Jennifer Baldwin, MA, ATR-BC, ATCS, LCPAT

Jennifer, a board-certified art therapist, holds a Master's in Art Therapy from The George Washington University. She has been practicing in the Northern Virginia and D.C. area since 1997, blending art therapy with traditional talk therapy to support grief and trauma recovery. Certified in grief and trauma therapy through the Wendt Center, Jennifer is also adjunct faculty at George Washington University and a certified art therapy supervisor. She has led workshops and clinician training, helping others use creative expression for healing. Jennifer has worked with hospice and is currently part of a private group supporting those grieving the loss of a loved one.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Art Therapy Studio

Audri Beugelsdijk

Audri Beugelsdijk is the TAPS Vice President of Development, leading strategic fundraising efforts to secure resources and support for military families of fallen heroes. With her educational background in psychology, specialized training in bereavement, and ten years leading TAPS Survivor Services, Audri brings expertise in addressing the needs of bereaved military survivors. A Navy veteran and widow of CTRSN Jason Springer, USN, Audri’s commitment to TAPS is both personal and professional. She has dedicated her life to advocating for military families, creating networks of care for those navigating grief and loss, and treating others with love and compassionate curiosity.

Saturday Morning: Coping When Memories Hurt
Sunday Morning: Creating Meaning After Loss

Bonnie Carroll

Bonnie Carroll is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer, the surviving spouse of Brigadier General Tom Carroll, a former staffer in the Reagan and Bush White Houses, and 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 C-12 plane crash November 12, 1992.

Sunday Afternoon (two sessions): God Winks

Cherie Castellano MA, CSW, LPC, AAETS

Cherie is a nationally recognized expert in peer support and crisis intervention with over 25 years of experience. Before joining TAPS, she led the National Center for Peer Support at Rutgers University and developed the Reciprocal Peer Support Model, endorsed by the American Psychological Association (APA0 and Department of Defense (DoD). As a Senior Research Fellow at Duke and University of North Carolina, she helped create the TAPS Bereavement Survivor-Informed Peer Support Model. A leader in trauma-informed care, she champions resilience for military and veteran survivors. A law enforcement spouse and mother of two, Cherie values family and service as her greatest achievements.

Sunday Afternoon: Meaning Making & Connection: Understanding Peer Support

Bob Delaney

Bob is an NBA Cares Ambassador, a member of the TAPS Board of Advisors and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Special Advisor for Officiating Development. He served as the NBA's Vice President of Referee Operations and Director of Officials, after 25 seasons as an NBA referee. Prior to his career in professional basketball, Delaney was a highly decorated New Jersey State Trooper who went undercover to infiltrate the mafia; causing his post-traumatic stress journey. Delaney's firsthand experiences coupled with a passion to better understand mental health make him an expert on the subject. His efforts to educate and bring attention to the topic of post-traumatic stress have entailed visits to military troops around the world, including multiple trips to Afghanistan and Iraq. Described by retired General Robert Brown, U.S. Army Four Star Commander of the Pacific, as the "person who related to soldiers better than any visitor I have seen in my 36 years in the military," Delaney authored a book on the topic, Surviving the Shadows: A Journey of Hope into Post Traumatic Stress. He is also the author of Covert: My Life Infiltrating the Mob. His most recent book - Heroes are Human...Lessons in Resilience, Courage and Wisdom from the COVID Frontlines shares the emotional toll on our healthcare community as they fought an invisible enemy. He has been the subject of numerous media articles and shows including Dr. Sanjay Gupta CNN. Delaney is with the University South Florida Corporate Training and Professional Education Office as Lead Instructor for Trauma Awareness, Resilience, Selfcare programs.

Saturday Morning: Healing Invisible Wounds: Resilience & Trauma Awareness
Saturday Afternoon: Selfcare Does Not Mean Selfish - Creating a Healthier and Balance YOU

Ann H. Duff, Rear Admiral (Ret.)

Ms. Duff is the Director of the VA’s Office of Survivors Assistance. She is a graduate of the University of Maine and Western Governor's University where she earned degrees in Political Science (BA) and Instructional Systems Design (M, Ed). A self-proclaimed Army brat, Ann is a retired Rear Admiral, who served for over 35 years in both the US Air Force and the US Navy. She is a certified Strategic Human Resources Professional and has completed certificate programs in Business, Planning, Strategic HR Management, Strategic Communications and National and International Security from Naval War College, Cornell University, Harvard University, and the University of Virginia.

