Our Staff

Joel is the Chief Executive Officer of First Responder Wellness and has over a decade of experience in the Behavioral Health space. He started his career as a Case Manager and quickly found a niche for integrating experiential and outdoor education into his clinical work. He created Adventure Programming for Extended Care programs and integrated outcome measures to validate the success of utilizing the outdoors to enhance clinical care.

He has grown professionally having different roles throughout organizations including clinical, business development and marketing, compliance, and Executive Level Management. Joel has successfully guided programs through the CARF and Joint Commission Accreditation process as well as State level licensing and certifications. Along the way, he integrated his education in business and clinics to grow programs and utilize outcomes measures to guide that growth. Joel has a passion for clinical and experiential-driven programs. He believes that quality outcomes data collection help guide staff in creating extraordinary programs ultimately leading to successful clinical outcomes for clients.

Joel has a BS in Business and Marketing from California State University-San Luis Obispo as well as a certificate from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo for Human Services.

Dr. Stephen Odom is a notable healthcare and behavioral health treatment professional with more than 30 years of expertise in the field. He possesses an educational background in organizational behavior, clinical psychology, and healthcare administration. This valuable combination allows him to integrate current research knowledge, clinical and administrative practice understanding, and practical, directly relevant experience. Dr. Odom holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Covenant College, a Master’s in Experimental Psychology (University of Tennessee), a Master’s in Clinical Psychology (Palo Alto University), and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) with a focus in Healthcare Administration (Capella University). He is also a licensed marriage and family therapist in California.

Dr. Odom has served in multiple roles during his career, including CEO, Chief Clinical Officer of New Vista Behavioral Health, a director’s post of Program Development for CRC Health and multiple Administrative and Clinical Director posts at various mental health and chemical dependency treatment centers and hospitals in California, including Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and El Camino Hospital in the San Francisco Bay area. Moreover, Dr. Odom served as a university adjunct faculty member in Psychology and Child Development and continues to work in private practice. Dr. Odom has been coined as a wellness and behavioral health expert with peer-reviewed articles published on mental health, substance abuse and technology; was presented the national Behavioral Health Champion award in 2018; has appeared on The Today Show; the 2016 documentary film California High; and has appeared in multiple print, radio, and podcast media channels.

Dr. Odom’s focus on public safety and first responder wellness was born of his family’s career
backgrounds with the military, healthcare, law enforcement and public safety, and was honed as he
created and led specialty programs for physicians, nurses, first responders and their families. In his
distinguished and extensive career in behavioral health, Dr. Odom’s empathetic and therapeutic approach has allowed him to connect not only with his clinical teams but each first responder who walks through the door.

Devin is the Chief Development Officer with First Responder Wellness and is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the collective organizations. Devin has been in the behavioral health industry for over a decade and founded one of the first primary mental health residential treatment programs in California. In recent years and in response to the changing landscape in behavioral health, Devin was a champion and helped develop a treatment program exclusively for first responders. This program was one of the first in the country to offer long term treatment for public safety. Devin leads a diverse team of public safety advocates who work together to ensure trust and integrity with all of the public safety departments and organizations they serve. With a personal passion for helping the public safety community and their families thrive, Devin speaks at trainings, peer support meetings, and wellness symposiums. Devin is a trusted resource for department leaders who want to break down barriers for those seeking help, while also supporting a cultural shift with proactive wellness programs.

Michael started working in the substance abuse field approximately 10 years ago. Possessing a B.A in Management from Gettysburg College and a Master’s Degree from New York University, Michael is able to provide the First Responder Wellness team with the proper support and guidance needed to help make it a premier provider of substance abuse treatment. Michael also brings qualities of understanding, compassion, and empathy that are integral in creating an environment of care that is supportive and conducive to working on long-term recovery. Michael has successfully opened and developed substance abuse treatment facilities throughout the Southwest including Texas, Nevada, and Southern California and draws upon these experiences to help strengthen and improve the overall services that First Responder Wellness provides its clients. In his free time, Michael enjoys exploring all that Southern California has to offer with his wife Mary, son Cameron and their dogs Bodhi and Rudy. Michael is also an avid fisherman and enjoys rooting on his beloved New York Rangers, Giants, and Yankees.

Chris joined the First Responder Wellness team in 2014, and is currently the Program Supervisor. His position focuses exclusively on education, counseling interventions, and is a co facilitator of the First Responder Family Program. Chris also oversees the day to day operations of the program and is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC-II). Chris has worked with adolescents, adults, military veterans, first responders and families and held positions as a case manager, counselor, crisis interventionist, residential program manager and currently program supervisor. After battling his own alcoholism and addiction for over 15 years, Chris became sober in February 2006. Seeing the benefits of his own recovery and new outlook on life, he began helping others find themselves and see there is truly a better way to live life. Since entering the field of addiction counseling in 2008, Chris furthered his education as a certified drug and alcohol counselor, certified first responder associate counselor and has become an invaluable member of our team.

