Parkview Health, Professional Emergency Physicians, Allen County Health Department (Commissioner)

Dr. Tom Gutwein, MD, has been a practicing Emergency Physician in Fort Wayne for over 30 years, graduating from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1990 and the Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis Emergency Medicine Residency Program in 1993. He has served as the Emergency Department Medical Director at Parkview Health since 1998. In July 2022, he also assumed the role of Health Commissioner for Allen County, home to over 350,000 residents, where he works with community partners to improve many aspects of public health, including mental health and substance use disorders.

As an emergency physician, Dr. Gutwein frequently evaluates and manages acute mental health emergencies in patients in Allen County and eight surrounding counties, in conjunction with many police officers and Emergency Services personnel.

Parkview Behavioral Health Institute

Adam Kurtz is the Vice President of Operations for Parkview Behavioral Health Institute’s Community Mental Health, where he leads strategic initiatives that strengthen access to mental health and addiction services across northeastern Indiana. Passionate about system-level improvement, Adam focuses on building community partnerships, expanding high-quality behavioral health programming, and improving care delivery for some of the region’s most vulnerable populations. With a background in operational leadership, data informed decision making, and not-for-profit Health Care, Adam is committed to developing sustainable solutions that elevate outcomes in public behavioral health. He is especially dedicated to advancing crisis services, strengthening CMHC infrastructure, and supporting innovative models that meet individuals where they are. Adam is a Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Management from Trine University’s Ketner School of Business.

Bowen Health

Tess Ottenweller is the Vice President of Intensive Services at Bowen Health, overseeing a continuum of high-acuity programs including crisis services, residential care, and inpatient psychiatric treatment. With 18 years of experience across outpatient, community-based, residential, and crisis settings, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in serious mental illness, addiction, family systems, and crisis stabilization. Tess is a passionate advocate for accessible, person-centered crisis care and believes every crisis encounter is an opportunity to reinforce dignity, safety, and resilience. She serves on multiple statewide committees focused on advancing crisis system innovation in Indiana.

Northeastern Center

Dottie is a licensed Mental Health Counselor with certification in addictions counseling. She holds masters degrees in mental health counseling and in business administration. She has more than 25 years of experience in mental health and has served as CCO of Northeastern Center since 2019. She is committed to the mission and vision of Northeastern Center and appreciates the team approach within the organization.

Courageous Healing, Inc

Cristina Jiménez is a bilingual (English, Spanish) Licensed Therapist at Courageous Healing. She was born in California but raised on the South Side of Fort Wayne, IN. She uses a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed lens to understand her clients and their experiences. Over the years, she has developed her skills and knowledge base while working alongside people from all walks of life.

Today Cristina specializes in working with adolescents and adults in individual and group settings. She has a wide range of experience working with people who have experienced significant trauma and individuals struggling with life changes. As a therapist at Courageous Healing, Cristina uses a holistic approach to understand each client and tailor care based on their individual challenges. She strongly believes in assisting clients in developing resilience and a deeper understanding of themselves to empower them.

In her free time, you can find her enacting her own version of carpool karaoke, binge-watching tv shows, going on walks (or Target runs), or planning game nights with her children, ages 9, 6, and 4. She also enjoys traveling, journaling, reading a book or listening to an audiobook/podcast, and spending quality time with friends or family.

Courageous Healing, Inc

Aaron Lane, MSOL, LSW, is a Licensed Therapist at Courageous Healing. Aaron and his wife, Janell Lane, co-founded Courageous Healing. Aaron's motivation to work in mental health stems from his desire to make a difference in his community - as a Black man, former college and professional athlete, coach, entrepreneur, husband, and father. Aaron's life experience and education allow him to create a more profound sense of empathy for his clients and build meaningful connections to assist in their healing processes. With a heart for helping people, Aaron’s focused on helping his clients live full lives.

Aaron and Janell also co-founded Courageous Living, a for-profit consulting company where he has spent the last 9 years doing motivational speaking, consulting, and program development on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and mental health at the workplace. He is passionate about mentoring and motivating others to achieve their goals by expanding their knowledge base, supporting their interpersonal growth, and challenging the status quo. Having corporate experience and a background in athletics has equipped him with a unique approach to motivation.

Last but not least, Aaron is devoted to and gifted in working with diverse populations, creating unity among others, and being a catalyst for community impact. In his free time, Aaron enjoys spending time with his family, traveling with his wife, and working out.

