Veteran Resource Podcast

Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., named to TIME's 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, is the president and founder of Give an Hour?. A licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in the Washington, D.C., area for over 20 years, she served as an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University, where she participated in the training and supervision of developing clinicians. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1991, her M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1987, and her B.A., summa cum laude, in psychology from California State College in 1982. Concerned about the mental health implications of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in 2005 Dr. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour, a national nonprofit providing free mental health services to the military and veteran community. Its nearly 7,000 mental health professionals have given more than 175,000 hours of care and support to those in need, and the organization now also leads the Campaign to Change Direction, a collective impact effort to change the culture of mental health in America. Dr. Van Dahlen has received numerous awards, including the American Psychological Association?s Presidential Citation and the 2013 Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship of the Manhattan Institute. In 2014 she was named a Woman of Distinction by the Coastal Bend / / http://veteranpodcast.com/051

Laurie Phillips is the co-founder of Tech For Troops Project. Laurie is a successful entrepreneur and founder of seven companies. For 25 years she has been a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies, leading professional services firms, and start-ups. A former Big 4 consulting partner and Information Technology expert, Laurie brings operational, technical, and entrepreneurial leadership to Tech For Troops Project. / / Laurie is also the founder of Sundance Research, an IT consulting and project management company based in Richmond, Virginia. / / http://veteranpodcast.com/050

Sergeant R. Morgan Crihfield served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Texas Army National Guard. He is an alumnus of Midwestern State University with both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Social Work as well as a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. He currently works as a therapist specializing in Post Traumatic Stress and Depression. He currently lives in north Texas with his wife, children, and two lazy Labradors. / / http://veteranpodcast.com/049

Josh is the Director of Strategy at Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness, the nation?s first privately funded rural wellness center dedicated exclusively to combat veterans and their families. The Retreat runs short-duration, high-impact retreats focused on combat-related stress for combat veterans (male and female), spouses, caregivers, couples, families and Gold Star Families. Since opening in September 2013, the Retreat has hosted more than 2,500 guests. / / Josh is responsible for the development and execution of strategic initiatives - including Boulder Crest?s work to develop the nation?s first comprehensive, non-clinical curriculum based on Post-Traumatic Growth, Warrior PATHH. Warrior PATHH is an 18-month program, initiated by a 7-day retreat, designed to harness the unique strength of combat veterans while enabling them to transform their struggle into growth and strength. In addition, he oversees strategic partnerships and scale and expansion efforts. / / Prior to joining Boulder Crest Retreat, Josh worked as a communications executive at ExxonMobil's Dallas headquarters from 2006-2011, and was an entrepreneur-in-residence at 2M Companies. During his time at 2M, Josh began advising several non-profit organizations supporting veterans, with a specific focus on combat-related stress and PTSD. After volunteering for a number of months, and in recognition of the remarkable strength, capacity and potential of the combat veterans, Josh chose to dedicate his life to ensuring that service members, veterans and their families had the opportunity to live the great lives they deserved ? full of passion, purpose and service ? here at home. / / Show notes: veteranpodcast.com/048

He went into the Army straight out of High school joining up as an infantryman. His tenure in the Army saw him take the first team into the Pentagon on 9-11 as well as a combat tour in Iraq from 2005-2006. Since that time he has helped build SoldierFit, a gym based out of Frederick MD, from one sub-let location to 3 stand alone facilities with 3,000 members and over 50 employees. He went from being homeless to generating 2.2 million dollars in revenue this year alone. Soldierfit is now franchised and Danny hopes to open 1-2 franchises as well as 1 more corporate location by the end of the year.

Recently he Co-founded his first 501(c), Platoon 22, to combat veteran suicides. He is currently a sought after motivational speaker and was selected to the 2013 "Top 40 under 40 V.I.P" by The Daily Record, as well as one of the Top 5 Mens health Ultimate guys. Soldierfit has won numerous awards including Small business of the year in several counties and the state. His goal is to revitalize the American dream and remind his fellow Americans no other soil on earth is more fertile for their dreams then America’s.

What is Platoon 22? Platoon 22 is a traveling memorial started by the non-profit 22 Needs A Face. The boots in the Platoon 22 memorial symbolize the 22 lives lost per day, 682 lives lost per month, and over 8,000 veteran lives lost each year to suicide attributed to PTS.

We need to raise awareness of the epidemic across the United States. Free and fun events to bring the veteran community together to strengthen the sense of community and camaraderie that they have lost in transition. Raise capital to help support severally underfunded and undermanned crises call centers to make sure someone answers their call for help. Advocate for legislative and VA policy changes that will ensure a mental health professional sees every veteran as part of the military out-processing and VA enrollment procedures. If it is deemed that they may need or do need further counseling then ensure they are assisted to make the transition into the VA systems (VBA and VHA) a seamless and efficient process.

Unable to hold employment or successfully retrain/go back to school; I dove head first into the art of pottery. I have found a great therapy in ceramics upon my discharge from the military. My love of the arts has only helped to propel me forward, allowing me to excel in this artistic medium. I have been transitioning into more sculptural work and am truly loving the new direction!

