Add to Calendar
05/31/2026 04:00:00 PM06/03/2026 01:00:00 PMAmerica/New_YorkMENTAL WELLNESS SYMPOSIUMIowa Memorial Union 125 North Madison Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Hosted by the University of Iowa College of Education
The Mental Wellness Symposium, a joint initiative of the First Responder Center for Excellence and the University of IOWA is bringing together leading experts, fire service professionals, and mental health specialists to discuss mental wellness.
Location
Iowa Memorial Union
125 North Madison Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
United States
Add to Calendar
05/31/2026 04:00:00 PM06/03/2026 01:00:00 PMAmerica/New_YorkMENTAL WELLNESS SYMPOSIUMIowa Memorial Union 125 North Madison Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Frank Leeb is the managing director of the First
Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE). He previously
served as a Deputy Assistant Chief in the Fire
Department of New York. Retiring in June 2024 with
more than 31 years. During his tenure with the FDNY, he
held several senior staff positions, including the Chief of
the Fire Academy, Chief of Training, and Chief of Safety.
Frank has also been a member of the East Farmingdale
Fire Department since 1983 (Long Island, NY).
He is also the author of the best-selling book
“Cornerstones of Leadership - On And Off The
fireground” and the co-author of 30 Fires You Must
Know”. He is also a senior advisor and minority owner of
CRACKYL magazine.
DENA ALI is a Battalion Chief with the Raleigh (NC) Fire
Department where she has worked her way up the
ranks. She previously served as a police officer for five
years. Ali has a degree from North Carolina State
University and an MPA from the University of North
Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on
firefighter suicide. As a graduate student, she was
awarded the 2018 MPA student of the year. She has also
received several awards throughout her career. One
that she is most proud of is the NC Office of State Fire
Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor award that she
earned for her steadfast effort to bring awareness to
firefighter mental health through her vulnerability. Dena
has also served as a subject matter expert at the
National Fire Academy where she assisted in curriculum
review for their health and wellness curriculum. Dena is
the founder and director of North Carolina Peer Support
where she helped to develop their statewide curriculum.
She is also the author of the soon to be released book
"Hope out of Darkness a Guide to First Responder
Mental Wellness" which will be published by Fire
Engineering.
John is the President and CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute, the fire service’s leader in data and analytics. As CEO, he is responsible for the growth, adoption, and continuous improvement of the NFORS Analytics, Exposure Tracker, and FireCARES programs.
Before being appointed I-PSDI CEO in November 2021, John served as Chief of the East Hartford, Connecticut Fire Department for 13 years. Before that, he served in West Hartford, CT, for 20 years, reaching the rank of Battalion Chief. John has a BS from Franklin Pierce University, an MS from Oklahoma State University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and holds numerous professional certifications. He has been an Advocate for the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home Program since the inception of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. He serves the First Responder Center for Excellence as a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee. Chief Oates serves as a member of the NFPA 3000 Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response Technical Committee and the Technical Committee for Safety at Motorsports Venues (NFPA 610).
A. Aaron Back is a retired Captain of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (1993–2021) and currently serves as a Special Reserve Agent with NC Alcohol Law Enforcement. He is the Co-Founder of North Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NCLEAP), a nonprofit organization providing Post-Critical Incident Seminars and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) training across North Carolina, and he serves as a peer supporter to first responders in South Carolina, California, Georgia, Texas, New York, Florida, Missouri, Virginia, and West Virginia. Captain Back also serves as Peer Director for the North Carolina Responder Assistance Initiative within North Carolina Emergency Management, advancing behavioral health and resilience initiatives for public safety professionals.
Jason Palmatier is a grateful Husband, Father and Career Firefighter. He is also a member of the NC Firefighter Peer Support Team where he shares his experience, strength and hope from 19 years as a recovering alcoholic
Scott Lyon serves as Fire Chief of the Iowa City Fire Department, bringing more than 30 years of experience in the fire service. Over the course of his career, Chief Lyon has held a wide range of leadership and operational roles, including firefighter/paramedic, company officer, training chief, and operations chief.