Saturday Afternoon: Department of Veterans Affairs — Department of Defense - Survivors Discussion

Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT

Dr. Pamela Gabbay is a nationally recognized author and trainer who has served the bereavement field in many capacities during her career. She is a national trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and is the co-author, along with Andy McNiel, of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals. As part of the Training Corps of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Dr. Gabbay travels throughout the country conducting trainings on their behalf. She has served in a variety of roles in her career, including being the Director of Operations and Training for The Compassionate Friends, the Director of The Mourning Star Center for Grieving Children, and the Camp Director for Camp Erin-Palm Springs. Dr. Gabbay holds a Fellow in Thanatology (FT) from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and earned a Master of Arts degree in Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She earned her Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. Dr. Gabbay is a member of the TAPS Advisory Board.

Saturday Afternoon: Parenting While Grieving
Sunday Morning: Caring for Grieving Children Ages 0 to 18

Robin Goodman, PHD, ATR-BC

Dr. Goodman is a psychologist and art therapist in private practice with a specialty in trauma, medical illness, and grief. Currently, she is also Associate Director of Public Education and Bereavement for Child HELP Partnership. Previously, she established child life and behavioral health programs at pediatric cancer services at Mt. Sinai and New York Univeristy (NYU) Medical Center and served as Executive Director and bereavement program director for A Caring Hand Founded in Memory of Billy Esposito and Co-Director of the New York University Child Study Center 9/11 Child and Family Recovery Program. She has served in leadership roles at the National Child Traumatic Stress and professional organizations. She is committed to increasing mental health awareness through various media and developed Caring for Kids After Trauma and Death: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. She also developed Making Connections, a child and family grief group curriculum. Book credits include, Childhood Revealed: Art Expressing Pain, Discovery and Hope, The Day Our World Changed: Children’s Art of 9/11, Ready to Remember: Jeremy’s Journey of Hope and Healing, and Rosie Remembers: Forever in Her Heart.

Friday Afternoon: What to Expect When Your Child is Grieving
Saturday Afternoon: Parenting the Resilient Grieving Child

Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann

Ashlynne is Director, TAPS Government and Legislative Affairs. Ashlynne is the surviving daughter of SFC Jeffrey J. Haycock, who died in an Army training accident, and Nichole C. Haycock, an Air Force Veteran who died by suicide. Ashlynne holds a bachelor's in political science from American University and has been deeply involved with TAPS, attending and mentoring at the Good Grief Camp. She advocates for surviving families and previously served on the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Education and as a Negotiated Rulemaker for the Department of Education.

Friday Afternoon: Capitol Hill Town Hall
Saturday Afternoon: Survivor Policy and Legislative Updates
Sunday Afternoon: Using Your Voice for Change

Sammi Hester

Sammi Hester is the manager of the TAPS Young Adults Program, supporting survivors ages 18 to 30 as they navigate loss and young adulthood. Drawing from her own experiences as a mother, sibling survivor, and trauma survivor, she offers compassionate support to others. Sammi has completed specialized training through LivingWorks and the Arizona Trauma Institute. She holds a Bachelor's in Education from the University of Georgia and has completed Master's coursework in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University. Sammi honors the legacies of her late spouse, SFC Richard “Sam” Hester, and her uncle, CPL Samuel “Sammie” Bulloch.

Sessions below are for Young Adults (age 18 to 30)
Saturday Morning: The Imprints of Grief, Trauma and Day-to-Day Challenges
Sunday Morning: Family Dynamics: The Impacts of Loss On Our Family
Sunday Morning: Self-Care as a Young Adult: Who Has the Time?

Rachel Hunsell

Rachel has a background in experiential program development and facilitation, outdoor engagement, event management and public speaking. As the TAPS Outdoor Programs Manager, she develops, implements, enhances and supports programming across the TAPS network, fostering the connection of our grief journeys to the therapeutic power of nature and the wilderness. Understanding life's challenges will always arise, Rachel encourages survivors to reconnect with their inner strength by creating emotionally safe and understanding environments. As a survivor honoring the life and death of her brother, Marine Lance Corporal J. Kyle Price, she understands the valleys and mountaintops we experience along the journey after loss. The military community is both Rachel’s personal and professional home, where her efforts are directed in helping the community heal their trauma and grow through pain. Rachel obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations from Southeast Missouri State University in 2013. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education with a degree in Recreation Therapy at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, where she also served as a Graduate Assistant at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center serving Southern Illinois veterans.

