Board of Directors

Russ is a U.S. Army combat veteran who served as a Counterintelligence Special Agent. His military service instilled a lifelong commitment to integrity, leadership, and service to others. Following his military career, Russ transitioned to executive-level leadership roles within federal and civilian pre-employment background investigation organizations, where he directed complex operations supporting both government and commercial clients. He is also a Certified Professional Coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching and serves as an instructor and mentor at Colorado Youth Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening family relationships through outdoor recreation and education.

In 2024, Russ became a living kidney donor, an experience that deepened his appreciation for community connection and personal resilience—values central to Healing Warriors Program’s mission. Russ has extensive experience in business administration, strategy, and leadership development and is completing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. His passion for veteran wellness, ethical leadership, and organizational development drives his work with HWP as he helps advance its strategic and operational goals.

Murphy is a graduate of the University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Systems. His coursework and studies included; Enterprise Data and Content Management, Building Business Applications, Business Data Communications and Networking, Systems Strategy Architecture and Design, and Financial Modeling and Business Intelligence. Prior to pursuing his degree, Murphy served a combination of 11 years, active duty and as a reservist, in the United States Navy. During his time in the military he was entrusted with a broad array of leadership responsibilities, molding him into a driven and dynamic individual with extensive experience in working under pressure and diverse working environments while maintaining a positive, achievement-oriented attitude. Murphy exemplifies his commitment to service in the community through his extensive participation in both local and national nonprofit efforts, particularly in the veteran sector. Murphy volunteers for VFW Post 1 and other Veteran nonprofits,  as well as serving as a Director on the Healing Warriors Program Executive Board.

Joel served in the Colorado Army National Guard from 2010 to 2016, deploying to Kuwait, Canada and supporting numerous domestic operations. This experience impressed the importance of developing alternative therapies to help veterans and their families. Joel has over 10 years of experience in the airline industry and currently works at American Airlines. Joel graduated from Colorado State University in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration: Investment Securities Analysis. He completed his Masters of Business Administration with finance certificate from CSU in 2015. Joel has worked with numerous small Colorado businesses on financial matters. As lifelong Colorado resident, Joel enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, and running around the Front Range.

Kristin is dedicated to supporting the health, wellness, and psychological safety of the veteran community. As a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner (HTCP) and the founder of Holistic Energy Healing, LLC, she works within organized clinical frameworks to provide non-narcotic, integrative care for Veterans across the Colorado Front Range. Her practice focuses on vital areas of veteran support, including PTSD recovery, physical well-being, and suicide prevention. Through mobile and pop-up clinical models at organized events, she works to lower barriers to care and expand the reach of healing services to local service members.
In addition to her holistic practice, Kristin brings strong professional experience in risk management, compliance, and organizational governance. She currently serves as a Senior Operations Risk Manager for a national banking institution, where she specializes in building systematic operational frameworks, protecting organizational data, and helping teams safely navigate rapid institutional growth and regulatory transitions. She holds a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts from Albright College and maintains certifications as an Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS) and a Fraud Examiner (ACFE).

Kristin’s commitment to community service is also reflected in her volunteer history, having chaired the advancement curriculum for a local youth scouting unit and coordinated large-scale event logistics for high school civic organizations. Kristin focuses her efforts on ensuring the physical and emotional well-being of others, dedicating her organizational skills and holistic practice to advancing the mission of the Healing Warriors Program.