing director, track president and owner who has overseen the launch and re-opening of numerous facilities in the United States and the Americas. He understands horse racing like few others and is a sought-after resource by many. Said Eric Hamelback (National HBPA, CEO), “Corey is a positive presence in our industry. He has always remained upbeat, focused, and he believes in being a team player and working together with horsemen and other tracks. He is very appreciative of what it takes to be a stakeholder in this industry and what each one of them gives to this industry we all love. If everybody had his attitude, the racing industry would be in great shape.”

Whether it’s been at Longacres, Turf Paradise, Arlington Park, Louisiana Downs, Remington Park, Lone Star Park, Kentucky Downs, or anywhere else, Corey has been a supporter and advocate of the Chaplains of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America. He understands that the Chaplain is a very important part of the team at any racetrack. At Lone Star, Corey championed the chapel as part of the building plans and once called Chaplain Sam Ed Spence, “One of the most valuable assets of the track.” Being a horseman, Corey understands and appreciates all the workers and participants at every level of a racing facility, and understands that each of them have spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and educational needs that must be met. 

Chaplain John Shumaker was born in Mesa, AZ and raised in Tempe, AZ.  He and his wife, Amy, have been married for a wonderful 21 years.  They have 3 children: Travis who has moved back to the Phx. Az. area to be closer to family, Casey Jo who is finishing up her first year of college at Arizona State University, and the bow that completes their family is Jacob who will begin High School next year.

John started out in RTCA as president of the AZ Council in 1995 and then was asked to move to Houston, Texas, where he was an Assistant Chaplain under Chaplain Randy Weaver at Sam Houston Race Park, starting in 1999.  After a year, Randy decided he was being called to start a church just north of Houston so John took over as Sr. Chaplain at that time and has enjoyed being a RTCA Chaplain ever since.  In 2007, God opened another door for him and his family and he return to Phoenix, AZ to take over as Chaplain at Turf Paradise Race Track in the winter and Arapahoe Race Park in Denver Colorado during the summer.

Tony is a native of Arcadia, California.  He grew up going to Santa Anita Race Track at an early age. He loves horses and the game of racing. He has owned horses since 1994.  Currently serving as President of the Race Track Chaplaincy of California.  Tony is married with two grown children.

Professionally, Tony has worked for Thrivent Financial for 33 years. Thrivent is a not for profit, faith based, financial services company.  Tony serves the individual, family, and business market and loves working in the charitable planning field.

Tony has several financial services degrees including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL). Tony is in the Thrivent Hall of Fame and the InFaith Foundation Hall of Honor and is a Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).

Rick Hooper is Vice President, Chief Legal & Advocacy Officer for Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which supplies flooring products and synthetic turf to residential and commercial markets worldwide. From the corporate headquarters in Dalton, Georgia, Rick directs the corporate advocacy efforts and maintains oversight of the legal function. He has been with the company for 27 years. Rick earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University. 

Rick currently serves as the chairman of the Georgia Association of Manufacturers. He is also involved in his local community in various roles, including the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees. Rick and his wife, Sandee, have three children and attend Rock Bridge Community Church. Rick has previously served as a Region Director for the RTCA and has agreed to be nominated to serve again. 

While not living in a state that has racing or a vibrant horse industry, he loves the Lord and has a heart for missions, especially the RTCA and the farm and track ministries that our chaplains serve. While limited by geography, and without much experience in the industry, 

Rick has committed to do his best to serve Christ through our ministry. Rick recognizes the grace which he has been given, and will attempt through God’s love and power to some way bring God, and God alone, the glory.

Eli Hernandez was born and raised in Los Angeles California. He has been serving Jesus most of his life, but on October, 2000 he made it official by becoming an ordained minister. Since then Eli has been serving in the local church. In addition to that, Eli became a Substance Abuse Counselor and began to serve the homeless population of Los Angeles.

His ministerial experience along with the Substance Abuse Counselor experience has positioned Eli to better serve the racetrack community of which he was introduced in 2013 as a racetrack Chaplain with RTCA.

Eli has been married to Martha for 32 years and out of that marriage God has blessed them with two children, Jessica & Matthew and two grandchildren, Ashley and Adrian.

Christine was born in Norman, Oklahoma and was blessed to be raised by the two greatest loving adoptive parents who taught her it is better to give than receive. Christine graduated from Choctaw High School with a cosmetology license and continued on to complete some additional courses at Rose State College. Christine raised four beautiful children while she was a driven sales leader for Tiara Exclusives taking her to Germany, Acapulco, Hawaii and many other adventures for 14 years.  Later, she owned her own beauty shop and ran the family construction and roofing company.

Christine entered the Horse Racing community as an owner in 1990. Went to work learning to groom, hot walk, and train. As an avid horse lover, Christine has been involved in breeding, raising, and training horses and has won in each category.

Christine began serving on the board at Remington Park Chaplaincy in 2018 as a Council Member, then Vice President in 2019 and became President in 2021. Christine has a heart for service which is evidenced by her heavy involvement in the donations, clothes closet and her service in the chaplaincy. She taught her children God put us all here on this earth and asked us to do three important things: 1. Love God and have a relationship with Him.  2. Love our neighbors. 3. Serve others. Christine’s life revolves around serving others whether it is family, the church, and ultimately God.

Janet VanBebber is the Chief Racing Officer for the American Quarter Horse Association. VanBebber’s resume boasts a long and successful career training racing American Quarter Horses. The former owner of VanBebber Racing Stables of Ledbetter, Texas, she has a long history of involvement with American Quarter Horses and Quarter Horse racing and is well known as being one of the industry’s most accomplished trainers. In 2011, she became the first female trainer to eclipse the 1,000th career win mark and she is the leading female trainer by money earned. Her resume also includes being the recipient of the 2002 AQHA Mildred N. Vessels Special Achievement Award. Her career includes training world champion Tailor Fit, who remains ranked as one of the breed’s top money earners – 15 years after his final race.  

During her years at the track, Janet has shared her faith and love of Christ through her involvement with several RTCA Chaplaincy programs across the nation.