Saturday Afternoon: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Sunday Morning: Nature's Path to Healing: Discovering Connection

Rayanne Hunter

Rayanne Hunter is a Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner, Mind-Body Coach, and yoga instructor specializing in grief, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Having grown up in a military family, she served in the Army National Guard and is the surviving spouse of SSG Wesley Hunter. Leading to a passion for working whenever possible with military, their families, and the fallen military families. Specializing in trauma, grief, anxiety, post traumatic stress and woman’s empowerment she uses her knowledge from a variety of training backgrounds, interests and personal experiences to guide those she works with individually or within a group. A yoga enthusiast for the majority of her life, she loves being able to combine it with other tools, like mindbody and equine assisted coaching, yoga, meditation, reiki, modern shamanism, woman circles, body movement, outdoor therapy, nutrition and eating psychology principles. Continuously looking for ways to inspire people in their growth, through their transitions, and in learning to find their strength. Embracing trust and love of theirSelf again. Creating spaces for people to heal while exploring the person they are meant to be. Rayanne has worked with TAPS since 2010. She hosts events, mentors, facilitates workshops and grief care groups, is a member of the TAPS Advisory Board, and the TAPS International Team.

Friday Evening, Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Morning: Chair Yoga and Wellness for Beginners

Erin Jacobson

Erin serves as the Director of Adult Programs for TAPS. Within the past decade, Erin has built transformative programming within the retreat and seminar programs with an emphasis in women's empowerment, art, mindfulness and nature based healing. At the heart of her workshops and programs is the desire to create spaces where survivors can feel safe to explore the difficult questions surrounding identity and purpose after loss. Erin resides in the Pacific Northwest and is the surviving partner of Army Ranger Corporal Jason Kessler. Along with a degree in counseling, her educational background includes nonprofit leadership, religious studies and art history.

Saturday Morning: Women's Empowerment: Selfhood After Loss
Sunday Morning: Tools for Transformation

Andy McNiel, MA

Andy McNiel is the Senior Advisor of Youth Programs for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). He is an author and trainer on topics related to grief, bereavement, and end-of-life. Andy 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 an executive partner of The Satori Group, LLC, a national education, management, and consulting company focused on grief and loss. He is the former CEO of The National Alliance for Grieving Children, Executive Director of The Amelia Center at Children's of Alabama, and Director of Counseling Services for Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie (now Treasure Health) in South Florida. Andy is a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; a co-author of Supporting and Understanding Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals; 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.

Friday Afternoon: Managing Grief, Regret and Difficult Emotions
Sunday Afternoon: Parents of Good Grief Camp: Moving Forward as a Family

Emily Muñoz

Emily is the Director of Program Innovation at TAPS. Emily brings fresh concepts to the Survivor Care Team to keep programming and services on the leading edge for the survivor community. Emily works closely with each Survivor Care Team program lead and supports the Programs Committee, facilitating activities that offer a healthy and active healing path for survivors. Emily first came to TAPS in 2005 following the death of her husband, Captain Gilbert Munoz, U.S. Army.

Friday Afternoon: Flanking Maneuvers: Unexpected Tactics for Engaging Grief
Saturday Morning: Women's Empowerment: Selfhood After Loss

Megan Parmenter, PhD

Dr. Parmenter is a clinical psychologist at Home Base, where she also completed her postdoctoral fellowship. She earned her doctoral degree from Adelphi University and completed pre-doctoral training at VA Connecticut and Northport VA Medical Center. Dr. Parmenter is dedicated to providing mental health services to military service members, Veterans, and their loved ones. She is trained in the delivery of evidence-based approaches, including Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy, and the Unified Protocol. Dr. Parmenter values the therapeutic relationship and studies factors that support recovery, such as sleep. She feels fortunate to have worked as an individual and group therapist during Home Base’s Families of the Fallen Intensive Clinical Program (ICP) since 2022.

Friday Afternoon: Suicide-Related Grief and Trauma: Home Base Program Briefing and Skills Overview

Jenna Preston, PsyD, LP ART-BC

Dr. Preston is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Registered, Board Certified Art Therapist. She earned a Master's in Art Therapy from The George Washington University and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology, Washington, D.C. Dr. Preston is a proud (retired) military spouse. Her husband retired from the Air Force in 2015. Her career includes serving children, adolescents, and adults with multiple treatment settings to include a unique opportunity to work with the Metropolitan Police in Washington, D.C. and opening a private art therapy practice while stationed overseas. Currently, Dr. Preston works as a Clinical Psychologist at Buckley Space Force Base serving all six branches.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Art Therapy Studio

Denise Hall Brown Rollins, PhD

Dr. Rollins s dedicated to helping others Live Intentionally, Fearlessly, and Expectantly (L.I.F.E.). As a coach and consultant, she empowers individuals and organizations to maximize their potential. After experiencing the tragic losses of her mother, son, aunt, and husband, she left a 25-year corporate career to follow her passion—helping others master life’s challenges. A dynamic speaker and writer, Dr. Rollins inspires audiences to think, feel, and act. She is committed to guiding people through grief and life’s transitions, helping them not only survive challenges but also thrive by embracing opportunities with purpose and resilience.

