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Our Team

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Our Board of Directors

Nathan Schmidt

Nathan Schmidt, Lt Col (Ret.) USMCR

Board Chairperson
Co-Founder

Dan Cnossen

Dan Cnossen, LCDR, USN Ret.

Vice Chairperson

Cosmin Andron

Cosmin Andron

Board Member

Ambassador Robin Dunnigan, Ret.

Board Member

Elyse Ping Medvigy

Elyse Ping Medvigy

Board Member

Bryce Mitchell

Bryce Mitchell

Board Secretary

Tom Wotka

Tom Wotka

Board Treasurer

Our Advisory Board

MSF Emory Capps Climbing

Emory Capps

Advisor

Steven Cashen

Steven T. Cashen

Advisor

Esther Farkas

Advisor

Head Shot

Jeff Furgal

Advisor

Brandon Gardner

Brandon Gardner

Advisor

Andreas Gassner

Andreas Gassner

Advisor

Max Lowe Mountain Seed

Max Lowe

Advisor

Kelly

Kelly McKaig

Advisor

Cristina Pogăcean

Cristina Pogăcean

Board Member

Katie Ross Mountain Seed Team Photos

Katie Ross, MSW

Advisor

Victor Saunders Head shot

Victor Saunders

Board Member

Dan Sheehan

Advisor

Scott Smiley Mountain Seed

Scott Smiley,
Army Maj. Ret.

Advisor

Vasu Sojitra Headshot

Vasu Sojitra

Advisor

Ambassador Trevor Traina

Ambassador Trevor Traina, Ret.

Advisor

Andy Tropp

Andrew Tropp

Advisor

Pierre Vennen

Advisor

Our Executive Team

Dana Schmidt

Dana Schmidt

Executive Director

Lindsey Bybee

Marketing & Social Media Manager

Kristen Calvin, Esq.

Chief Legal Advisor

head shot women

Amit Oren, PhD

Clinical Director & Advisory Board Member

Iryna Prykhoko

Iryna Prykhodko

Program Director & Co-Founder

Sherry Sullivan

Finance Team - Bookkeeper

Daniel Sullivan

Finance Team - Bookkeeper

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Dan Cnossen

Dan Cnossen was raised on a fifth-generation family farm in Topeka, Kansas. After successfully completing SEAL qualification training in 2003, he deployed numerous times in support of global special operations. As a SEAL platoon commander, he was severely injured in 2009 in Afghanistan, resulting in the amputation of both legs above the knees. Td, he began training for the U.S. Paralympic ski team in 2011 as a cross-country skier and biathlete. He has since competed for Team USA in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Games and is the first male athlete to win a gold medal for the United States in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing with precision shooting. In addition to training and competing for the U.S. Paralympic team, he is a public speaker for corporate and other audiences, as well as a resilience specialist for O2X, conducting workshops for firefighters and first responders. Cnossen holds a bachelor of science degree in English from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a master’s in theological studies from the Harvard Divinity School.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Cosmin Andron

Cosmin grew up in Baia Mare, Romania, where forests, valleys and abandoned mines became his first playgrounds and sparked a lifelong passion for wild places. Before becoming a full-time IFMGA mountain and ski guide, he followed an academic path — studying Philosophy and Anthropology, earning a Ph.D. in London, and teaching across Europe and China.

Alongside his academic career, Cosmin climbed extensively for decades, taking part in more than thirty expeditions and establishing new routes across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and New Zealand. In 2010 he chose to dedicate himself fully to the mountains and now lives in Chamonix, guiding and teaching with the same curiosity and respect that shaped his early adventures.

Since 2023, Cosmin has also worked closely with Mountain Seed Foundation, serving as a guide and mentor in its nature-based healing programs. He has participated in more than five week-long camps supporting Ukrainian families affected by war, helping create safe, grounded spaces in the mountains where participants can reconnect with nature, rebuild trust, and begin the process of healing. This work reflects Cosmin’s belief in the restorative power of wild places and his commitment to using guiding as a form of care, service, and connection.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Ambassador (Ret.) Robin Dunnigan

Robin Dunnigan, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, concluded her 33-year diplomatic career serving as the United States Ambassador to Georgia. Ambassador Dunnigan also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) in the Bureau of European Affairs, DAS in the Bureau of Energy Resources, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Austria, and numerous other positions in Washington and at U.S. embassies overseas.

