Board And Team.

Suzie Bartel

Suzie is the founder of the Ryan Bartel Foundation and mother of Ryan. After losing Ryan to suicide in the fall of 2014, Suzie felt the need to turn their tragedy into something positive by helping other teens and young adults from spiraling into depression and suicidal behavior when times get tough. In a short space of time, what started as a peer-led support group for teens at the high school Ryan attended, has grown into a non-profit whose teen and parent programs touch all corners of the Loudoun community and beyond. 

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Suzie has 35+ years of experience as a senior marketing and business executive, running her own design and marketing business in London and then working in senior marketing positions for private and public companies in the US after moving to Loudoun County in 1999. Today she works full-time  for the Foundation in a volunteer capacity, focusing on strategy, marketing, finance and development. She is an active speaker in the community and an advocate for youth mental wellness and suicide prevention through the empowerment of youth. 

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Suzie has been recognized for her community leadership with several awards that include Public Citizen of the year from the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; the Leadership Award by the Women’s Center; Loudoun County Sheriff’s Community Leadership Award; a finalist for the Loudoun Chamber Community Leadership Award; and Honoree for the ‘Loudoun 100’.

In her free time, Suzie enjoys nature, dogs, travel, history, reading and music, especially attending her son Jordan’s violin performances.

Vito John Germinario

Vito John Germinario is the CEO and Co-Owner of GPR, Inc., a commercial glazing company and Managing Principal of the LGV Group LLC, a commercial real estate development company. He is first generation Italian-American. He grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and is the oldest of four children. His parents stressed education from an early age. He was taught by the sisters of Saint Francis in grammar school and by the Jesuits at St. Peter’s Prep and St. Peter’s University.

Vito arrived in Washington from New York in 1994, to be part of the team that built the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Since then, Vito has been involved with such notable projects as the National Museum of the American Indian, The E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse and most recently, the GSA Headquarters Building, all in Washington D.C. He is very proud to have been associated with the building of the National Intrepid Center for Excellence at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Vito’s passion is helping children. He believes that all children should be given every opportunity to live a happy, healthy and productive life. He dedicates much of his time, energy and resources to several non-profit organizations, all to benefit children.

Vito has supported the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for many years.  He was the honored recipient of the CFF Hitchcock Humanitarian Award in 2014 for his philanthropy.  He serves on the Breath for Life gala committee and is fully committed to help find the cure.

After six (6) years as Board Chairman, Vito is Chairman Emeritus at Excel Academy, an all-girls public charter school in Washington D.C.

Vito is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors at Make-a-Wish Mid-Atlantic. 

In 2017, the ALS Association presented Vito with their Achievement Award for his philanthropy.

Vito serves as a trustee and chairman of the finance committee at his alma mater, St. Peter’s Prep, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Vito is a founding member and board chair at Feathers from Devon, a New York based 501 c3 that gives children with developmental challenges the opportunity to engage in non-traditional therapies, to increase their quality of life.

In 2019, Vito joined the Board of Directors at the Middleburg Community Charter. He serves as Board Chair.  

He is past Board Chair of the Lily Fund and past board vice chair of the Friends of Jaclyn. Both foundations worked to raise the quality of life for children and their families who are battling pediatric brain tumors.

The Lido Club of Washington named Vito Man of the Year in 2018. He serves on the Executive Committee and has recently been named Chairman to the Lido Civic Charities Board.

Most recently, Vito was named to the national board of Shelters to Shutters, a non-profit working to better the lives of the homeless.

A Life Member of the NRA, Vito proudly serves on the Youth Services Committee

Vito has been married to Kristi since 1997. They live in Bluemont, Virginia.

Ben Bartel

Co-founder of the Ryan Bartel Foundation and father of Ryan, Ben’s goal for the Foundation is to honor Ryan’s memory by ensuring it provides programs that are based on listening to the audience it serves and fostering a culture where everyone matters. The Heart of Humanity Award is a scholarship close to his heart because it most closely reflects Ryan’s unique qualities of reaching out to those who feel like they don’t belong and are therefore struggling emotionally. 

Ben is a business entrepreneur, experienced in mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds, and management both domestically and internationally. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio University and an MBA in finance from New York University. Ben started his career in banking and in 1992 after the German reunification, he formed Kabelmedia Holdings, a cable TV company in Frankfurt, Germany, growing the customer base seven-fold. Returning to the United States after its public offering, Ben founded Flock Management LLC, providing aircraft management and worldwide aircraft ferry services.

