During his 20+year career in the military, John has had the privilege of serving all over the world in various leadership positions as a Senior Enlisted Advisor, Religious Affairs Specialist, and Master Resilience Trainer.

While in the military, his work centered around facilitating ministry for Soldiers, authorized Civilian personnel and their families. In addition to that, John conducted thousands of hours of life-coping skills training, suicide prevention and intervention, emotional and families resilience skills training and much, much more.

Dr. Jeff is one of the most widely sought-after experts in the field of mental health. In addition to having a private practice in Manhattan, he is an Associate Professor and Course Director of Behavioral Medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City.

Dr. Jeff Gardere, better known as “America’s Psychologist”, is also a prolific author of four books and a contributing author of a half-dozen books including the brand-new text, “The Causes of Autism”. In addition to being a respected academician, Dr. Jeff has been a contributor to the FOX network, the Today Show, MSNBC, and CNN.

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sees issues of suicide prevention and mental health promotion from a host of perspectives. Clinical psychologist. Mental health advocate. Faculty member. Researcher. And suicide loss survivor.

Dr. Judy Davidson serves as a nurse scientist for University of California San Diego. Her research focuses on workplace wellness, and specifically mental health issues, suicide prevention and suicide amongst healthcare professionals.

Her team developed the first suicide prevention program for nurses which has been heralded Edge Runner status by the Academy of Nurses: a model for replication. Results of her team's research have helped to shape national policy and calls for action for suicide prevention among healthcare professionals.

Dr. Frey is a Professor with tenure at University of Maryland, School of Social Work and serves as Associate Dean for Research and chairs the Social Work in the Workplace & Employee Assistance Sub-specialization. She is the Founder and Faculty Executive Director of the Behavioral Health and Well-Being Lab (BHWell Lab).

During her time chairing the Financial Social Work Initiative, Dr. Frey’s researched adult and emerging adult behavioral health and well-being with an emphasis on suicide prevention, mental health, substance use and the workplace. She has published over 100 articles, books and book chapters, in addition to presenting research at international conferences and receiving numerous awards for her research and teaching.

Jay Sandys, Vice President, Organizational Development & Learning at CCA, Inc., has over 28 years of counseling, consulting, and coaching experience advising senior leaders on matters related to interpersonal and organizational challenges.

At CCA, Jay coaches and counsels all levels of employees to identify strengths and areas that may need further development. Jay also designs enterprise-wide training and development programs to educate management on various matters related to human dynamics, mental health and substance abuse, DE&I, organizational development and wellness.

Elisha first began working in the industry in 2003 as a Mental Health Practitioner. Her background stretches clinical practice in community- based care, school-based counseling, and outpatient services. Now, as a VP on Aon's Health Transformation Team, she partners globally with Aon colleagues and client leaders to understand their business imperatives, people strategy, culture, and partnerships to inform needed changes or enhancements.

Elisha’s expertise includes systemic mental health care, talent management and wellbeing. She brings her systemic thinking into her Prosci Change Management Certification to lead organhe now holds a ization changes. She loves to facilitate design thinking sessions to discover client needs! Her background also includes organizational cultural journey development and sustainment. She is trained in Mental Health First Aid.

Dr. Williams serves as a Steering Committee Member on the National Safety Council’s Corporate Health Director’s Network and is a participating member of the International Corporate Health Leadership Council.

In his role as Chief Medical Officer for Lockheed Martin, Dr. Williams provides global oversight, governance and supervision related to corporate employee health services, on-site health care centers, occupational health services, work accommodation and all other business area and affiliate medical support services. Dr. Williams is the physician lead for the Corporate Crisis Management Team.

Across his varied career, speaker/author/speaking coach David has served as Chief Engineer of a public television station; General Manager of an industry-wide training effort that reached more than 10,000 broadcasting professionals; owner of a training business specializing in soft skills for highly trained technical professionals; and now a sought-after speaker on suicide prevention, relating his lived experience with depression and suicidal ideation.

David is a member of the Workplace Suicide Prevention and Postvention Committee, and he recently helped Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas lead five organizations to successfully complete Colorado’s pilot H.O.P.E. Certification program.

As an early childhood educator, Barbara Otey understands "big feelings." She knows what it means to "sit in the ick" with the children as they develop emotionally. And after struggling with depression, anxiety, undiagnosed ADHD, and a suicide attempt, she knows a thing or two about sitting alone in the ick and what it takes to get out of it.

Barbara's story of stubborn determination, resilience, and celebration of self will help you understand how to sit in the ick with big feelings and not lose yourself in the process.