Scars to STARs Day 2026

Richard Grannon is a dedicated advocate for individuals seeking to break free from narcissistic abuse and reclaim their self-worth. With a deep understanding of human psychology, he integrates a range of therapeutic approaches—including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamics, and Zen meditation—into a practical and effective methodology for recovery.

Grannon’s journey began in self-defense and security training, where he instructed police officers and soldiers in handling the mental stresses of combat. During this time, he noticed that many of those he trained faced personal struggles at home, inspiring him to expand his work into psychological resilience and recovery from abuse.

A graduate of Aston University with a BSc in Psychology and a specialization in NLP, Grannon chose to forge his own path rather than conforming to conventional psychotherapeutic practices. He founded The Spartan Life Coach, a pioneering multimedia program that equips survivors of narcissistic abuse with the tools to regain confidence, autonomy, and emotional strength.

His work extends beyond coaching, as he has also been a motivational speaker and program developer in the British education system, where he has helped children and teenagers develop resilience and mental toughness. He trained with NLP co-founder Richard Bandler, further refining his expertise in psychological transformation.

Through his teachings, courses, and extensive online presence, Richard Grannon continues to shed light on the realities of narcissistic abuse—an issue he believes remains critically overlooked in modern society. His mission is clear: to help individuals reclaim their power, heal from past trauma, and build a future free from psychological manipulation.

Jennifer Libby has been a psychotherapist for over 20 years treating at-risk and “difficult to treat” adolescents with experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, as well as many years in the public and private education sectors. Jennifer continues to work closely as an advisor on the development of purpose driven Next Gen programs.

However, after watching the youth mental health and teen suicide crisis unfold over the last 20 years and living through becoming a grieving parent after the unexpected death of her 9 month old son, Jennifer felt like she needed to do more to make mental health less stigmatized and more accessible for teens.

In 2020, Jennifer founded Promly, an award winning social connecting ecosystem for young people 13-19 (with AI age gates for a safer space) created alongside a GenZ team to get ahead of the youth mental health, anxiety & social media crisis, while also including a scalable path to real life activities, internships, and civic action for young people under 25.

Promly offers genuine connection through interests, school clubs, and life goals while also providing 360 degrees of wrap around mental health support including talk, text, peer support, and even turns the phone into an anxiety/panic reducing biofeedback device (reading heartrate during panic from the phone flash and guiding the user to calm) – available for teens everywhere, regardless of ability to pay. Promly aims to connect and empower teens globally while creating easier access to layers of mental health support and innovation (partnered with UCSF’s Neuroscience lab, “Music as Medicine” out of Stanford, and Harvard’s Program for Refugee Trauma), especially as it relates to underserved populations and policies that directly impact young people.

Jennifer’s advocacy for better treatment of youth by Big Tech has resulted in her being invited to speak directly to 26 U.S. House Representatives regarding her on-going efforts (informed by client experience and Promly’s Gen Z advisory board) to have YouTube remove and/or disrupt the algorithm for the “how to tie a noose” and “how to hang yourself” videos that even in 2025 continue to provide step-by-step video instruction that seems to be contributing to many more teen suicides.

Jennifer also represents Promly working closely with The Black Mental Health BrainTrust through Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman’s office, leads Promly’s Young Innovators Coalition, alongside GenZ board member, Christian Elam. The Innovators Coalition is a nonpartisan effort to better represent the youth voice in policy.

Most recently, Promly’s policy team co-authored the Kids Advisory Council, including formal youth representation, into the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA- Passed in the Senate 91-3 in July 2024). When this policy passes, it will be the first time in US history that youth representation has been formally and effectively included in a federal policy. The “Advisory Council” Promly co- authored is a piece of actionable legislation that can easily be applied to policies globally to effectively give young people 16-25 a formal and collaborative seat at the table in policy creation and implementation, especially as it relates to policies that directly impact young people.

Promly sent 3 youth delegates to the UNGA in 2024 and plans to continue expanding their work and reach in collaboration with other impact leaders across the globe. Jennifer recently received the 2025 UN World Logic Day Award for her work inmental health and innovation to promote peace globally. Promly’s Innovator’s Coalition (www.forchangemakers.org) will be hosting a series of live events including The ChangeMakers Festival at The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and inWashington DC at a new brick and mortar location in Dupont Circle. Promly will be releasing another ecosystem mobile application (4ChangeMakers app) for the 17-30 year old global population to help unite young changemakers from numerousnonprofits in a variety of social impact initiatives globally to amplify collective social impact efforts for greater reach.

Jennifer has been asked to speak publicly on a variety of other mental health concerns impacting teens and has provided consultation with numerous agencies including Center for Humane Tech (producers of the “The Social Dilemma”) on best practices for teens and tech and most recently, Promly interns were included in “The Social Awakening”, the sequel to “The Social Dilemma”.