Leading a large U.S. Mission of 720 employees and 12 government agencies, Ambassador Dunnigan successfully maintained a productive relationship with the government of Georgia and strengthened bilateral security and economic ties in a challenging political environment marked by a contested Georgian election, 250 straight days of local protests, and increasingly anti-democratic actions by the Georgian government.

As DAS in the Bureau of European Affairs, Ambassador Dunnigan was responsible for U.S. policy for 13 countries in Eastern and Central Europe, including Ukraine. She led the team responsible for designing and implementing the U.S. diplomatic response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, shaping the economic and energy recovery plan for Ukraine and coordinating with NATO, the EU and G7 partners in the lead-up to and during the war. In this role, Ambassador Dunnigan briefed the U.S. Congress and media outlets regularly on U.S. policy in Central Europe, Belarus, and Ukraine.

As DAS in the Energy Bureau, Ambassador Dunnigan led U.S. global energy diplomacy, engaging foreign governments on U.S. energy priorities, representing the United States at international energy conferences, and advocating for U.S. companies investing in international energy markets.

Serving for three years as the Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Austria, Ambassador Dunnigan directed the policy and operations of the large bilateral embassy and supervised the management and security teams for all three US. Missions in Austria. Ambassador Dunnigan has also served at U.S. Embassies in Vietnam, Chile, Turkey, Cuba and El Salvador. In Washington, Ambassador Dunnigan’s assignments included Director for the Office of Europe, the Western Hemisphere and Africa in the Energy Bureau, as well as positions in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and in the office of the Secretary of State.

Ambassador Dunnigan is a graduate of the National War College, where she earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy with distinction. She also received a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley. She received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service in 2023.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Elyse Ping Medvigy

Elyse is a former Army Officer with deployments in Afghanistan and Korea, and currently works in national security within the counterterrorism field. She helped spearhead female integration into combat arms as a Field Artillery Officer before transitioning to the Special Operations Forces. She graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Area Studies: Africa, and from Georgetown University with a Master’s degree in Security Studies, Concentration in Terrorism and Substate Violence. She is passionate about violent extremism mitigation on the African continent, and has worked and been deployed across the globe. 

Elyse is a lifelong climber and mountaineer. She has completed six of the Seven Summits, and holds noteable summits of Everest, Denali, Gasherbrum II (unsupported, without supplemental oxygen), Chimborazo, Aconcagua, and more than 40 of the world’s highest peaks. She was the first active duty female Army officer to summit Everest (summiting via the more challenging Northeast ridge), and most recently summited Carstensz Pyramid in remote West Papua. 

Elyse is a Ukrainian American, with roots in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia Oblast, and currently resides in Colorado where she volunteers with the sheriff’s office in backcountry Search and Rescue and enjoys scuba diving, skiing, backpacking, ice baths, and training her Icelandic sheepdog as a SAR K9 in avalanche rescue.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Bryce Mitchell

Bryce developed a passion for the mountains growing up in the New Mexican high desert. For the past 15 years, Bryce has honed his climbing skills on rock, ice, and alpine ascents in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Tanzania, Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, Bolivia, France, Mexico, and Slovenia. 

Bryce is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Prior to this Bryce served for almost a decade as an active Air Force intelligence officer across multiple theaters, leading teams across the Intelligence Community, United States Indo-Pacific Command, the United States Africa Command, AFWERX, and the Office of Strategic Capital. 

Bryce is pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Stanford Graduate School of Business. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in International History, and from King’s College London with a Master’s degree in International Affairs.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Tom Wotka

Tom is a versatile strategist in international affairs and global business with extensive expertise in national security, private sector engagement, and navigating complex international problems. As a government relations professional, he builds cooperation between the public and private sectors, bridges cultural divides, and navigates the intricacies of U.S. government agencies.

Tom’s experience is built around more than two decades of government service as a Marine Corps officer and as U.S. Department of State foreign service officer. His service has taken him to Afghanistan, Austria, Cambodia, Iraq, and Mexico. His European and Eurasian affairs expertise led to key roles as a lead negotiator and political officer, energy security economist, and economic policy team leader. He has also brokered agreements on Ukraine and cyber security and helped craft sanctions and financial aid in support of U.S. objectives in Ukraine. As chief of staff for the Bureau of Energy Resources, he oversaw strategic and operational priorities related to energy transition and security.

