The Speakers

Benjamin Kjar is an international speaker, world champion wrestler, and the subject of the award-winning documentary Standout: The Ben Kjar Story. Born with Crouzon Syndrome, Ben faced significant medical challenges, bullying, and adversity throughout his life. He went on to become an NCAA Division I All-American and a World Champion wrestler, demonstrating the power of perseverance and resilience. Today, Ben shares his story to inspire others to embrace their differences, overcome adversity, and recognize their own strength and potential. His message of hope, courage, and choosing to “stand out” encourages audiences to see challenges not as limitations, but as opportunities for growth and purpose. 

Michael Sodini is the founder and CEO of Walk the Talk America (WTTA), a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the firearms community and mental health professionals together to develop solutions that save lives. Since founding WTTA in 2018, Michael has become a nationally recognized speaker, advocate, and leader in promoting education, compassion, and cultural change around firearm-related suicide prevention.

With 27 years of experience in the firearm industry, including serving as president of Eagle Imports and co-founding Avidity Arms, Michael brings a unique understanding of firearms culture and the importance of building partnerships across communities. He has shared WTTA’s mission at events including the Aspen Ideas Festival, the White House, research conferences, and mental health symposiums.

Through WTTA, Michael has advanced initiatives including anonymous mental health screenings, clinician education on firearm culture, and efforts to reduce stigma around seeking support. His work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change begins with listening, collaboration, and open dialogue.

Mark Gordon was elected Wyoming's 33rd Governor on Nov. 6, 2018. He was  sworn into office on January 7, 2019, and re-elected on November 8, 2022, with 74% of the vote. He is now ranked number two among most popular governors in the nation (Morning Consult). 

Throughout his time in office, Governor Gordon has prioritized mental health in the State. His efforts to help the people of Wyoming live their best lives is reflected in his WY We Care Initiative — which supports first responders, volunteers, and front line professionals — to provide mental health care in local communities. 

As part of WY We Care, Governor Gordon brought PROSPER to our state to work closely with County Prevention Specialists and other groups and individuals, training and working together to reduce suicide risk, while also supporting the suicide prevention in place at local and state levels.

The Governor served as Chairman of the Western Governor’s Association, and as a Class B Director at the Federal Reserve. He currently serves as Chairman of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission. 

He was appointed Wyoming State Treasurer October 2012 and re-elected to that post in 2014, serving until January 2019. During his time as treasurer, he was ranked in the top 100 "Most Significant and Impactful Public Investor Executives” (The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute). 

Governor Gordon grew up on the family ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming, where he learned the values of hard work, integrity, and the importance of working together. He and his wife Jennie have four grown children and four grandchildren. 

Dr. Dustin Brown is the Regional Director of the Ortus Foundation, where he leads partnership-driven, evidence-based youth mental health initiatives across the Intermountain West. With nearly 20 years of experience in behavioral health, healthcare, and public policy, he has spent the past six years advancing school and community-based mental health programs and has secured more than $81 million in federal funding for mental health and literacy initiatives.

Dr. Brown holds a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University and a Master's in Healthcare Management from Trident University. He is a retired Air Force Captain, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with his wife and four children.

This presentation explores practical, sustainable strategies to strengthen school-based mental health systems through regional partnerships, tele-counseling, early intervention, and mental health literacy. Participants will learn how schools can leverage existing resources, funding opportunities, and evidence-based practices to build a comprehensive continuum of care that improves student wellbeing and ensures every child has access to the support they need to thrive. 

Michelle Snyder is the co-founder and executive director of the Soul Shop Momvement.  She is currently the lead trainer and content expert on the team.  With her background in both social work and theology, Michelle is uniquely equipped to spearhead this movement across the globe. She has led presentations in 42 states and 4 countries, and has been a featured speaker at many national and state-level conferences. 

Michelle is also the co-author of Life, Death, and Reinvention: The Gift of the Impossibly Messed-Up Life. Beyond her work in suicide prevention, she is a mental health therapist, executive leadership coach, church consultant, and a devoted mother of two young adult daughters. In addition to being a clergy spouse, Michelle is working on a Doctorate of Ministry in missional theology. She is an avid reader, global traveler, and foodie. 

Dr. Kent A. Corso is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified behavior analyst, and internationally recognized expert in suicidology and integrated behavioral healthcare. His career began over 20 years ago while serving in the U.S. Air Force, where he led behavioral health innovations within military and primary care systems. He is the founder of PROSPER, an evidence-based suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention program and method that has been implemented in clinical, community, operational, educational, and industrial settings. He has developed, implemented, and evaluated suicide prevention programs throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. A thought leader in the field, Dr. Corso has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications on suicide prevention and the behavioral sciences. He is an expert in novel scientific methods and technologies for analyzing suicide.

Mary Reagan is currently a Ph.D. student in Applied Behavior Analysis at Simmons University. Before her interest was sparked in Behavior Analysis, Mary practiced law and holds a Juris Doctor from Regent University, as well as a B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She earned an M.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Jacksonville State University and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst (Alabama), and International Behavior Analyst.

Mary is the Executive Director of the Thrive Together Foundation, a nonprofit focused on reducing suicide risk by building connected, informed, and empowered communities. She also serves as an Advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. With extensive experience teaching graduate-level courses in Applied Behavior Analysis, Mary has mentored and guided students in their academic and professional development, focusing on the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical applications in the field. She has presented at several conferences, including the annual Standard Celeration Society Conference, ABAI, and Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis. 

Taryn C. Greene, PhD is a Health Psychologist, researcher, and U.S. Air Force veteran specializing in posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its application in clinical and community settings. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organizations transform trauma into strength, meaning, and new possibilities.