Kathy McConnell

Kathy has been a supporter of the Foundation since its inception. A neighbor and friend of the Bartel family, whose children grew up together, Kathy experienced Ryan’s suicide as a devastating reminder of the immense need for more programs to support struggling teens and the parents who are trying to help them find the community and treatment they could benefit from most. She has championed the Foundation’s growth—from its original peer-led support groups to today’s comprehensive programs that build resilience and connection for teens throughout Loudoun County—and now advances that mission as a member of its board. In that role, she remains deeply committed to the Foundation’s mission and programs and views the opportunity to contribute to its continued innovation and growth as an immense privilege.

Kathy is an entrepreneur and business executive with 35 years of experience in marketing, business operations, and finance. Currently, she is a Marketing Consultant after serving as a Corporate Vice President at Landrum Talent Solutions, which she joined when Ceres Talent, the marketing consulting and staffing firm she founded, was acquired in 2022. Prior to founding Ceres Talent, Kathy worked in senior-level product management and marketing roles for DC-area technology companies. She began her career in finance roles with Boeing and Verizon. Living in Loudoun County since 1996, Kathy and her husband, Dave, are parents to two wonderful children who are now thriving young professionals. Kathy grew up in southern West Virginia and attended West Virginia University, where she earned a business administration degree with a focus in finance and economics.

Denisha Hamilton, LCSW, CCATP

Denisha has been honored to sit on the Ryan Bartel Foundation Board of Directors since 2020 because helping teens build connections, providing a safe space for them to be themselves, and affirming that they matter are at the heart of her professional work. She joined the Board to be a part of a new wave of approaching the challenges that teens experience, through workshops directly aimed at building resilience in teens, support groups to help parents better understand and communicate with their teens, and helping our community with improving how we support our teenagers. As a Board member, she has strengthened the Foundation’s community involvement, improved the workshops delivered to teens and their parents, and been a resource to families who are struggling with loss or mental health concerns.

Denisha entered the world of entrepreneurship and opened Journey to Wellness, a mental health private practice in 2017. Denisha has worked as a clinical director for a group mental health practice, as well as working for 11 years with Loudoun County Mental Health in a variety of positions. Starting as a residential counselor, she obtained her Masters in Social Work and her LCSW and transitioned to become an Outpatient Clinician specializing in adolescent treatment. In that role, she provided individual, group, and family therapy, as well as crisis intervention to children, adolescents, and adults. Denisha is well versed in dealing with issues of trauma, attachment disorder, anxiety and depression, gender, as well as a variety of other issues that impact children, teenagers, and adults. 

Denisha is a well-known therapist in Loudoun County. In 2016, she won Loudoun’s Best Counselor for Kids due to the excellent service she provides to local teenagers. In 2021, Denisha became one of Loudoun’s 40 under 40, honoring her business endeavors, community involvement, and professional development in the area of mental health. Denisha also attends conferences, and workshops, and engages in public speaking events, all with the goal of making taking care of our mental health a normal part of conversation.

Michelle Nichols

Michelle Nichols is the Senior Director of Governance, Risk & Compliance at the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).  Her team is responsible for the company’s overall compliance foundation (code, hotline, investigations, board and management policies/procedures, training), SOX Compliance, conflicts of interest, enterprise change management and records retention.  She is the primary point of contact for all regulatory requests and exams.  She is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP) with over 30 years of experience in the compliance industry.  She has held in-house compliance leadership roles at two large, international, publicly traded organizations and has also been a compliance consultant, providing services to over 60 large, multi-national clients.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Mason University and a law degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.  She is also a certified Risk Manager holding the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) Professional designation and manages the company’s business insurance program.  She was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Fairfax County in July 2023.

Jason Balser

Jason Balser brings a thoughtful blend of technology leadership, strategic thinking, and care for people to his role on the Ryan Bartel Foundation board.

Throughout his career, Jason has helped organizations use technology to solve complex problems, improve how people work, and create clearer paths forward. His work has included leading major technology, data, and business transformation efforts, but his approach has always started with people first. He is especially interested in how technology can support connection, understanding, and opportunity rather than simply add more complexity.

Jason is a graduate of Clemson University, where he earned a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. He remains committed to lifelong learning and community engagement, regularly speaking with students, educators, families, and community groups about technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the ways digital tools are shaping everyday life.