Before joining the State Department, Tom built experience in the private sector, including the investment banking and insurance industries, and as a fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Veterans Advanced Energy Program. Tom also served in the Marine Corps as an artillery officer, deploying to Iraq on a combat tour as part of OIF 2-2. A former ultra-marathon runner and Crossfit enthusiast, Tom now spends what he can of his free time in outdoor pursuits such as hunting, flyfishing, and skiing.   

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Emory Capps

Emory developed his love for the mountains at a young age. In college, he became a snowboarding instructor and an AMGA certified Single Pitch Instructor for rock climbing. He traveled for years of his life in search of rock and snow, finally landing in the mountains of Colorado.

After spending his twenties as a guide, Emory moved to the office as the Executive Director for Bold Earth, an adventure travel program for teenagers. There, he managed the full-time staff programming trips all over the world. In his free time, he would work as a mentor for the Snowsports Outreach Society, teaching leadership skills to underserved youth through skiing and snowboarding. Emory also enjoyed volunteering for the Range of Motion Project, helping raise funds to purchase prosthetics for patients in developing countries.

“I have witnessed firsthand how powerful nature and community can be for young people. I am honored to help Mountain Seed provide a healing and fun experience for these kids.”

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Steven T. Cashen

Steve brings nearly 30 years of special operations experience to his work, having led and supported sensitive expeditionary missions worldwide, often in remote and austere environments. His career reflects a deep understanding of how multidisciplinary teams operate and succeed in high-risk, high-ambiguity settings.

Building on his background as a Special Operations medic and Physician Assistant, Steve integrates both clinical expertise and operational experience into the design and delivery of complex programs that strengthen the health and resilience of elite service communities.

Since transitioning from active service in 2019, he has focused on supporting the officers, families, families of the fallen, and veterans of the CIA Special Activities Center. His work centers on elevating awareness of unmet needs while advancing sustainable, high-impact philanthropic strategies that address gaps beyond the reach of government systems.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Steve enjoys time in the mountains and on the water. He is an avid outdoorsman, with interests including hiking, skiing, rock and ice climbing, and kayaking, as well as a growing appreciation for art and academic study.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Esther Farkas

Esther is a finance and strategy executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning law, venture-backed growth companies, and mission-driven leadership. She is the founder of A Different Fund, an early-stage investment firm built on the belief that founders deserve partners who listen, challenge, and build alongside them.

Esther currently serves on the board of Lafayette Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LAFA) and on the boards of several early-stage companies in media, technology, and consumer goods, as well as the Board of Visitors of Duke University School of Medicine. She is a frequent speaker on technology and venture capital and was named a 2023 Woman of Influence by the New York Business Journal.

Esther came to the United States from Hungary as a child, when her family left during the communist era, and she feels a lasting obligation to use her experience, skills, and resources to create opportunities for others

Esther lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three daughters. The whole family attended a Mountain Seed camp in Austria this summer and are already planning to return.

 

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Jeff Furgal

Jeff is a former US Government senior executive with more than 25 years of foreign affairs and military experience, and has served abroad in Europe, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. He is a former Marine Corps officer with service in Somalia (1993-1994) and holds degrees in Physical Therapy (which he practiced in North Carolina) and Russian Studies (including study abroad in the former Soviet Union).


After departing US Government service, Jeff started FHI Insights LLC, a consulting firm which advises US government, military, and private sector entities on geopolitical risk. He is on the Senior Advisory Board of London-based Labrys Technologies, a dual-use (defense and private sector) tech company transforming human network management and is a Contributor/Speaker for Skytop Strategies in NYC.


Jeff grew up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in NY State, and now lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Lisa. They have two children in college. Jeff is excited to join the Advisory Board of the Mountain Seed Foundation and contribute to the long healing journey ahead for Ukrainian families affected by the Russian invasion.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Brandon Gardner

Brandon is Co-Founder and President at Raine. Prior to Raine, Brandon founded and was the senior operating officer of Serengeti Asset Management LP, a multi-strategy investment advisor based in New York City with in excess of $1 billion in assets under management. During his tenure at Serengeti, Brandon was an active member of the investment team, managing sector- and strategy-specific portfolios as well as the firm’s private investment opportunities. He also managed the launch of four different funds and numerous other investment vehicles, and was responsible for overseeing all of the operations of the firm.