Rose Maynard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She completed her Doctorate and Masters degress at Alliant International University. She received a BA in Psychology from Vanguard University. Rose is trained in trauma specific modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Rose comes from a family with a long history of military and paramilitary service and has focused her research efforts on military, first responders, and their families. She is passionate about her work with those seeking healing from their past experiences. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Rose worked for over a decade as a massage therapist and massage instructor. It is with this knowledge of the mind-body connection that she utilizes somatic/body techniques to aid in the healing processes.

Rose works from a place of respect, empathy, and transparency. She views her clients’ trust as a genuine privilege to be able to share in their experiences. She is honored to help first responders become their authentic and congruent selves, to gain a deeper understanding of who they are, and improve their relationship with themselves and those around them.

Dr. Nancy Ryba Panza is a Board-Certified Police and Public Safety Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with first responders. Her educational background includes BS and MA degrees from Towson University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psychology and Law from the University of Alabama. Dr. Panza spent four years as an Assistant Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and 16 years as a Professor at California State University, Fullerton. After 20 years in academia, Dr. Panza moved into the private sector as Director of Clinical Research and Development for the family of companies that includes First Responder Wellness, The Counseling Team International, and Shift Wellness.

Dr. Panza’s clinical work and research has focused on criminal forensic assessment and police and public safety psychology. Dr. Panza has worked within county, state, and federal correctional facilities, providing clinical and forensic services for juvenile and adult offenders and has provided clinical and consulting services for public safety agencies across the US and internationally. She has a great passion for promoting modern policing practices and supporting the health and well-being of all first responders.

Dr. Meghan Marcum is a board-certified clinical psychologist. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Arizona State University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She completed her pre and post-doctoral training in the specialty field of chemical dependency and has also achieved specialized training in treating traumatic disorders with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Dr. Marcum previously worked in the Neurosciences Institute at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California where she continues to hold privileges. Dr. Marcum works with First Responder Wellness as a Chief Psychologist Contractor.

Alena Schuss is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, and she is a Doctoral student at Hope International University. She received an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University, a BS in Business Administration, and a BS in Exercise Sports Science from the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. She also studied Psychology and Sports at the University of Vienna, Austria. Alena is trained in trauma-specific modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Alena is originally from Austria and moved in 2017 through an athletic scholarship to the US. Throughout her doctoral studies, she has focused her research efforts on the military, first responders, and the unique challenges this population encounters on a daily basis. She is passionate about her work with those seeking healing from their past experiences. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Alena was a professional triathlete and was traveling through Europe to compete at the highest level. Therefore, she understands the physical and psychological stress from her participation as a professional triathlete in Austria for several years before moving to America.

Alena stands out because of her unmistakable focus on this population, her passion for the work, and her developing expertise in the field as she continues edification through a Doctorate at Hope International University. She is honored to help first responders gain a deeper understanding of who they are and improve their relationship with themselves and those around them. 

Hannah Steffenino is one of our primary therapists here at First Responder Wellness. Prior to joining our organization, Hannah has worked within several different aspects of the psychology field. Once she obtained her undergraduate degree in 2017, Hannah worked in an elementary school helping children with autism navigate day to day challenges. In 2018, Hannah decided to move from Philadelphia to Southern California in pursuit of her Master’s degree. While receiving this degree, she worked as a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation technician, as well as a therapist for the homeless population at Grandma’s House of Hope in Orange, California. Once she obtained her M.A., Hannah worked closely within the substance use field as a therapist from 2020-2024. After working with this population for four years, Hannah decided it was time to switch gears in her career. This is when she decided to use her past experiences as a chance to work with first responders.

Growing up in a close-knit home with her dad working for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections as a Fire and Safety Manager and firefighter, as well as her mom being a Registered Hospice Nurse, Hannah has always had the utmost respect for first responders. Hannah has a B.A. in Psychology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. In her free time, Hannah loves running around with her 2-year-old beagle, Phoebe, riding the Peloton bike, reading thriller novels, and cheering on her beloved Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers.

Dr. Delrissa Machain (Dr. Delle) is a mental health professional with over two decades of extensive experience specializing in trauma, military, veterans, and spouses’ mental health needs. Dr. Delle holds an impressive educational background, having earned both a Bachelor and Master degree in Social Work, a Master Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Doctorate of Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her academic abilities are complemented by a wealth of practical experience, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of mental health and well-being.