Based in Northern Virginia, where he and his wife have raised two daughters, Jason is deeply connected to RBF’s mission of helping young people see multiple pathways to a successful and meaningful life. He is honored to support the Foundation’s work to build a community where young people feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.

Kinga Ulery

Kinga Ulery is a seasoned sales and go-to-market executive with more than 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams across financial services, federal, healthcare, and public sector markets. She currently serves as Regional Vice President in the Emerging Markets Business Unit at Salesforce.

Prior to Salesforce, Kinga held executive roles in the federal segment at ServiceNow and spent nearly two decades at CDW-G leading Federal Civilian, Healthcare and Life Sciences, and SLED business segments.

Kinga’s connection to the Ryan Bartel Foundation is deeply personal. In seventh grade, her daughter lost a close friend to suicide, a boy whose life ended far too soon. That loss made something painfully clear: this does not start in adulthood. It starts young, often in silence, and most people never see it coming until it is too late.

Mental health is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, and awareness is where change begins. Kinga believes we must normalize the conversation, removing the stigma, recognizing the signs, and creating communities where young people feel safe enough to ask for help and supported enough to receive it.

She joined the board of the Ryan Bartel Foundation in 2025 because she wants to be part of that change. She wants future generations to grow up in a world that is open-minded, accepting, and genuinely there for one another, for exactly what each person brings to the table.

She also volunteers with YMSL alongside her son, a reflection of her ongoing commitment to showing up for young people in every way she can.

Kinga lives in Aldie, Virginia with her husband, three children, and her Australian Labradoodle. Outside of work, she loves yoga, travel, food and wine, and cheering her kids on at every opportunity.

“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” — Art Williams

David Doherty

David Doherty is the Co-Founder and President of D|Watts Construction, a boutique commercial general contracting firm based in the Washington, DC area. With more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, David oversees the firm’s strategic planning, financial management, and client service operations. Under his leadership, D|Watts has earned a reputation for delivering complex, high end projects with exceptional precision and a highly personalized client experience.

David’s leadership style is rooted in integrity, accountability, and a deep investment in people. He is known for fostering a values driven culture where teams are supported, excellence is expected, and long term relationships matter. His work has been recognized by Engineering News-Record and the Washington Business Journal through its 40 Under 40 award, though he considers his greatest accomplishments to be his family and his service to causes that positively impact others.

 David and his wife Elizabeth are raising three young daughters, with a strong focus on building confidence, resilience, and character. As a father, he is deeply committed to creating environments where young people feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. In addition to being highly engaged in his daughters’ lives, David coaches youth basketball and soccer, where he works to positively impact not only his own children but also the broader group of young athletes he mentors, using sports to reinforce teamwork, discipline, and self-belief. He also serves on the board of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF).

 A servant leader with a strong sense of purpose, David brings a proven ability to translate vision into action. His business acumen, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to mission driven work align closely with the Ryan Bartel Foundation’s goals and ongoing work.

Val Walters

Val Walters serves as the Executive Director for the Ryan Bartel Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s operations and works alongside an incredible team, volunteers, and community partners to advance its mission of improving youth mental wellness.

Val is deeply engaged in civic and community leadership throughout Loudoun County. She serves as Chair of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Initiative and is a member of the Loudoun County Public Schools School Business Partnership Executive Council. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for StoneSprings Hospital Center.

Val is passionate about purpose-driven work that creates lasting impact. She believes that when communities come together, they can help young people build connection, resilience, hope, and a sense of belonging. Through her work at the Ryan Bartel Foundation and throughout the community, she is committed to strengthening partnerships, increasing awareness, and improving the landscape of youth mental wellness.

Outside of work, Val is an avid dog lover and enjoys spending time near the water with family and friends. She and her husband, Jeff, are proud parents of two daughters attending James Madison University and Auburn University. They reside in southeastern Loudoun County and are grateful to call Loudoun home.

Lacey Rosenbaum, Ph.D.

Dr. Lacey Rosenbaum serves as Program Director for the Ryan Bartel Foundation, leading program development, research and evaluation, and the FORT Ambassador teen leadership program. She is passionate about ensuring that the youth voice remains at the center of the Foundation’s work and helping guide community partnerships and strategic initiatives that advance youth mental wellness and strengthen the Foundation’s impact.

Lacey also leads the Foundation’s facilitator training efforts and provides mental health literacy and suicide prevention training for schools, organizations, and community groups. She is a Sources of Strength trainer and a National Trainer for Mental Health First Aid.

