Tammy founded Surf the Earth in memory of her daughter Ali's vision to raise awareness about mental health and foster human connections. Tammy previously worked as an Executive Assistant for Boyne City Public Schools for 14 years and is now retired, dedicating her time and energy towards assisting others bringing awareness to mental health, connecting people, and devoting her efforts to helping others.

Drue Wright is a founder of Happy’s Taco Shop in Boyne City, Michigan. Drue holds a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from Northern Michigan University. In addition to owning and operating a food establishment, he has a passion for snowboarding and skateboarding. He loves spending time with his wife Kelsey and their pets.

Alexandra, who prefers to be called Alex, has been a resident of Boyne City for five years. She moved there from the metro Detroit area. Alex is the proud owner of Alexandra McCann CPA PLLC, which is a tax and accounting firm located in Boyne City. She enjoys spending her free time skiing, golfing, and hiking with her husband and one-year-old baby boy. Alex is a kind-hearted person who deeply cares about helping others in the community.

Rosemary Hitchens joined Surf the Earth at its founding to honor her cousin Ali’s original vision of love and connection as a way to address mental health in today’s communities. Rosemary serves as Operations Manager and Executive Coordinator for Swift Foundation, a family foundation that makes grants. She brings expertise in nonprofit operations and development as well as philanthropy. Rosemary holds a B.A. in Political Science from Grand Valley State University, an M.A. in International Relations from Simon Fraser University, and an M.A. in Conservation Biology from Miami University. She splits her time between the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she was raised and Cleveland, Ohio where she lives with her partner and two dogs.

Nancy's close connection with the Patrick Family and Ali adds a personal touch to her dedication to helping Surf the Earth. Her role as the owner of Jordan Valley Rental, Inc. showcases her experience and expertise in managing properties. Nancy's decision to join Surf the Earth reflects her altruistic nature and desire to make a positive impact in the community.

Sarah Joyner is a food and beverage General Manager at Big Sky Resort where Ali worked. She supervises employees who struggle with mental health and positive lifestyle choices in a seasonal environment and finds ways to connect them with resources in the community. Her passions include mountain biking, snowboarding, and creating through different mediums. She holds a BS in Business Management from Wilmington University and has completed several leadership courses. In joining the board, she hopes to use what she has learned through leadership and sobriety to help those who are struggling.

Kelley, a seasoned mental health clinician with a background in classical training, dedicated two decades to working in a variety of settings including group practices, inpatient and outpatient programs. Throughout her career, she provided compassionate support and healing to families and adolescents through individual sessions and group interventions. When Kelley and her husband welcomed their child into the world, she decided to retire from her professional role and transition into being a full-time stay-at-home mom.

Over the course of 16 years, Kelley and her husband, Rob, built a life filled with love and cherished moments with their daughter, Aleia Jade. However, in May of 2022, Aleia made the difficult choice to seek relief from PTSD and depression on her own terms. Devastated by the loss of their vibrant daughter, Kelley found herself grappling with profound grief and questioning what the future held for her.

In her quest for understanding and healing, Kelley discovered the work of Suzanne Geisemann, leading her to Helping Parents Heal. Motivated by her personal journey, Kelley now serves as the facilitator of the Western North Carolina HPH group while also maintaining a part-time clinical practice. Together with her husband, Kelley established Jade’s Wings in 2023 as a tribute to Aleia Jade and a platform to provide healing services to their community.

Jade’s Wings offers a range of services including clinical support, energy healing, EMDR therapy, and group support sessions, reflecting Kelley's commitment to honoring her daughter's memory and supporting others in their healing journey.