Our Team

Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley

Director of Research

Grace earned a Ph.D. in the neurochemical and neurofunctional effects of cannabinoids following completion of a Masters in Neuroscience at King’s College London. As a research associate, she has continued to research in the field of cannabinoids and mental health, particularly using neuroimaging techniques. Grace has a keen research interest in plant medicine research and how these may be used therapeutically, as well as the mechanisms and risk factors behind the development of psychological disorders. She is currently serving as a member of the reserve armed forces.

Jenny Hansen

Program Operations Support

Hannah Kimyon

Chief of Staff

After both witnessing others and having her own life-altering psychedelic experiences, she’s become a passionate advocate for education and access to these alternative healing options, especially for underserved populations like veterans.

Tammy Le

Director of Strategic Partnerships

She is a mental health and psychedelic therapy advocate for veterans. She attended her first ayahuasca retreat in 2018 and credits this powerful plant medicine for healing past traumas.

Julie McEvoy

Veteran Experience Manager

Juliana Mercer

Executive Director - Healing Breakthrough

Juliana is a Marine Corps veteran, serving honorably for 16 years. She was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during her military career and spent five years providing support to injured Marines recovering at the Wounded Warrior Battalion in San Diego. She serves on several boards for Veteran Service Organization and founded a Public Benefit Corporation called Sabe, which uses psychedelics to help individuals transform and heal. Juliana has testified before California politicians to get a ‘yes’ vote on SB-519.

Sean Miller

Grants Manager

Sean joins Heroic Hearts Project with extensive experience working in development for public health nonprofits and consulting for venture-backed psychedelic companies. After buying a one-way flight to Colombia, Sean spent a year backpacking through Latin America. His trip culminated in the Northern Amazon Basin, where he lived, learned, and worked alongside indigenous leaders and healers from the Shipibo, Katukina, and Cocoma tribes. His time in the jungle showed him the potential for plant medicines to serve as catalysts of healing and spiritual growth. Sean is intimately connected to HHP’s mission. His maternal grandfather served in the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Sean’s grandfather abhorred violence, but looked at his time as a member of the ski troops with great nostalgia. This contradiction sparked in Sean a fascination with military culture and made him question: Why do some soldiers go to war and experience the peak of human challenges, yet return home and miss combat? Sean’s older brother and paternal grandfather also served in the US Army.

Lisa Peier

Director of Development

Lisa Peier joined Heroic Hearts Project as Director of Donor Development following just under two years successfully leading development and fundraising for Healing Breakthrough. Before making the shift into nonprofit, Lisa was Chief Investment Officer at A-Rod Corp, where she led and managed venture capital investments, brand (equity) partnerships, and licensing deals for both Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez. Lisa joined A-Rod Corp following several years in residential property sales on the Westside of Los Angeles. Prior to real estate, Lisa was Partner and Senior Luxury Goods Equity Analyst at Redburn Partners based in London, worked in institutional sales for Fidelity Investments, and was an equity research analyst at JPMorgan in New York. She holds an M.B.A. from INSEAD and a B.A. from Boston College. Outside of work, Lisa loves to skate, ski, read, and spend time with her kids. She lives in Park City, Utah.

Kasey Pipitt

Veteran Outreach

Jared Rinehart

Head of Integration Coaching

Jared is a certified Transformational Recovery and Integration Coach through Being True To You, as well as a former Infantry Marine.

Alistair Sweeney

Veteran Peer Support Specialist

Ken Weingardt

Director of Training & Education, Clinical Advisor

Ken is a licensed psychologist who spent nearly 20 years in the VA developing online programs for veterans and training for mental health providers. He was also a professor of Psychiatry at Stanford and Northwestern where he published extensively about how to implement innovative technologies in real-world clinical practice. While participating in Ketamine Assisted Therapy himself, he came to the realization that he wanted to pivot from tech to psychedelics and help veterans get access to this deep transformative healing. He voted with his feet and took a leadership role at Healing Breakthrough in 2021 to help Veterans get access to MDMA through the VA. He has since been certified by the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI) as a Psychedelic Assisted Therapist, and is preparing to apply for a license as a Clinical Facilitator in Colorado. He comes to the Heroic Hearts Project with the background and experience necessary to help clinicians learn about these new ways of healing, as well as a beginner's mind and an attitude of deep gratitude and respect for all those who do this important work.

Allison Wilson

Executive Director - The Hope Project

Allison is the founder of The Hope Project, a non-profit focused on providing support for Veteran spouses, Gold Star Wives, and Veteran women. Inspired by her personal journey as the spouse of a Navy SEAL for 16 years, Allison established The Hope Project to help these women heal through scholarships for psychedelic healing retreats, preparation and integration coaching, and community support. In addition to her role as a non-profit leader, Allison has extensive experience in coaching spouses and women veterans in the psychedelic space, with training in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, Breathwork, and Meditation. She is currently completing her psychology degree at Naropa University, with additional training from Naropa’s Psilocybin Facilitator program. Her work has been instrumental in supporting the mental and emotional health of families within the military community. Under Allison’s leadership, The Hope Project has assisted over 300 women, providing them with access to retreats, coaching, and community services. The organization has a team of 10 coaches, consisting of Gold Star wives, Veteran women, doctors, and therapists, dedicated to ensuring these women are supported throughout their healing process. Recently, The Hope Project merged with the Heroic Hearts Project, broadening its mission to support not just Veterans but also their families. This merger reflects Allison’s belief in the importance of family involvement in the healing journey and her advocacy for comprehensive support for both Veterans and their loved ones. Allison resides in Colorado with her husband, Jonathan, and their five children on a small farm. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time in the mountains, and caring for her animals, all while continuing her advocacy and healing work within the Veteran community.