Introducing Our Clay Hunt Fellows
Team Rubicon Announces Its Fourth Cohort
The Clay Hunt Fellows Program is a 12-month leadership and training program for veteran members of Team Rubicon. The intent of the program is to develop competent professionals capable of competing in the civilian workforce, and as leaders within Team Rubicon. These members represent the organization in the spirit of Clay Hunt. Congratulations to the following 12 who will serve on the fourth cohort:
Nick Mrzlak
Farmington, NM
U.S. Navy, 1993–1996 — served as a hospital corpsman serving aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Currently: EMS and Fire Science Instructor at San Juan College
Education: AAS in Fire Science from San Juan College, Fire Academy with the Farmington Fire Department, certified as an EMT-Paramedic from the Columbia Swedish Medical Center in Colorado.
Also: Retired Battalion Chief after 18 years of service with the Farmington Fire Department, specializing in technical rescue and EMS. He also served as a Tactical Medic with the Farmington Police Department.
“The sense of purpose we provide to veterans and first responders is not matched. I do not know of any other organization that has more ability to adapt and change the model of disaster response. The Clay Hunt Fellows Program offers me the opportunity to build on my skills, add value, and grow with the organization.”
Dave Petersen
Canberra, Australia (Posted at Fort Sill, OK)
Australian Regular Army, 2006–2016
Currently: Artillery Officer in the Australian Army
Education: Graduate of the Royal Military College — Duntroon.
Highlights: Currently serving as an Australian Army Officer with postings all around Australia and in the USA where he learnt about, joined, and deployed with Team Rubicon. “The Team Rubicon and Australian cultures are very similar — talk only gets you so far, action is what counts at the end of the day.”
“Feeling the doldrums that follow combat, I began volunteering as a wild land firefighter. Responding to emergency and disaster scenarios is the closest I have felt to combat, surrounded by like-minded individuals with a mission at hand. I feel that Team Rubicon is the next, and natural, extension of my requirement to serve my community and fellow veterans.”
JJ Selvig
Westworth Village, TX
U.S. Marine Corps, 2003–2010
Currently: Serving as the Region VI Interim Regional Administrator
Education: Graduate of Arlington Heights High School
Also: Recently selected to be a guest speaker at the Texas Behavioral Health Institute — Transforming Texas: Connecting The Dots of Behavioral Health symposium this spring, featuring his original presentation on Veteran Reintegration Through Continued Service.
“Once I found Team Rubicon and discovered that outlet of continued service, it became therapeutic for me. And to be able to help create and build out a state to give others that opportunity is an honor and a blessing that I never thought I would know. It isn’t just about continuing my service to help myself but to help others along the way.”
Lisa Smith
Fort Collins, CO
U.S. Air Force, 2007–2010
Currently: Serves as the Region VIII Engagement Manager
Education: Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Colorado State University currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston College.
Also: Lisa is the ever-present volunteer. She’s the one who slaps together a Regional Conference, delivers a national presentation, flies out on a moment’s notice to support an international operation, or pulls up the slack when another leader is in need.
“Helping others, in whatever capacity you can, gives us the essential altruistic behaviors that society, as a whole, needs. Volunteerism gives us a sense of community, an attempt at making the world we live in a better place.”
Adam Hale
Brooklyn, NY
U.S. Navy, 2000–2003
Currently: Serves as an EMT and professional chef.
Education: Graduate of the Clinton School of Culinary Arts.
Also: “Moose” (as his friends refer to him) nearly missed his interview for the Clay Hunt Fellows Program because he was rescuing workers trapped in a high-rise construction site collapse.
“Anyone can be a manager, very few can be true leaders. Team Rubicon and the Clay Hunt Fellows Program can help make me that leader. With that combination of great leaders and even better teammates, the world cannot help but be a better place. TR got me across the river — the CHFP will be the torch that burns my boat.”
Miguel Hernandez
Alexandria, VA
U.S. Army, 2007–2014
Currently: Previously held the Region III Logistics Manager — stepped down to focus on his application for the Clay Hunt Fellows Program.