Throughout her career, Dr. Delle has demonstrated a deep commitment to cultural competence, sensitivity, and awareness. Having lived in and worked in several countries overseas, she brings a global perspective to her practice, fostering inclusivity and understanding in her therapeutic approach. As a proud member of the military community, she brings a unique perspective and empathy to her work, particularly in supporting individuals who have experienced trauma and loss. She is also actively involved in research, education, and advocacy efforts aimed at advancing mental health awareness and accessibility. Her unwavering commitment to promoting healing and resilience within her community has earned her the respect and admiration of both colleagues and clients alike.

Madison Gavela is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Cal Poly Pomona and an M.A. in School and Clinical Counseling from Chapman University. Prior to graduate school, Madison worked as a behavior interventionist  providing ABA therapy to children with Autism. During her clinical internship she trained as a school-based mental health professional and participated on the Crisis Response Team. Once she obtained her M.A., Madison worked as a primary therapist in the substance use field, serving many individuals impacted by trauma. 

Madison’s genuine understanding for First Responders and their family life comes from her own life experience being married to a Firefighter Paramedic. She is honored to help first responders navigate the complexities of healing and improve their relationship with themselves and their loved ones. 

Meghan Mirabal is passionate about helping First Responders and Veterans with trauma, mental health, and substance abuse challenges. She is an Associate Marriage Family Therapist and Licensed Advanced Alcohol/Drug Counselor at First Responder Wellness, where she provides individual therapy, clinical support, and provides crisis intervention services.

Meghan has her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University, where she learned evidence-based modalities and techniques to address various trauma-related disorders, specifically EMDR training. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling from The University of New Mexico, and is certified as a Licensed Advanced Alcohol/Drug Counselor (LAADC-CA). She has years of experience in ICU and ER Nursing at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, where she gained valuable skills and knowledge in acute medical care. Meghan is a dedicated, and compassionate professional who strives to empower her clients and make a positive impact in their lives.

Michael joined First Responder Wellness in 2020 and is currently the Client Care Manager. In this role he is often the client’s first contact with our program and he works closely with our team of team case managers, therapists and treatment team. His team ensures each client is provided with information during orientation to guide them through their first few days, and that clients are also provided with resources to help with their continued success as they transition after program completion. Michael and his team also with return-to-work, workers’ comp, FMLA and other leave of absences, and with our alumni program and outreach.

Michael C. Koch is a former police officer and holds a Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University in Criminal Justice Administration, and he is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC-II). Michael spent 19 years serving the public as a police officer and undercover narcotics detective. He knows what life and death look like, and saw what addiction and untreated mental health issues can do to a person’s life. Michael understands first-dand the culture of being a first responder and experiencing post-traumatic stress, addiction and the stigma surrounding asking for help, and has since dedicated his life to assisting first responders.

In 2012, his career as a police officer ended and his life helping those dealing with substance abuse dependence began. Michael has worked as a counselor for drug and alcohol programs and intensive outpatient (IOP) facilities in the City of San Diego and was program director of a San Diego drug and alcohol detox.

In 2017 Michael became the founder of the First Responder Fellowship in San Diego North County, a confidential 12-step/peer-based recovery group that is open to all first responders and meets once a week. With the goal of reaching out to first responders, Michael started a podcast in 2018 named Positive Connections Radio. This podcast is designed to help break the stigma of mental health issues among first responders and to connect those suffering in silence with confidential help.

Additionally, Michael is a speaker at the San Diego Police Academy, SDPD wellness program, San Diego Fire Department, panel member for the GTA POST Management Course, SDDA Supervisor Investigations, PDATF Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force, and he provides peer support for many first responder agencies.

Scott is a retired Sergeant who spent 23 years in a variety of assignments that included working as a gang & narcotics detective, field training officer, task force officer working meth labs, detective corporal working crimes persons/property, and working as a Patrol Sergeant until his retirement. Prior to law enforcement, he spent 12 years in the Marine Corps where he was an Infantry Platoon Sgt. During Scott’s law enforcement career, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology.

During Scott’s law enforcement career, he personally experienced many critical incidents, that included Officer Involved shootings and more tragically the loss of a fellow police officer murdered a result of a shooting and another to a suicide. Early in his career he was involved in a shooting and at the time, he realized he didn’t have the resources to address the cumulative negative effects of trauma to our first responders. Several years later, the idea of “peer support” and “culturally competent” therapists and counselors to help address these issues came alive.

Another officer and Scott, along with the support of their department, put together their peer support team and the healing began. With the resources now available, they were able to address trauma issues through critical incident debriefs, referrals to culturally competent therapists, as well as internal support by the peer support members themselves.

Scott’s passion for working with both veterans and first responders with substance abuse and mental health issues, brought him to First Responder Wellness.

Rich Flores is a CAADE certified CATC II who has been working passionately for his clients as a Counselor/Case Manager since 2019. Rich earned certification as a drug and alcohol counselor with the state of CA through Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Additionally, holds certification as a LADC in the state of Minnesota. His journey into recovery began in 2004 when an intervention facilitated the beginnings of “a psychic change.”  

