Alejandra Lara is shifting the way organizations, families, and individuals connect with the sentient world and transform their relationships to themselves and each other. As a life-long horsewoman from the mountains of Chile, Alejandra has 25 years of experience developing, implementing, and guiding people in Mindful Horsemanship — a model she envisioned and launched. Mindful Horsemanship empowers us to approach everyday life, as we do horses, with awareness, grace and ease. Through trauma-informed, equine based learning and wellness practices, Alejandra’s clients recognize their innate belonging so they can embody more authentic relationships and connections.
From her home in Park City, Utah and throughout her native Chile, Alejandra provides training seminars, program development and therapeutic equine wellness experiences through Park City Horse Experience. Alejandra has facilitated thousands of individuals and teams within notable nonprofits, corporations and the private sector. Of all of her impressive accomplishments, Alejandra’s intensive work with veterans and the most vulnerable is what defines the foundation of her approach to working with humans and equines.
Alejandra’s deep work introducing the sentience of the equine herd into everyday human life has garnered her national attention. In 2018, Alejandra was named the credentialed professional of the year by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), for her contribution to the Equine Assisted Learning program at the renown National Ability Center since 2008. She also holds a special distinction as a military service provider through EAGALA. In addition to being the lead facilitator and owner of Park City Horse Experience since 2016, Alejandra co founded REINS in 2020, a nonprofit organization that provides a healing space for emotional recovery, for both Humans & Equines.
Alejandra is a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) and Therapeutic Riding Instructor (TRI) through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International -PATH Intl. She holds a Natural Lifemanship Level I credential as a Equine Professional - Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Therapy, certified Equine Specialist through EAGALA with a special distinction to serve veterans, as well as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher accreditation - through the University of California, Berkeley. She lives between her home in Park City, Utah and her family villa in Chile, with a growing community and fellowship of human and equine partners.
Eva J. Usadi, MA, BCD founded Trauma and Resiliency Resources, Inc. after having been intricately involved with the mental health response to the events of September 11, 2001. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of PTSD, Complex PTSD (attachment and developmental trauma), Combat Trauma and Moral Injury. In her private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan, she treats New York City firefighters, police officers, warriors, humanitarian aid workers and all their family members, as well as civilians.
She holds a Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from the Trauma Center in Boston, Mass. and is Certified in EMDR Therapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy®, and as an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Military Service Provider by Eagala. In addition, she is trained as a Yoga Teacher and in Critical Incident Stress Management, Structural Family Therapy, and Mindfulness Meditation.
Ms. Usadi has taught courses and presented at numerous public conferences in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, highlighting the application of EAP to the treatment of combat trauma. She is the daughter of a World War II Veteran.
The Rev. Chris J. Antal, DMin., is staff chaplain at Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia. In 2016 he and Peter Yeomans, Ph.D, a staff psychologist, launched a bi-annual moral injury group and since then more than 60 veterans have completed the twelve week program and more than 400 people have participated in the community healing ceremony, which veterans lead at the tenth week. Chris is ordained in and endorsed by the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Bruce Shapiro is Executive Director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a project of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism encouraging innovative reporting on violence, conflict and tragedy worldwide. An award-winning reporter on human rights, criminal justice and politics, Shapiro is a contributing editor at The Nation and U.S. correspondent for Late Night Live on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National. He is Adjunct Professor and Senior Advisor for Academic Affairs at Columbia, where he teaches journalism ethics. His books include Shaking the Foundations: 200 Years of Investigative Journalism in America and Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's Future. Shapiro is recipient of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Public Advocacy Award for "outstanding and fundamental contributions to the social understanding of trauma." He is a founding board member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network
Camillo ‘Mac’ Bica, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is a former Marine Corps officer, a Service-Connected disabled veteran of the American war in Vietnam, and the coordinator of the Long Island Chapter of Veterans for Peace. With a focus on Ethics and the war experience, his work on military service and moral injury has been published in a variety of venues including Truthout, Common Dreams, AlterNet, Historians for Peace and Democracy, the International Journal of Applied Philosophy, the Journal of Social Philosophy, Public Affairs Quarterly, the Peace Review, and The Humanist. Dr. Bica has presented on the war experience and Moral Injury on many occasions including testifying at the Truth Commission on Conscience in War.” His most recent books include "Worthy of Gratitude: Why Veterans May Not Want to be Thanked For Their ‘Service’ in War"; (Gnosis Press, 2015), "Beyond PTSD: The Moral Casualties of War"; (Gnosis Press, 2016), "There Are No Flowers in a War Zone"; (Gnosis Press, 2019), and Morality and Military Service (Gnosis Press, Fall, 2020).