Dr. Greene serves as Director of Research and Operations at the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth, where she leads research and evaluation efforts and helps translate PTG science into real-world practice. Over the past decade, she has contributed to advancing both the science and application of PTG, working closely with experts in the field and focusing on military personnel, veterans, first responders, and helping professionals.

Her research spans the foundational science of PTG, as well as vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG) and suicide prevention. She has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Psychological Trauma, Journal of Affective Disorders, and Behavioral Sciences, and has contributed to the development and evaluation of PTG-based programs.

Prior to her work in psychology, Dr. Greene served as a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer supporting Special Operations and U.S. Central Command.

She regularly delivers trainings on PTG and VPTG, equipping clinicians and helping professionals with practical, evidence-informed strategies to support posttraumatic growth.

Ian is a combat veteran and national leader in posttraumatic growth-based training. He served seven years as an Infantryman in the United States Army and was wounded during combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Phantom Fury in 2004.

Following his military service, Ian continued his commitment to fellow veterans as a Veterans Service Officer with the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs and later as a member of the Court of Veterans Appeals.

In 2018, Ian experienced the transformative impact of posttraumatic growth training firsthand, a turning point that reshaped his path forward. He joined Boulder Crest Foundation in 2019 as a Warrior PATHH Guide and played a key role in developing the organization’s Mobile Training Team. He later served as Program Director for Mobile Training Team–Alpha, leading efforts to expand and field training teams delivering PTG-based programs nationwide.

In 2023, Ian stepped into a national leadership role supporting the Warrior PATHH network across 11 teams. In this role, he helps oversee the delivery of more than 170 programs annually, serving approximately 1,700 veterans, service members, and first responders.

His work is grounded in a simple mission: to help others transform struggle into strength and ensure that no one walks that path alone.

Lauren Clark is an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Wyoming in the College of Education She served on the Hope Squad at Green River High School for four years and also contributed as a member of the national Hope Squad council. Through these experiences, she is passionate about supporting others and promoting connection and mental health awareness.

William E. Miller, M.A.Ed., is Director of Curriculum and Design for PROSPER, where he develops evidence-based, culturally responsive suicide prevention programs. He works with educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers to strengthen youth mental health, reduce stigma, and expand prevention efforts in Wyoming and beyond.

Alicia Johnson is the 988/Crisis Program Manager for the Wyoming Department of Health. She brings nearly 10 years of experience in the Department, first as the Court Supervised Treatment Program Manager and then in 988 for the past three years. Her role is to provide oversight of the statewide 988 program, manage 988 state and federal funding, and partner with local 988 centers. Alicia is responsible for ensuring that there is someone to answer when a Wyomingite is struggling and someone to ensure administrative oversight and quality services are being provided at all times.

Cait Heddins serves as the Program Manager for Safe2Tell Wyoming within the Wyoming Attorney General's Division of Victim Services. In this role, she oversees the statewide anonymous school safety reporting program, working closely with schools, law enforcement, mental health providers, and community partners to ensure timely responses to reports involving student safety and well-being. She manages statewide program operations, data reporting, system administration, stakeholder training, and outreach initiatives that promote awareness and effective use of the Safe2Tell program. 

Kelly Addington is the School and Student Safety Accreditation/COMPS Consultant with the Wyoming Department of Education. Bringing nearly 30 years of experience, she provides statewide leadership and ensures district compliance with statutory requirements for school safety and student health oversight.  Her expertise includes threat assessment, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention, developed through extensive work with various school districts, as a School Health Professional with Santa Fe Trail BOCES, and as a Training Consultant with the Colorado Office of School Safety.

Kevin Kloster is the Director of Moral Injury for VOA Northern Rockies, Veteran Services.  He holds an MDiv from United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities and is also a Certified Trauma Professional.  Kevin is a frequent speaker on Moral Injury to Veteran and First Responder organizations.  He is the author of M.E.N.D.ing Moral Injury, the curriculum VOA Northern Rockies uses for peer groups.

Terri Markham is the co-founder and executive director of Uprising, a Wyoming-based organization focused on preventing human trafficking through youth empowerment and education. A certified trainer in nationally recognized youth prevention curriculums and the developer of Uprising’s Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), Terri equips young people—and the adults who support them—with practical tools for safety, resilience, and connection. She is also a founding leader of NAMI Sheridan Wyoming, where she served as the chapter’s first board chair and currently serves as vice chair, bringing a mental health–informed lens to prevention and community education.

Ian Fletcher is a Wyoming native and serves as Co-Director and Vice President of Tele-Hope, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on preventing youth suicide through connection, friendship, and community. He is also a PhD candidate in economics at the University of Wyoming, where his research examines the behavioral mechanisms that shape the success of suicide prevention and public health programs.

A wheat farm in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, is where Darla Tyler-McSherry was raised, leading her to pursue her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Montana in Health and Human Performance. She was involved with college health for 30 years and retired as the Director of Student Health Services at Montana State University Billings. 

Darla serves as the Coordinator for the Yellowstone County DUI Task Force, Chair for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Yellowstone Valley, and Secretary for Vet READY.   She is a certified Trainer for Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention, Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET), and CALM (Conversations on Access to Lethal Means). She is a columnist for several agriculture-focused publications.  

Darla’s passion for helping people inspired her to become the founder and visionary of Ask In Earnest, an initiative designed to address mental health, especially depression and suicide, in the farm and ranch population. She embraces the role of serving as an agent of positive change and advocacy for the farm and ranch communities that helped build America.

Ask In Earnest:  Candid and Compassionate Conversations about Suicide in Farming and Ranching