Prior to joining Serengeti in 2007, Brandon was a practicing attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP from 1999 to 2007. While at Cleary Gottlieb, Brandon gained significant experience in complex mergers & acquisitions and structured securities transactions and financing arrangements, representing and advising a wide variety of investment banking and corporate clients. He dealt with myriad cross-border international securities laws and complex corporate and capital market transactions, and gained expertise in both SEC-registered and private securities offerings. Brandon is on the board of directors of Foursquare, Imagine Entertainment, RCX Sports, Firebird, and is Chairman of the Board at Olo, all portfolio companies of Raine.

Brandon has a B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, a B.S. from The Wharton School and a J.D. from Columbia University where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Andreas Gassner, “Andi”

What should it be, snow, ice or rock – Andi is everywhere at home in the Zell am See Kaprun region in Salzburger Land. Andi grew up in Zell am See in the shadow of the Hohe Tauern and kept a distance from Grossglockner in his young years. It wasn’t until he was 13 that he discovered skiing and started doing it with passion. He quickly got into the pull of the mountains and started climbing and climbing in rock and ice.

 

The mountains took up an ever-increasing part of his life. He became youth director of the Alpine Club section Zell am See, mountain rescue man and completed his training as a ski and snowboard instructor. During his studies he devoted himself to meteorology, because you can use weather science when mountaineering. Where did he do that? Of course in the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck. His travels took him to the Eastern Alps around Piz Bernina and Biancograt. Soon he couldn’t get past Chamonix and Mont Blanc – eventually traveling to the high mountains of Bolivia and Chile.

 

“As a mountain guide, I have really found my calling and am happy every time I look in the faces of my guests at the summit or after a hammer deep snow day and the grin from my left to the right ear no longer seems to go away. Then I am happy and exactly where I always wanted to go.”

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Max Lowe

Director and Producer

Known for his ability to capture deeply human stories on some of the most exposed edges of the world, Max Lowe has honed his skill as a director and photographer in his search of narratives unheard. From his home in the mountains of Montana to now countless countries and landscapes across the globe, Max has been witness to stories spanning the gap of the human experience.

Beginning his career with National Geographic in 2012 with a Young Explorers Grant, and then going on to work with National Geographic Magazine and Outside Magazine, and directing branded films and short docs with that screened at festivals like Tribeca, Cannes and Berlinale, he forged a career for himself telling both his own stories as well as those of the people he encountered along the way.

In recent years, Max directed his first feature doc “Torn” which premiered at Telluride Film Festival and is now available on Disney+ and Hulu with National Geographic Docs, and the short documentary “Camp Courage” which is available on Netflix and was shortlisted for the 95th Academy Awards for best short doc.

With a background in observational journalistic style storytelling honed over years of telling human stories around the globe Max has emerged with a distinct style by which he crafts his film and photo work. 

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Kelly McKaig

Kelly McKaig is the Senior Director of Finance for the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.  A lifelong fan of the arts, he has worked with artists across disciplines in film, theater, music, dance, performance, and photography.
 
For 4 years he was the Director of Finance at Symphony Space, home of Selected Shorts, broadcast on NPR.  After college, he worked for the filmmaker Todd Haynes, and had the good fortune to work with many other film directors, including Todd Solondz, Lisa Cholodenko, Barbara Kopple, Harmony Korine, and James Gray.  He has also worked with Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields), James Bidgood (Pink Narcissus), and John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig). 
 
He has an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and an undergraduate degree from Brown University.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Elyse Ping Medvigy

Elyse is a former Army Officer with deployments in Afghanistan and Korea, and currently works in national security within the counterterrorism field. She helped spearhead female integration into combat arms as a Field Artillery Officer before transitioning to the Special Operations Forces. She graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Area Studies: Africa, and from Georgetown University with a Master’s degree in Security Studies, Concentration in Terrorism and Substate Violence. She is passionate about violent extremism mitigation on the African continent, and has worked and been deployed across the globe. 

Elyse is a lifelong climber and mountaineer. She has completed six of the Seven Summits, and holds noteable summits of Everest, Denali, Gasherbrum II (unsupported, without supplemental oxygen), Chimborazo, Aconcagua, and more than 40 of the world’s highest peaks. She was the first active duty female Army officer to summit Everest (summiting via the more challenging Northeast ridge), and most recently summited Carstensz Pyramid in remote West Papua. 