Prior to joining the Ryan Bartel Foundation, Lacey led several national mental health initiatives focused on youth mental health promotion, suicide prevention, resilience, and mental health literacy through organizations including the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the American Psychological Association. She holds a PhD in International Psychology with a concentration in Trauma Services from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from George Mason University.

As the parent of two young children, Lacey is deeply committed to helping create communities where all young people feel connected, supported, and able to thrive. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband, two children, and their beloved dog, and enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, and making memories with her family.

Seetal Parikh-Chopra, Ph.D.

Seetal Parikh-Chopra is passionate about creating programs that help teens feel connected, supported, and empowered. She leads the development and growth of programs that foster resilience, belonging, and meaningful connections for young people and their families.

With more than 15 years of nonprofit experience, Seetal combines research, data, and relationship-building to create impactful experiences for participants. She works closely with community partners, facilitators, volunteers, and families to ensure programs are engaging, accessible, and responsive to the needs of the youth they serve.

Seetal holds a Ph.D. in International Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. What she enjoys most about her work is seeing teens step outside their comfort zones, discover their strengths, build new friendships, and realize they are not alone in what they’re experiencing.

Outside of the Foundation, Seetal enjoys dancing, walking, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family in Virginia.

Abby Ridge-Anderson, Ph.D.

Abby completed her Ph.D. at the Catholic University of America, where she studied suicide-specific treatments for adolescents, with a focus on how to most effectively involve parents. As part of her doctoral studies, Abby was trained in and practiced individual, group, and family therapy, as well as school-based mental health services. Prior to graduate school, she worked in a group home for adolescents in foster care and spent two years as a family reunification caseworker for Child Protective Services in Tucson, AZ.

​Abby lives in Loudoun County with her husband and their two cats. In her free time, she loves to read (particularly dystopian novels and anything YA) and cuddle with her cats.

Danielle Dorfman

Danielle holds an MFA from Brown University and a BFA from Kent State University. She is currently completing her final year of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Lock Haven University. With more than a decade of experience engaging with teens in performing arts spaces, her work has focused on fostering empathy, confidence, and healthy peer relationships. Her interests lie at the intersection of expressive arts and mental health, and she is passionate about creating inclusive, compassionate spaces where teens can feel seen, valued, and connected. 

Danielle lives in Fairfax with her partner and their rescue dog. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, loves exploring walking and hiking trails and trying out new baking recipes.

Gerry Jovel

Gerry Jovel began his professional career in advertising and design. Throughout 20 years of working in both corporate and consultant roles, Gerry has had an interest in wellness and mental health. That led him to volunteer with NAMI Northern Virginia as a Family Support Group Facilitator. His experience as a volunteer, became a pivotal moment in his life. Gerry began searching for jobs to combine his professional skills with a desire to work for social good, particularly in the mental health category. A role opened up with the Ryan Bartel Foundation (RBF), and he rose to the challenge of working to prevent youth suicide and promote teen mental wellness. 

As Marketing Manager, Gerry plays a key role in raising awareness about RBF’s mission. It is his belief that effective marketing is a crucial tool in breaking down stigma, promoting understanding, and creating a culture that prioritizes mental wellness. Through strategic marketing campaigns, he strives to:

• Connect families with RBF’s support programs and resources.
• Create a dialogue that inspires hope and action by sharing stories of resilience and recovery.
• Build partnerships with organizations and individuals to amplify RBF’s reach and impact.

Beyond his professional role, Gerry is dedicated to teen boys’ and men’s mental health, championing awareness and support. Motivated by a vision of communities free from suicide, he strives to empower individuals, ensuring every young person and adult can reach their full potential.

In his free time, you may find Gerry cooking for his family, gardening, exploring new music genres, practicing meditation, cycling, or learning about new developments in neuropsychology, psychotherapy, and cultural anthropology.

Denisha Hamilton, LCSW, CCATP

As a native New Yorker who made Northern Virginia home many years ago, I have spent the last 20 years using my expertise in adolescent mental health to have a positive impact on the community that I live and work in. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and Nevada. Therapists close to me have called me the “teen whisperer”, which is a label I gladly wear to exemplify my ability to connect with, understand, and empower teens and young adults. In 2016, I won Loudoun’s Best Counselor for Kids, validating for me the importance of working with and advocating for vulnerable teens.

