Honorably Serving the Healthcare Needs of Our Heroes

Co-Founder and Board of Directors President, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor II

As a dad to a USMC Combat Veteran, I have seen over the years that many of our Veterans need help covering the high costs of care beyond what their insurance covers, which is why we formed Veterans Health + Wellness Alliance. It’s an honor to give back to these men and women who have given so much to our country.

I really enjoy my work with Veterans as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC II) in the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court, as well as with private clients in the community. With expertise in advocacy and relationship-building, I support clients and their families in every way I can. Designing creative and interactive workshops for individuals in addiction recovery and teaching insightful, supportive family education groups are also things I enjoy.

My wife, Janie, and I have always tried to live life to the fullest, enjoying spending time with our son and his family, as well as with our friends near and far, eating great food and exploring new places together.

Co-Founder and Board of Directors Vice President, Functional Nutrition Health Coach + Life Coach

My husband, Ken, and I have a long history of caring deeply about Veterans, starting in our own family with our son, who served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, and was deployed to combat zones in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom), in addition to training national security forces in Africa (MTT Africa). We’ve seen firsthand the need for health and wellness services beyond what insurance covers for our country’s Veterans, and formed the Veterans Health + Wellness Alliance to help solve this problem.

Ken and I have been married for nearly 40 years. I love being Mike’s mom and Gigi to our six grandkids. Over the years, Ken and I have enjoyed living in various places across the USA, and especially loved our time living in Europe. Building communities of support and resources is one of my strengths, and I really enjoy supporting our Veterans in this way.

Board of Directors Treasurer and Certified Public Accountant

When our kids were in high school, my wife, Ilene, and I took in a ‘bonus kid’, a young man who wanted a steady place to stay while his dad was serving as Master Chief with the Seabees. We enjoyed being supportive and watching him succeed through high school and college, earning a bachelor's degree. Upon graduating, he chose to join the Navy, entering as an officer. We continued to support him through the years and experienced his emotional struggles on deployment and at home base. Sadly, his older brother, an Air Force Officer, died by suicide while his brother (our bonus kid) was away on deployment. Through this tragedy, we learned that being a Veteran is not an easy path, and we wish to support programs that provide care and guidance to those who give their life to serve our country.

My hobbies include racecars, welding, astronomy, tennis, and playing a variety of musical instruments. Ilene and I enjoy concerts and outdoor adventures in our RV, as well as road trips across the country and visits with our kids and grandkids.

Board of Directors Member and Male Veterans Strategic Connections Director, 10-year Air Force Active Duty, 1-Year Reserves, 5-Years Private Military Contracting

I have spent time in many combat zones, but most of my deployed life was in Doha, Qatar, and Kandahar, Afghanistan. I am a husband and father, and I am currently in my Senior Year at Belmont University pursuing a degree in Business/Psychology to give back to my community of Veterans in a tangible way.

My personal life experiences with growth in the medical and mental health arenas, have fueled my desire to be part a better step towards addressing the needs of our Veterans.

Personally, I am always looking for ways to be a better father, and pursuing the passion to give back to our Veterans helps me fill my cup so I can pour into my children.

Board of Directors Member and Creative Director + Community Connector, Spouse of U.S. Navy Corpsman Veteran, Founder of Apple & Anchor

I am a Franklin, Tennessee-based brand strategist, community builder, and founder of Apple & Anchor — a strategy-first branding studio that helps founder-led businesses find clarity, meaning, and distinction in a crowded market. With a belief that the best brands don't just look good but mean something, I have built a reputation for helping businesses move from forgettable to unforgettable.

Beyond my client work, I founded the Franklin Creative Club, a nonprofit community dedicated to connecting and supporting creative professionals in Williamson County — because I believe that together, small things grow.

A Franklin resident for over 20 years, I am deeply invested in the future of my community. I am a mom of two, a runner, a reluctant pianist, and a first-time skydiver. I am married to Justin, a former U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman — the steady anchor to my ever-adventurous apple.

Board of Directors Member and Female Veterans Strategic Connections Director, 29-Year Army Active Duty, Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court Mentor

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, I'm an Army Veteran with an exceptional 29-year military career. I am proud to be one of the first women to become an Army Pathfinder. In 1994, I graduated as the Enlisted Honor Graduate of my Airborne class of 400 students, logging over 40 parachute jumps. The following year, I earned the Army Pathfinder Badge as a Specialist/E-4.

In 1997, I attended Army Flight School, where I flew the TH-67, OH-58, and UH-1H helicopters and contributed to testing the cockpit of the RAH-66 Comanche. I served as an original team member of both the 45th Civil Support Team in Smyrna, TN and the 21st Civil Support Team at Fort Dix, NJ, and earned five Foreign Parachutist Badges — Chilean, Honduran, French, German, and Netherlands.

My final duty station was a five-year assignment as the National Guard Liaison at the U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center & School at Fort Bragg, NC. After retiring in 2017, I joined the American Legion and am a Life Member of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America. Since 2023, I have served as a Veteran Mentor at the Williamson County Veterans Treatment Court.

Beyond my military service, I am an author and motivational speaker. My book, PathfYnder: How I Use Personal Courage and Emotional Control to Face Fear, Build Success and Get What I Want, draws on my life experiences to inspire others to push past fear and pursue their highest potential. I am the proud mother of a son who is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.