Meet the Team

Marissa Gentner (Founder)

 

Marissa is the founder/owner/operator of The Distinguished Rider. Understanding that there was a need within the equestrian industry to have access to high quality, comfortable, customizable boots and apparel, Marissa started the business in June 2020. Marissa strives to foster a business environment that is fun, inclusive, and empowering for all riders. 

It is Marissa’s personal goal to see that everyone has boots that fit well and that they adore, regardless of brand. To maintain the exceptional customer service that The Distinguished Rider has become known for, Marissa has expanded the team, surrounding herself with a group of likeminded women.  She is so grateful for her employees and sponsored trainers, without whom the business could not function!

In her free time, Marissa enjoys spending time with her goofy horse, Dulcinea (also known as “Nay-Nay”), hanging out with her English Springer Spaniels (Dolce and Oliver), and listening to live music with her partner.

Mia Giuliano (Business Administrator)

Mia joined the TDR team in September 2021. She is a seasoned manager and administrative professional possessing a Bachelor’s degree and an MBA. Her career began in the mid-80s in information technology, and she rose through the ranks of IT in the financial services industry in NYC. In the early 2000s, she relocated to PA to be closer to her horses. While raising a family, she remained active in project management and administrative consulting, mostly philanthropically. Mia is an avid equestrian and a dressage enthusiast. 

As we grow as a business, her role behind-the-scenes will enable our brand/sales representatives to continue to provide exceptional products and services and to maintain the standards of quality that our customers have come to expect. 

 

Linzy Closs (Director of Marketing)

Linzy joined the team in March 2022. She graduated from Cazenovia College in May 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Management with a specialization in Equine Business Management, and minors in Marketing and Biology. As of May 2022, she has completed her MBA through Clarkson University. Linzy became passionate about dressage during her time at Cazenovia College, which is where she sat in a dressage saddle for the first time. During her final year at Cazenovia, she was named as one of the captain’s of the Dressage discipline on the Cazenovia College Equestrian Team. She continues to show as an Adult Amateur, working towards her bronze medal on her aged Thoroughbred gelding, Orion. She loves playing a small part in helping equestrians of all sizes find their dream boots as a member of The Distinguished Rider team. 

 

Paige Zimmerman (Office Administrator)

 

Paige Zimmerman is The Distinguished Rider’s office assistant and a longtime TDR fanatic! She graduated from Lehigh University in 2024 with a B.S. in Business and Economics. She is a working student for her trainer, Olivia Steidle, and while she does not own her own horse, she rides the horses that Olivia has in her program. She earned her USDF Bronze Medal on an OTTB schoolmaster of Olivia's named Buddy, and the horse she currently has the pleasure of competing and working with is Ducati, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding owned by Brenda Curnin (who very generously lets Paige share him with her). Paige is so grateful to be a part of TDR and can't wait to see what the future brings!

 

Boot Representatives

Emily Goldstein

Emily is a lifelong equestrian, dressage rider, and owner of Emily Goldstein Dressage, based in Frederick, Maryland. Her favorite dance partner is her OTTB, Mo. She understands the importance of having the right equipment and that's why she loves Kingsley boots and is excited to be part of The Distinguished Rider team. She will be servicing MD, Northern VA, Southern PA, Delaware, and West Virginia.

 

Jessica Kaczmarek (Above and Beyond Custom Equestrian)

Jessica Kaczmarek is the TDR Midwestern Representative as well as the owner of Above and Beyond Custom Equestrian, Wisconsin's home for all things Kingsley! When not wearing the tiara and cape of a boot fitter, Jessica works as an outpatient Occupational Therapist with The Advocate Aurora Healthcare system and is based in Neenah, WI.  She has been an OT for 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge as to how the human body works. As a rider she is a dedicated student of dressage and is currently showing her horse Calgary JG (AKA Burrito) at I-2 and working towards Grand Prix. Jessica is joined in life by her very supportive husband, Scott, and her goofy, sweet and ridiculous Great Dane, Tavish. She is lost without them both. Jessica services the Midwestern area of the US including Wisconsin and surrounding areas.

 

Desiree Altland

Desiree spent her childhood living in Belgium, which is where she started riding at 7 years old. After moving back to the USA in 2004, she has gone on to graduate from Delaware Valley University with a Bachelors in Equine Business in 2016. Since then she has spent the last five years as an FEI groom and barn manager, learning the ins and outs of the industry. Her first love was a chestnut Thoroughbred mare. Her current love is her 29 year old OTTB, Polition (“Lish”), whom she’s had for 13 years. Along with "Lish", she has a young PRE mare in training, two dogs - Loki, and Freya, as well as a cat, Nala. She loves all things "matchy matchy" and is so excited to be the greater Palm Beaches connection to TDR and the Kingsley boots. She will be servicing Southern Florida.