Chief Lyon holds a master’s degree in organizational development and has earned the prestigious Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing, recognizing his commitment to professional excellence and organizational leadership.
In addition to his local service, Chief Lyon has contributed at the state and national levels, previously serving as a state advocate with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, supporting initiatives that honor fallen firefighters and promote firefighter safety and well-being.
Brandon Dreiman is a retired Captain and 23-year veteran of the Indianapolis Fire Department where he served 7 years as the Coordinator of Firefighter Wellness & Support. He is an International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Peer Support & Resilience Master Instructor and a member of the IAFF’s Crisis Response Team. He is also a subject matter expert for the IAFF/IAFC Wellness Fitness Initiative Committee. His credentials include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Clinician, Certified Sleep Science Coach, Certified Peer Support Professional, and Yoga Teacher. He now serves as the Behavior Health Specialist for ProTeam Wellness.
Dr. Kellie O'Dare is a dedicated researcher, educator, and advocate with expertise in first responder health and wellness, behavioral health policy, and organizational resilience. As the founder and Executive Director of the 2nd Alarm Project and an Assistant Professor at Florida A&M University’s Institute of Public Health, Dr. O’Dare has led innovative initiatives to support the mental health and resiliency of first responders and their families. With a Ph.D. in Social Work and a passion for community-driven solutions, her work bridges academic research and practical applications, fostering transformative changes in mental health access and support systems. Dr. O’Dare’s impactful efforts have garnered $8 million in external funding and contributed to significant advancements in public health and social work practice.
Dr. Suzy Bird Gulliver is a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical researcher. Currently, she serves as Director of Warriors Research Institute (WRI), Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and as Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Texas A&M College of Medicine. WRI is part of Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.
She began her professional career as a NIAAA-funded postdoctoral fellow at Brown University and later spent over 12 years in a variety of roles through the VA. She has worked with firefighters for over 20 years. On the heels of 9/11, Dr. Gulliver and team initiated their first international research project with fire service to look at resilience in firefighter recruits, which was funded by NIH. Other research projects with fire service have examined topics including barriers to accessing behavioral health in fire service, peer support programs, and relationship health.
Dr. Gulliver has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Texas Health and Human Services Commission, among others. She has served as a research mentor for numerous pre- and post-doctoral fellows and has provided countless hours of evidence-based supervision to 25 years of psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists.
In her spare time, Dr. Gulliver can be found riding her horses, playing with her dogs, Nellie and Trigger, making a Starbucks run, or doing yoga.
(Retired) FDNY Captain | Deputy Director of the Counseling Service Unit (CSU) of FDNY
Frank Leto, retired FDNY, has been a leader in fire service behavioral health since the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. He travels nationally and internationally developing behavioral health protocols and aiding communities after major events. Mr. Leto is a member of the IAFF Disaster Response To-Go Team. Frank has worked closely with the NFFF and is a member of the FRCE Behavioral Health Advisory Committee. He also collaborates in research, regarding pressing health and safety issues throughout the fire service. Frank was one of the first graduates of the West Point Military Academy’s Terrorism and Counterterrorism Program. He also holds degrees and advanced certificates from Binghamton University and New York University.
Jeff Orrange is a Lieutenant with the Orlando Fire Department and formerly served as the Director of Training and Capacity Building with the 2nd Alarm Project, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing mental wellness for first responders across Florida. With a career in the fire service spanning three decades, Jeff has become a leading voice in building proactive, system-based approaches to behavioral health and operational readiness.
In addition to his work with the Orlando Fire Department, Jeff is the founding coordinator of the Orlando Firefighters Peer Support Team and has served as the Statewide Peer Team Coordinator for the Florida Firefighters Safety & Health Collaborative, where he helped develop and expand peer support programs throughout the state. His commitment to responder wellness is grounded in firsthand experience, having deployed to major incidents including the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and the Surfside condominium collapse, along with numerous other critical events that deeply impacted first responders and their communities.
