Founders
Austin Ives
Justin Jacobs, ACC, CALC
Justin Jacobs, ACC, CALC
Co-Founder and President
Following more than 20 years of honorable service in the U.S. Coast Guard, Austin transitioned to the private sector in 2022. As a USCG Boat Forces professional, Austin coordinated search and rescue missions and upheld the most solemn of duties to deliver next-of-kin notifications. More than ten years later, this experienced manifested as post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder.
Determined to use his recovery journey to help prevent service members from experiencing the same outcome, and to help those currently suffering, Austin developed Mindstrong Guardians' peer support program and inspired creation of the company. He also serves as the lead peer for lived experience conversations about operational stress and trauma.
Justin Jacobs, ACC, CALC
Justin Jacobs, ACC, CALC
Justin Jacobs, ACC, CALC
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Justin served for 22 years in the Coast Guard as a Marine Safety/Prevention professional and member of several anti-terrorism programs. He was stationed on all four coasts, including the Arctic, lived in Singapore for three years, and worked in 45 countries. He experienced numerous operational stressors during his work and travels, including mariner deaths and vessel casualty investigations.
Justin experienced mental illness and seasonal affective disorder while stationed in Anchorage, AK and understands the debilitating effects of anxiety and depression.
Justin's strengths as a mentor and leader in the Coast Guard served him well as he pivoted to a career in professional coaching. He is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation and is dedicated to improving the lives of his clients. Justin facilitates our Workshops and coaches clients one-on-one.
Steve Chamberlin
Justin Jacobs, ACC, CALC
Steve Chamberlin
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Steve served 25 years in the Coast Guard before transitioning to the private sector in 2015. His diverse Coast Guard career includes work as a CG Diver, a Boat Forces professional and as Commanding Officer of an Intelligence unit.
While proud of his service, Steve also suffers from severe anxiety and OCD, in part a result of a "zero defect" culture that skewed increasingly towards 24/7 accessibility and accountability.
His motivation to co-found Mindstrong Guardians is to help others manage their stress, to overcome mental health stigma in the service, and to encourage others to seek help.
Since his transition he has become an essayist, an entrepreneur and venture investor.
Steve runs all business operations and plans strategy for Mindstrong Guardians.
Advisors
Blythe Landry, (LCSW, M.Ed., GRM Specialist)
Blythe Landry is a trauma and grief expert, licensed therapist, speaker, international trainer and curriculum developer, author of the book Trauma Intelligence and the creator of Trauma Intelligence Training.
She provides clinical oversight of program development to ensure Mindstrong Guardian programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, safe and effective. View Blythe's clinical practice here.
Cari Thomas, RADM, Ret. USCG (CAE)
Cari Thomas is a disabled Coast Guard veteran, having served 36 years in uniform including earning her commission in 1984 at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. Her career included command at sea and ashore in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf and Caribbean, and assignments in personnel, resource management, and response ashore.
With a career of service to the United States in both public and private capacities, she served as the CEO, CG Mutual Assistance, the Executive Director the Navy League of the United States, on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Military Services (DACOWITS), and on the Board, Navy Mutual Aid Association.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Thomas volunteered for different organizations that help the disadvantaged, veterans, or animals. With multiple advanced degrees, Cari remains committed to a life of continual learning. In 2017, Mrs. Thomas earned a Non-Profit Executive Management Certificate from Georgetown University. She became a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2021.
Cari is married to her husband Gary, a Coast Guard veteran who is a full-time student, part time contractor and the Executive Director, Foundation for Coast Guard History. They have an adult daughter (who was born between sea tours) and a son-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas currently split time in both Tucson, Arizona and Chesapeake, Virginia. Her hobbies include her rescue dogs, driving her Mini, playing ukulele and piano, painting, and is a member of two book clubs.
Leanne Lusk,CAPT, Ret. USCG (MBA)
Leanne’s 25 years of honorable service included selection to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Military Campaign Office. She became a subject matter expert in all policies related to military sexual trauma, suicide prevention, and mental health care access. Leanne was responsible for CG adopting "Recovery" as a focus of SAPRR. She also pioneered Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) now a Service-wide hallmark of total force wellness. Welcome to the team, Leanne!
MaryBeth Goodman, MA, LPC, NCC
MaryBeth Goodman is the State Director at the Cohen Clinic at Alaska Behavioral Health, a grant organization of the Cohen Veterans Network supporting the SMVF community. With 28 years of clinical experience, MaryBeth earned her undergraduate degrees in mathematics, physics, philosophy, and education from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She continued her graduate studies in counseling and psychology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She is a licensed mental health clinician and does licensure reciprocity advocacy to ensure military and veteran spouses have licensure portability.
As the spouse of an Air Force combat veteran, MaryBeth intimately understands the challenges faced by military families. Residing in Eagle River, Alaska, with her two children and an obedient Basset Hound, she navigates the complexities of military life with insight and empathy. Growing up as an Army brat, MaryBeth's background strengthens her connection with the military community. Her clinical focus addresses various issues, including PTSD, trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, divorce, addiction, and sensory integration issues.
Her enduring commitment to fostering healing reflects not only her clinical expertise but also her ability to navigate the delicate balance between personal and professional life with grace and professionalism. She works with adults, children, and families and has yet to find a corner of the world where hope does not exist.