I have had the honor of being on the Board of Directors for the Ryan Bartel Foundation since January 2020. Along with my duties as the Programming Committee Chair, I am also the Chair for the Mental Health Advisory Board. I was drawn to be a part of and lead the MHAB because I am passionate about connecting with other professionals who also work closely with teens. Being able to brainstorm, problem solve and implement change in the lives of young people is an honor that I do not take lightly. Also, using my skills as a teen whisperer, I am able to be a voice for teens when they are not in the room. 

I entered the world of entrepreneurship and opened a mental health private practice in 2017. My business, Journey to Wellness, details not only my personal and professional growth, but also the journey that my clients and all of the therapists that I supervise are on. I believe that life is a journey and any impact I can have on helping a person through that journey is an honor and privilege. That mindset has helped me to build new relationships, as well as help teens and young adults who are struggling to focus on the light at the end of the road, even when that light seems far away and dim.

Cameron Caswell, Ph.D.

Focus Area: Local Programs and Clinical Engagement

Cameron (Dr. Cam) Caswell, PhD, “The Teen Translator,” is an adolescent psychologist, parent coach, and Director of Parent Education for the Thriving School Community, a revolutionary program she co-founded to improve student, educator, and parent well-being within the school system.

Dr. Cam is on a mission to change the trajectory of youth mental health by helping parents build strong, positive relationships with their teens through improved communication, deeper understanding, and mutual respect. She has been working with the Ryan Bartel Foundation for the past several years to help them develop teen workshops and provide support and education to parents. She is honored to continue her partnership as a member of the Board of Directors and hopes to use this position to expand awareness and equip more parents and educators to better support teenagers and ultimately prevent mental health issues from arising in the first place.

Dr. Cam received her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from George Mason University, where she was mentored by Dr. Susanne Denham and recognized for her superb teaching as a professor of Adolescent Psychology. She has been working with teens and parents for over two decades and launched her private practice in 2019, which was recognized as a Best of Loudoun Finalist. Since then, she has established herself as a TEDx speaker, host of the Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam podcast, author of Power Phrases for Parents: Teen Edition, and co-author of Improving School Mental Health: The Thriving School Community Solution.

Dr. Cam speaks around the world at schools, national organizations, and conferences to inspire, encourage, and educate parents and educators on teen development and communication. After her presentation at the Nysmith School for the Gifted, the coordinator described it as, “The best Parent Education event the school has ever had.” She has also been featured as a parenting expert on television, radio, podcasts, and in publications including Newsweek, Grown & Flown, and HerMoney.

Most importantly, Dr. Cam is a mom of a teen daughter, whom she adopted from Guatemala as a single parent. Together they love to travel to NYC to see Broadway shows and stage door; binge watch competitive “reality” shows; go to the gym; play board games with the family; and cuddle with their two cats, Dorothy and Oz.

Dr. Faith James PhD, LPC, LMFT

Focus Area: Local Programs and Clinical Engagement

I have chosen to be part of the MHAC because I have a passion for mental wellness and community service. I have served as a member of the Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor Association since 2014 and wanted to lend my service to the Ryan Bartel Foundation in the same capacity. It is my hope that I may act as an agent of change and support against the stigma of Suicide in our community. It is my hope that the work I do as a psychologist can be a support to the families that the foundation works with. 

I am both a Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with over 25 years of counseling, psychotherapy, and teaching experience. I am committed to the overall well-being of families and work with families in transition, such as divorce, grief and loss, and becoming new parents. During my career, I have provided counseling and psychotherapy services to a wide variety of populations in both public and private sectors. I have considerable experience working with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, suicidal ideation and individuals and families dealing with substance abuse/addiction issues. I have also worked extensively with adolescents assisting in college preparation and career planning.

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and received my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Marymount University. At Capella University I completed my Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) in Psychology with a specialization in Work-Family Conflict and Women’s studies. 

My approach to counseling is simple: Everyone faces challenges in life from time to time for which they may feel that they do not have all the tools to deal with alone. I see myself as a ‘coach’. I work with you to help you move from where you are now to where you want to be. I help you identify what you want and develop a plan to get there. 

In addition to clinical work, I have extensive experience as a college professor and as a Clinical Supervisor. I am affiliated with the following organizations: American Counselors Association, Psychology Today and Northern Virginia LPC group. I am the founder and clinical director for Battlefield Counseling Centers which serves Prince William, Loudoun, and Fairfax counties. I have served as a board member for the Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors association since 2014 and was president for the past 2 years. At present, I am the immediate past president. 