Rich has a true passion for group facilitation and prides himself in the art of active listening – reflection of words, thoughts, emotions, feelings and concise, empathetic paraphrasing. He believes we all need help and support at some point in our lives and views an opportunity to be a part of helping someone discover and better themselves a truly fulfilling gift. 

“Substance use is perhaps often times the only perceived solution for an individual, posturing as the problem. But, can we courageously and with open minded curiosity explore the real reasons why we destroy ourselves and others in our wake?”

Roger creates treatment plans and helps clients become who they want to be. He helps clients acclimate to the program and sets up their discharge plans. Roger worked his way up as he started out as a BHT in 2018 and eventually became the Director of Operations at a general population treatment center prior to joining FRW. In his free time, he enjoys boxing and making people laugh. Fun fact, Roger has a bone from a cadaver in his left ankle. He has a B.S. in Business Management from Grand Canyon University. Roger is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor and is also A+/Security+ Comptia Certified.

Adam Hall has been working in the Workers’ Compensation field and in claims since 2010. Dealing with disability claims and helping people to get the treatment and recovery they need. Adam was born and raised in California and obtained his Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Communication from California State University- Long Beach. In his free time, Adam enjoys playing with his daughter, watching cheesy movies, and going to the beach.

Adam chose to work at First Responder Wellness because he likes the culture and wants to see clients’ get the recovery and treatment they need and to put a smile on people’s faces.

Dallas Flynn is a Client Care Specialist at First Responder Wellness. In this role, she is able to step in as a friendly face helping clients who may have never asked for help, acclimate to treatment and feel confident in this next step towards bettering their lives. Dallas received a BA in Music Business and Recording arts from CSU Chico. In 2018, as a first-hand witness to the devastation of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Dallas began volunteering with the Red Cross to help provide food, shelter, and reunification to survivors. Her passion for helping others led her to the non-profit sphere where she worked with military families, foster youth that were victims of sex trafficking, women with children, and then found her niche in the mental health and substance abuse field. Dallas believes that everyone deserves the chance to heal from trauma and live a happy, fulfilling life. She was raised in a first-responder household and is passionate about giving back to those selflessly risk their lives to help others. Dallas is a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician and currently pursuing post-baccalaureate education in Psychology. In her free time, she is writing, producing, and playing music, playing with her 6 year old Scottish Terrier, attending hockey games, exercising, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Alva is the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists. A single specialty medical group which focuses not only on psychiatric disorders but also on dual diagnosis conditions, which include alcohol and chemical dependence.

Dr. Alva was involved in multiple endeavors including detoxification and rehabilitation work both inpatient and outpatient including the VA Medical Center In Long Beach, Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Chapman Medical Center in Orange, and multiple rehabilitation centers.

Dr. Alva’s focus is on the latest treatments available for psychiatric and chemical dependency. Dr. Alva has over 20 years of experience in serving the medical community in various capacities; as a patient advocate, clinician, researcher and medical director.

Dr. Alva is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Orange County Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the California Psychiatric Association, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, the American College of Forensic Examiners, the American Board of Psychopharmacology, the California Hispanic American Medical Association, the New York Academy of Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Association of Hispanic professionals. Dr. Alva works with First Responder Wellness as a Medical Director Contractor.

Sheena Patel, PA-C is a Physician Assistant and has over a dozen years of experience in the medical field. She received her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of California in Irvine and graduated from Long Island University Physician Assistant Program medical school in 2010. Ms. Patel enjoys working with our patients and improving their quality of life by treating a wide variety of mental health issues including PTSD, Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Alcohol and Chemical Dependency. Sheena works with First Responder Wellness as Physician Assistant Contractor. 

Andrew Johnson, MMS, PA-C is a Physician Assistant and  works in psychiatric and addiction medicine and has a passion for working with first responders. He received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Prior to becoming a PA, Andrew served San Diego County as an EMT. He later went on to complete his master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Chapman University. Andrew has used his experience as a first responder to connect with his patients and help address any mental health or chemical dependency concerns. Andrew works with First Responder Wellness as Physician Assistant Contractor. 

Shannon comes to First Responder Wellness with almost 10 years of working in the field of substance abuse and mental health treatment. She has spent the last 9 years working with clients and families across the nation navigating the waters of mental health and substance abuse. Shannon brings her passion for wellness to those who struggle with addiction, trauma and other co-occurring disorders. Shannon has devoted much of her time to nonprofits, has helped to create family programs and worked for other nationally recognized facilities.

