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Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors

Dr. Angela Vaughn (She/Her)- Chair

Angela Vaughn is a Community Health Project Director for the Wyoming Institute of Population Health. Her public health experience includes substance use prevention, harm reduction, opioid prescribing stewardship, stigma reduction, housing stability, and sexual health. Angela obtained her Master’s in Public Health from Creighton University and a Doctorate in Health Sciences from A.T. Still University.

Angela is passionate about creating equitable care environments in the health care setting and improving overall community health. She is currently the past president of the Wyoming Public Health Association, and chair of the Wyoming RX Abuse Stakeholders Group. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors, baking, staying active, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Rick Boheler- Co-Chair

Rick Boheler is the Board Co-Chair for the Grace For 2 Brothers Foundation. He has served on the Board in various capacities since it attained a 501 (c) (3) designation from the Department of the Treasury on March 3, 2011.

Boheler was previously employed by United Parcel Service at that organization’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA. He retired in 2002 after serving on the management team for 25 years in various locations around the U.S. He is currently the President of PSI Energy Production Services. Since 2012, PSI Energy has provided equipment and expertise for flowback and coil operations for various energy producers operating in Northern Colorado, North Dakota and throughout Wyoming.

Boheler graduated from Cheyenne Central High School in 1972 and from the University of Wyoming in 1976.

Niki Kottmann- Secretary

Niki Kottmann is a native of the Chicago suburbs who landed in Cheyenne after working for a weekly newspaper in Sarasota, Florida for three years. She’s a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and now holds the title of Features Editor for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

Throughout college, Niki developed a passion for mental health advocacy and awareness, especially after serving as an Active Minds mental health peer educator. After graduating, she served on several fundraising committees through National Alliance on Mental Illness Sarasota County and as a peer volunteer for Coastal Behavioral Healthcare’s Compeer program.

When she’s not writing, editing, or doing volunteer work, you can find Niki listening to showtunes, eating an excessive amount of cheese and/or hiking with her boyfriend.

Jesse Carter- Treasurer

Jesse is a proud father of two boys and currently serves in the United States Air Force. After learning about GF2B in 2018 and its resources for suicide prevention and postvention, he wanted to get involved. Since then, he’s become a board member and an Hour of Grace Grief Support Group facilitator.  In 2002, Jesse’s only brother died by suicide, and back then he wasn’t familiar with loss resources like what GF2B offers today.

Jesse says that “GF2B offers a community to support and talk with those that have been affected by suicide, which will hopefully prevent suicides by diminishing the stigma.”

When Jesse is not working or volunteering, he enjoys reading, listening to music, practicing piano and violin, cooking, and learning (just about anything).

Kristine Galloway

Kristine Galloway is a public relations specialist for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. She holds an Associate of Arts from Laramie County Community College and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wyoming.  She previously worked as the education reporter for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Kristine recently started work on a Master of Social Work through Florida State University. 

She also is a single mom of two fantastic kids – a teenage daughter and preteen son. Each has a phenomenal sense of humor, and the three can often be found entertaining themselves through potentially embarrassing displays of public silliness. 

Kristine became involved with Grace for 2 Brothers following years of admiring the foundation’s work. As a suicide attempt survivor, she personally recognizes the tremendous importance of providing support to those who struggle with self-harm and those who have lost loved ones to suicide, as well as providing education and outreach across the state.

Steve Smyth

Steve Smyth was born and raised here in Cheyenne and decided to raise his family here as well. Steve is a father of 3 amazing kids, one of them is in college and the other two attend East High School.  Steve has had the honor to work for one of the best companies in Wyoming- Taco John’s Intl. for the past 14 years. Taco John’s continues to be a leader in the state by assisting Suicide Prevention efforts throughout Wyoming.

Steve spends much of his summertime on the ball fields coaching girls fast-pitch softball or on the golf course. Steve likes spending winters skiing with his family.

Steve had served on the Board of Directors for the past 6 years.

Dana Thompson

Dana Thompson is an Emergency Rental Assistance Program Case Manager for the Wyoming Institute of Population Health. She has also previously worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Her public health experience includes housing stability, harm reduction, disaster preparedness, stigma reduction, global health, and sexual health. Dana obtained her Bachelor’s in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. 

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time with her family. She is so excited to take on a leadership role in an organization whose mission she cares deeply about. She has almost lost multiple people in her life to suicide so she will be approaching this issue from a personal and professional lens. 

 

Mike Fernandez

Mike is a first born American and Cheyenne native. He believes in partnerships and knows not one person or group can achieve missions or goals without additional resources. As issues arise among communities, it is the effort of many that help accomplish these missions. Mike also speaks Spanish in which he uses to assist those seeking community services.

Mike is a Cheyenne Police Detective with 15 years of experience in the criminal justice field. He has been active in bridging the gap between police and mental health services and has earned a
Law Enforcement Associates degree from the Laramie County Community College (LCCC) and Criminal Justice Administration Bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. Mike’s obtained over a hundred hours of mental health and substance abuse training in an effort to assist those who are challenged from such issues. Mike’s currently a co-coordinator with the Cheyenne Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team. As a part of this team, it has been Mike’s mission to train officers in crisis response and de-escalation. He has also been a part of two crisis response teams in an effort to assist those in need alongside mental health providers.

During his time off, Mike enjoys family activities and volunteering his time to anyone or any organization in need. He’s spent several years volunteering his time for Wyoming Special Olympics and has
recently joined forces with Ringside Sports in an effort to support Cheyenne youth athletics.