I am married and have three children and like to spend time outdoors and with my family. When I am not teaching, counseling, or volunteering, I enjoy traveling with my husband and spending time with my children, nieces and nephews.

Lauren Boyle, LCSW

Focus Area: Local Programs and Clinical Engagement

I have worked in the Northern Virginia Region as a social worker for over 20 years.    I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia and New Jersey.  Adolescent mental health has been a focal point of my education and career as a social worker.

While pursuing my Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University with a minor in family issues, I focused on adolescent mental health and completed my four-month practicum at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (CCCA) in 2002.  During my Master in Social Work Advanced Standing degree program at Virginia Commonwealth University, I completed my yearlong practicum at Graydon Manor in Leesburg providing in-home and outpatient therapy to client’s ages 4 to 18.  Upon completion of my master’s degree, I began my career at Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice where was I the Director of the Youth and Children’s program focusing on sexual assault and domestic violence work with children and adolescents.  

I transitioned into private practice in 2005.  In 2021, I founded NOVA LiveWellBeing, an outpatient mental health practice serving Viginia, Maryland, and New Jersey.  In addition to being on the Mental Health Advisory Council for the Ryan Bartel Foundation, I am a board member for Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun, a non-profit organization that works to ensure that no school-aged child goes hungry.  I am certified by the Virginia Board of Social Work as a clinical supervisor.  

Throughout my career as a social worker, suicide prevention and working with adolescents with suicidal ideation has been present in all work settings.  Talking about suicide ideation, prevention and education is a part of each therapeutic relationship that I have with middle and highschool students in outpatient therapy.  Suicide awareness and prevention is one of the most important parts in addressing adolescent mental health.  

I feel very strongly about helping children and adolescents enhance their overall wellbeing by building trusting relationships with people who can be resources in times of need.  I have found that there is a direct correlation between feeling connected to people and overall wellbeing and resiliency.   I am excited to be a part of the Ryan Bartel Foundation Mental Health Advisory Council and support the amazing work that the Foundation provides for the community.

Meghan Allgeyer, MD

Focus Area: Local Programs and Clinical Engagement

I have spent over 20 years dedicated to the health and mental wellness of children and teens — work I care about deeply, both professionally and personally. After earning my B.A. in Psychology from The George Washington University and my M.D. from The University at Buffalo (SUNY), I completed my Pediatric Residency at Hasbro Children’s Hospital through Brown University. For more than a decade and a half, I built a thriving private pediatric practice in Alexandria, Virginia, where I became a trusted voice for families navigating the full spectrum of childhood health, including the emotional and mental well-being so central to a child’s development. My clinical credentials reflect both my expertise and my ongoing commitment to personal and professional growth. 

I was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and served as a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics for 17 years. Recognizing the critical intersection of mental health and pediatric care, I completed the REACH Institute’s Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care Mini-Fellowship — a rigorous, evidence-based program equipping pediatric providers with the tools to identify and address mental health needs directly within primary care settings. In 2022, I made an intentional decision to step away from traditional western medicine, choosing to redirect my energy toward a more holistic, familycentric, upstream approach to wellness. Earning my certification as a Transformational Parent Coach through the Jai Institute of Parenting allowed me to support families with compassion and practical guidance in an entirely new way. 

I then founded Heartwise Parenting, a parent consultation and coaching practice dedicated to supporting families that are navigating difficult situations and teen mental health struggles, and also helping families explore unique educational alternatives and solutions.  I am passionate about strengthening the family as a whole, and I am deeply committed to neurodivergent-affirming care, believing that every child deserves to be seen, understood, and celebrated for exactly who they are. I work to equip parents with the tools and support they need to create homes where children and teens feel truly seen, safe, and free to thrive. I view the parent-child relationship as one of the most important protective factors in a young person’s mental health, and I recognize that this work doesn’t happen in isolation. 

Upstream community efforts like those of the Ryan Bartel Foundation are equally critical in addressing teen suicide and mental health crises before they arise, helping to build the kind of support networks where young people can flourish. As a parent myself to a teen who is currently experiencing the transformative impact of the Ryan Bartel Foundation’s programs firsthand, my connection to this organization is both professional and deeply personal. I have witnessed the foundation’s unique ability to reach young people in meaningful ways, and I am passionate about advocating for teen mental health wellness at every level. 

Joining the Mental Health Advisory Council is a natural extension of that passion, and I am especially excited about helping to bridge the professional pediatric community with the Ryan Bartel Foundation, so more teens and families can discover and access these vital programs.