Courageous Healing, Inc

Janell Lane, LMHC, is a Licensed Therapist at Courageous Healing. Janell and her husband, Aaron Lane, co-founded Courageous Healing. With over 15 years of experience, Janell utilizes a culturally sensitive lens and evidence-based techniques to support her clients in their work toward enhanced well-being, healthier relationships, and balanced, happy life. Her therapy approach is dynamic and practical yet empathetic and collaborative.

Janell has extensive experience working in various settings and cultural backgrounds, including incorporating spiritual principles for interested clients. In addition to being a therapist, she is a powerful public speaker and activist with a background in community outreach, mediation, and professional development, including restorative interventions and trauma-informed approaches.

Janell and her husband, Aaron Lane, 's commitment to addressing systemic racial issues over the years on a larger scale led them to co-found Courageous Living, which focuses on increasing cultural awareness and proficiency of individuals, organizations, and entities who serve and work with diverse populations. They provide equity and inclusion training, consulting, symposiums, conferences, and public speaking services.

For leisure, Janell enjoys quality time with her family, binge-watching a good show, and enjoying delicious food at her favorite restaurants.

Bowen Health

Shannon Hannon serves as the Chief Operating Officer Bowen Health, one of Indiana’s largest community mental health centers. She started her career in mental health working for a large South Bend based community mental health center before moving into the traditional healthcare setting, where she spent time working in an acute care hospital system focusing on business development and medical practice management. Shannon holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is a Fellow of both the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Medical Group Management Association. She is actively involved in her local community and currently holds board seats on several non-profit organizations.

Parkview Physicians Group - Psychiatry

Dr. Lilly is a pediatric psychologist with Parkview's Primary Care Behavioral Health program, where she works in the Huntington primary care clinic providing evaluation, consultation, and therapy services for children and families. She completed her training at Ball State University. She specializes in working with pediatric mental and behavioral health, medical consultation, and school-based consultation. Dr. Lilly lives in Fort Wayne with her husband, 6-year-old son, 3-year-old daughter, 9-month-old daughter, and dog.

RemedyLIVE

Anthony Ponds is the Get Schooled Tour Speaker and co-host at RemedyLIVE, the Get Schooled Tour is an interactive convocation provided by RemedyLIVE as an intervention tool in the lives of students. As co-host and speaker Anthony gets the opportunity to support school staff and administration, and intersect the lives of students sharing his personal redemptive story. This supports the conversation surrounding the concept of “Escape” and how students can take ownership of their mental health.

Anthony also serves as a board member on Inspiration Ministries, a Northeast Indiana Recovery Housing ministry that assists in offering men and women an opportunity to join the path of Recovery and encounter Christ for redemption and reconciliation through stable housing and restoring productivity in every area of life.

Anthony is a passionate communicator that intertwines his story with the neurosciences as to why we can choose a lifestyle of overconsumption and escape. Speaking to thousands of students he really appreciates experiencing the divine appointments of students feeling empowered to share their secret struggles.

Crossroad Child & Family Services

Shirley Ryan is the CEO and President of Crossroad Child and Family Services, a community mental health organization in Fort Wayne IN. They specialize in residential treatment, outpatient care, home based services, and educational programming. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor with a primary focus on trauma and grief. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has taught at Purdue Fort Wayne for over 15 years, specifically teaching Trauma and Grief class. She sits on the Board of Directors for Allen County Collaborative, the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy Institute, and the National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health. She’s married, has 2 children and a house full of animals that she calls her zoo and aquarium.

Rhythm & Praise 94.1

Monique “Mo” Moss is a radio host, speaker, and emcee. Mo is the Midday Host and Program Director of Rhythm & Praise 94.1 and was a recipient of Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s "Forty under 40" Award. Monique loves connecting and serving the community of Fort Wayne!

Gabrielle Campbell is a Junior from Homestead Senior High School with a drive and a passion for mental health. Many of her endeavors have been tailored towards the improvement of mental health for her peers and those of her community. Her extracurricular activities have a wide range of state and national programs that have grown her leadership, empathic, and interpersonal communication skills. Leading many of these groups, as well as being a part of a diverse group of people, has not only made her a more well-rounded individual, but someone who appreciates the challenge of growth.

Emily High is a junior at Heritage High School. She has a strong interest in mental health education and suicide prevention and spends much of her time involved in committees, boards, and volunteer groups focused on mental health awareness and support.