Elyse is a Ukrainian American, with roots in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia Oblast, and currently resides in Colorado where she volunteers with the sheriff’s office in backcountry Search and Rescue and enjoys scuba diving, skiing, backpacking, ice baths, and training her Icelandic sheepdog as a SAR K9 in avalanche rescue.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Katie R. Ross, MSW

Katie R. Ross, MSW, serves as a strategic advisor for Mountain Seed Foundation with more than a decade of experience in mental health and non-profit management. She is a nationwide healthcare leader as the creator of Tactical Recovery (specialized residential trauma treatment) in her role as Director of Veterans Services for Summit Behavioral Healthcare. Katie is also a long-time advocate serving on several non-profit boards working to increase access to care and strengths-based, resilience building programs, driven to improve the lives of others.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Victor Saunders

Victor is a world-renowned British mountaineer and became a UIAGM mountain guide in 1996 after a career as an architect in London. He relocated to Chamonix, France in 2003 becoming a member of the SNGM (National Syndicate of French Mountain Guides).

He has climbed extensively throughout Europe, the Himalayas and Karakoram achieving many first ascents including the North Pillar of Spantik. He recently calculated that he’s spent five years of his life under canvas!

Victor summitted Mount Everest for his first of six times in 2004 and with back to back summits on Aconcagua in 2013, he completed his Seven Summits bid.

His ascents list is predominantly on climbs of a remote and desperately hard nature, and Victor is still bubbling over with enthusiasm for the peaks and peoples of the Himalayas after 20 years of climbing.

In addition to being an IFMGA guide, Victor is a recipient of the Boardman Tasker prize for mountain literature and won the Grand Prize at the International Mountain Book Festival at Passey in 2015 for his book “Les Tribulations de Mick & de Vic en Himalaya”.

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Dan Sheehan

Dan Sheehan is a former Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot, special operations forward air controller, and author of two books on the human costs of war.

Before joining the Marine Corps, Dan built trails in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) professional trail crew. His experiences in the Whites cemented his love of the outdoors and provided a foundation for his own healing journey after combat.

Dan served in the Marine Corps from 1996 to 2008. He flew AH-1W SuperCobra gunships on three overseas deployments including the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He returned to Iraq in 2004 as a forward air controller with Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Detachment One and conducted six-months of combat operations in Baghdad, Najaf, and Al Kut.

After leaving active duty, Dan turned to writing to address the persistent unease that had followed him home from Iraq. His first book, After Action: the True Story of a Cobra Pilot’s Journey, was named to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program in 2020. His second book, Continuing Actions: a Warrior’s Guide to Coming Home, provides pragmatic resiliency guidance for veterans and their families.

Dan currently serves as a law enforcement officer in southern California. When he’s not out on patrol, he’s usually free diving, surfing, or walking the family mutts on the beach. For longer escapes, Dan disappears into the Sierras for backpacking and fly fishing trips whenever his schedule allows.

Dan’s healing journey through moral injury and combat trauma was fueled by experiences grounded in the natural world. He is excited to support Mountain Seed Foundation’s mission to provide similar healing experiences to families who need them the most.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Scotty Smiley

Army Maj. Ret.

Major (Retired) Scotty Smiley is from Pasco, Washington. After high school he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.  After four great years, he graduated and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia and attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School. He quickly moved to Fort Lewis, Washington where he led a 45 man Platoon.  

In 2005 while leading his Platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomb.  After the man blew himself up, Scotty woke in Walter Reed Army Medical Center blinded for the rest of his life and partially paralyzed. Though questioning his faith, Scotty made a decision to forgive and rebuild his life and continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history.

 

The Army Times named Scotty “Soldier of the Year” in 2007 and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the world’s Best Outdoor Athlete. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from Duke University, Scotty taught the core course in leadership at West Point and then commanded the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point’s Keller Army Medical Center. Scotty is a recipient of the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award and holds an honorary PhD from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY.  In 2010, Scotty received a Father of the Year award in New York and in 2011 received the Christopher Award for all he has given and continues to give.

Since then, Scotty has attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, and moved to Spokane, Washington where he worked with the Gonzaga University ROTC Department, teaching and mentoring America’s future leaders.  After 12 years of service, he retired from the military in 2015.

Scotty joined Drexel Hamilton out of New York in 2015 and works with corporations and banks around the world.  

With a passion for using his story to build hope in this world, Scotty authored Hope Unseen in 2010 and now travels all over the country speaking and sharing his message of perseverance, courage and hope. 

