Biography

Ben Pearson is a licensed clinical social worker with nearly two decades of experience supporting adolescents, families, and professionals in various therapeutic roles. His background includes wilderness therapy, family interventions, crisis de-escalation, and clinical leadership.
For the past 12 years, Ben has led the clinical and program teams at Chateau Health & Wellness, where he developed a unique clinical curriculum and specializes in treating first responders. This FOP vetted treatment program has become one of the best of its kind in the country. He provides supervision, facilitates therapy and support groups, and trains staff in cultural competence and trauma-informed care. Currently, Ben is a co-host of the "No One Fights Alone" Podcast, which focuses on stories of strength and provides healthy resources for the first responder community. Ben is also a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences focused on mental health and addiction.
Outside of work, Ben enjoys soccer, fishing, home renovation projects, and spending time outdoors with his wife and five children.

Driven by a passion for helping others, Jessica specializes in providing tailored support that empowers officers to confidently navigate their "Next Shift." She believes in transforming uncertainty into opportunity and is dedicated to creating a fulfilling post-law enforcement life for her clients. Through her work as a mentor and coach, Jessica Flores continues to serve those who have dedicated their lives to service, ensuring they find purpose and success in their new endeavors.

Biography

Sheila Russell, LISW, CADC, EMDR Certified Mental Health Therapist, is an experienced therapist and speaker who has dedicated her entire practice to working with first responders, military, veterans, and their loved ones.  Sheila has worked in residential treatment for children's mental health, child welfare services, supervision in residential substance abuse for women and their children, as well as an Adjunct Instructor at Grand View University.  Sheila provides individual therapy, couples counseling, departmental trainings, department consultation, Peer Support and CISM/CISD collaboartion.  Sheila is a member of the Peer Support and/or CISM/CISD teams for West Des Moines PD, West Des Moines EMS, Jasper County Sheriff's Office, Newton Fire Department, Des Moines PD's Peer Support Resources Committee, and the First Responders Peer Support Foundation Board. 

Biography

​Bio: Aaron Groves was hired by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a deputy sheriff where he served until he medically retired in 2020. During his career, Aaron assumed multiple different roles inside his agency. Aaron was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2012 where he spent time supervising the patrol division, the jail division, a regional narcotics enforcement team, and the Central Iowa Regional Tactical Team. 
In 2021 the Impact Iowa’s Heroes (IIH) board asked Aaron to come aboard as Program Coordinator where he later stepped into the Executive Director role to help them broaden their reach to heroes across Iowa. Since that time, Aaron and the IIH team have developed and implemented a vision to create more opportunities to strengthen hero marriages throughout the year. New partnerships, speaking to new recruits at law enforcement academies, and producing the TAG Team Podcast for any couple to access marriage strengthening material are just some of the exciting things IIH is now doing. Aaron and his wife, Tricia, are excited to continue their marriage coaching journey as they have been trained through the International Christian Coaching Institute and mentored by Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg.
Aaron has been married to Tricia since 2007 and they currently have three children: Adalynn, Gracelynn, and Gideon. They live in Newton where Tricia works as the Director of Operations at Newton Church of The Way. In 2024 Aaron was ordained as a Pastor at this same church, where he serves and preaches from time to time. As a couple, they enjoy sharing their testimony of persevering through the challenges of being married while serving in a law enforcement career. Aaron and Tricia have a passion for strengthening the marriages of Iowa’s hero couples across the state while also finding opportunities to strengthen their own marriage.

Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) explores how individuals can experience positive psychological change following adversity. Inspired by programs like the Boulder Crest Foundation's "Struggle Well," it focuses on shifting perspective from "Why me?" to "How can I grow?", emphasizing self-regulation, disclosure, and crafting a new narrative. The class examines the five areas of PTG: new possibilities, deeper relationships, personal strength, appreciation for life, and spiritual-existential change, and often includes activities like journaling, reflection, and identifying acts of service to integrate these principles into daily life. The aim is to empower individuals to transform struggle into strength and live a life filled with purpose and connection.

​

Biography

Jeremy is a police Lieutenant for the Des Moines Iowa Police Department.  He has served as a patrol officer, detective, hostage/crisis negotiator, communications supervisor, and a sergeant leading patrol officers, traffic crash fatality investigations, sex abuse detectives, and a patrol commander.   He also retired after 20 years in the fire service as a part-time fire lieutenant supervising an engine company, medic-squad, and directing the fire training academy.  

Jeremy designed, created, and managed the first-in-the-state public safety Peer Support Program which is used as a model for other agencies around the country.  He specializes in providing training and critical incident response around the state.  In 2015 he drafted a peer support privilege communication bill that was signed into law.  

Jeremy has presented nationally to numerous organizations and conferences about peer support, employee wellness, PTSD, suicide awareness, and other topics.  Some of these presentations include at the National Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Summit, National COPS Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Law Enforcement League, Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police, Iowa Teamsters Law Enforcement, Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, Impact Iowa, Iowa Association of Women Police, Iowa Corrections Association, Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Des Moines Area Community College, and numerous public safety agencies throughout the midwest.  

JHe is also an instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and holds a certificate in Critical Incident Stress Management from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Amber Nuehring brings over 14 years of dispatch experience, along with specialized training as a former crisis negotiator for a SWAT team in southern Minnesota. She has also spent many years serving as peer support with a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team.

Outside of work, Amber stays busy supporting her three teenage daughters in their various activities and dedicates time to training at the gym for her next powerlifting competition.

We all have a story to tell, and I’m choosing to share mine in hopes that it resonates with someone. Today, I stand as a sober, 45-year-old powerlifting dispatcher—and a proud mom of three teenage girls—continuing to grow, persevere, and connect through my journey.

Biography

John Coulter was born in Corning, Iowa, in 1953. At 13, he began responding to ambulance calls with his father. After graduating from high school in 1971, he served in the US Navy until 1977, achieving the rank of Petty Officer 2nd class and working as a Navy Postal Clerk.

In 1977, John joined the EMS Department at Greater Regional Hospital in Creston, becoming an EMT-Intermediate and a Level II nationally certified EMS instructor. He also served on the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support Affiliate Faculty, holding leadership roles.

John attended Southwestern Community College, earning an AS degree in Criminal Justice in 1980. He was elected to the Creston City Council in 1981 and served as Union County Disaster Services Coordinator. In 1984, he was elected Sheriff of Union County, a role he held until 2000. He played a key role in organizing the South-Central Iowa E-911 Service Board and received several awards for his service, including the Life Saving Award and the Kirk Strong Award.

After leaving the Sheriff's Office, John co-founded Silver Linings Family Centered Services Agency, providing in-home counseling and skills development services. He later served as Police Chief for Afton until his retirement in 2018. John has been actively involved with the Central Iowa CISM Team, advocating for public safety employees and retirees through peer support programs and education.