1987 – Harbor Springs, Michigan & Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Ceejay Heckenberg is president and owner of Black Forest Hall, an accredited equine college and equestrian school in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Also the owner of several horse-related businesses, including Black Forest Farm, a thoroughbred breeding farm, she has developed a new breed of horse, trademarked the Thelgian. For more than thirty years she has provided educational and employment opportunities for youth with common interests in animals and business. Personal funds built the large, self-contained indoor school building at Black Forest Hall and continue to provide annual operational funds and work/study positions. Appreciating the school’s high standards, donors have provided quality equitation, dressage and jumping mounts. College On The Horse Farm, a 1989 articulation between Northwood University and Black Forest Hall, provides business management and administration instruction, leading to bachelor and associate degrees, for a group of career students in Harbor Springs. For many seasons, the Black Forest campus welcomed the Northwood Orchestra for its annual summer music festival. Mrs. Heckenberg has a B.A. from Principia College, Elsah, Illinois and her secondary education from Mary Institute and The Principia, St. Louis, Missouri. She and her realtor/ interior designer husband, Jack, divide their time between active and involved lives in Florida and Michigan.
