The Empathia Team

On a Mission to Provide Expert Support

Systems. Call centers. Technology. Infrastructure. Response units. All are at your disposal as an Empathia client, and yet they are not our greatest assets. Work of a critical nature requires a secret ingredient, and ours is competent compassion.

At Empathia, caring for others isn’t just our job. It’s our purpose — one that manifests in exceptional service outcomes and compassionate care. We are here to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve, and we do that very well.

Deepen your organization’s bench strength, tackle the day-to-day needs of your employees and prepare for the unexpected with help from our team of:

  • Counselors and Therapists
  • Account Executives
  • Account Managers
  • Consultation Specialists
  • Training Coordinators
  • Disaster Management Experts

Stay for a moment and meet some of our staff!

Our Backstory

For over 40 years, Empathia has delivered reliable, quality-driven EAP and crisis management services to organizations from small, locally-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies. We offer many options to make our program uniquely your own, whether you want to go global, nurture your employees’ wellbeing, boost productivity or improve workplace safety, we can take you there.

Carol Wilson

Carol Wilson

President/CEO
Carol Wilson
Carol Wilson

President/CEO

Carol joined Empathia in 1990 and has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer before becoming its President and CEO in 2019. Carol is an experienced corporate trainer and consultant who has worked with a number of high profile corporate entities. She holds a Masters in Social Work; she is also an Associate Certified Coach, a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), and a member of the International Coach Federation.

Carol Barr

Carol Barr

Vice President, Finance/CFO
Carol Barr
Carol Barr

Vice President, Finance/CFO

Carol joined Empathia in 2005. As Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, she provides management for all financial and contracting functions. Carol earned her Masters in Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin Madison and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Patti Ackermann, CFO, Empathia Pacific

Patti Ackermann

CEO/CFO, Empathia Pacific
Patti Ackermann, CFO, Empathia Pacific
Patti Ackermann

CEO/CFO, Empathia Pacific

Patti joined Empathia Pacific in 1997. As Chief Executive Officer for Empathia Pacific, she oversees service delivery systems for quality assurance and manages business operations and compliance with California’s Knox-Keene laws and regulations. As Chief Financial Officer, she oversees all company accounting practices, including preparing budgets, financial reports, tax and audit compliance. She directs financial strategy, planning and forecasts. Additionally, she performs financial and claims oversight and filings in compliance with California’s Knox Keene laws and regulations.

Brian Summers, Chief Growth Officer at Empathia

Brian Summers

Chief Growth Officer
Brian Summers, Chief Growth Officer at Empathia
Brian Summers

Chief Growth Officer

Brian joined Empathia in 2020 and brings over 25 years of proven sales, strategy and leadership experience. As Chief Growth Officer, he is responsible for driving strategic and operational initiatives to accelerate the organization’s growth and innovation. He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Michelle Colosimo

Michelle Colosimo

Executive Director, Critical Support Services
Michelle Colosimo
Michelle Colosimo

Executive Director, Critical Support Services

Michelle joined Empathia in 2003. As Executive Director, Critical Support Services, Michelle is responsible for ensuring Empathia provides high-quality, high-value support services following critical events that impact people and organizations. In addition, her focus is on strategy development, providing operational oversight and collaborating with teams throughout the organization to achieve optimal growth. Michelle has over 15 years experience consulting with organizations in response to critical events, assisting with coordinating and facilitating crisis response services following a traumatic event or disaster and working to develop and refine smart technology to support organizations with a crisis response. She has a Master’s in Social Work and is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Anthony Lyons

Director, Strategic Partnerships
Anthony Lyons

Director, Strategic Partnerships

Anthony joined Empathia in 2023 and brings over 15 years of experience in the EAP's, student/higher education and insurance programs. As Director, Strategic Partnerships, he is responsible for driving strategic and operational initiatives to accelerate the organization’s growth and innovation. He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Rick Hoaglund

Director, Crisis Management Services
Rick Hoaglund

Director, Crisis Management Services

Rick joined Empathia in 2019. With 30+ years of safety and crisis management experience, he serves as Director, Crisis Management Services.  He has a proven track record of cost savings and increased employee safety through his facilitation of safety and compliance initiatives. Rick has responded to several emergency and mass casualty incidents. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Aviation Science/Safety and a FEMA Professional Certification.