Jennifer is also in another docuseries that takes a close look at the mental health crisis,meaningful current innovation in brain health, and the potential policy changes that are driving better outcomes. Jennifer is already helping to raise awareness of theindications of and mitigations for youth distress, as well as brain health innovations that are currently helping even the most hard to treat young people through speaking engagements scheduled at technology and health forums, as well as large corporate, partnerships, and other organizations throughout the year. She was recently named one of New Jersey’s top 100 innovators of 2024 in tech innovation.

Jennifer now resides in the great Garden State with her husband and four daughters. She loves skiing, is a huge fan of Gen Z, and feels like life would be better if every room had a disco ball.

George M. Rapier III, M.D., is Chairman and CEO of WellMed Medical Management, Inc., a growing, diversified, award-winning health care company specializing in care for older adults. A noted physician, Dr. Rapier founded WellMed in 1990 with two clinics in San Antonio, Texas, where WellMed remains headquartered.

WellMed is located in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio. WellMed has expanded its senior care in Las Cruces, New Mexico and Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Treasure Coast in Florida. WellMed specializes in senior health care by providing full coordination of care through providers who are board certified or specialize in Geriatrics, Family Practice, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, Palliative and Supportive Care, Neurology, Podiatric Surgery, Cardiology, Dermatology and Rheumatology.

Dr. Rapier is a Dallas native who earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He interned at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Rapier served as an assistant professor of medicine at the UT Health Science Center.

Over the years, Dr. Rapier developed a large and successful internal medicine practice while also concentrating on improving skills in physician and staff management. In 1990, he founded WellMed Medical Management, formerly known as Princeton Medical Management Resources.

Since the beginning, Dr. Rapier has made senior care and improving delivery of health care services a priority for WellMed. Dr. Rapier chaired a number of crucial committees required for medical group expansion and gained significant knowledge relevant to the changing payer and income structure of today’s medical group practice.

In October 1994, Dr. Rapier spearheaded implementation of a groundbreaking Electronic Medical Records project at the medical group practice. All WellMed clinics now have access to the system and ongoing training is available to all providers. Updates continue to customize the program to fit the needs of primary care practices in the managed care environment.

Dr. Rapier also led development of Clinical Health Protocol Screening software to access and evaluate clinical, lab and medication data providing preventive health and screening recommendations to physicians. He developed and continues to work with specialists to implement disease management programs to enhance the quality of life for WellMed patients.

Dr. Rapier has received numerous honors over the years as a business leader, medical professional and philanthropist. In 2009, he was named Physician Entrepreneur of the Year by Modern Physician, a leading online news source for health care executives and professionals. That same year he was inducted into the Mexican American/Hispanic Physicians Hall of Fame “for his contributions to the medical community and for his incredible community involvement.”

In 2010, the Mexican American Unity Council awarded Dr. Rapier with its Community Spirit Award for his philanthropic work in health care and education, and the La Prensa Foundation named him a 2010 Hispanic Heritage Award winner.

In 2021, he was named the Florida Council on Aging 2021 President’s Award honoree for his ongoing support of the agency and the older adults it serves. Dr. Rapier started supporting the agency in 2017 and this year gifted one of the largest amounts the FCOA has received in its history.

Dr. Rapier also established what is now known as the Rapier Family Foundation. This personal family charity distributes more than $1.5 million annually to causes benefiting at-risk youth, homeless animals and the environment. The Rapier Family Foundation has made donations totaling well over $35 million to various charities including Morgan’s Wonderland, the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, Healy Murphy Center, City Year San Antonio, Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio, The 100 Club of San Antonio, DaisyCares, SpaySA and Communities in Schools of San Antonio.

In 2006, Dr. Rapier also co-founded the non-profit WellMed Charitable Foundation, which supports seniors and their caregivers in our community with special emphasis on wellness, prevention and living with chronic illness. Adults age 60 and older can take advantage of free membership at 10 senior centers across Texas and Florida operated by the WellMed Charitable Foundation. Over a 12-year period, the WellMed Charitable Foundation has invested $31 million in Texas and Florida.

With local partners, the WellMed Charitable Foundation launched the Caregiver Teleconnection in 2011, a free service providing social interaction and education to caregivers using telephone technology. This first-of-its-kind program in the United States is available nationwide.

In 2011, Dr. Rapier spearheaded WellMed’s partnership with OptumTM, one of the nation’s largest health and wellness companies, to further expand its health care delivery system in existing and new markets. Dr. Rapier has served as a physician leader for the larger enterprise, and currently leads Optum’s clinical performance work, ensuring that all Optum entities are driving value and quality across care delivery markets to positively impact the health – and lives – of the patients we serve.

Doug Tieman is a transformative leader in behavioral healthcare with over four decades of experience, currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the STAR Network Foundation. As former President and CEO of Caron Treatment Centers, he led its national expansion, forged research partnerships, and raised over $250 million to advance addiction recovery.

