Executive
Director
John
Robert "Rob" Burk
Rob is
a lifelong horseman who has been working with the MHIB since January 2003. Growing up in Northern
California Rob worked as a rider, trainer, and groom with many of the
countries most accomplished Dressage, and Eventing
Professionals. Moreover, as a teenager
Rob worked as a groom for an Olympian the late Captain David Foster of County Meath, Ireland. By the age of 11 Rob was the Junior Novice
Combined Training Champion of California, at 15 he was the Young Rider Open
Pre-liminary Combined Training Champion of
California, and when he headed off to college at 17 he was an H-A rated member
of the U.S. Pony Club. While in College
Rob was a IHSA Regional Open Over Fences and Flat
Champion, and the fourth ranked Western Reining and Horsemanship Rider in the
Nation. Academically, Rob was awarded the 2000 Betty F. Kennedy Award of Academic
Excellence, the 2000 Leo's Choice Treats Award/Academic Scholarship for
contributions to the equine industry, and the 1999 Abdullah Award. Immediately following graduation Rob worked
for a year as a Stallion Handler in Gahanna,
Ohio while he coached the 2000 Otterbein Western Team. Rob has earned a
Bachelors of Science in Pre-Veterinary Equine Science from Otterbein College in
Ohio, and a Master of Science in Equine Nutrition from
Virginia Tech. Moreover, while at
Virginia Tech he spearheaded their national advertising campaign for the MARE Center Thoroughbred
Yearling Auction, which resulted in two of the top three sales years in the
history of the center. Rob is married to Dr. Amy Ordakowski
Burk of the University of Maryland
Equine Studies program (www.equinestudies.umd.edu) whom he had met while in graduate school.
Over the past year Rob has worked at: promoting the Maryland Horse Industry,
establishing several new programs for the horse industry through the Department
of Agriculture, working for the Board in the furthering of their mission, and
he has been at the forefront of most horse related issues in Maryland. While at the same time managing the day to
day operations of the MHIB including, but not limited to, the collection and
disbursement grants from the Maryland Feed Fund, establishment of a database of
licensed stables, writing fiscal notes and recommendations on numerous industry
related bills, and assisting with the licensing of stables in the Maryland.
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