Featured Speakers
Featured Speakers
During the seminar, you will have the opportunity to hear from national experts in grief, trauma, health and wellness and more. Below is a list of the speakers and presenters who will be in attendance.
Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll is the President and Founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the leading national Military Service Organization providing comfort, care, and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one. Ms. Carroll founded TAPS following the death of her husband in an Army plane crash. She is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer, and she has served in the White House under three Presidents.
Audri Beugelsdijk
Audri Beugelsdijk serves as the Vice President of Survivor Services for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), overseeing immediate and long-term survivor support and outreach, and survivor programming. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology. She came to TAPS as a survivor in March 1997 after her husband CTRSN Jason Springer, USN, was lost at sea in the Pacific from the USS Kinkaid. As a Navy veteran as well, Audri is passionate about supporting our military families. Her work in honor of her late husband is a testament to her passion for the TAPS mission and her desire to offer safe places of hope and healing for all those grieving a military loss.
Jon Ganues
Jon is Manager of TAPS Men's Program, managing all aspects of event planning and coordination. Jon provides a safe space for grieving men to share their stories, connect and support each other, and find ways forward in their unique journeys, building relationships among the surviving community to deepen the foundation of support for male military survivors. Jon serves on the Virginia Military Advisory Council, exploring issues impacting quality of life for service members and their families, relations between the installations and surrounding civilian communities, as well as effects of encroachment. Jon served on the Department of the Air Force 2022 to 2024 Survivor Advocacy Council, which served as a forum for the Air Force and Space Force to champion survivor programs. He is a former TAPS Peer Mentor and was the 2019 Peer Mentor of the Year. Jon is a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer with 21 years of active-duty service, with experience in logistics and information technology. He is a lifetime member of the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association, and he is a lifetime honorary member of the Board of Directors for Henrico County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with information and technology from Colorado Technical University. Through his work at TAPS, Jon honors the memory of his son, Airman First Class Jon Wesley Ganues, Jr., U.S. Air Force, who died by suicide on June 2, 2009.
Session: Grieving Like a Man
Becky Lomaka, MA, CT
Becky Lomaka is the Director of Grief Support and Education at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills, California. In her role at O’Connor, Becky provides education and resources on death, dying and bereavement to healthcare and hospice partners, faith communities, as well as the community at large. She is an instructor for the Institute for Exceptional Funeral Service, whose focus is to bridge the educational gap between Mortuary Science School and on-the-job Training. Becky served on the Board of Directors for The Association for Death Education and Counseling. Locally she serves on the Board of Directors for Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council, the Advisory Council for the Trauma Intervention Program, the Board of Directors of Orange County Tremble Clefs and is a community educator for the Orange County Advance Care Planning Partners. Becky holds a deep belief that “Education is our most powerful tool in our efforts to help the community learn more about how to cope with death and the journey of grief after loss.” Through workshops, seminars and in-service programs, Becky is spreading awareness and changing grief-care for the better. Her true passion lies in normalizing the grief experience and helping to create a world in which grief is embraced, understood and respected.
Andy McNiel, MA
Andy is the Senior Advisor of Youth Programs for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Andy is an author and trainer on topics related to grief, bereavement, and end-of-life. He has been an advocate for healthy children, teenagers, and families throughout his career. He brings his dedication and expertise to TAPS, where he oversees, develops, and facilitates programming for young military survivors. He is co-founder and executive partner of The Satori Group, LLC, a national education, management, and consulting company that provides education, content development, training, and consultation in grief and loss. His leadership has guided the National Alliance for Grieving Children, the Amelia Center at Children's of Alabama, and Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie in South Florida. Andy is a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; a member of the International Workgroup on Death, Dying, and Bereavement; and he previously served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). Andy holds an M.A. in counseling and a B.A. in religion.
Jason Stout
Jason serves as a TAPS Youth Programs Advisor. Jason is passionate about helping youth and adults find their inner strength, form meaningful connections, and experience personal transformation through challenges. This is rooted in the losses of his sister, grandmother, and father — all before Jason was 15 years old. He struggled to deal with these losses as a teen and adult, but he found purpose and healing after completing a 78-day Winter Wilderness Leadership Expedition. In honor of his dad and sister, Jason created a national wilderness program for at-risk and grieving teens, which was featured in Backpacker Magazine, The Denver Post, and the Associated Press. He provides presentations to high schools, universities, and conferences on grief and finding resilience. He previously served Judi's House as Outreach and Education Manager and Outward Bound as the National Outreach Director. Through his work at TAPS, Jason helps grieving children and teens heal through connection and nature.
Sessions: Healing in Nature | Power of Connection
Jesse Tubb
MSG Jesse Tubb is currently serving his 27th year in the Army as a trumpet player in the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”. He spent the last 16 years competing in various endurance sports around the world. His accomplishments include competing in the 2019 Eco Challenge, an 11 day race in Fiji filmed on Amazon Prime, winning both the 2018 U.S. Adventure Racing Association National Championship and the 2022 24-hour Adventure Racing National Solo Championship, as well as numerous top 10 finishes in ultra marathons and triathlons. He's the Founder and Creator of GRIT Adventures, a youth program that uses adventure racing as a vehicle for teaching kids valuable life skills. Through this program, kids gain a greater understanding of their own capabilities, develop resilience, perseverance, conflict resolution skills, mindfulness, self awareness, and learn to work effectively with others. His mission is to help all his clients find ways to become more mindful, take ownership of how they react to life's challenges, and learn to find more peace and joy in their life.