Scotty is married to his high school sweetheart, Tiffany and they are the proud parents of Grady Douglas, Graham Elliott, and Baylor Scott.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Vasu Sojitra

Vasu Sojitra is a professional skier and a Disability Access Strategist living in Bozeman, MT. He has climbed peaks like the Grand Teton and was the first Disabled person to ski peaks in Montana’s Beartooth and Bridger Mountains with monumental ski descents on Tahoma (Mt Rainer) and Denali all on one leg and without a prosthetic leg.

Through his goals and ambitions, he hopes to create more accessible spaces for people with disabilities and people of color in the outdoors and the ski world with the motto of “#ninjasticking through the wood to center intersectionality in the outdoors.”

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Ambassador Trevor Traina

Trevor D. Traina is an American diplomat, entrepreneur and private investor who served as the United States Ambassador to Austria from 2018 – 2021.

 

In January 2018, Trevor D. Traina was nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in March, 2018 and served in Vienna for three years. Ambassador Traina was awarded the Medal for Exceptional Public Service by the Secretary of Defense and the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold from the Chancellor of Austria.

 

A seasoned entrepreneur, Ambassador Traina has founded / co-founded six technology startups. He is currently the CEO and Founder of Kresus Labs. Previously he was Founder and CEO of IfOnly, a San Francisco-based e-commerce platform and charity venture (Sold to MasterCard in 2019); Co-Founder and Chairman of DriverSide, a venture-funded startup in the online automotive category (Sold to Advance Auto Parts in 2011); Chairman and Founder of SchemaLogic, Inc. (Sold to SmartLogic in 2011); Chairman of StepUp Commerce (Sold to Intuit in 2006) and President and Founder of CompareNet, Inc., the original online product comparison guide (Sold to Microsoft in 1999.) Ambassador Traina spent two years at Microsoft after the acquisition. He began his career as the youngest brand manager ever at Seagram’s in New York.

 

Trevor D. Traina has served on the boards of the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF); Princeton University Art Museum, Gladstone Institutes; Venetian Heritage, Grace Cathedral and the Cathedral School for Boys. He holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University, a graduate degree in international relations and social studies from Oxford University and a master’s in business administration from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Andrew Tropp

Andrew is an entrepreneur and founder of a boutique advisory firm serving family offices and global executives. He spent over two decades in defense, government, and diplomatic roles, including senior advisor to five Nordic nations. Andrew holds degrees from University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins, and enjoys reading, surfing, and the challenges of nature. He is excited to support Mountain Seed Foundation by giving back to the families and children who need it most.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Pierre Vennen

I was born in France and have worn the hats of both a firefighter and a registered nurse. These roles allowed me to extend care and solace to those in their most vulnerable moments. It was in the French Alps that I discovered the power of mountains, climbing my first via ferrata. 

We resided in Scotland, where I met my wife. Now, as an artist, I am also a devoted father of three in our new home in Vienna, Austria.

Despite the bustling life, a burning desire to help my community led me to join the Mountain Seed Foundation from its inception.

As a proud member of the Austrian board, my involvement extends beyond the summer Healing Base Camps in Kaprun to year-round dedication.

My passion lies in offering our families every opportunity to fully embrace our programs and empowering them to share their stories within their communities. 

Together we can move mountains. 

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Dana Schmidt

Dana has over 20 years of experience managing programs, leading teams and working with partners at various U.S. government missions around the globe. These experiences included working in a warzone, where Dana saw the impacts of war on families firsthand. This warzone also brought a unique surprise, as this is where she met a Marine named Nathan. Nathan and Dana have been married for 17 years and have four beautiful children and a dog named Finnegan.

Nathan’s journey with PTSD became a family experience, without many resources for the spouse or children. When Mountain Seed began, Dana insisted on inviting mothers as well as children to develop a program for the whole family to heal together. Dana is honored to serve as MSF’s Executive Director and to be able to bring these lived lessons to families across the world.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Lindsey Bybee

Lindsey is a social media marketing professional with seven years experience working in the digital space. Holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University, Lindsey initially embarked on her professional journey as an educator, driven by her commitment to nurturing the positive development of children. While her career eventually diverted from the field of education, Lindsey’s passion for fostering children’s growth and advancement remains.

Living in Kyiv in 2017, Lindsey discovered a profound affection for Ukraine and its people. After her time in Ukraine, her family also lived in Tbilisi, Georgia and currently resides in Garmisch, Germany. Embracing life in Garmisch has deepened her family’s appreciation for the mountains and the healing power of nature.