Working for Juvenile Justice in the early 90’s Shannon spent the early part of her career working with juvenile youth offenders. Working with inmates prior to their parole Shannon helped with structuring inmate days, oversaw the work experience program provided within the jail, family reunification building and assisted daily living skills. Moving into an entirely different field after corrections Shannon spent two decades as the Owner and Director of an Early Childhood Enrichment Program on the Central Coast before coming to Orange County. As the mother of five children and 2 grandsons and her first granddaughter she truly knows the joys of a healed family and makes it her mission to give away what was so freely given to her.

Jef Albach studied Psychology at Maryville University in his hometown of St. Louis Missouri. Jef began working in treatment in 2015 starting on the operations side before moving on to do intake assessments and utilization reviews. Outside of work Jef enjoys spending time with his growing family, going to baseball games, and collecting vinyl records.

Jillian comes to First Responder Wellness with years of experience working with the mental health care industry. She has earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus of business, management, marketing and related support services from California Baptist University. With many law enforcement and military personnel in her family, Jillian has a passion for helping our first responders find their way back to a healthy lifestyle and to get them the help that they need.

Chris Catren served as the City of Redlands (CA) Chief of Police for over five years. He has a master’s degree in public administration, a bachelor’s in business administration and is a graduate of the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Command College. Chris is a career policing professional who began his career as the first crime analyst for the Redlands Police Department in 1994. He quickly built a national model crime analysis unit before transitioning to a police officer in 1996. His experiences in crime analysis, patrol and investigations gave him a foundation for keenly focusing on violent crime and the evidence-based strategies to impact it for the benefit of the community. He promoted through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and commander before becoming Chief of Police in 2017. During this time, he remained focused on implementing technologies, data-driven strategies, evidence-based practices, and relationship building to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in the city.

Having recently completed his service as the President of the California Police Chiefs Association, he is now the Immediate Past President. He has served as the President of the San Bernardino County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association and sat on the League of California Cities Board of Directors. He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level at both the California State University and University of California systems. Chris works with First Responder Wellness as a contractor in his role as the Director of Strategic Relationships. 

Jeff McGreevy is a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. Jeff joined the United States Marine Corps when he was just 17 and began his law enforcement career at 21. He retired in 2020 as a Sergeant from the Oxnard Police Department with 29-years of service. He worked several challenging assignments including patrol, field training officer, community policing, Special Enforcement Unit, SWAT team member for 10 years, and he also worked as a K-9 handler with a cross-trained patrol/explosive detection K-9. He spent a short time on an FBI Gang Task Force and was a Detective working gang and robbery cases. As a Sergeant, he supervised the Neighborhood Policing Team and coordinated his departments Crisis Intervention Team and Peer Support Programs.

Jeff has been involved in officer wellness since 2004 when he was recruited to be a founding member of his department’s trauma support team which later evolved into peer support. Jeff has extensive training and experience in debriefing personnel after traumatic events, Critical Incident Stress Management, coordinating peer support response after critical incidents, and was an instructor for Tactical Decision Making Under Stress training. Jeff leads the Ventura County Peer Support Coalition which brings together all Police, Fire, and EMS agencies together quarterly. Because of his expertise in peer support, he was invited to be a member of the CA P.O.S.T. Organizational Wellness Committee. He also has experience having worked for a nonprofit that provided confidential trauma-informed counseling for first responders and their families prior to joining the team at First Responder Wellness.

Katie comes to First Responder Wellness through a deeply rooted passion to help others. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and as a self-proclaimed “Neuro Nerd”, she has achieved advanced training and licensing through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance in Neurofeedback.

While practicing neurofeedback, Katie realized she not only loves building stronger, healthier brains, but that she also loves building stronger businesses. Around this same time Katie also realized she had fallen in love with her future husband, who happens to be a career firefighter.

As Katie continued on her journey in business and brain health, always on the lookout for a new opportunity, she started to wonder if there might be an opportunity to help first responders. It was through this curiosity that a new passion was born.

Drawing on her professional experience and her passion for brain health, while leaning into her intimate understanding of the “lifestyle”, Katie now dedicates her work to collaborating, partnering, and educating department leaders to build better, stronger departments, a more resilient workforce, and healthier, happier first responder families.

Having worked for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for 40 years Judy has seen firsthand the need for culturally competent, mental health and substance abuse treatment specifically for first responders. Judy is also the current Chief of System Security and Law Enforcement for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). She retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after 40 years in 2020 at the rank of Commander assigned to Special Operations Division. Her duties included oversight of the Emergency Operations Bureau, the Special Enforcement Bureau, including SWAT, K9, and HazMat, the Transit Services Bureau, the Aero Bureau, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, and the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, as well as Budget and Personnel responsibilities for the Special Operations Division.