Maurina Venturelli

“Never be afraid to be yourself.” – Gayle Venturelli

Those were the words my Mother, Gayle, said to me as I headed off to my first job interview. I was interviewing at a local insurance company for a school-to-work program. Those six words have stayed with me 20+ years later.

I grew up in Anaconda, a small town in Southwest Montana. We were poor and on the wrong side of the tracks. I was the youngest of four, and I watched my brothers struggle with drug and alcohol abuse; they were physically abusive to my Mother. But I wasn’t going to let trauma prevent me from excelling in school and sports. I landed in the top 10 of my class and was selected as Female Athlete of the Year.

Three months before I graduated from high school, my youngest brother died by suicide. He struggled with mental health and was in and out of rehab. He and I were really close. It paralyzed me. I went through a period of bad decisions, then I realized I had two choices: continue on the road to destruction, or get my life together and make my brother proud. I chose the latter.

I’ve been leading marketing for Silicon Valley start-ups for over 10 years, and I’m currently the Vice President of Marketing for a small real-time analytics company. With full sleeve tattoos, piercings, and sometimes pink hair, I’ve never been afraid to be me. I’ve never hid my self expression from anyone.

My story is one of trauma, mental health and abuse struggles, and success. While serving on the Board of Directors for Grace for Two Brothers, I hope to share my experiences and love for life with all those that want or need to hear it. It’s an honor to be a part of this wonderful organization. Always be the youest of yous.

Staff

Jeremy Bay (He/Him)- Executive Director

Jeremy is a native of Cheyenne, WY, returning home after completing more than two decades of service in the United States Navy, retiring with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. 

He has earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, with additional post-secondary education in human development and adolescent education. He is completing the final requirements of a graduate degree in Military and Emergency Responder Psychology

Jeremy is committed to social equality, particularly in the areas of affordable housing, food insecurity, and restoration. He is dedicated to removing barriers to care and bringing community assets together through formal partnerships and education. He is invested in expanding radical upstream approaches to suicide prevention through community involvement and innovation. Jeremy is an advocate for “And”, believing that “WE” can help a person experiencing challenges such as substance use disorders, domestic violence, homelessness AND address suicide and mental health concurrently.

Jeremy’s experience with suicide prevention includes personal struggles related to his military career, transition to civilian life, overseeing the Wyoming Army National Guard’s suicide and substance abuse prevention programs as a contract employee, and serving at the Executive Director for Grace For 2 Brothers.

Dan Hedrick (He/Him)- Grief Support Coordinator

Danno is a past member of the Board of Directors for Grace for 2 Brothers. He currently is Grace for 2 Brothers Suicide Grief Support Coordinator. Danno was responsible for starting the Suicide Loss groups in both Laramie and Wheatland.

He facilitates the Laramie Wyoming Hour of Grace Suicide Loss support Group, that meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Danno currently is the Director of the Laramie County LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors Team) with a outstanding group of volunteers. Danno lost his younger brother to suicide in 2011.

Cecelia Bay, MSW (She/Her)- Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy

Cecelia’s passion for advocacy and policy has lead her to interagency work with Grace For 2 Brothers advocating for
upstream approaches to Wyoming’s suicide rates.

Cecelia works to bring suicide safer communities to
empower Wyomingites to find meaning while choosing positive life changes and improving mental health outcomes. Cecelia’s dedication to social justice, advocacy, and community awareness is
evidenced by her dedication to causes such as socio-economic insecurity, disparities in healthcare, racial, religious, and LGBTQIA+ issues, and housing insecurity, which all can lead towards Wyoming’s suicide crisis.

Cecelia’s passion for suicide prevention stems from her personal struggles and work in various organizations in Arizona and Wyoming. Cecelia is always willing to listen, offer resources, and
lend a helping hand.

In Cecelia’s spare time, she can be found practicing self-care (outside when the weather allows) with her husband, teenagers, and animals.

Johnna Dieters (She/Her)- Executive Assistant

Johnna grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She brings forth fresh concepts in social media marketing, and a passion for fundraising.

Johnna is passionate about addiction studies and its ties to mental health in our communities. She believes that we need to destigmatize people and provide support for all walks of life. Shes dedicated to providing resources and support to anyone in need.

When she’s not at the office you can find her enjoying time with her family, snuggling her dogs, or spending time outside enjoying fresh Wyoming air.

Emily Stevens (She/Her)- Training and Education Specialist

After the loss of a dear friend in high school, Emily began working to change the narrative of suicide in her community. Emily quickly became involved in training and education for suicide prevention,
intervention and postvention highlighting the importance of mental health and the stigma surrounding suicide.

After joining the Wyoming Air National Guard, Emily became an advocate for peer support and the perception of mental health within the military. Growing up in Southeastern Wyoming in a
household that is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, she is passionate about being an ally to everyone. With a diverse background she believes it is imperative to build a society that is safer from suicide for individuals from all walks of life.

Bringing a modern approach to suicide and mental health training, Emily is eager to introduce innovative education styles to Laramie County and all of Wyoming. She is interested in leveraging the latest research of risks and protective factors associated with suicide, including educating the public of methods for secure storage of lethal means. Additionally, she is devoted to removing the socio-economic inequalities that put Wyomingites at risk. Emily is always willing to listen, provide resources,
and be a safe space for all.

Emily has a large family and is proud to be a big sister to 7 brothers and 4 sisters. Enjoying an on-the-go lifestyle, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling to new places, baking sweet treats, and spending time outdoors with her dogs.