Board Members

Katherine Atwood, MD

Dr. Atwood is a Senior Research Scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Over the last twenty years she has been involved in the adaptation and evaluation of evidence-based programs in domestic and international settings.

She is trained in behavioral sciences and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. She co-leads the evaluation of Project AWARE in school districts in Indiana to support the social and emotional health of students. Dr. Atwood serves as a lead evaluator on a national effort to evaluate the impact of federal-funded substance abuse prevention programs to reduce opioid overdose and substance use harms in twenty-five states.

She has served as co-investigator on four randomized trials that sought to reduce HIV risk taking behaviors among adolescents with a specific focus on female adolescents in Thailand and Liberia and housing developments in the urban centers in the US. She has been the evaluator on numerous other grants and contracts at the national, state and local level and has published on behavioral measurement and developmental outcomes among adolescents. She lives in Louisville Kentucky with her husband and empty-nest puppy.

Richard Boland Jr.

Richard Boland Jr. has been teaching psychology and social science classes at the high school level for over 30 years. He has also been a practicing psychotherapist for the past 20 years.

Richard has served on a variety of boards and advisory committees including Family Scholar House, Walden School, Kent School of Social Work and others. He attended Centre College, University of Aix-Marseille, Institute for American Universities (in Canterbury, England), the College of William and Mary University, and the University of Louisville. He holds bachelors degrees in Liberal Studies and French and Masters degrees in Education and Clinical Social Work. Richard is a Louisville Kentucky native, is married and has two college age daughters.

James Latroy Burks, MA. Ed LPCC, NCC

James attended Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, KY; obtaining both his bachelor’s and master’s degree. He graduated with his master’s degree in 2003 and has been a counselor for over 18 yrs.

He has worked with several different populations in his 18 plus years of service in the mental health field. Some organizations include Spectrum Care Academy; Seven Counties Services; Jefferson County Public Schools; and private practice, The Therapy Room, LLP.

James has also been very involved in the community helping youth and families through several different sports organizations.
In 2008 James cofounded Southwest Youth Sports, Inc. which offered football, cheer and basketball teams for youth up to age 14 in Louisville, Ky.  Through Southwest Youth Sports, he was able to positively affect hundreds of youth throughout Louisville to participate in sports in which they may have not otherwise be able to participate. 

Through his innovation and tireless work, the organization was able to fundraise and garner additional support where she’s 11-14 were able to play for free.  This age he identified, where years where kids were most vulnerable to defect from organized sports and be pulled in other directions. Although James has stepped away from running the organization on a day-to-day basis, to focus on the ever growing needs of mental illness, he still maintains relationships with past participants and current leaders in the community to continue to help affect change for the youth.

As mental health awareness continues to grow James looks to publish his children’s book, “Harry the Horse” where he helps children identify trauma through a therapy aid and continues to develop on his theory of the “Glass Jar Memory”.

He looks to continue to offer devices through mental health utilizing his additional certifications in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, trauma focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Batters Intervention and Juvenile Sex Offender Therapy.

Vince Cain, PMP

Vince is the Founder of Right Mind Growth Consulting. As a project management and marketing expert with over 15 years of experience, Vince specializes in empowering teams, overcoming roadblocks, and designing creative solutions. Vince's professional career has included leadership positions with nonprofits, startups, and large corporations. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Ami, and their two children.

Judge Brian C. Edwards

Judge Brian Edwards has served as Judge of the Jefferson County Circuit Court’s 11th Division since September 4, 2009. From 2017-2019, he served as Chief Circuit Judge for the Jefferson County Metro Region.

Over the course of his judicial career, he has been the recipient of numerous awards including the University of Kentucky College of Law Distinguished Jurist award in 2021, the Kentucky Bar Association’s Distinguished Judge award in 2018, and the Kentucky Justice Association’s Trial Judge of the Year award in 2014.

Prior to joining the bench, Judge Edwards practiced law for 13 years receiving the Louisville Bar Association’s Frank Haddad Outstanding Young Lawyer award in 2004. He also served as an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences and as an Adjunct Professor at the Brandeis School of Law.

Judge Edwards attended Northwestern University, graduating with honors in 1992 before attending and graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1996. In addition to serving on the Board of directors of the Pete Foundation, Judge Edwards serves on the Board of the Louisville Soccer Alliance, is the Founding Director of the West Louisville Soccer Initiative, and has previously served on numerous Boards including Seven Counties Services, The Louisville Urban League, and the Chestnut Street YMCA. Judge Edwards is married to attorney Angela Logan Edwards and they are the proud parents of two sons.

Kelly Gannon

Kelly Gannon is the Chief Operating Officer for Centerstone Kentucky, formally Seven Counties Services.  As Chief Operating Officer of Centerstone KY she is responsible for setting the strategic direction for four lines of service, Adult Mental Health, Child and Family Behavioral Health, Addiction Services and Intellectual and Development Services.  Centerstone KY is the leading provider of behavioral healthcare in the Louisville region serving over 34,000 people annually. 

