Mike Foss serves as the President of the Warrior Bonfire Program and was previously on the Board of Directors. As President, Mike oversees the vision and mission of the program. His responsibilities include oversight of all organization fundraising efforts, expenditures, hierarchy, and implementation of the organizations’ growth plan. Mike is certified in Mental Health First Aid and has been trained to provide initial help to people experiencing problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders, through the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Mike is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, Engineer. Foss served as a Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant, 132nd Engineer Battalion; Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 4th Engineer Battalion; Commander, 994th Engineer Company (Bailey Bridge) and the 409th Engineer Company (MGB); Executive Officer, 244th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy); Collection Manager, G2, SMDC/ARSTRAT; Commander, 3/361st TSBN; Deputy Commander, 5th Armor Brigade; and Military Executive, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.  He has volunteer leadership positions as the President of the Arapahoe High School Quarterback Club and the President of the Littleton Youth Sports Club.

Through personal and professional experiences, Mike’s understanding of those we serve and their needs, due to his military service, energizes his desire to build the Bonfire to its fullest potential in order to help all those that need it. Mike resides in Centennial, Colorado with his wife Peggy, they have three grown children, Morgan, Taylor, and Kyle.

Helen serves as our Vice President overseeing the organization’s operations including member services, marketing, and operational systems. Helen also serves as a mission coordinator for each of our Purple Heart Retreats managing and organizing event logistics and travel arrangements. Helen is certified in Mental Health First Aid and has been trained to provide initial help to people experiencing problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders, through the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Helen has over 19 years of experience with startup entrepreneurial businesses, process system development and management, customer relationship management, marketing collaboration, and network coordination. Helen has been with the Warrior Bonfire Program since 2014, building and developing all member registration systems and vetting processes, website and social media foundations, network relationships throughout the Veteran care industry, mission branding and messaging, and program service integrity.

Helen’s wide range of professional experience and personal experiences as a wife, mother, cancer survivor, and personal traumatic situations allows her the ability, understanding, and desire to help our combat-wounded veterans heal post-trauma. Helen resides in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband and enjoys spending time with her two grown sons, two daughter in laws, and two grandchildren.

Alaina serves as our Mission Coordinator with responsibilities to include the discovery of new retreat locations, retreat planning, and acquiring air transportation reservations for attending Purple Hearts. In addition, Alaina processes all general contact inquiries, Purple Heart registrations, scheduling participants on various retreats, and donation receipt responses.

Alaina’s background offers a solid platform to best serve our members in the areas of customer service, adventure planning, and relationship management. Prior to joining the Warrior Bonfire Program, Alaina was a Trip Leader at Adventure Travel Camps serving high schoolers at The Road Less Traveled, Secretary at Fordice Construction Company providing customer support and front desk management, Sales Consultant for Reunion Country Club Tennis Pro Shop, Key Holder Shift Manager at Kendra Scott, Restaurant Manager at Martins At Midtown, and while living in Juno, Alaska was a Ski Instructor, Bike Tour Guide, and an onboard Guest Services Representative with Alan Marine Whale Tours.

Alaina resides in Atlanta, GA, offering the Warrior Bonfire Program the ability to build relationships with significant area Veteran Services organizations, where she is also a Working Screen Actor in the Atlanta film industry.

Benjamin serves voluntarily as our Director of Veteran and Military Care, his primary role is to oversee and guide the organizations’ direction and operations as it relates to the mental health and well being of the veterans we serve.  Benjamin is a licensed therapist focusing on Veterans and a Purple Heart recipient. This unique combination of experience offers the Warrior Bonfire Program and it’s members a solid foundation to take action when we encounter a Veteran in crisis.  Benjamin trains all our retreat event leaders to recognize warning signs of a Veteran in crisis and the appropriate actions to take when necessary. Benjamin also serves in the capacities of  Retreat Leader and an On-Call resource for our leaders or members needing further help, direction or referrals for additional counseling or therapies.
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Benjamin was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, he joined the National Guard in 1998 as a Flight Operations Specialist upon graduating from High School.  Benjamin attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke on a wrestling scholarship until he was injured.  In 2001, he joined Active Duty Army as an Infantryman, was stationed in South Korea and in Kansas, where he then was deployed to Iraq twice, 2003 and 2004-2005. Benjamin was wounded in 2003.  After completing his initial enlistment, he joined the Mississippi National Guard as an Infantryman and attended the University of Mississippi where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Economics, a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  Benjamin is now a  Licensed Professional Counselor providing counseling to a wide range of clientele including veterans and first responders. ​ Benjamin resides in Belden, MS with his wife and two children.

Erin serves voluntarily as our Spouse Support Coordinator managing our Strong Heart Spouses Retreats as well as providing ongoing support and assistance to those that have registered for our program. Erin brings her own experience as the wife of a Purple Heart WBP Member to offer resources and direction to those we serve.

Erin was born and raised in Southaven Mississippi, attended the University of Mississippi earning her degree in Communication Science Disorders with a focus on speech pathology.  She is currently an elementary school Assistant Teacher working on her certification to become a Special Education teacher, as well as the owner of This N That Creations. Erin brings to the organization an incredible amount of energy, compassion, organization, and the willingness to serve in a multitude of needed capacities.  Erin resides in Belden, MS with her spouse Ben, a Purple Heart Member of the WBP, with their two children, Parker and Riley, along with their service dog Arleigh.

Skip serves voluntarily as our organization’s Chaplin providing spiritual growth and guidance to Purple Heart Members, staff, board, or volunteers when needed or requested. Skip’s passion is his warrior relationship with God. At age 30, he had an encounter with God that helped him get on a solid path. His desire is to see men and women discover their purpose in faith and live an adventure-filled, purpose-filled life. Although far from perfect, he seeks to be a faithful influence of God’s grace to others.

Skip was born in Marietta, Georgia. Two days after graduating high school, he was on his way to boot camp at Parris Island, SC. Skip served in the USMC in Supply, finished in the Reserves, and served from 1985 until his honorable discharge in April 1993. Since then as an entrepreneur now owns and manages an insurance brokerage firm.

Skip’s hobbies include deer hunting, turkey hunting, guns and shooting, hiking, camping, running, working out, and CrossFit. Skip resides in Acworth, Georgia with his wife of 36 plus years, Wendy, and has 3 grown children.