I am a retired (yes, at 32), disabled Iraqi war veteran. I served for nearly 4 years in the US Army as a combat medic. Right around my seventh month in Iraq, my health took a drastic turn; I began having seizures. It has been a downhill slide ever since with more health issues arising as time continues. While the doctors have not yet been able to nail down a diagnosis, I continue to strive and to push forward everyday with the love and support from family. No matter the situation encountered, I choose to always look for the silver linings, focusing on the negatives serves no purpose.

I am also the founder of a non-profit organization called Healing Arts of Maine. The therapeutic effects that I found in clay has led me to be quite passionate about being able to bring this simple method of healing to the greatest audience possible. I hope you take the time to follow the link and check out Healing Arts of Maine, and if so inclined to make a tax deductible donation through our financial sponsor, Fractured Atlas.

Sam Pressler is the founder and executive director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), and a 2015 Echoing Green Global Fellow. Under Sam’s leadership, ASAP launched the only stand-up comedy class for veterans in the United States, and the largest writing group for veterans in Virginia. Sam graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from the College of William & Mary (’15), where he was a Ewell Award recipient, McGlennon Scholar, and TEDx Innovative Thinker. His efforts with ASAP have been covered by CNN, ABC News, BBC, Washington Post, NPR, the Military Times, Stars & Stripes, Soldiers Magazine, and Task & Purpose, among others.

http://veteranpodcast.com/045

Nancy’s interest in horses began at 16 months of age when she received a rocking horse on the first Christmas she can remember. Her interest in the challenges disabled people faced every day started with her Great Uncle Walter who she first met when she was 3 years of age. Uncle Walter was blind. He had lost his sight when he was taking money earned from his business to the bank for deposit. He was robbed by a thug who hit him with a blackjack (as it was called in those days), knocked him unconscious and robbed him of his hard earned money. Uncle Walter was kind, sweet, and never complained about his misfortune. At the time he was a young man, engaged to be married. He broke the engagement because he did not want to burden the girl he loved. Nancy was fascinated by what he could do without sight. Play the piano, he had even taught piano. He took care of his invalid sister, and did all the cooking. Later as a teen-ager, Nancy baby sat a disabled child.

In the early 1980’s Nancy went through a life altering experience. Not to be the first. But, this is when her horse “Dusty” entered her life. The Golden Palomino that she had always dreamed of having as a child. Dusty was her therapy. Dusty started the chain of events that led Nancy to her life’s mission.

In 1985 Nancy was certified by Happy Horsemanship For The Handicapped, Inc. as a Certified Administrator, Instructor, and Clinician. In 1986, she opened Heads Up Therapy With Horses for disabled children and adults. While being Founder and Executive Director of Heads Up she served as Set Advisor for NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicap Association; now know as PATH) in the production of a video with President and Mrs. Regan for Therapy On Horseback. She also served as the Volunteer Training Director for the newly forming California Network of Equestrian Therapy (CALNET). She is a Certified Direct Support Professional for California, and most recently finished her Army one Source Training, PTSD Then and Now.

On the more creative side Nancy has served as a Western Music DJ Host, KHTS Radio, Santa Clarita, California. The show “Around The Barn” featured guests for discussion on topics related to horses, therapy, and achievements of the disabled population, and interviews with celebrity Western Music Artists from all over the country. “Around The Barn” was nominated for Best Radio Show of Years 2011, 2012, 2013 by the Western Music Association (WMA). On a final note, she has become a story/coloring book author for a true story series called “Dusty And Friends”, an educational coloring book. The stories come from the 27 year operation of Heads Up therapeutic riding center for special needs children.

http://veteranpodcast.com/044

Animal trainer, Clarissa Black, graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science Animal Science and from Canisius College with a Masters in Anthrozoology. She discovered her passion for training while working with elephants and dolphins but gradually realized she wanted to develop relationships with the animals for which she cared. Through her career as a dolphin trainer, Clarissa learned advanced animal training principles and applied them to husbandry, veterinary, research and program training. While working with these unique mammals in the water, she decided to further her work and experience training animals on land and began working as a professional dog trainer. She has been successful developing personalized training and behavior plans, as well as teaching dog obedience. Her motto is set both the owner and the dog up for success.

During her experience working with therapy dogs in the company of Americas veterans and wounded soldiers, she saw firsthand how important animals can be in recovery. She has a unique understanding regarding the training each dog receives, as well as being able to recognize what each veteran needs from his or her companion animal. Pets for Vets, Inc. is Clarissa's way to say thank you to our country's heroes.

http://veteranpodcast.com/043

A proud member of the 2010 class of Tillman Scholars, Elizabeth O’Herrin serves as Director of Programs and Scholarships–overseeing scholarship selection, engagement, and opportunities. She served with the Wisconsin Air National Guard from 2001-2008, assembling and transporting conventional weapons for F-16 fighter jets. She received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her MA from the Johns Hopkins University, where her research focused on the federal government and veteran reintegration.

She has worked on a wide range of issues facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for nearly a decade. She co-founded the Student Veterans of America and fought with a dedicated team of veteran advocates to successfully pass the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008.

She is passionate about learning people’s stories, promoting all things Wisconsin, her faith, and coffee.

http://veteranpodcast.com/042