She is a varsity soccer player and also runs varsity track and field and cross country. In addition to athletics, she volunteers with the Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne, serves as a student ambassador on the Allen County Mental Health Task Force, and volunteers at the Candlelight Ceremony for Families of Suicide Victims.

Emily’s interest in mental health work is rooted in personal experience. When she was seven years old, her best friend, who was also her older cousin, attempted suicide. Over the years, she experienced similar situations involving other friends before the age of sixteen. These experiences led her to struggle with feelings of guilt and responsibility, as she often felt like she should have been able to do more to help.

She also struggled with seasonal depression and at times minimized her own challenges while focusing on others. Over time, she has worked on better understanding these experiences and learning how to support others while also taking her own well-being into account.

Shakira Myint is a senior at East Allen University. She is a member of the Burmese community and is passionate about mental health advocacy, particularly in communities where stigma and limited access prevent individuals from seeking help. She is especially focused on ensuring that minorities across different communities are heard and seen.

Her interest in this work developed through witnessing how often individuals in immigrant communities experience mental health challenges in silence. This has motivated her to support efforts that create safer spaces, expand access to resources, and encourage open conversations about mental health across different languages.

At school, Shakira is involved in several leadership activities, including Student Council, National Honor Society, and the mental health club, MindsMatter. Through these experiences, she has worked to create a positive impact, contribute to meaningful change, and advocate for others.

Her involvement in mental health advocacy also stems from recognizing how often mental health challenges go unspoken, sometimes leading to serious consequences. Through her own experiences, she has come to understand how easily individuals can internalize struggles without properly addressing them. This has reinforced her commitment to ensuring that people from diverse backgrounds have access to mental health resources, regardless of language barriers or cultural differences.

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Alice is a distinguished alumna of Indiana University Bloomington, where she earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees. She currently serves as faculty in the Department of Human Services at Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW), where she is deeply committed to advising and mentoring first-generation and minority students. In addition to her teaching role, Alice holds several leadership positions, including Director of the Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute, Project Director of the Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition (ISPC), Founder of Bienestar Sin Fronteras (Wellness Without Borders), and Founder of the Indiana Statewide LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Teams Network.

A recognized leader in suicide prevention across the state of Indiana, Alice is a certified Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Master Trainer who has dedicated her career to advancing life-saving education and systems-level change. She provides professional training and consultation to schools, equipping communities with the tools to reduce stigma, strengthen prevention and intervention efforts, and respond to mental health needs with competence and compassion, while also actively working to normalize mental health care as an essential and accepted part of overall health and well-being.

Deeply committed to equity and culturally responsive care, Alice previously served as Chair of the Equity and Inclusion Committee for the American Association of Suicidology. Her work intentionally centers underserved populations, with a strong focus on expanding access to suicide prevention awareness, education, and resources within African American and Latino communities.

Alice’s impact is both far-reaching and deeply personal - shaping policy, empowering professionals, and fostering hope at the community level. Her unwavering dedication to mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and intervention has earned her recognition both locally and statewide, reflecting not only her expertise, but her profound commitment to saving lives and strengthening communities.

Alice is also the founder of the Hoosiers of Tomorrow (HOT) Mentoring Program, which supports and guides at-risk youth in navigating pathways to higher education. Her dedication to service and leadership has earned her numerous recognitions, including the Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the Indiana University President’s Award, and Purdue University Fort Wayne’s John Ulmer Award for her outstanding service to first-generation students.

Beyond her professional contributions, Alice remains actively engaged in community leadership. She currently volunteers with Fort Wayne Girlz Rock and is the advisor and is the past President of Indiana University’s Latino Alumni Association. Above all, Alice considers her greatest accomplishments to be her three children and five granddaughters, grounding her impactful professional work in the values of family, faith, and service.

Allen County Superior Court

Judge Frances C. Gull has served as a Judge in the Allen Superior Court since January 1, 1997. She was first elected Judge in 1996 and has been re-elected four times.

For more than 20 years, Judge Gull has served as Administrative Judge of Superior Court’s Criminal Division, overseeing the day-to-day operations of six criminal courts, including the misdemeanor and traffic and felony courts.

During nearly 25 years on the bench, Judge Gull has gained statewide and national renown as an innovator in areas including jury management, restorative justice and the use of technology in the courts. She has been honored many times for her contributions to the criminal justice system, including with the 2015 G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation, presented by the National Center for State Courts.