Friday Afternoon: First Aid for the Grieving Heart
Saturday Morning: Coaching Yourself Through Grief

Alexander Silva

Alexander served in the United States Air Force from 2011 to 2023 in the Mental Health career field, providing suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention for Active Duty service members. He led training for mental health personnel and developed outreach across base communities. After losing a friend in 2018, he began volunteering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), later piloting a Military and Veteran Engagement role. Drawing on his military experience, he helped expand AFSP’s reach to underserved communities. After 12 years and five assignments, Alexander became AFSP’s first Manager of Military Programs and is now transitioning to civilian life.

Saturday Morning: Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Discussing Suicide

Jason Stout

Jason Stout, recipient of the 2024 Richard Louv Prize for Innovation in Nature Connection, has spent over 25 years guiding grieving individuals toward healing through nature-based experiences. As a Youth Programs Advisor for TAPS, he helps develop Good Grief Camps, Family Camps, and Healing in Nature workshops, training volunteers and mentors to support grieving survivors. Having faced profound personal loss, Jason found healing in the outdoors, leading him to create a wilderness program for grieving teens. He has consulted for organizations like Outward Bound and the National Park Foundation and is featured in the documentary In Our Nature.

Saturday and Sunday Mornings: Healing in Nature Foundations of Well Being

Carla Stumpf Patton, EDD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP

Dr. Carla Stumpf Patton, Ed.D., LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, an expert in grief, trauma, and suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, oversees TAPS’ services for suicide-loss survivors. Carla consults with civilian providers and military leaders to provide effective outreach and clinical care to military personnel, veterans, and military families. She is certified as an ASIST trainer in suicide first aid and is qualified to conduct Psychological Autopsy Investigations through the American Association of Suicidology. Carla holds an Ed. D. in counseling psychology, an M.A. in clinical mental health counseling and school guidance counseling, and a B.S. in psychology. Carla is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Fellow Thanatologist, a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Florida Qualified Supervisor, and a counseling educator. She is the surviving spouse of Sergeant Richard Stumpf, U.S. Marine Corps, who died by suicide in 1994. She is now married to a retired U.S. Marine, who was also a suicide-loss survivor, and they share five children.

Friday Afternoon: Ten Things We Know Can Help After Suicide Loss
Saturday Morning: Understanding Grief and Trauma After Loss
Sunday Afternoon: Finding Life and Love After Loss

Jesse Tubb

Jesse Tubb served 28 years in the U.S. Army and is the founder and creator of GRIT Adventures, an experiential learning outdoor program that utilizes adventure racing as a vehicle for teaching valuable life skills. Through this program, teams and organizations gain a greater understanding of their own capabilities, develop resilience, perseverance, conflict resolution skills, mindfulness, self-awareness, and learn to work effectively with others. Jesse is a certified Life and Engagement coach, ACC ICF certified coach, a Mental Fitness coach through the Positive Intelligence program, served as a Master Resiliency Trainer in the Army and is an endorsed mental fitness coach with the U.S. Adventure Racing Association. He holds a Resilient Building Leadership Professional-Trainer (RBLP-T) Certification, trained with the University of Pennsylvania Resilience Program, and completed the Mindfulness Mentor Training program through Cloud Sangha with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. As a member of the advisory board for TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), he provides workshops on developing emotional and mental resilience for the families of fallen service members. A seasoned endurance athlete, Jesse has competed globally, including the 2019 Eco Challenge, winning the 2018 U.S. Adventure Racing Championship and the 2022 24-hour Solo Championship, among other elite race finishes.

Saturday Morning: Building Emotional Resilience: Nurturing Inner Strength
Saturday Afternoon: Strengthening Relationships for the Grief Journey
Sunday Afternoon: Building Stronger Bonds: Healing Beyond the TAPS Weekend

Lisianne Valentine, LTC (Ret.)

Lisiane is the Program Manager for the Department of Defense's Office of Casualty, Mortuary Affairs, and Military Funeral Honors. She oversees policies supporting eligible family members of deceased, missing, ill, or injured personnel. Assistance may include services like transportation, benefit applications, reports and investigations, legal assistance, receipt of personal effects, mortuary, burial and funeral honors to name a few. She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army in 2011, where she served her last seven years at the Pentagon as the Assistant Deputy for Casualty, Mortuary, Affairs, and POW/MIA Policy. Before coming to DoD, Lisa worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, working in the casualty and mortuary affairs arena.