Jeff’s mission is to shift the culture of first responder wellness from a reactive model to one that views resilience and mental readiness as integral to operational readiness. Through his leadership in statewide training initiatives, curriculum development, and the integration of peer support into disaster response systems, Jeff continues to drive innovation and sustainable capacity building within the fire service. His passion is rooted in ensuring that every responder, whether in large metropolitan agencies or small rural departments, has access to the support and education necessary to thrive both on and off the job.
Outside of his professional work, Jeff has been married to his wife for over 20 years and is a proud father of two children. In his spare time, he coaches high school water polo and enjoys mentoring young athletes while staying connected to his community.
Kory Pearn is a 22-year firefighter, Captain, author, and publisher. He is the founder and
Editor-in-Chief of CRACKYL Magazine, an award-winning North American publication dedicated to advancing firefighter lifestyle, health, and human performance.
Throughout his career, Kory has combined frontline experience with creative leadership to
challenge how the fire service approaches wellness, sustainability, and identity. After facing a life-threatening heart condition, he rebuilt his personal and professional foundation with a focus on balance, resilience, and purpose—principles that now guide his work across publishing, writing, and leadership.
Kory’s writing and leadership continue to influence conversations around longevity, mental health, and performance in the fire service. His approach emphasizes systems thinking, sustainable success, and the importance of leading from stability rather than exhaustion.
Dr. Joel M. Billings is an Assistant Professor and Program Chair of the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His research focuses on firefighter health and safety, with an emphasis on sleep, shift schedules, sleep-wake cycles, and how fire service alerting systems influence health, performance, and risk. He is a PI and MPI on externally funded projects totaling more than $1 million, supported by NIH/NHLBI and DHS/FEMA, and his work is designed to translate directly into practical guidance for fire service leaders and organizations. Dr. Billings has published and presented widely in peer-reviewed outlets and at leading professional conferences. He holds a PhD and MS in Fire and Emergency Management Administration from Oklahoma State University and a BS in Fire Science with a cognate in Emergency Medicine from Lake Superior State University. He previously served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT Basic.
Melissa Lawlor is a Fire Commissioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and Family Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in Fire/EMS. She is widely recognized for her innovative, cross-disciplinary approach to first responder mental health, bridging clinical expertise with frontline leadership. Melissa has developed forward-thinking education, policy, and wellness initiatives focused on mental health, resilience, and sustainable careers in high-stress professions.
A trusted advocate at both the local and national levels, Melissa works to elevate mental health from an individual issue to a leadership and systems responsibility. Her work challenges organizations to move beyond crisis response toward cultures that prioritize psychological safety, early support, and meaningful change. At this symposium, Melissa brings a practical, compassionate lens to advocacy-driven mental health leadership for first responders.
Assistant Chief, Manuel Almaguer, has been a Denver Firefighter for 25 years. Chief Almaguer has served in many roles in the Denver Fire Department. This includes Division Chief of Fire Prevention, and Assistant Chief in both Training and Operations. Hazardous Materials Captain and Lieutenant in Administration.
He is a national champion of mental health and resiliency, planning and implementing mental health training and programs for the fire service for the past 15 years. He has spoken nationally at The White House, Pentagon and NATCON on Suicide Prevention for First Responders and Men’s Mental Health.
In 2014, he was part of the core team of firefighters and mental health professionals that rolled out a comprehensive training curriculum on suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention for the Denver Fire Department. This training program became a national model for numerous organizations and industries, including the construction field. He was a driving force in making suicide prevention training and mental wellness as part of the recruit training academy and officer development certification.
He has participated in numerous podcasts and webinars centered on mental health awareness and addressing the mental health stigma facing firefighters of color. He worked for 11 years in the psychiatric institutional setting, and inpatient treatment centers as a Psychiatric Registered Nurse.
Josh Baltz is a Captain assigned to Engine 3 with the Wilmington Fire Department in North Carolina. I have served with the department for 12 years and have been involved in instructing various internal classes and serving on multiple specialized teams. I am also a founding member of our K9 Crisis Response Program, which was developed to support firefighters following traumatic incidents.