Dayne E. Nix, Ph.D., CDR (RET), CHC, USN
Professor of Joint Maritime Operations U.S. Naval War College
Professor Nix has taught Joint Maritime Operations for the Naval War College since 2009 in its Monterey program at the Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to accepting the appointment at Monterey, he taught National Security Decision Making (NSDM) in the War College’s Distance Education program from 2007 – 2009 and “Faith and Force” in its elective program from 2001 – 2004. He also taught “Just War Ethics” for Salve Regina University and served at the Naval Chaplain School from 2001 – 2004 as the Advanced Course Instructor and Deputy Director. Dr. Nix holds a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado in international affairs, the M.Div. from Denver Seminary, the Th.M. from Duke University, the M.A. from the Naval War College (with distinction) in national security affairs, and the Ph.D. from Salve Regina University in the Humanities. CDR Dayne Nix is a retired U.S. Navy chaplain and served world-wide in Navy and Marine Corps assignments, including an Individual Augment tour with CENTCOM Forward, located in Doha, Qatar in 2004. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a communications officer from 1974 - 1979. He has received numerous military awards, including four Meritorious Service Medals. Dr. Nix is the author of Moral Injury and a First World War Chaplain: The Life of G.A. Studdert Kennedy (Lexington Press, 2022), The Integration of Philosophy, Politics, and Conservative Islam in the Thought of (Pakistan’s) Muhammad Iqbal (Mellen Press, 2011) and “American Civil-Military Relations: Samuel P. Huntington and the Political Dimensions of Military Professionalism” (Naval War College Review, Spring 2012) as well as other articles and conference papers. Between 2010 and 2014 he partnered with Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs to conduct conferences on Religion and Security in World affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School (2011), Georgetown University (2012) and the Naval War College (2014). His interests include the military dimensions of moral injury as well as the intersection of religion and national security.
Mary Coleman, ERYT500, CHHC has experienced profound personal transformation through her practice of yoga and Ayurveda. Her practice is grounded in the spirituality of the practice and a deep understanding of the wisdom of the body. Yoga empowers the practitioner to transform their suffering and live with radiance and wellbeing. Mary encourages her clients to discover and fulfill their unique purpose and to discover their intuitive wisdom to heal and fulfill their highest potential. Mary teaches private yoga sessions, workshops, and trainings, Using the wisdom of
yoga and Ayurveda, Mary supports her clients to cultivate whole person wellbeing and balance. Mary supports individuals who are working with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, cancer, long-COVID, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic health conditions. Mary teaches yoga to support healing from trauma and the repair of Military Moral Injury in combat veterans and active-duty military members at TRR’s Warrior Camp®. Mary has been teaching yoga teacher training in Central Ohio since 2013. She has taught over 250 teachers at the 200hr and Advanced levels. Mary also provides one-on- one continuing education sessions for Yoga Alliance Registered yoga teachers to continue to support their growth and encourage their yoga path. Mary is also a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Playing Big® Facilitator. Mary coaches women navigating life transitions and encourages them to bring their unique gifts into the community.
David N. Weinraub is the co-founder and managing partner of BrownWeinraub, New York’s top lobbying firm. He sets the overarching vision for the firm and provides the strategic framework necessary to meet each client’s objectives.
David was a member of Governor Mario M. Cuomo’s senior staff, serving as Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. He was also Counsel to Lieutenant Governor Stan Lundine and Director of Regional Services for the Department of State. The common theme of David’s government service – confidential, high level, complex assignments with little margin for error. Throughout his tenure, he was able to manage teams of diverse personnel and deliver victories across program areas and across the state. David was asked regularly to develop campaign plans for a variety of ballot initiatives and to advise on numerous elections at all levels of government.