Education: Attending the Chicago School of Professional Psychology pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Also: Worked a Peer Support Specialist for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program and a Career Coach Fellow for The Mission Continues.
“To me, being of service is something that anyone can do. It can be more of an attitude to have necessarily a thing you do. To be of service, you don’t have to be in front of others, the key is understanding how others may benefit from your work.”
Chris Scroggins
Oregon, MO
U.S. Marine Corps, 2005–2009
Currently: Team Rubicon’s Missouri State Coordinator
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Comprehensive Crisis Response from Northwest Missouri State University
Also: Founded the Student Veterans Association at Northwest Missouri State University in 2012 and served as the president until graduating in 2014.
“After leaving the military and entering college, I struggled to adjust to civilian life. I often thought of reenlisting, figuring I was not cut out for civilian life and the military was my only option. At this point, I discovered the emergency management program at my university, immediately switching majors and diving right in. I loved the idea of serving the community in a constructive way that benefitted others. I was serving the people, but instead of destroying, I was building.”
Victoria Young
Belton, MO
U.S. Navy Reserves, 2005–2016
Currently: Security Officer for NPB Companies and the Region VII Engagement Manager for Team Rubicon.
Education: Currently attending the University of Phoenix pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration and Emergency Management.
Also: Victoria is a mentor and Female Warrior Relations Coordinator with the Warriors’ Ascent Program in the metropolitan Kansas City area and helped facilitate the very first female cohort last fall.
“Last year I stood in the office of an emergency manager and told him about what Team Rubicon could do for his community, which had suffered a flood. I saw the look on his face as it changed from caution to hope that we could help the community. With tears in his eyes he looked at me and said, ‘You must be angels — just what I have been praying for.’ I knew from that moment that we would do our best to help this community who needed “angels.’”
Siggie St. Clair
Chicago, IL
U.S. Army Reserve, 2011–2014
Currently: Team Rubicon Region V Deputy Training Officer
Education: Attending The Chicago School of Professional Psychology pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Also: Siggie believes Team Rubicon combines her three passions: veterans, service to others, and psychology together creating a perfect atmosphere for growth and the ability to have a positive impact in the TR community and the communities TR serves.
“We, as human beings, are distinguished by our lives lived in love and service to others. Through volunteering with Team Rubicon, I have experienced first hand how service creates a positive impact on a community. Service is more than and annual event; to me, it is a lifestyle.”
Brandon Bunch
Alice, TX
U.S. Marine Corps, 2000–2004
Currently: EMT-Paramedic/Firefighter in Austin, TX
Education: Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University.
Also: Started a nonprofit in Texas for veterans, first responders, and their families — a retreat center where these families struggling with PTS could enjoy the great outdoors through fishing, hiking, and horseback riding.
“I am passionate about people, helping people, relationships and making a difference no matter how small. I am especially passionate about helping veterans and first responders! There is a bond that is shared with a group of veterans and first responders that one can’t explain, it has to be experienced.”
Holly Hellenschmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
U.S. Air Force, 2007–2011
Currently: Technical Analyst for Oracle USA and serves as the Region VIII Technology Manager.
Education: Master of Business Administration with focus in Project Management from Colorado Technical University.
Also: Developed Region VIII’s first technology program aiming to extend Team Rubicon’s capabilities by improving day to day operations for leadership, define technical requirements for operations and provide training opportunities for platforms such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
“While serving in the Air Force, I only began to build the leadership qualities that I have today. TR has allowed me to continue that journey and discover who I was meant to become. Each and every member I have met in my three years with Team Rubicon has taught me something different because we all come from diverse backgrounds and possess different skills. Just like in the military, we all work together as a team to reach overall objectives, and I am so humbled to have been able to replace my Air Force uniform with our famous grey shirt. TR has truly touched my heart in ways that no other organization could.”
Thank you to our generous sponsors of the Clay Hunt Fellows Program:
