Our Team
Jess Nelson
Jess Nelson serves as President of the Board for Legacies of Valor, bringing 20 years of distinguished military service in the Air Force alongside extensive IT management expertise. As a decorated First Sergeant who understands firsthand the challenges veterans face, Jess provides crucial leadership in advancing our mission to deliver high-quality mental health services to first responders and veterans. His experience in healthcare IT operations at Washington's Department of Social and Health Services and his MBA from Pacific Lutheran University help ensure that both our staff and clients receive the exceptional support they deserve.
Gretchen Andrews
Gretchen Andrews is the founder and visionary behind Legacies of Valor, bringing her expertise as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specialized in trauma work with first responders, military personnel, and veterans. Her experience includes providing Critical Incident Stress Debriefings for a 911 center and volunteering with Code 4 NW, supporting first responders seeking mental health services. Currently pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, Gretchen is dedicated to developing compassionate, skilled clinicians who can effectively serve those who have sacrificed for our communities.
Jessica Jones
Jessica is a mental health counselor specializing in grief and trauma. She is passionate about supporting individuals through life's most challenging moments. Her journey into this field is deeply personal. Having served as a funeral director and deputy coroner in Colorado and Wyoming, she gained firsthand experience in navigating the complexities of loss. This work, coupled with her own experiences seeking trauma-informed care, inspired her to pursue a path in mental health counseling.
She holds an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science from Arapahoe Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Colorado State University, and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Chadron State College. Her academic experience and clinical training equip her to offer compassionate, evidence-based support to adults, adolescents, couples, and families.
Jessica utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to create a safe, empathetic space for healing. Additionally, she is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapeutic approach proven effective for trauma recovery.
Lucinda Black
With 23 years of experience in 911 emergency communications beginning in 2002, Lucinda Black brings deep frontline insight into crisis, trauma, and resilience to Legacies of Valor. After a long career as a call taker, dispatcher, trainer, and supervisor in a high-volume PSAP, she has transitioned into behavioral and mental health as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS), now working directly with individuals navigating acute and ongoing mental health challenges.
Lucinda is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Trauma Specialty) at Walden University and is on track to become a trauma-informed, EMDR-trained Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She is also completing Certified First Responder Associate training, further sharpening her ability to support first responders and public safety professionals through a lens that honors both operational realities and psychological impact.
At Legacies of Valor, Lucinda’s mission is to bridge the gap between emergency response culture and holistic mental health care—bringing together her lived experience from the comm center with emerging clinical skills to help design and deliver services that actually make sense to first responders.
Outside of work and grad school, Lucinda lives with her two rescue dogs, Brody and Scout, who are convinced they are unpaid co-therapists and insist on appearing in most Zoom calls. She has a knack for finding humor even in heavy topics—often saying that dark humor and dog hair are both just part of the uniform.
Karina Putnam
Karina Putnam serves as Secretary of the Board for Legacies of Valor, bringing nearly two decades of emergency services experience that began as a 911 dispatcher in the early 2000s. Having experienced firsthand the intensity and impact of emergency work, Karina understands how the demands of serving others can take a profound toll if proper support isn't in place. She recognizes the overwhelming need for culturally competent clinicians who truly understand the unique challenges first responders face—professionals who provide the freedom that comes when you don't have to explain what happens in your work day to the person helping you process it. In 2025, Karina will complete her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in trauma recovery and non-traditional treatment approaches, designed specifically for those who would rather move to Mars before sitting in someone's office and talking. She co-leads her agency's peer support team and works with a regional crisis intervention team. Living on the edge of an island in the middle of a forest with one great teenager and maintaining a Wordle average of 3, Karina brings both professional expertise and authentic understanding to supporting first responders and veterans in their mental health journeys.
Justin Crossman
Justin Crossman serves on the board of Legacies of Valor, contributing extensive experience in business, entrepreneurship, and internet technologies dating back to 1998. His business acumen, developed since 2003, provides valuable guidance for the organization's growth and sustainability. Justin brings a strong background in non-profit work, having collaborated with organizations including the Arthritis Foundation since 1999 and supporting his wife's 20-year involvement with Girls on the Run. His technical expertise and business development skills are instrumental in helping Legacies of Valor implement effective solutions for veterans and first responders seeking mental health services.