Our V.E.T.S. Board Members

ERIC WINTERS

I served in the USMC as a helicopter mechanic for 8 years. Following my military service, I worked government contracts internally for both the U.S Department of Defense as well as the U.S. Department of State. This part of my life has shaped me and my life path in many ways. Serving in the Marine Corps enhanced my leadership skills and understandings of the complexity of human factors and interpersonal relationships.

  • This time also showcased how complexity can lead to success. It became apparent that further education was necessary for future success in life. I then obtained my undergraduate degree in Professional Aeronautics with two minors in Aviation Safety and Management. I moved my educational objectives away from aeronautics and towards psychology. I obtained my Master of Science in Leadership from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, earned concurrently with a certification in Human Happiness and Well-Being from Yale via Coursera. I also earned a graduate financial certificate from ERAU. I became deeply involved in a support group for Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program was geared towards recovery, but most of the participants were only granted a limited amount of time before the VA wouldn’t allow them to participate further. I then volunteered to continue running the program for those who still wanted to participate but had already used their time up. The psychologist who originally ran the program gave me her materials, and I’ve been running it on my own since June of 2019. This shifted my focus toward helping other people who were struggling with their daily lives and the effects of this disorder. This inspired me to apply for and was accepted into the Doctor of Psychology program at Liberty University. The completion of this degree will continue to help me help veterans. I also have additional volunteer experience in our local community, servicing as an assistant Girl Scout troop leader; an assistant leader for the Special Olympics in basketball, poly hockey, and Bocchi ball; a member and officer for the Sons of the American Revolution; and a member and officer for the American Legion. I also am a member of the Grand Rapids AMBUCS organization, whose mission is to raise money to afford specialized bicycles for children with physical disabilities.

JUSTIN WOLFRAM

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and served for 6 years on active duty. Initially as an Airframes mechanic on fighter jets at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego. During my service time in California, I was actively involved with our Squadron’s volunteer group. We focused our efforts on cleaning and restoration of city Parks. Giving back to the community was a lesson I learned from my time in the Boy Scouts.

  • This is where we were taught to do a good turn daily. I carried that practice on in my life as a teenager and then continued that practice to this day. I always attempt to exemplify all that I do. Especially when I became an Assistant Scoutmaster. I applied for and was accepted as a Marine Security Guard to provide diplomatic security at U.S. Embassies overseas. During my time abroad, I was actively involved in community outreach. I volunteered for community clean up, donating toys to orphanages, rescuing stray animals, and mentorship for local youth programs. After my service in the Marines, I was a Divemaster for a diving school in Malta, where we would host bay cleanups to remove trash from our dive sites. I completed a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Excelsior University and worked as a security contractor for the State Department projects at U.S. Missions around the world. My passions include working with stray animal rescue, outreach for homeless communities, and military veteran care.

COLLEEN FITZPATRICK

I enlisted into the Marine Corps at 17 years old. I served as a rotary wing aircraft engines and transmissions mechanic. I first went to school and obtained an associate degreed in animal behavior. I used that experience to become involved in the training of service dogs for veterans with various disabilities.

  • I worked hard for and earned a bachelor’s degree in administration and have been accepted into and am currently working on a doctoral PhD program for business administration with an emphasis in macro psychology. I currently work in the fuel and petroleum industry. I am an avid volunteer in the community however, I can be of assistance. I feel it is important not only to bring my willingness to help to the table byt my example that women can do this too.

TRISTIAN FOUST

I grew up in Flushing Michigan, a town north of Flint, that was heavily influenced by the automotive industry. As deindustrialization began to swallow Flint and the surrounding areas, I made a decision to join the Marine Corps. It was 2006, a few years after the Iraq war had begun to develop.

  • In February 2007, I left Kuwait on a C130, to Haditha City, Ira with my unity, Weapons Company, 3rd battalion, 4th Marines. Catering to the hearts and minds was the mission of this particular campaign as we began sharing roads with the locals there. Saddam may have been gone, but there was still a presence of great hostility within the region. Being in a mobile unit, it was not uncommon to have to dismount from the trucks, as ordinance cashes and IEDs were part of the daily routine. A blast in my convoy had sent other Marines in his unit to Germany, and I considered myself to be lucky. It wasn’t until returning to the United States that I realized some of the situations I had been in, including that and casualties of close friends, would hinder my spiritis that I had had before the deployment. Upon separation from the military, I had already begun to dive into a plan for the next chapter of my life; the field of psychology interested me. I felt determined to get into a career helping other veterans, as comradery had been a motivator, and veterans shared this on a level that those who had not served could not interpret. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton. I was involved in student government and academic accomplishments. I soon after discovered Tai Chi and Meditation at a retreat in Pittsburgh. Shortly thereafter, immediately making a connection that holistic healing was the way, I became certified and now instruct Tai Chi and Meditation professionally. The knowledge acquired towards trauma sensitivity, along with these new tools discovered in widening the window of tolerance, made me feel ever so passionate about starting the business geared towards veterans, and better yet, instructed by a combat veteran. The veteran community deserves holistic alternatives, and delivery of these alternatives by a knowledgeable source with empathy and compassion towards mental health is through these forms of relaxation therapy.

KIRK LANNON

I dedicated five years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps, including a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in 2013. Upon completing service in the Marines as a signal’s intelligence analyst, I continued my commitment to the country by serving an additional three and a half years in the Michigan Army National Guard.

  • I have held a Top-Secret security clearance with the Department of Defense and have been entrusted with carrying out many classified missions over the years. During intervals between military duties, I worked as a protective security officer for the Department of Homeland Security and gained further experience at L3 Harris, subcontracted out from the U.S. Department of Defense as a signals intelligence operator. In this role, I deployed twice more to Afghanistan and one operational mission in Iraq. I also pursued educational goals, earning an associate degree in criminal justice from Grand Rapids Community College. I currently work for a security subcontractor at various federal buildings throughout Michigan.