With the war over in Afghanistan, many veterans are re-experiencing their injuries in isolation. Moral injury results in shame, guilt, and isolation. Processing shame and guilt in isolation exacerbates PTSD symptomology and contributes to the growing veteran/military suicide rate. Veterans need a community of loving relationships, and pastoral care providers to walk through this process with them as they process their moral injuries. The community’s role in healing is critical and simple: show up and love others.

At Proximity, attendees will hear war stories with a purpose, better understand moral injury, learn how to play a role in the healing process, and be encouraged to perform simple acts of loving others.

If you are a veteran in need of immediate support, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800.273.8255 or Colorado Crisis Services at 844.493.8255.

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Speaker Bios

Our speakers are all veterans and subject matter experts from a wide variety of settings who are extensively experienced in reintegrating veterans back into their communities post service. They come from the military, academic, corporate, government, and social impact sectors and have helped hundreds of thousands of veterans reconnect to cities across America through a variety of methods and programs that reduce barriers to care for veterans struggling with the invisible wounds of war.

Our subject matter expert on moral injury is the veteran who wrote the book on military chaplaincy, The Work of the Chaplain, and is a nationally recognized luminary in the field of chaplaincy and pastoral care.

Jan McCormack is a chaplain and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who holds her DMin. from Denver Seminary. Dr. McCormack is a founding member of Women United in Ministry and is among the first generation of women who served as a military chaplain. She is the 2021 recipient of the National Citizenship Award by the Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America, and is the chair and associate professor of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Programs at Denver Seminary.

Mike Greenwood served as an infantryman in the glorious 10th Mountain Division in both Afghanistan and Iraq and is the founder and head financial strategist at The Climb To Glory. Using the Post 9–11 GI-Bill, Mike obtained his BBA from Pace University in late 2011, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college. He is a Ramsey Solutions trained Financial Coach.

Matt Kress is Senior Director, US Community Impact at Starbucks Coffee Company, leading the Veterans and Military Affairs (VAMA) program, with a focus on strategic initiatives, national partnerships and mental health and wellness in the military and first responder communities. Prior to his position at Starbucks, he served in the Marine Corps for 22 years as an enlisted Marine and commissioned officer in both active duty and reserve assignments. After leaving active duty, he spent 10 years as a Firefighter/EMT in Southern California while specializing in crisis and disaster management in the Marine Corps Reserves. Matt has an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and a Masters in Strategic Planning for Critical Infrastructures from the University of Washington.

Babe Kwasniak is a West Point graduate and the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) in the State of Ohio. He is a former Infantry Officer, Division 1 basketball MVP, and has won five basketball championships in the state of Ohio as both a player and a coach. Babe is the head basketball coach for Cornerstone Christian Academy, a Board Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Ohio, and is a member of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Brandon Young is a former US Army Ranger who conducted four rotations to Afghanistan and is the co-founder/ principal at Applied Leadership Partners. He’s been published in various peer-reviewed academic journals for his work as a co-developer of the Enriched Life Scale and is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity in Leadership at Denver Seminary (2023).

Our panel facilitator, Tim Koller is the Associate Dean of Innovation and Educational Systems as well as the director of the Leadership program at Denver Seminary. Dr. Koller earned his PhD in Leadership from Capital Seminary & Graduate School, and his MA in Ministry and BS in Bible from Lancaster Bible College. In addition, he is a certified Capable Life coach.