As a mother of three, Lindsey holds dear the opportunity to instill in her children the values of global citizenship, empathy, and curiosity about the world. Her experiences living abroad ignited a passion for travel, photography, and the exploration of diverse cultures, enriching both her personal and professional pursuits.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Kristen Calvin

Kristen brings over 15 years of experience in the public interest sector, with a career devoted to advancing justice, human dignity, and community resilience. Her work spans legal advocacy, international diplomacy, and grassroots organizing—all grounded in a deep commitment to supporting those affected by conflict and systemic injustice.

Her path has included providing legal services to low-income communities in Washington, D.C., supporting global education and policy initiatives, and serving in U.S. Embassies in Ukraine and Georgia—regions shaped by histories of war and displacement. Kristen has worked across cultures and systems to promote rights-based reform in areas including victims’ advocacy, children’s protection, disability access, and education equity.

A highlight of her career has been her work with Mountain Seed Foundation, which brought together many of the threads that have defined her journey—international service, humanitarian values, working with children, cross-cultural collaboration, and a deep respect for the resilience of communities affected by war. 

Kristen holds a J.D. from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Colorado. As a licensed attorney and trained mediator, Kristen focuses on helping mission-driven nonprofits navigate legal and compliance challenges with integrity and sustainability. She brings a global perspective to her work and a passion for fostering transparency, accountability, and meaningful impact.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Dr. Amit Oren

A clinical psychologist, Amit G. Oren earned her PhD at The New School for Social Research in New York City and has treated patients in private practice for over thirty years. She has been an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine–where she supervises psychology fellows–for over twenty-five years.

Dr. Oren joined Mountain Seed Foundation (MSF) in 2022. In collaboration with MSF, she helped develop and implement “Permission to Flourish™,” a unique psychotherapy program based in nature and founded on the principles of positive psychology. She served a year on the Advisory Board before joining the Board of Directors in 2023.

This program was the subject of Camp Courage, a 2023 documentary film—currently streaming on Netflix–that focuses on the inspiring story of two camp participants from Ukraine. In addition to her cameo in the film, she was featured in a 60 Minutessegment titled “Rise,” which also highlighted MSF’s unique, nature-based group therapy program and its impact on Ukrainian victims of war. 

An active member of the International Positive Psychology Association, Dr. Oren was invited to be a keynote speaker at the 2023 International Positive Psychology Association Congress, where she presented her work and experience with Ukrainian refugee and Gold Star families. She has been a member of the American Psychological Association for over thirty years.

A dedicated educator and contributor within the Yale psychiatric community, she has shared her considerable knowledge and clinical expertise by conducting workshops and lecturing extensively in the US and abroad. She has instructed on the clinical application of positive psychology at private clinics and universities in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile.

Dr. Oren is an avid gardener and art collector. She has traveled around the world and has a particular interest in the healing arts of indigenous cultures. She is passionate about positive psychology and deeply committed to applying its concepts and research findings to the practice of psychotherapy: “Giving yourself permission to flourish is the gateway to creating a life worth living,” she says.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Iryna Prykhodko

Iryna Prykhodko is one of the founding members of the Mountain Seed Foundation and serves as Program Director. She brings professional experience as well as a broad network of professional and institutional contacts in Ukraine.

Iryna spent most of her life in Crimea. In 2008, she moved to Kyiv together with her husband, a military service member, following his new duty assignment. She is a mother of two children: a 23-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.

She holds three Master’s degrees (MA) in Economics, Law, and International Relations (Webster University).

In 2019, Iryna relocated to Vienna, Austria, where she and her husband funded and organized their first camp for children of fallen service members. Following the establishment of the Mountain Seed Foundation, she has been involved in the development and implementation of programs for Ukrainian families.

Iryna also runs her own EU-based business consulting company.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Sherry Sullivan

Sherry recently celebrated her 30th anniversary at H&R Block where she manages a busy team of tax professionals.  Prior to H&R Block she worked in a variety of bookkeeping and accounting roles.  When not in her office, Sherry enjoys spending time with family (in person and virtually) as well as crocheting and quilting.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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Daniel Sullivan

Dan is a retired USG senior executive who managed large IT and communications organizations throughout a 25 year career.  Following his USG retirement, he continued to support the USG as a contractor, focused on special programs and senior level support until retiring again in 2022.  When not helping Sherry with MSF finance management, Dan enjoys golf and his life-long ham radio hobby.

Mountain Seed Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.