About Us
MEET THE TEAM
Jose (Tony) Gamez, Co-Founder, Co-Chair
Tony is a retired Police Officer who served for 24 years with the Grand Rapids Police Department. He spent the majority of his Police career investigating high level narcotics traffickers, with additional duties on the Peer Support Team and as a Critical Incident Negotiator. Additionally, he worked as a Patrol and Community Police Officer. After retiring from GRPD, Tony worked as a Facility Inspector with the State of Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency. Tony is an entrepreneur, Army Veteran, and previously a Certified Occupational Assistant. Tony enjoys fishing and supporting peers and others who struggle with mental health challenges.
Russ Taylor, Co-Founder, Co-Chair
Russ is a retired Grand Rapids Police Officer. He spent the majority of his 22 year law enforcement career on a full time SWAT Team, and five years hunting violent fugitives with the FBI. Russ attended the West Coast Trauma retreat in 2017 and has returned twice as a peer.
Richard Wells, Secretary
Amy Taylor, Treasurer
Amy is a Police Spouse and a former Police Officer herself. Amy is married to SST Co-Founder, Russ Taylor. She attended the West Coast Trauma Retreat Spouse of Survivor program in 2018. Amy is involved in SST spouse and family programs.
Joseph House, DC, Board Member
Dr. Joe House is the owner of Outlook Chiropractic and Wellness. He is a 2010 graduate of Greenville High School and is married to Kelly. Together they have a beautiful baby boy.
Patrick Harig, Board Member
Patrick Harig retired from the Grand Rapids Police Department after a 34-year career. He spent 9 years in the Jail Unit, 4 years on patrol, 10 years on the full time SWAT unit, 10years on the Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force with the FBI, 1 year in the Training Unit, and was also on the Departments Bomb Squad for 15 years. Pat attended the West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat in 2017, as a client, and was a guest speaker for First Responders Resiliency Inc. in 2018. Pat was a peer for WCPR Indiana in June of 2023 and 2024.
Jessie Huizenga, Marketing & Communications Committee Chair
Jessie Huizenga is a marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in project management and campaign execution. She is married to Aaron Huizenga, an officer at Walker Police Department.
Jessie is a Michigan transplant originally from Wyoming. She currently resides in West Michigan with her husband and two children, ages 11 and 9.
Gina Essex MA LPC-S, NARM Post-Master Level Therapist & Consultant, Clinical Advisor & Program Developer, Board Member
Gina Essex has been in private practice for 19 years, with a special focus on working with individuals who experience symptoms related to Complex Trauma including Post-Traumatic Stress Injury, Acute Stress Response, Developmental Trauma and Relational Trauma. Gina’s approach to working with First Responders, Veterans and their families is based on a solid foundation of 20 years of clinical experience, 10 years of training and consulting for therapists and health practitioners world-wide using the Neuro Affective Relational Model for Complex Trauma and many years of engaging in her own personal growth and healing from trauma. Gina’s approach to working with individuals includes psycho-education, somatic mindfulness, relational attunement and therapeutic connection. Gina has agreed to train and mentor SST’s Lead Peer Group Members as a way to offer clinically informed, peer-led support, trainings and workshops to area Departments, First Responders, Veterans and families as a way to provide more effective means and a path to health and wellbeing for those suffering from symptoms related to traumatic stress in addition to creating cultural competency trainings for Mental Health Therapists and Health practitioners working with individuals suffering from traumatic stress.
Roma Thurin, Attorney at Law, M.Div., Fund Development Committee Chair
Roma Thurin is the Founder and Managing Partner of Thurin Law Group, PLLC. She is a licensed attorney in Michigan and New York with over 30 years of experience in transactional law, focusing on corporate law, non-profits, and business development.
Roma’s professional experience also includes roles as Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Caro Community Hospital, Senior Development Officer – Corporate Accounts for Goodwill of Greater Washington, and Vice President and Project Developer for a $12 million faith-based community initiative and church-building project. She has also worked as the Executive Director and Grant Writer for a 125-bed nonprofit men’s homeless shelter with 26 facilities under Federal Housing and Urban Development Programs. Additionally, she has served as a Government Contract Developer and Contract Manager.
Roma holds a Master’s degree in Divinity and Leadership Development and serves as a Prison Minister with Prison Fellowship. Her community service includes serving as a City of Saginaw Councilmember, volunteering as Executive Director of Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, Evangelism Coordinator, and Asset Development Committee Member of Saginaw Community Foundation. She has also held roles as Chief Operating Officer and Financial Consultant for various community and faith-based organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Saginaw, Michigan, generating over $8.1 million in charitable funds for various non-profit organizations.
Roma is recognized for her excellent coaching, consulting, communication skills, deductive analysis, and leadership abilities.
She is married to retired Grand Rapids Police Officer, Jose “Tony” Gamez. Currently, besides representing her legal clients, She provides board development, business management, and legal and fund development assistance to Standing Stronger Together and Seen Heard Connected Corporation.