Saturday Afternoon: Department of Veterans Affairs — Department of Defense - Survivors Discussion

Karl T. Wagner

Mr. Wagner is a leading expert in foreign affairs, security, and trauma recovery with over 30 years of experience. A former senior CIA executive and Global Security Director at Tesla, he now serves as Founder and CEO of Eastern Sky Technologies, specializing in strategic risk management. He also leads NTN Holdings, an impact investment fund focused on resilience and recovery. A dedicated advocate for veterans and trauma survivors, Karl promotes post-traumatic stress prevention and turning war grief into positive peace. His nonprofit work emphasizes resilience, mental health, and trauma-informed recovery, making him a powerful voice in global crisis response.

Sunday Morning: The "START" Method: Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Training

William Wagasy

William Wagasy, a former Notre Dame football player under Coach Lou Holtz, graduated with an accounting degree and a second major in philosophy in 1996. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University in 2000 and his master's in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine in 2001. Following the attacks of 9/11, he enlisted in the Navy. He is a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL, having completed four combat tours from 2002 to 2012, three to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. After his time in the Navy, he served as the Director of Veterans Outreach for the Gary Sinise Foundation and continues to be an official ambassador for the foundation as well as sitting on the Advisory Board for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the Board Council for Hope for the Warriors, the West Coast Host Committee for the Navy SEAL Foundation and also on the Selection Committee for the Orange County Community Foundation's veteran initiative. Today he is the Vice President of National Sales, National Commercial Services for Commonwealth Land Title Company as well as for Fidelity National Title Group for Home Builder Services.

Friday and Saturday Afternoons: Kindness, Mental Resilience and the Courage to Be Where You Are

Candace Wheeler

Candace Wheeler is Senior Director of TAPS Government and Legislative Affairs. Candace Wheeler first joined TAPS in 2018 as the Senior Advisor for Policy and Legislation. As a staunch military-family advocate with over 30 years of experience, Candace works to protect the rights and earned benefits of surviving families. Her advocacy on behalf of TAPS and military survivors on Capitol Hill has directly impacted legislation and survivor benefits, including the passage of the historic Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022; the elimination of the Survivor Benefit Plan — Dependency and Indemnity offset or “Widow’s Tax.” Prior to joining TAPS, Candace was the Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing at the American Logistics Association, and she previously served as the Government Relations Deputy Director for the National Military Family Association. She holds a Master of Political Management from George Washington University, a B.A. in international relations from the University of Southern California, and an executive certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.

Friday Afternoon: Capitol Hill Town Hall
Saturday Afternoon: Survivor Policy and Legislative Updates
Sunday Afternoon: Using Your Voice for Change

Terri L. Williams

Terri Williams, a U.S. Army veteran, has served military and veteran communities for over 40 years. With dual master’s degrees in HR and management, she held leadership roles in the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation. A Pentagon 9/11 survivor and Gulf War-era veteran, Terri advocates for military family readiness, education, and healthcare. She teaches at American and Georgetown Universities and is a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University, researching grief, loss, and leadership. Terri lives in Virginia with her husband, a retired Army Senior Executive, and is proud of her son and niece, U.S. Military Academy graduates.

Sunday Morning: Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Connection and Understanding
Sunday Morning: Dare to Lead: Building Courage and Resilience

Lisa Zucker, MSW, CT

Lisa Zucker is the Director of Strategic Planning and Implementation at TAPS, where she supports the growth and impact of survivor programs through data-driven strategy, cross-team collaboration, and long-term planning. A Certified Thanatologist with a master’s degree in social work, Lisa has over 20 years of experience working in grief, trauma, and crisis response.

Lisa has served on boards focused on aging and bereavement, and was a founding member of Professionals United for Parkland offering trauma support and training following the 2018 school shooting at MSD High School. She has led community debriefings, educational events, and training about grief and trauma nationwide.
On a personal note, Lisa is the wife of a US Army combat veteran and the mother of three wonderful children. She was the primary caregiver for her late mother-in-law and experienced the traumatic and sudden losses of both her father and her brother. These personal experiences deeply inform her commitment to ensuring grieving military families receive comprehensive and compassionate support.

Friday Afternoon: Having Difficult Conversations About Loss and Trauma
Saturday Afternoon: More Than the Way They Died
Saturday Afternoon: Understanding Sibling Loss
Sunday Afternoon: Grief and Preservation of Self