Judy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Arts Degree from Chapman University. She is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy (FBINA) and the Cornell University Leadership Development Program. She is recognized as a National Collegiate Scholar for Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. Judy is an active member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy Associates (FBINAA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the Fraternal Order of Police. Judy comes from a family of law enforcement. She has a brother who is a retired LASD Lieutenant, another brother who is a retired Compton Police Department Lieutenant and her sister is a retired LASD Sergeant. Judy also has three adult children and a new granddaughter. In her spare time, Judy enjoys traveling, reading, and the company of great friends and family. Judy works with First Responder Wellness as a contractor in her role as a Public Safety Advocate.

Patrick McCurdy has a long-standing passion for helping others, especially for serving those that courageously go into harm’s way to serve others. He grew up in a public safety family. His grandmother was a nurse, and his father, mother, uncle, brother, and wife all served in Law Enforcement.

Patrick grew up in California and his first job was in corrections before he moved to Seattle as a Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office. In his 32 Year career he served in patrol operations, FTO & MPO, was a trainer at the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy, was in a bicycle patrol squad, and in the counter-terrorism team. Patrick also served as a Sergeant in patrol and as the Sergeant of several specialty teams, including metro transit, counter terrorism, explosive detection K9’s, and a special emphasis undercover team.

Patrick saw the toll that exposure to critical incidents and trauma had on his own family as he grew up. His first experience with a line-of-duty death occurred before he was even working in law enforcement, when a patrol officer assigned to work for his father’s squad was murdered on the same street where Patrick and his family lived. Over the years, Patrick lost numerous close friends to the violence, accidents, depression, and addiction that occurred in or because of the job.

Though he had taught officer survival skills for many years, Patrick quickly realized that tactical, physical, and legal survival were only pieces of the whole puzzle, and the most important piece, emotional survival, was missing. The once ‘invincible warrior’ began to realize that he had significant gaping holes in his own armor that were having a negative impact on him and his family and that he wasn’t actually ‘invincible’ after all.

Patrick became a member of the Sheriff’s Office Peer Support Team as a peer support counselor, critical incident debriefer, trainer, program developer and team leader. He assisted debriefing other police and fire departments after significant critical events throughout the region and helped numerous agencies to develop training and programs to provide peer support to their departments. Patrick continues to volunteer as a lead peer, trainer, and peer support counselor at retreats for police officers and firefighters battling against PTSD/ PTSI, and also helps to build effective teams and policies nationally.

Patrick retired in 2022 and lives in the Seattle area with his beautiful wife and three awesome children. Patrick is thrilled to join the team at First Responder Wellness as a contractor in his role as a Public Safety Advocate to help others move through the fog of trauma to a clearer place where they can live in light once again, instead of darkness.

Melinda is a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. She recently retired from the Oakland (CA) Fire Department after serving the city for 24 years as their Deputy Chief of Support Services which oversaw the fire communications center. Melinda holds a bachelor’s degree in Personality Psychology from UC Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and is a graduate of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. The newly imagined MACRO program which stands for Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland was also under her command. This new program has teams of responders who handle non-emergent and non-violent calls for service related to mental and behavioral health and quality of life incidents.

First responder behavioral health is a deep passion of hers. She has not only been an active CISM and peer support member but eventually oversaw Oakland Fire’s teams and secured substantial funding for the bi-annual budget to be devoted to prevention, education and treatment for firefighters and dispatchers. Being able to join this team to help heal our frontline first responders has allowed her to stay connected during retirement and allows her to give back to a career that gave her so much. Melinda works with First Responder Wellness as a contractor in her role as a Public Safety Advocate.

Stephanie Kiesow is a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. Stephanie is the daughter of two cops, the wife of a deputy, and was a police officer herself. From 2006 through 2022, Stephanie worked for three police agencies on the Central Coast of California; the last several years as a sworn police officer. During her law enforcement career, she was heavily involved in providing unofficial peer support and helped to develop programs and policies for departments.

Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the California State University at Channel Islands, master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology (I/O Psych) from Liberty University, and is currently working on obtaining her PhD in I/O Psych. In 2022, Stephanie left her job as a police officer and now focuses her time on researching and mitigating workplace contributing factors to suicide within first responder agencies as well as increase organizational and occupational wellness through anecdotal and science-backed methods. In addition to her role with FRW/TCTI, Stephanie teaches for the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Standard and Training for Corrections (STC), is a contributing writer and speaker for several organizations, and is the published author of her book titled, “Workicide.”

When not working, teaching, or writing, Stephanie spends her time with her husband, sons, and her beloved dogs, cats, and chickens.