The firm’s growing list of clients attests in no small part to David’s creativity, prudent judgment and network of key policy makers and political thought leaders throughout the country. He has taught at St. John’s University and serves on various law panels. David is a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission and serves on the board of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, New York Chapter.
James Vanreusel is the founder and CEO of Vanreusel Ventures, with 22 years of global financial experience. His background includes helping new companies grow and scale, creating a framework for financial success, and acting as a CFO for emerging organizations as they build a solid business foundation.
He began consulting in 2008, specializing in private equity and asset management, where he raised capital, built portfolios, and operated company models. From there, he transitioned to corporate investing. As a CFA Charterholder, he became CFO for SPBD, a microfinance network in the South Pacific. He used his global experience in finance to launch and operate multiple banks in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and a holding company in Singapore. The company in Singapore saw 600% growth under his guidance.
In 2014 he founded his current business, Vanreusel Ventures, in San Francisco. At Vanreusel Ventures, he leads a team of CFO consultants and financial analysts who work with companies worldwide in profit and non-profit sectors. He manages alongside his team to help businesses through the initial stages of growth, where his strategies and support guide businesses towards success and eventual independence.
His strategy focuses on creating a framework that supports companies in their early years to go from $1 to $100 million in revenue. This process involves building scalable teams and systems that will grow along with the business. Many of his clients are global organizations where he can leverage his international experience to offer customized strategies that are also culturally relevant. Ultimately, he prepares businesses to take on their first full-time CFO.
Alex Betke is an attorney and registered lobbyist focusing his practice on Government Relations and Municipal Law, a unique combination of legal concentrations allowing him to meet clients’ needs at all levels of government and to provide innovative resolutions to a variety of legal challenges.
Alex enjoys considerable experience working with the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, state agencies, the Attorney General and the State Comptroller, along with New York’s federal government representatives. His clients range from major industry associations and fortune 500 companies to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations, with work encompassing all aspects of government relations, including legislation, procurement, appropriations and regulatory matters.
Previously, Alex was elected for eight years as the Town Supervisor of the Town of Coxsackie and served several terms as a councilman before holding that post. Based on his experience and exposure to the workings of local government, he established and grew a municipal practice, and continues to serve as general and special counsel to various municipalities.
Alex has been involved in New York State politics throughout his career, serving as an elected state committeeman for the New York State Democratic Party and working on several statewide campaigns. This experience, in addition to his professional work, contributes to and informs his approach to legal matters and increases his effectiveness in advancing client objectives.
David R. Everett is a partner in the Firm’s Environmental, Municipal and Real Estate Development, Zoning and Land Use, and Energy and Telecommunications Practice Groups. His areas of expertise include land use law, zoning and planning, real estate development, SEQRA compliance, solid waste management and environmental regulations. Mr. Everett routinely lectures on SEQRA compliance, zoning and planning issues and environmental permitting regulations throughout New York State for the N.Y. Association of Towns and N.Y. Planning Federation, among others.
Representative Accomplishments
Charles Gottlieb is a Partner of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna’s Real Estate Development, Zoning and Land Use; Environmental; Municipal; and Energy and Telecommunications practice groups. His expertise is in representing residential and commercial developers, religious institutions, non-profit organizations and public utility infrastructure companies to obtain needed land use and environmental permits. Prior to joining the firm, Charles was an associate attorney at Cuddy & Feder, LLP in Westchester County and previously served as a legal intern for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Representative Accomplishments
Affiliations
Charles is admitted to practice in the State of New York and Connecticut, and the Northern and Southern District Federal Courts. Charles is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Professional/Community
Charles is on the Board of Directors of the City of Troy Boys and Girls Club in New York.
Publications
Planning and Permitting Mobile Broadband Communications Infrastructure: Is It Time to Amend Your Code? Presentation, Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Institute at Touro Law School, 2015
Municipal Land Use and Legal Considerations Associated With Advancing Technologies That Are Critical To Communities in Transition, Presentation, PACE 2014 Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference Transitioning Communities, Pace Law School, 2014.
Land Use and Planning: Preventing Flight of Millennials, Publication, New York Law Journal, November 3, 2015
Background/Education
Charles, originally from Vermont, received a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School in 2011. He also received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Quinnipiac University in 2008.