David Goehner

David Goehner

Director, Privacy and Compliance
David Goehner
David Goehner

Director, Privacy and Compliance

David joined Empathia in July 1990. He has been directly involved in the development and management of clinical standards, outcomes-based measurement, customer benefit integration processes, and clinical research initiatives. As Director, Privacy and Compliance, he is currently responsible for information privacy and regulatory compliance, as well as providing clinical consultation and disaster response services. David is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 30 years of direct clinical experience.

Tim Sumiec

Tim Sumiec

Director, Provider Services
Tim Sumiec
Tim Sumiec

Director, Provider Services

Tim joined Empathia in 1990. As Director, Provider Services, he oversees Empathia’s national affiliate provider network and ensures that the level of service provided exceeds expectations. Additionally, Tim is a former Executive Board Member for the Employee Assistance Professional Association (EAPA) Chapter of Southern Wisconsin. He holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology, has a certificate in Criminal Justice, and is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Sara Laskowski

Sara Laskowski

Manager, Clinical Services
Sara Laskowski
Sara Laskowski

Manager, Clinical Services

Sara joined Empathia in 2007. As Manager of Clinical Services, she oversees all clinical services and is responsible for direct management of all LifeMatters counselors. She holds a Masters in Professional Counseling, is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Sara is the Chapter Secretary for the Wisconsin Chapter of Employee Assistance Professionals.

Chris Metzke

Chris Metzke

Manager, Employer Services
Chris Metzke
Chris Metzke

Manager, Employer Services

Chris joined Empathia in 2000. As Manager, Employer Services, she oversees the Account Management Team, along with the Performance and Consultation Specialists who handle all the company mandated referrals. She also assists in coordinating small and large scale trauma response services. In her previous roles as an EAP Counselor, she provided clinical assessments/counseling, trauma response services, and on-site services. Additionally, she holds a Masters in Social Work, is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), a certified wellness coach, and leads the Online Leader Coaching Team.

Phil Gray

Client Success Specialist
Phil Gray

Client Success Specialist

Phil joined Empathia in 2021. As our Client Success Specialist, he develops, implements, and coordinates vendor relationships and service delivery for add-on products. Phil comes to Empathia with over 20 years of managerial, operational, and account management experience in the EAP industry. He holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy; he is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Alyson Kaiser

Alyson Kaiser

Account Executive
Alyson Kaiser
Alyson Kaiser

Account Executive

Alyson joined Empathia in 1998. As Account Executive, she manages national EAP contracts and provides consultation, training, and intervention services. She serves as a Culture1st Consultant, assessing and improving culture in the workplace. Her previous roles at Empathia include Provider Relations Development Specialist and EAP Counselor. Alyson was the President of the Greater WI EAPA Chapter until October, 2014, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), as well as a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP). She holds a Masters in Social Work.

Jill Sanchez

Jill Sanchez

Account Executive
Jill Sanchez
Jill Sanchez

Account Executive

Jill joined Empathia in 1998. As an Account Executive, she manages national EAP contracts and provides consultation, training, and intervention services. In her previous role as an EAP Counselor, Jill provided trauma response services and training. Jill has a Masters in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Jessica Storm headshot

Jessica Storm

Account Executive
Jessica Storm headshot
Jessica Storm

Account Executive

Jessica joined Empathia in 2013. As Account Executive, she manages a variety of EAP accounts develops, as well as implements crisis response training to master level behavioral health professionals. She also oversees the functions of the call center during activation, as well as builds and maintains strong, long-lasting customer relationships. In her previous role as an EAP Counselor, she provided clinical assessments/counseling, trauma response services, and on-site services. Jessica has a Masters in Community Counseling and is a national Certified Counselor (NCC).