Tom is the husband to his beautiful wife, Paula, and father to their four children, Rob, Leighane, Charlotte and Christian. He has lived in the North San Diego County area for over 40 years. Following a 36 year career, Tom retired from the Long Beach Fire Department at the rank of Battalion Chief. He loved what he did and sincerely appreciated the opportunity to serve that community and its people. Following 15 years of work as a Firefighter and Firefighter/Paramedic, he held the positions of Captain and Battalion Chief for the remaining 21 years of his career. While holding those positions of leadership, he focused on operations and training. As a Captain, he worked at most of the busy fire stations throughout the city, as a primary instructor for many of the recruit academies, provided in-service training and led the training of countless rookie Firefighters. As a Battalion Chief, he continued to focus on operations and was a member of the Los Angeles Area Fire Chief’s Regional Training Group. While serving as Battalion Chief, he managed the Long Beach Airport, LB Urban Search and Rescue CA RTF 6 and the Port of Long Beach Fireboat Programs.

The most memorable parts of Tom’s career involved the people. The ability to train, mentor, and support the members of the Long Beach Fire Department family was truly a gift and one he did not take lightly. People matter and true leaders understand the concept of “Servant Leadership.”

Now, Tom is able to help First Responders in a different way. After receiving help and support from First Responder Wellness in 2019, Tom realized he wanted to be a part of the organization that had helped him and so many others. He is blessed and fortunate to now be a part of this amazing team that helps so many First Responders 24/7. Tom currently works for First Responder Health under different divisions of the company. At First Responder Wellness, he is part of our online IOP team, a group facilitator, and a Public Safety Advocate. In addition, he is an instructor for The Counseling Team. He earned his CADC I accreditation in 2024 which allows him to reach and help even more of our First Responders. Tom is grateful and humbled to be a part of this highly skilled and dedicated team.

Michelle is the Administrative Assistant for First Responder Wellness. She assists the business development team in conference coordination, organizing travel for executives, and with day-to-day tasks. Michelle’s understanding of First Responders comes from her own experience, as her husband is LAPD, and is very passionate about working with our First Responders.

Lisa has been practicing yoga since the age of 9 which began with the classical tradition of Ashtanga Yoga. She is certified in numerous styles of yoga: Hatha, Power Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Restorative, Yin, and Kundalini Yoga. She is a 500-Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and is a Continuing Education Provider for Yoga Alliance. She has certifications in yoga therapy, chakra therapeutics, bodywork, and reiki in addition to a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She is also an experienced meditation teacher and sound healer. She is passionate about wellness and the use of multiple styles of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation to help facilitate healing and growth. Lisa works with First Responder Wellness as contractor for yoga.

Candice began her yoga journey in 2007 after years of searching for ways to get more flexible in a non-flexible body. After a few months of consistent practice, she began to notice a shift in not only how her body began to open up, but also how she felt physically and mentally. Yoga became a much deeper form of practice for her – offering relief from chronic pain due to autoimmune issues, as well as high stress and anxiety. Candice is a certified Vinyasa and Hatha yoga instructor and has well over ten years of teaching group classes, as well as coaching and leading a variety of programs, such as yoga teacher training, boot camp, and seasonal wellness cleanse programs. Years before becoming a yoga instructor, Candice studied Criminal Justice while working as a police cadet in Santa Monica, California. From there, she gained a greater understanding and appreciation for the work of the sworn and non-sworn officers – the physical and mental demands. Candice truly believes that yoga is an important element to help bring balance back into their lives. When Candice teaches a class, her intention is always to lead a nurturing yet powerful yoga class that blends her love of movement and ability to inspire through words. She aspires to have her students step off their mat feeling refreshed, nourished, and balanced. Candice works with First Responder Wellness as a contactor for yoga.

Michael Davis is a neurofeedback technician at First Responder Wellness. Previously he had worked in sports medicine holding positions in physical therapy. Michael’s initial ambitions rested in sports science as he was fairly athletic growing up. He was raised on the east coast where he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in Exercise and Sports Science along with a minor in biology. Michael eventually moved to southern California where he continued his education earning his master’s in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton. After working one on one with physical therapy clients, he soon found his passion for helping people extended into the mental realm as well. His professional career shifted course and he is now earning his master’s in counseling psychology from Fullerton. Michael is married and recently saw the birth of his first son. In his free time, Michael enjoys being outside with his two dogs, hiking, reading, movies, sports, and exercising.

Kimberly is an integrative life mentor who coaches top CEOs, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and world-class athletes around the world. She helps them accelerate and thrive, through mental focus, emotional fitness, and physical training. Her approach is perfect for people looking for more than just standard life coaching, in order to excel at the maximum level of their ability. Kimberly Lou’s own story was one of addiction, eating disorders, and professional and personal burnout. But she changed the story of her life and believes that every person has the same ability to take control of their own story. As a result of her success, Kimberly has appeared on E! Entertainment, MTV, HBO, ESPN, MSNBC, and ShowTime, among many others. But her greatest joy in life is acting silly with her daughter, Summer. Kimberly works with First Responder Wellness as a contractor for Breathworks.