John Rusignuolo

Focus Area: Local Programs and Clinical Engagement

If you’d told me twenty years ago that I’d end up in mental health advocacy, I wouldn’t have believed you. I was immersed in the world of major political conventions and high profile corporate events, running productions across the globe and loving every minute of it.

As some of you reading this may know, the path into the mental health field is rarely a straight line, and there is usually a story behind the pivot. For me, that story began with a profound personal loss.

Navigating the healthcare system alongside my late husband, Howard, during his battle with cancer showed me how much the outcome, and the experience itself, depends on having someone in your corner. Someone who can assess the situation, bring a sense of calm, and help guide critical decisions in real time. Living through that experience gave me something no training could: a real understanding of what it feels like when the ground shifts beneath you and you’re not sure who to call or what comes next.

We all need an advocate. That stayed with me, and eventually it brought me to Sandstone Care, where I serve as Senior Clinical Outreach Manager for Northern Virginia. At its core, my work is making sure people don’t have to figure it out alone. I partner with government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to ensure that when a parent is scared and unsure where to turn, or a young person reaches out for help, there is already a clear path forward. A big part of what I do is helping people understand their options and connecting them to the right level of care at the right time, whether that’s within our programs or elsewhere in the community.

It was through that work and shared efforts that I connected with the Ryan Bartel Foundation. From the start, the alignment was clear, a shared belief that community, connection, and access to the right support can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. I’m honored to serve on the Mental Health Advisory Council and look forward to expanding recovery supportive social programming that remains evidence informed and responsive to the needs of youth and families in our community.

Jashan Grewal, LPC, LSATP

Focus Area: Local Programs and Clinical Engagement

I have chosen to be a part of the Mental Health Advisory Council as a way of informing best practices that impact service delivery to the adolescent population.

I have a master’s degree in counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Substance Use Treatment Professional in Virginia. I have over 15 years of clinical experience, including individual and group therapy. I have worked in inpatient settings, as well as outpatient settings with individuals and families exhibiting a range of mental health concerns and Substance Use Disorders. I incorporate aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and solution focused techniques in my sessions. I work to meet the individual’s needs in a non-judgmental manner. My goal is to help clients be the best version of themselves and help them find the strength to empower their lives. I specialize in working with clients who are struggling with life stressors, self-esteem issues, depression, anxiety, interpersonal issues, and substance use disorder.

Amanda Sanchez, Ph.D.

Focus Area: Research, Higher Education, and Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Sanchez is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at George Mason University. She is a core faculty member in the Center for Evidence-based Behavioral Health at George Mason University. She earned her PhD in Clinical Science at Florida International University in Miami, Florida and completed a T32 postdoctoral fellowship where she gained expertise in implementation science to better understand equitable delivery of mental health services in community settings. 

Dr. Sanchez approaches her work from a health equity perspective that acknowledges and seeks to address the effects of structural marginalization on youth from minoritized identities. Her research focuses on reducing inequities in access to and engagement in quality mental healthcare for youth and families through: 

1) Examining culturally responsive practices.

2) Supporting clinicians to provide person-centered culturally responsive care.

3) Understanding and addressing the structural and systemic barriers most impacting quality care for youth and their families.  

Her work has focused on using cultural assessment to inform case conceptualization and treatment planning and identifying effective culturally responsive strategies that address specific cultural and contextual challenges (e.g., racism/discrimination, acculturation, housing/food insecurity) and strengths (e.g., racial/ethnic identity, community support, spirituality). 

Amanda has received NIH funding to test the effectiveness of a cultural assessment tool in the context of low-resourced community mental health centers. She has also been funded by the International OCD Foundation to co-develop a toolkit to support culturally responsive practice (Revamping Evidence-based Strategies to Promote Effective Culturally responsive Treatment: RESPECT Toolkit) for community clinicians who provide mental health services to culturally diverse youth and families. 

Amanda has clinical expertise in working with youth and families, specifically those experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and behavioral difficulties. In addition, as a core faculty member of the GMU Center for Evidence-based Behavioral Health, she has trained over 400 clinicians in the local Fairfax and Loudon County Regions in evidence-based practices such as diagnostic and cultural assessment.  She is committed to community-engaged research that centers the needs and values of community members, frontline providers, youth, and their families.

Benson S. Ku, MD, Ph.D.