Since 2002, Judge Gull has supervised Allen County’s nationally renowned Drug Court program. The program, which promotes recovery from addiction and restoration of families torn apart by substance abuse. In 2020, the program was approaching 1,000 graduates, making it among the most successful and impactful in the country.

Judge Gull received a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Joseph’s College in 1980. She received a juris doctor from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 1983. After receiving her law degree, Judge Gull began her legal career in Allen Superior Court, serving as a law clerk in the Family and Criminal divisions during 1983 and 1984.

Prior to becoming Judge, from 1987 until 1996, Gull served in the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office. She rose to the position of Chief Deputy Prosecutor, a role in which she served from 1990 until her election to the Superior Court bench. In the Prosecutor’s Office, she also served as Chief Counsel, Criminal Division; Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Sex Crimes Unit; and Section Chief, Felony Division.

During her judicial career, Judge Gull served in both Allen Circuit and Superior Courts. During 1988 and 1989, she served a Magistrate in Circuit Court’s Civil Division. Between 1984 and 1987, she also held roles as Probate Commissioner and Traffic Court Referee in Superior Court.

In the Prosecutor’s Office, Judge Gull prosecuted hundreds of offenders. In the Sex Crimes Unit, she was responsible for cases of sexual assault against women and children. Later, as Section Chief in major felonies, her trial schedule expanded to include robbery, burglary, arson, battery and other serious felony offenses. As Chief Counsel and then as Chief Deputy, she was responsible for the prosecution of all homicides, high profile felony cases, arson investigations, and cases involving political figures.

Her service to the community has earned Judge Gull many recognitions. In 1995, she was the recipient of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Law Enforcement Oscar Award for Outstanding Achievement and Service. In 1996, she received a Special Award from the Fraternal Order of Police for outstanding service to the Allen County Law Agencies. In 1997, she was recognized by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence for outstanding contribution to S.T.O.P. Grant Judges and Prosecutors Training. She was recognized in 2002 by the Indiana District Ten Little League Baseball as a Hometown Hero. She was one of the recipients of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2002. In 2003, she received a Community Service Award from the Fort Wayne Fire Department for contributions to their Diversity Training. In 2015, the National Center for State Courts presented Judge Gull with the G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation, recognizing her work to make jury management more effective and more representative.

Since 1989, she has provided training and lectures on search and seizure, general criminal law, juvenile law, domestic violence, arson investigation, and issues relating to prosecution and the criminal justice system, including Indiana’s Jury Rules, trial advocacy and courtroom testimony. Judge Gull has also been a guest speaker/lecturer for many community and business organizations, as well as schools at all educational levels.

Judge Gull is a member of SCAN’s Campaign for Children, the Allen County Community Corrections Executive Board, the Indiana Judicial Center’s Strategic Planning Committee and the Indiana Judges Association. She serves as church Delegate to Concordia Lutheran High School on behalf of her church, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. Since 2016, she has served as a volunteer Guardian and member of the Volunteer Corps, Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana.

Dr. Jessica Hackenberg, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist currently serving as a Mental Health Program Manager for the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center and leads the PTSD Clinical Team for VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System. She completed her undergraduate training at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, her graduate work at Indiana State University, and her predoctoral internship at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Dr. Hackenberg is trained in, and provides, several evidence-based psychotherapies for Veterans with PTSD and is a VA trainer and consultant for Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD for VA clinicians across the country.

Veterans Affairs Northern Indiana Healthcare System

Rita Wynn, LCSW, LCAC received her Masters of Social Work from Indiana University. She has worked in the mental health field for several years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This included being a member of a community mental health center Mobile Intervention Team. She has been employed at VA Northern Indiana Health Care System since 2004, working in the areas of substance use treatment and the homeless program. For over ten years she has worked in her current position of Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, working currently in six county Veteran Courts in Indiana and one in Ohio.

Fort Wayne Recovery

Nate Moellering was born and raised in Fort Wayne. He went to Concordia high school and played football at the University of Saint Francis.

Nate is in recovery and struggled with addiction for over ten years.

He attended treatment all over Indiana and parts of Illinois without success. It was not until he attended treatment designed and implemented by the founders of Fort Wayne Recovery in southern Florida in early 2017, that he was able to consolidate his knowledge of recovery and apply it to his life. Nate moved back to Fort Wayne from Florida to positively impact those adversely affected by the current opioid crisis.