Bonnie C. Rumilly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Private Practice specializing in the treatment of Adults and First Responders. Bonnie worked in Newtown treating Trauma directly after the Sandy Hook School Shootings and is a Certified EMDR therapist and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. She is one of the Clinical Directors of the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team, Inc., in CT, which treats First Responders for PTSD(I) and Trauma. Bonnie is also a 24 + year Emergency Medical Technician and retired Chief of her EMS agency. In addition to hosting the Responder Resilience Podcast, Bonnie co-leads a weekly peer support group for First Responders and recently co-authored the book, “Helping the Helpers: The Guide to Supporting First Responder Mental Wellness.”
David Dachinger is a retired Fire Lieutenant and EMT who dedicated over two decades to emergency services, often serving as the acting Shift Commander at the Ridgefield, CT, Fire Department. His commitment to public service extends beyond the sirens, as he now fosters meaningful conversations about mental health and resilience through his podcasts, “Responder Resilience” and “Igniting The Shift Within.” On these platforms, he candidly explores the realities of first responder life alongside influential thought leaders in wellness and leadership.
David's life took a significant turn in 2013 when he was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Since 2014, he has not only survived but thrived, using his experience to advocate for the wellness and resilience of first responders. As the co-author of bestselling books, including "Helping the Helpers" and “Live Calm With Cancer,” he embodies a narrative of transformation, advocacy, and unwavering purpose. Additionally, he coaches peers struggling with trauma at 22Zero and is on the board of directors of the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team.
Beyond his public service contributions, David is a two-time Grammy nominee with a distinguished background in the music industry. He has recorded and mixed tracks for renowned artists such as Usher and Celine Dion and composed music for major events, including The Masters, The Super Bowl, and NCAA Basketball on CBS.
Shep has served the fire service for 16 years, beginning as a volunteer at age 17. A NC Qualified Fire Instructor, he teaches two academies annually and has traveled across the country to instruct. He is passionate about moving beyond a "robot mindset" to develop thinking firefighters. Currently, he serves as a newly promoted officer with the Wilmington NC Fire Department on an engine company downtown, where he advocates for mental health and knowledge sharing.
Dr. Brooke Bartlett is a highly specialized public safety and military trauma psychologist with extensive clinical, research, and consultation experience working with law enforcement, fire service, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and military/SOF populations. She has published over 20 scientific research papers on trauma among public safety and military populations and has trained hundreds of first responders, clinicians, and leadership teams on topics spanning trauma, operational stress, moral injury, leadership, peer support, and mental health.
Dr. Bartlett is a national speaker and currently serves public safety professionals and their agencies nationwide through therapy, consultation, training, and peer support program development. Her approach blends clinical expertise with practical, real-world applications tailored specifically for tactical, public safety, and other high-risk operational professions.
Margaret “Maggie” Riback is an LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and the wife of a first responder. She received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2018 from Hofstra University on Long Island, NY. Maggie spent the first several years of her career working with individuals with disabilities, an experience that helped shape her person-centered, strengths-based clinical approach.
In 2021, she transitioned into private practice and is currently a Senior Associate Clinician and Supervisor at Torres Mental Health Counseling PLLC. Maggie has a strong interest in working with first responders and their families and has recently completed the IAFF “Understanding the Fire Service for Mental Health Clinicians” online course. She has also attended the First Responder Center for Excellence’s Fire Service Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention Symposium, further strengthening her understanding of first responder culture and mental health needs.
Maggie has been happily married to her husband, Mat Riback, for over six years. Mat serves as a Program Specialist II for the First Responder Center for Excellence, has been a Train Conductor with the Long Island Rail Road for the past 10 years, and has been a member of the East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. for the past 16 years, where he continues to serve and previously held the role of Captain. Maggie’s combined professional training and personal experience provide her with a unique and authentic perspective on supporting the mental wellness of first responders and their families.