Dan Hubbell is a Partner with Whiteman Osterman & Hanna joining the Firm in September 2014. Mr. Hubbell primarily represents public, not-for-profit, and private entities in real estate, land use, development, and real property taxation matters, with an emphasis on acquisition, financing, development, leasing, and disposition of commercial and corporate real property, including the preparation and negotiations of all transactional documents. Additionally, Mr. Hubbell provides guidance to public and private entities concerning real property tax assessments, exemptions and payment in lieu of taxes agreements. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Hubbell worked as a commercial real estate appraiser, performing complex appraisal assignments on various property types.
Representative Accomplishments
Affiliations
Mr. Hubbell is a member of the New York State Bar and a New York State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. He is a Practicing Affiliate of the Appraisal Institute and a past board member of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. Mr. Hubbell serves on the Board of Directors of Hudson River Housing and is a past president of the organization.
Background/Education
Mr. Hubbell graduated magna cum laude from Albany Law School, where he was a member of the Albany Law Review. While in law school, Mr. Hubbell was a legal intern in the Criminal Prosecutions and Public Integrity Bureaus of the New York State Office of the Attorney General, as well as a summer associate with Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP. Mr. Hubbell also holds a Master of Science degree in Non-Profit/NGO Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. During his time at the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Hubbell interned as a grants officer with the Wachovia Regional Foundation and served as a consultant to the United Nations Office of Human Resources Management. Prior to graduate school, Mr. Hubbell worked in the non-profit sector, founding and leading a local education non-profit in south-central Pennsylvania. Mr. Hubbell received his Bachelors of Arts from the University of Valley Forge, graduating magna cum laude.
Boyu comes to Vanreusel Ventures from an analyst background, after a 3-year career with Lion Raisins Corp. He spent this time developing models for valuing stock on behalf of investors – drawing on income comparisons, revenue trends, profit analysis, and more.
Now as the Sr. Financial Analyst, he brings all these talents to bear as part of the Vanreusel team. Through trend analysis, modeling, and data management, he keeps our financial models aligned with movement in the markets. Then for clients, he builds sales and revenue forecasts to factor risk and rewards into the decision process.
Born in China, Boyu studied for a BA in Economics at Syracuse University, then a Master of Science in Finance degree at the University of Maryland College Park. Away from work, he plays basketball and loves traveling – experiencing different cultures and food whenever he has the chance.
John Blackburn has over 40 years of experience in the practice of architecture. He received his Master of Architecture and Urban Design degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1972 and was principal of his own firm from 1976-1979 before joining Keyes Condon Florence Architects as an Associate Architect for four years. In 1983, he founded Smith Blackburn Architects with Robert Smith, AIA and merged with Richard Stauffer Associates in 1987 to form Smith Blackburn Stauffer. In 1995, the firm incorporated and changed its name to Blackburn Architects, P.C.
Mr. Blackburn is the senior principal of the firm and is responsible for overall firm management. His experience includes the management of a full range of project types and services, including programming, existing facility evaluation and master planning, new construction, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation.
Mr. Blackburn has over 30 years of experience in equestrian design and is renowned worldwide as an industry leader. His equestrian projects range from polo barns and thoroughbred-training facilities to therapeutic riding centers and private ranches. Blackburn’s designs rely on the active principles of passive design to encourage animal safety and sustainable facilities.
Mr. Blackburn has co-authored two highly lauded books, Healthy Stables by Design, and American Equestrian Design; both of which focus on the firm's long practice of designing exceptional equestrian properties.
As a Project Manager in Bohler’s Albany office, Tim is a practicing Professional Engineer who helps owners and developers identify opportunities to become accomplished. With a degree in Civil Engineering and Geography from Syracuse University, and more than 9 years of experience in site civil engineering design and permitting fields, Tim leads a growing team of talented engineers and designers who bring clients’ visions to life. Tim drives the development process, guiding projects from due diligence and conceptual design through site design, entitlements, and construction.
Jeff Newman, of Stone Creek Planning and Management, has more than two decades of experience operating and managing large properties, including a 236-acre horse farm and retreat center. He comes to TRR to share his operational expertise as part of the Farm Team. With a certification in Permaculture Design, Jeff will work to ensure that the site will be not just sustainable, but regenerative in its design.