Focus Area: Research, Higher Education, and Strategic Initiatives

I am a psychiatrist, researcher, and educator at Emory University School of Medicine, where I serve as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Associate Director of Research for the Clinical and Research Program for Psychosis at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. After earning my M.D. from The Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and my Ph.D. in psychiatric epidemiology at Maastricht University, I completed my psychiatry residency at Emory, where I have remained on faculty. At Grady, I serve as the attending psychiatrist for Project ARROW, Georgia’s largest early psychosis program, which provides person-centered, multidisciplinary care to young adults ages 18 to 30 experiencing first-episode psychosis. This clinical work is the foundation for everything else I do: it keeps me connected to the lived experiences of the young people and families I serve and reminds me why upstream prevention matters so deeply.

My research program investigates how the neighborhoods where people live shape their mental health, with a particular focus on psychosis and suicide risk in youth. I direct the Ku Lab at Emory, where my team uses geospatial methods, neuroimaging, and genetics to understand how social environments get “under the skin” to influence the developing brain. This work is supported by a National Institute of Mental Health K23 Career Development Award and a Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) Young Investigator Award. I also serve as the Geocoding Protocol Leader for the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS), a nine-site consortium studying individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, where I developed and maintain the pipeline that links participant addresses to neighborhood-level data across all sites. My findings have been published in journals including Nature Mental Health, JAMA Psychiatry, JAMA Network Open, Biological Psychiatry, World Psychiatry, and Neuropsychopharmacology, and have been featured by PBS, The New York Times Magazine, the American Psychiatric Association, and Medscape. 

Teaching and mentoring are central to my identity as a physician-scientist. I was raised by educators, and that commitment to teaching runs deep in my family. I lead didactic sessions for psychiatry residents at Emory, direct weekly small-group teaching for graduate students in the social determinants of mental health, and co-direct an interdisciplinary course at the Georgia Institute of Technology that brings together students in computer science, engineering, and public health to build tools to measure neighborhood environments. My mentees have published in leading journals as first authors and gone on to competitive doctoral and postdoctoral programs. I am proud to have received the Emory Department of Psychiatry Distinguished Mentor Award for Service and Education and the Association for Academic Psychiatry Early Career Development Award, both of which were supported by letters from students and trainees themselves.

My commitment to this work is also deeply personal. I grew up below the poverty line in a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood, and I know firsthand how powerfully one’s environment can shape the course of a young life. I have also lost close friends to suicide, experiences that have left a lasting mark and fueled my dedication to developing effective prevention strategies. These personal experiences, combined with my clinical and research expertise, drive my conviction that addressing mental health crises in young people requires not only individual-level care but also community-level action.

That is what drew me to the Ryan Bartel Foundation. The Foundation’s upstream, community-centered approach to youth mental health and suicide prevention aligns closely with my own research and clinical philosophy: that where young people live, learn, and connect matters enormously for their wellbeing, and that building resilient communities is one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing tragedy before it occurs. I am honored to serve on the Mental Health Advisory Council’s Research, Higher Education, and Strategic Initiatives Working Group, and I am especially excited about the opportunity to help strengthen the evidence base behind the Foundation’s programs, foster academic collaborations, and contribute to initiatives that have real, measurable impact in the lives of youth and families in our communities.

Lee Duffy-Ledbetter, MS

Focus Area: Research, Higher Education, and Strategic Initiatives

I am delighted to join the Ryan Bartel Foundation Mental Health Advisory Council. As a passionate advocate for youth mental health awareness and programming in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I look forward to contributing to the development of systems of support for an at-risk population and supporting RBF’s mission to prevent youth suicide. 

I have dedicated my career to working across community systems and collaborating with multilevel stakeholders to develop and implement meaningful and impactful programming aimed at suicide prevention for youth and young adults. My passion for mental health promotion and supporting upstream suicide prevention efforts extends beyond my professional role, as I have also personally been impacted by suicide, losing my brother, Chris, over 10 years ago.

Since then, I have spent the better part of the last decade working in various positions for prominent mental health advocacy and suicide prevention-oriented organizations. Currently, I am a Project Manager at the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia at James Madison University, where I am leading the development of a program designed to help prepare high school seniors for the transition to their next phase of life.

Before this role, I managed programs for a local affiliate of NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) and coordinated the nationally acclaimed Send Silence Packing program for Active Minds. I earned a master’s degree in Clinical Psychological Science from the University of Maryland in 2021 and in my free time, I enjoy exploring the outdoors with friends and family, not least of all my best bud (dog), Max.