Matt has 20 years of experience performing brain wave studies in hospitals, sleep clinics, and outpatient facilities. He has taught neurodiagnostics at two different colleges in the Southern California area. During his professional career, Matt found a passion for psychosomatic modalities, such as neurofeedback and heart rate biofeedback that can be used as methods of healing.

In recent years, Matt has moved on from critical care medicine to focus on applying biofeedback techniques in the realm of psychology. He uses his free time for yoga, creative writing, and reading science books.

Tiffany Atalla is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of professional experience. Her extensive background makes her a culturally competent clinician for First Responders. Tiffany’s role at First Responder Wellness is to provide trauma treatment and education providing EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Training and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Tiffany earned her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Marriage Family and Child Counseling from the University of San Diego. Before joining the treatment team at First Responder Wellness, Tiffany worked as a clinician for the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team in San Diego. During the 40 hours a week in a police unit, Tiffany learned a great deal about the needs of the law enforcement community, while gaining valuable hands on emergency response experience. She also continues to work with a specialized First Responder EAP, The Counseling Team International and has her own private practice.

Tiffany started as a therapist for high risk youth in juvenile diversion and substance use cessation programs, became a supervisor for a program with Child Protective Services and then worked as a Clinical Director for an inpatient mental health and dual diagnosis treatment programs.

Her genuine understanding for First Responders and their family life comes from her own life experience as she is married to an Anaheim Fire Captain and they have two children together.

Tiffany is actively involved with First Responder family wellness in her spare time. She founded the Southern California Fire-Wives Connect group, is a Co-Founder of a Fire Family Support Services group and helps lead First Responder Spouse Retreats.

Tiffany also enjoys volunteering with Canine Companions for Independence. She has a Facility Dog from Canine Companions for Independence named Bey, that is trained to work with First Responders and has over 43 commands that assist in her client’s treatment. Tiffany has both a passion for people and animals and loves helping clients heal at First Responder Wellness.

With a passion for helping others, Nicole brings over 25 years of marketing and communications expertise from her past work in benefits administration, workers’ compensation, employee assistance programs, and specialized work with mental health and substance abuse treatment. With deep knowledge in understanding the family dynamics of mental health issues, she brings her caring insights with her current work at the Vice President of Marketing with First Responder Wellness. She describes this exciting new journey as a gift and feels that her past work has led her to continue her contributions to support the first responder community. Nicole has a BA in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources and Labor Law from California State University Fullerton. She has numerous continuing education certificates in digital marketing and has been a past volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Julie started her career in law enforcement in 2004 with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She medically retired after a bad, on-duty traffic collision and after a long recovery, she represented deputy sheriffs at the Association for Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) and the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS), in disciplinary actions and negotiating their policies and salary and benefit contracts for over 10 years.

Julie has a passion for advocating on behalf of First Responders and is dedicated to serving them. In her time with our family of companies, she has been a Project Manager and Training Operations Manager, and is now the the Corporate Compliance and Organizational Development Manager. 

Hannah Dilanchyan serves as the Marketing Coordinator for First Responder Wellness. She graduated from Biola University with a degree in Visual Journalism and Integrated Media. Her love for storytelling and a desire to serve others has brought her to work for award-winning publications, local non-profits, and international disaster relief organizations. Hannah volunteers as a photographer for a local non-profit that serves first responders and veterans through water-related activities to bring community and healing from PTSD. With family and friends in the veteran and first responder population, Hannah is passionate about the work and impact of First Responder Wellness and loves using her skills in writing, design, and photography to serve those who serve us.

You can find Hannah surfing, hiking, drinking vanilla lattes, or spending time with her friends and family.

Brian is currently a Project Specialist for First Responder Wellness and brings with him Operational Management experience within the First Responder/Veteran nonprofit arena. Brian is a US Army Veteran, having served during the Gulf War era and retired from the Los Angeles Police Department. After more than three decades of service and his own personal journey of healing his own C-PTS through emotional wellness and meditation, Brian is deeply passionate and determined to continue paying it forward to the First Responder Community and what he has learned through embracing vulnerability and being of service to others.

Although lacking actual clinical qualifications, Lola more than makes up for it with her pure joyous heart and gift of being happy to see absolutely everyone that she meets. Lola comes from a long line of very good sitters and prides herself with exceptional sitting and shaking capabilities. When Lola is not busy at work roaming the hallways and administering snuggles and licks, she likes to spend her free-time tormenting her big brother Monkey and doing zoomies up and down her parents hallway.

Reagan is a lab mix born September 18, 2020. He completed his certification training through the Stars and Stripes Service and Therapy Dog Training Program. He is a fun-loving boy who loves to play ball, give kisses, and get belly rubs. Reagan has a gentle way when interacting with the staff and clients, and proudly wears his vest when he shows up for work at First Responder Wellness.