Ms. Gannon has worked in the behavioral health field for over twenty seven years.  She has extensive experience in strategic planning and implementation and proven leadership in the application of Evidence Based Practices.    She has leadership skills in coordinating and promoting collaborative relationships with community providers and key stakeholders to create real collective impact and positive outcomes.  She has adept knowledge for developing practice management opportunities to support the mission of behavioral health.

She earned her master’s degree in social work in 1994 from the University of Kentucky and her independent licensure in 2002.  Most recently she earned her MBA from the University of Louisville.

Anyah Hoang-Ansert, PhD, DPA

Anyah Hoang-Ansert is the Vice President of Veteran and Housing Services at Volunteers of America Mid-States in Louisville, KY.  In this role, she oversees and is responsible for all Veteran and Housing/Homeless Services programs in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana. 

With 20 years of experience in Veteran and housing services, Dr. Hoang-Ansert joined Volunteers of America Mid-States in 2015.  She is a Certified Professional Mediator, and is a facilitator in ReST, QPR, and CALM. She holds a BA in Political Science and a BA in Military Affairs, a Master of Public Administration and a MS in Organizational Leadership, a Doctor of Public Administration, and a PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Addiction and Disaster and Trauma Relief.  She serves as the co-chair of the Veteran Community Alliance of Louisville, promoting collaboration and coordination of Veteran services within the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and serves on the Kentucky Governors Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.

Dr. Hoang-Ansert is committed to promoting mental health and wellbeing, destigmatizing suicide, and spotlighting the role of moral injury in individual’s psychological health.

Christopher K. Peters, MD

Christopher K. Peters, MD, is a Professor in Pediatrics and a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University Of Louisville (U of L) School Of Medicine.  Dr. Peters is the medical director for the Norton Children’s Behavioral and Mental Health Clinic (i.e. formerly the Bingham Clinic). Since 2004, he has been the primary Sport Psychiatry consultant to U of L athletic department and their student-athletes and has treated many athletes of all ages (grade school through professional elite athletes). 

Dr. Peters has a strong commitment to students and their mental health and wellbeing and a clinical focus on working with young developing athletes.  As a faculty member, he has taught medical students, diverse resident groups (general psychiatrists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, pediatricians, psychologists. Etc.) and community groups over the years regarding mental health. 

Dr. Peters was a college athlete at Hanover College (Cross Country) and is currently a member of the mental health registry for the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams as well as a member of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry.  As a board member on the ThePeteFoundation.org working to continue Dr. Peters works to decrease the stigma and barriers for youth needing mental health care.  

Jeff Jones, MD

Dr. Jeff Jones is currently a resident in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso. He earned his MD from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2020.

Dr. Jones also holds a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Louisville JB Speed School of Engineering.

Michelle Jones

Michelle Jones is a part of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Class of 2024, where she is involved in numerous initiatives focused on improving health outcomes and health equity in the Louisville Community. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Louisville JB Speed School of Engineering.

Michelle has served on a number of boards and advisory committees including the National Alliance on Mental Illness Louisville and the Louisville Health Advisory Board’s Committee for Behavioral Health.

Molly Cassaro Jones

Molly Cassaro Jones is President of Inspire Medical, Inc. Since 1996, Molly has directed a corporation dedicated to addressing the medical needs of rural communities in Kentucky.

Molly has served on a variety of boards and advisory committees including The Depression Center at The University of Louisville, Jefferson Community College Medical Technology, Walden School, and others. She holds licenses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the professions of Engineering and Law. She holds a master’s degree in engineering from The Speed Scientific School of the University of Louisville, and a Juris Doctorate from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. Molly is a long-time resident of Louisville Kentucky; a city in which she is happy to have raised her four boys and her daughter.

Kate O’Bryan

With over 20 years of dedicated experience in the mental health field, Kate has made significant contributions across various sectors, including psychiatric hospitals, foster care, college athletics and private practice. Her passion for mental health advocacy and community engagement has driven her career, culminating in her role as the Director of Mental Health and Performance at the University of Louisville Athletic Department, where she has specialized in social work in sports for over a decade.

In her capacity at the university, Kate has developed programs that not only support the mental well-being of athletes but also foster a culture of resilience and performance enhancement. Her efforts in mental health advocacy have extended beyond the athletic realm, as she actively engages with the community to raise awareness and provide resources for those in need.

Family is at the heart of Kate’s life. She cherishes her time with her wife, Christy, and their active son, Lucas George along with their dog Ellie Mae. Together, they create lasting memories through various family activities, from playing sports to embarking on outdoor adventures. Kate’s commitment to her family and friends reflects her belief in the importance of connection and shared experiences, making her life rich with love and laughter.

Katie Ryan, JD

Katie Ryan has been Director of Risk Management for Inspire Medical, Inc since 2005. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisville Speed Scientific School, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. She has been devoting her energy and skills towards the mission of The Pete Foundation since 2017.