Jeremy Schabow

Jeremy Schabow

Account Executive
Jeremy Schabow
Jeremy Schabow

Account Executive

Jeremy joined Empathia in 2007. As an Account Manager, he manages a variety of EAP accounts and also oversees our social media sites. His previous roles here were as Manager, Client Care Services, as well as Sales Consultant. Prior to joining Empathia, he spent 14 years in the EAP industry in a variety of managerial and operational roles. Jeremy holds a Masters in Management; he is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Jill Solheim headshot

Jill Solheim

Account Executive
Jill Solheim headshot
Jill Solheim

Account Executive

Jill joined Empathia in 2019. As an Account Manager, she manages a variety of EAP accounts and provides consultation services. Prior to joining Empathia, she spent 15 years in Occupational Health working with employers to keep their staff healthy, safe, engaged, and productive. She is also provided in-home treatment to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Jill holds a Bachelor's in Psychology.

Ann SanCartier

Crisis Account Manager
Ann SanCartier

Crisis Account Manager

Ann joined Empathia in 2020. As a Crisis Account Manager, she manages a variety of our Black Swan accounts. Prior to joining Empathia, she primarily worked in the airline and cruise ship industries, where she provided emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery, and consultation.  She also has managerial experience, as well as family assistance and emergency training events. Ann has certificates with FEMA and NASAR, and holds an Associate’s Degree.

Lisa Stubing, Operations Specialist at Empathia

Lisa Stubing

Operations Specialist
Lisa Stubing, Operations Specialist at Empathia
Lisa Stubing

Operations Specialist

Lisa joined Empathia in 2007. As an Operations Specialist, she provides administrative, operational and logistical support to the Black Swan Solutions team. In addition, she is responsible for all day-to-day quality assurance monitoring and serves as a team lead for our Incident Response Contact Center. Lisa has a bachelor’s in business administration, as well as extensive administrative experience.

Jennie Van Remmen

Jennie Van Remmen

Lead Sales Executive
Jennie Van Remmen
Jennie Van Remmen

Lead Sales Executive

Jennie joined Empathia in 2002. As Lead Sales Executive, she is responsible for overall sales efforts of services and product lines. This includes conducting cold calls, generating leads, coordinating proposals, and presenting our program to prospects. Jennie has a Bachelors in Communication and is a Team Lead for one of our Disaster Response Call Center subgroups.

Haleh Pals headshot

Haleh Pals

Training Coordinator
Haleh Pals headshot
Haleh Pals

Training Coordinator

Haleh joined Empathia in 2007. As Training Coordinator, she oversees all activities relating to training program development and delivery, event coordination/scheduling, network development/management, and quality assurance for our training services. She also has customer service and case management experience, as well as being a team member for our Black Swan Solutions. In her previous role as an EAP Counselor, she provided clinical assessments/counseling, trauma response services, and on-site services. Haleh has a Masters in Counseling and she is a Certified Wellness Coach.

Cathy Marschall

Senior Administrative Assistant
Cathy Marschall

Senior Administrative Assistant

Cathy joined Empathia in 2014 until 2017, then rejoined in 2020. As Senior Administrative Assistant, she provides clerical, organizational and logistical support to the Account Team. She also coordinates, analyzes and assembles EAP utilization and client demographic reports. In her previous role here as an Account Representative, she managed national EAP contracts, including implementation, promotions and administration. She has extensive experience in executive administration and client services.

Meet the Crisis Solutions Advisory Council

Empathia’s Crisis Solutions team has partnered with leading industry professionals to revolutionize global crisis management. Together, this think tank advisory team will meet on a quarterly basis to perfect existing service offerings, develop future crisis response strategies and navigate industry trends and rising issues. With decades of experience in a range of industries, this hand-selected team has been chosen for their personal and professional expertise. Their experiences and insights will help shape, refine and expand Empathia’s large-scale crisis management services to assist those affected by tragedy.

