Otis Winstead
Otis Winstead, VPS, WCPS, NPS (he/him) is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Otis is a Vietnam Era Army Veteran. He serves as the President/CEO for Great Lakes Dryhootch, a non-profit Veterans’ organization. He is also a Veteran peer support specialist and a lead community health worker who provides support for the Milwaukee community.
Otis primarily works within Community Engagement and focuses his efforts on marginalized populations. He feels that his purpose in life is to encourage individuals and communities to solve front-line problems, make suggestions, reduce inefficiencies and pursue new initiatives. He and his lovely wife, Rumyrtle, have seven children and fourteen grandchildren.
otis@reclaimingyourpath.org
Mark Flower
Through Mark’s work In the Veteran Community in the last 20 years he has supported Veterans’ wellbeing and mental health In the state of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, City of Milwaukee and also in projects within the Veterans Health Administration. He promotes using outreach and relationship building to build on a more robust way of helping our Veterans in crisis to transition to a better life.
(414) 949-1743
Jesse Miller
Jesse enlisted into the Marine Corps prior to 9-11-2001, where he served on active duty for almost a decade. While serving around the world, his overseas stops included, Spain, Tokyo, Italy and 2 combat tours in Iraq. After exiting the service in 2010, Jesse completed Wisconsin State Paramedic training as well as Firefighter Licensure training. He is currently enrolled at University Oshkosh in the Fire and Emergency Response Management program. Jesse also works with Wisconsin Hero Outdoors, utilizing outdoor recreational therapy to treat PTSD in veterans and first responders.
jesse@reclaimingyourpath.org
George F. Banda
George is a Vietnam Veteran and served with the 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles 2/501st Echo Company “RECON” as a Combat Medic.
As a member of the 101st Airborne Division, George earned many distinguished commendations, including the Combat Medic Badge 1st Award, Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in Action, and the Purple Heart Medal for Combat Wounded.
George and his wife Lorraine call Milwaukee home. George continues to serve Veterans as Adjutant of Milwaukee County Purple Heart Chapter #818, and is Past State Commander of the American GI-Forum, a National Latino Veterans organization. George is the current president of the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center Veterans Board. He sits on many other committees throughout the state of Wisconsin as an advocate for all Veterans.
george@reclaimingyourpath.org
Danielle Rogers
Danielle Rogers is a PO1 in the United States Navy Reserve, serving as an Intelligence Specialist in support of US EUCOM. She is wife to OEF Army veteran and veteran advocate, Samuel, and is mother of 4, Eleanor, Marjorie, Alex, and David. In her civilian role, she is a special education teacher and holds an MS in Educational Psychology. Danielle and her family live in Waukesha County, WI.
danie@reclaimingyourpath.org
James Fialkowski
James has served as the American Legion Service Officer for the State of Wisconsin since 2009 and has worked as a disabled veteran outreach program specialist. He is a US Marine Corp veteran with 20 years active duty and is honorably retired, having served as a Gunnery Sergeant during the take over of Iraq in 2003.
James is a consultant to the National American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee and has been a member of the American Legion since 2007. He is also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
james@reclaimingyourpath.org
Jada Reynolds
Jada Reynolds is a veteran of the Operation Enduring Freedom/ Operation Iraqi Freedom era. She is a veteran peer mentor specialist with a focus is helping those who have served transition to their civilian lives with appropriate support and referral of resources/services and hands on support. Jada believes we can support veterans through community awareness and community engagement.
jada@reclaimingyourpath.org
David Wiedenkeller
David served proudly as a Combat Medic in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, 132nd Support Battalion, of the 32nd Red Arrow Division from 1985 to 1991.
He earned his MA in Public History from UW-Milwaukee in 1991. He has been using his talents for the past 25 years to give historical presentations as a professional public storyteller throughout the Midwest. He has recently joined the team as a veteran Peer Mentor with the goal of helping his fellow veterans find support. The VA helped him find direction in his life after injury and he is a firm believer in the programs the VA has to offer. He resides in the Mt. Pleasant/Racine area with his wife and is looking forward to sharing his understanding with other veterans.
david@reclaimingyourpath.org
James “Groovy” Cocroft
Groovy is a native of Milwaukee and the Assistant Director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC) at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. James recognizes the potential barriers that thwart the transition from military to the civilian world. He works to address the challenges faced by current and former service members and their families and is committed to assist veterans with their unique journey transitioning from the military through education and beyond.
Groovy joined the United States Navy in 1987, he served on several naval warships, Staff and shore commands serving as the Track Supervisor, Interface Control Officer, Naval Law Enforcement Officer as Operations Specialist. He obtained his Surface and Air warfare pin during his career. James participated in several operations such as counter narcotic ops in the Caribbean, Desert Shield /Storm 90-91, and Iraqi Freedom 2003. After twenty (20) years of military service, James retired Sept 1, 2007. In 2012 James use his GI bill to attend the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Where he graduated December 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology, with a certificate in Digital Arts and Culture.
groovy@reclaimingyourpath.org
Project Staff
Kristyn Ertl
Kristyn Ertl, MPH, works for the Medical College of Wisconsin and during a 14-year stint at the Zablocki VA, coordinated several projects aimed at helping older Veterans lead heart-healthy lifestyles. Eat less, move more. She is a long-time veteran ally.
Katinka Hooyer
Katinka Hooyer, PhD, is an anthropologist in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She works with Veterans to design programs that contribute to healing trauma and moral injury.
Dr. Zeno Franco, PhD.
I work for the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. My work focuses on veteran community outreach and engagement around mental health and transitions from active duty to civilian life.
Dr. Jeff Whittle, MD, MPH.
I have worked as a VA clinician every year since I was a third year medical student in 1982, doing my first clinical work at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center – it was not even called Zablocki then! When I have my researcher hat on, I have enjoyed working with Veterans on a lot of different projects, but have been especially interested in learning how peer support can help Veterans deal with conditions from hypertension to post traumatic stress disorder. I appreciate the Veterans working on the Reclaiming Your Path program; they will make it easier for Veterans to find help dealing with the mental health issues that come from being a Veteran or Active Duty Military person living in a civilian world.