Suzie Berregaard graduated from Iowa State University with an undergraduate degree in Forestry and worked in that field for the Student Conservation Association in New Mexico, the US Forest Service in Colorado, and the US Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake. She is a graduate of Drake University Law School and spent eight years working as a litigation attorney for the Iowa Attorney General’s office--followed by several years as corporate counsel specializing in healthcare compliance, non-profit governance, healthcare ethics, risk management and personnel law. She completed professional graduate studies from the George Washington University in Healthcare Corporate Compliance. She is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator, has been certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and Healthcare Corporate Compliance, and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.   She currently is the Director of the Office of Medical-Legal Risk Management for the Veterans Health Administration, aligned within the Office of the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Quality and Patient Safety. Suzie was born and raised in Iowa and grew up on the bare backs of Shetland ponies and Quarter horses. She rode bulls during college at ISU, worked for Jim Dudley Quarter Horses and Reisinger Farms Paints, and has ridden hundreds of miles of natural trails all over the United States. She owned and operated a flower shop and a dance studio in Grimes 1995 through 2002. She also holds a certification in Enology (the science of wine making), sits as a member of the Sensory Panel for the Iowa Quality Wine Consortium, Midwest Grape and Wine Institute, is a former Board Member on the Iowa Wine Growers Association, is an introductory level sommelier, and judges commercial and regional wine competitions.  She is currently a member of the Polk County Conservation Board Advisory Committee.  Suzie has two children, Shianne Thomas, a finance attorney in Kansas City, and Chase (Sam) Thomas, who is married, owns his own construction business and is a Sergeant, United States Marine Corps.

John Nuhn was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. He holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology/Social Work from Siena College in Loudinvile, NY and a Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University. He is a licensed social worker and also a Certified Case Manager. John worked in child protective services early in his career and has specialized experience as a youth substance abuse counselor and working with children and adults with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. He has been in Iowa for over 25 years and currently works at Unity Point, Methodist West Hospital. John is a huge sports fan and sports trivia wiz, so you may frequently see him with an ear bud in listening to a game. John has three children, Jake who achieved his Doctorate in Biochemical Engineering at Iowa State University and currently working in the Kansas City market, Charlie, who graduated from the University of Iowa with a communications degree and works in the insurance industry in West Des Moines, and Rachel who is currently teaching in elementary education.

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Suzie and John completed the building of their new winery facility on the Veritas property in 2023, continuing the journey started with the establishment of their 2-acre commercial vineyard in 2015/2016.  They have been married for 13 years and live on an acreage directly across the road from the VERITAS Equestrian Center facility.

​RideInspired!

The Veritas journey:

The buildings at VERITAS have existed as part of the  Grimes-area community for several years, and the property has been previously operated under several different names by previous owners.   VERITAS Equestrian Center, LLC. was established in November 2013, and we have been operating under that name ever since.   We have a committed vision for this important and long-standing part of the community.   In addition to environmental improvements and general maintenance and safety related activities, the VERITAS team continues to work to enhance the conditions of the property and the experience of our customers.   We live immediately adjacent to the VERITAS property and are part of the community served by the VERITAS facilities.    We are part of the local community and are invested in providing committed, personalized, high quality service to those who choose VERITAS as their barn home.  Ride Inspired!