Brandon is second generation firefighter and has been a student of the fire service since 2010. Brandon started as a volunteer firefighter working his way up to Lieutenant before leaving that department to pursue a full-time opportunity. Currently he is a senior firefighter for the City of Marquette in the U.P. of Michigan. He is also the training officer for the counties special rescue team and a member of the local Peer Support Team. Brandon is Michigan’s state lead advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Brandon has published articles for Firefighter Nation and FireRescue1. Also has published a chapter in the book 30 Fires You Must Know. He has taught locally, nationally, and internationally to include at FireHouse Expo and other conferences around the Nation. Brandon is also Vice President of Great Lakes Hot, Michigan’s Premier fire conference. He has an associate’s degree and holds certifications in a wide range in Fire and EMS from the state of Michigan and Illinois. Brandon enjoys sharing and passing on the knowledge he has gained through experiences and passed onto him from his mentors over the years. Brandons goal is to leave the fire service better than he found it through realistic training.
Jim Burneka is a recently retired FF/PM with the Dayton Ohio Fire Department. Jim was the inaugural Wellness Coordinator for the Dayton Fire Department and the Health & Safety/Peer Support Coordinator for Dayton Firefighters Local 136. Jim has been involved in the fight against occupational cancer for over 19 years and is a cancer survivor. Jim is also a Technical Committee Member on NFPA 1585 Contamination Control, and NFPA 1580 Standard for Emergency Responder Occupational Health & Wellness. Jim hosts two monthly webcast/podcast and has a monthly column featured on Firefighter Nation. Jim Is also the co-author of the Amazon Best Seller “Overcoming Tuesday: A First Responder’s Tale of Healing and Resiliency”. Jim served on the PPE Reimagined and the WFI 5th edition committees with the IAFF. Jim lives in “Exotic” Beavercreek Ohio with his wife Lauren, and two boys Jameson, & Logan.
Dr. Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist in cognitive behavioral psychology. He is a Professor of Psychiatry and the Director of the Suicide Care Clinic at the University of Vermont. Dr. Bryan received his PsyD in clinical psychology in 2006 from Baylor University and completed his clinical psychology residency at the Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX. Dr. Bryan deployed to Balad, Iraq, in 2009, where he served as the Director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at the Air Force Theater Hospital. He separated from active duty service shortly after his deployment, and started researching PTSD, suicidal behaviors and suicide prevention strategies, and psychological health and resiliency. He has held faculty appointments at the University of Texas Health San Antonio, the University of Utah, The Ohio State University, and the University of Vermont, and has managed numerous federally funded projects in excess of $50 million focused on testing treatments for reducing suicidal behaviors, developing innovative methods to identify and detect high-risk individuals, and facilitating recovery after trauma. Dr. Bryan has published hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles and his research has been funded by a wide range of agencies including the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the Boeing Company, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and the Navy SEAL Foundation, and has been featured in media outlets including Scientific American, CNN, Fox News, NPR, USA Today, the LA Times, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Dr. Bryan has published hundreds of scientific articles and multiple books including Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention and Rethinking Suicide.
Dr. Bryan has served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Suicidology; Advisory Boards for the Navy SEAL Foundation, National Center for PTSD, and JED Foundation; the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC); and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Advisory Council. For his contributions to mental health and suicide prevention, Dr. Bryan has received numerous awards and recognitions. He is an internationally recognized expert on suicide prevention, trauma, and resilience.
Daniel L. Clay is currently psychology professor and Dean of the University of Iowa College of Education. He has worked as a police officer, and he co-authored the book Stress Management for Law Enforcement Officers.
Dean Clay is a nationally recognized scholar and fellow of the American Psychological Association and also the American Educational Research Association. He was recognized in 2014 as a Leader of Change by The Network for Change and Continuous Innovation: Higher Education’s Network for Change Leadership. He founded the Scanlan Center for School Mental health and raised $40 million to support mental health initiatives in youth.
Dean Clay earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota; a Master of Arts in educational and counseling psychology from the University of Missouri; and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri. He also received a higher education administration certificate through the Management Development Program at Harvard University and an MBA from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business.