A champion of patient-centered, outcomes-based care, he has testified before Congress, chaired the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), and remains a sought-after advisor in healthcare innovation and nonprofit leadership. He serves on multiple boards, including Tower Health, Arcs Health, and TAR, an organization addressing complex PTSD. A recognized speaker and author of Flying Over the Pig Pen, Tieman continues to drive ethical treatment practices, mental health advocacy, and leadership excellence through the STAR Network Foundation.

“Dr. Jamie” Huysman is the Founder and Executive Director of STAR Network, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting STARs – Survivors of Toxic Abusive Relationships worldwide. He also serves on the advisory board of the Wellmed Charitable Foundation. With an extensive career in developing outstanding clinical programming for the addiction and mental health communities, Dr. Jamie has continuously filled critical gaps in mental and behavioral health advocacy.

Dr. Jamie has appeared on hundreds of talk shows, court programs, reality shows, and news broadcasts, offering clear and accessible insights into trauma, addiction, and complex behavioral issues such as psychopathy, sociopathy, narcissism, homicidal, and suicidal behaviors.

In addition to his work with STAR Network, Dr. Jamie has an extensive background in behavioral healthcare management. He has run companies specializing in behavioral healthcare in both freestanding and medical-surgical environments and has developed a broad network of colleagues within hospital and managed care settings. As the founder of TV Aftercare, he has also been pivotal in post-broadcast support for audiences dealing with sensitive issues aired on television.

Dr. Jamie further served as Vice President of Provider Relations and Government Affairs at WellMed Medical Management, where he later became the organization’s Chief Compassion Officer, tasked with addressing physician burnout. In this role, he co-hosts regular radio podcasts titled “Caregiver SOS”, focusing on the needs of caregivers and healthcare professionals.

In his own personal recovery journey, he identified significant gaps in the addiction world, particularly in the treatment of CPTSD, and it is these gaps that STAR Network is now filling. STAR Network provides support through programs like TAR Anon™, a free support network for survivors, and is rolling out prevention parenting programs in hospitals nationwide.

Dr. Jamie is a visionary leader whose work focuses on creating culturally and clinically specific programs, ranging from support for men, women, and teens to addressing issues like worksite burnout, high-conflict family dynamics, and compassion fatigue. STAR Network’s TAR Anon™ is at the forefront of providing positive, neuro-regulative, supplemental support that can benefit both clients and staff in addiction and trauma recovery settings.

In sharing his personal journey of healing from CPTSD after leaving a toxic, abusive relationship, Dr. Jamie reveals the passion behind the creation of the STAR Network and its flagship program, TAR Anon™. As an engaging speaker, he emphasizes the importance of breaking the cycle of family trauma, famously stating, “If you don’t break the cycle of family trauma, the family trauma will break you.”

STAR Network continues to grow rapidly, with innovative and cutting-edge programs that foster healing and recovery on a global scale.

Tom has spent his full career in not-for-profit management, primarily in the health sector.

Most recently in April 2023 he concluded a 17-year tenure as CEO at Creating Healthier Communities. Previously, he served 20 years with American Diabetes Association (ADA), culminating in the role of Chief Field Officer, following six years with American Cancer Society.

He has architected several consequential health initiatives, not only bolstering organizational infrastructure to increase impact but also extending reach through collaboration with other organizations. His focus has been on social determinants of health and advancing health equity in underserved communities.

Currently, Tom serves as the Board Chair for ZERO Prostate Cancer, a member of the Pfizer Cancer Patient Centricity Steering Committee and a member of the Board of Directors for the Institute for Sustainable Development.

Residing in northern Virginia, Tom and his wife, Suzan, have enjoyed a 43-year marriage and have three adult children.

Jesse Kohler is a national leader, advocate, and systems-change strategist dedicated to building a trauma-informed, resilient, and equitable society where all individuals, families, and communities can thrive. He is the Founder and President of The Change Campaign, a national nonprofit that has grown throughout his career, beginning as his senior project at Oberlin College. The Change Campaign reflects Jesse’s longstanding mission to create a sustainable planet and a hopeful future for all. 

Jesse’s work is rooted in a decade of nonprofit leadership, grassroots service, and policy advocacy. He began his career in direct community work in Philadelphia before transitioning to systemic change efforts at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. His approach blends community-led engagement with data-informed policy strategies to create environments that foster resilience and healing. For five years, Jesse served as the first Executive Director (on loan) for the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP), a nationwide nonprofit advancing policy and practice that incorporates scientific understanding of trauma, health, and well-being across the lifespan.

Jesse holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Arcadia University and a Trauma Competent Professional certification from the Lakeside Global Institute. He is currently completing an Executive Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government, with anticipated completion in 2026.

Based in Washington, DC, Jesse lives with his partner and their pets and remains deeply connected to his roots in the Greater Philadelphia area and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His personal experiences, professional journey, and commitment to promoting holistic wellbeing and fuel his vision for systems transformation.