Gregory Crick

Council Member
Gregory Crick

Council Member

Greg has spent over 40 years in the hospitality and cruise line industries. In his most recent position as the Director of Family Assistance and Support Services for Holland America Group, Greg developed and oversaw the family assistance/care team. During his career, he responded to several large-scale emergencies and mass casualty events.

older white man in a suit with a smile and white hair

Bob VandePol

Council Member
older white man in a suit with a smile and white hair
Bob VandePol

Council Member

Bob has over 36 years of experience in the crisis management industry. During his career, he was President of a prestigious critical response network company, helping lead it from a startup to the world’s largest provider of Critical Incident Response services to the workplace. He’s active as a keynote speaker and has published in journals on workplace response to tragedy.

bald white man with glasses

Ken Jenkins

Council Member
bald white man with glasses
Ken Jenkins

Council Member

Ken has over 27 years in the aviation industry, spending the last 8 as a consultant. He has authored books and hosts a podcast show, “The Black Box.” He has responded to emergencies ranging from the 9/11 terrorist attacks to severe turbulence encounters. Ken has personally assisted air crash survivors and victims’ family members, directed large corporate response teams, led multiple Go-Team deployments, set up and led both headquarters-based and on-site command centers, and coordinated with call centers answering inquiries through a publicized toll-free number.

blonde middle aged white woman

Jennifer Stansberry Miller

Council Member
blonde middle aged white woman
Jennifer Stansberry Miller

Council Member

Jen has over 25 years in the crisis response/family assistance industry. As a family member of an aviation disaster victim, she blends her personal and professional expertise to protect the human element in emergency preparedness. She advocated for the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 and has provided education and technical assistance to federal, international, and state agencies, air carriers and emergency response personnel on the significance of family assistance. She has also co-authored two research projects surrounding aviation disaster family assistance.

hispanic man with glasses

George Nuñez

Council Member
hispanic man with glasses
George Nuñez

Council Member

George Nuñez is an emergency management practitioner with over 20 years of experience in higher education. He is the director of the Office of Emergency Management with the Department of Public Safety at Baylor University. George is a founding member and presently serves as National Chair of the Universities and Colleges Caucus (UCC) with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).

Michelle Colosimo

Michelle Colosimo

Executive Director, Critical Support Services
Michelle Colosimo
Michelle Colosimo

Executive Director, Critical Support Services

Michelle joined Empathia in 2003. As Executive Director, Critical Support Services, Michelle is responsible for ensuring Empathia provides high-quality, high-value support services following critical events that impact people and organizations. In addition, her focus is on strategy development, providing operational oversight and collaborating with teams throughout the organization to achieve optimal growth. Michelle has over 15 years experience consulting with organizations in response to critical events, assisting with coordinating and facilitating crisis response services following a traumatic event or disaster and working to develop and refine smart technology to support organizations with a crisis response. She has a Master’s in Social Work and is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Brian Summers, Chief Growth Officer at Empathia

Brian Summers

Chief Growth Officer
Brian Summers, Chief Growth Officer at Empathia
Brian Summers

Chief Growth Officer

Brian joined Empathia in 2020 and brings over 25 years of proven sales, strategy and leadership experience. As Chief Growth Officer, he is responsible for driving strategic and operational initiatives to accelerate the organization’s growth and innovation. He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Rick Hoaglund

Director, Crisis Management Services
Rick Hoaglund

Director, Crisis Management Services

Rick joined Empathia in 2019. With 30+ years of safety and crisis management experience, he serves as Director, Crisis Management Services.  He has a proven track record of cost savings and increased employee safety through his facilitation of safety and compliance initiatives. Rick has responded to several emergency and mass casualty incidents. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Aviation Science/Safety and a FEMA Professional Certification.

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Current Empathia affiliate providers who have questions can contact our Field Operations Team by calling 877.844.8693 or by sending us an email.

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