Mike Wade is a lifelong resident of Virginia’s New River Valley and has worked at NRVCS for more than 26 years. As Coordinator of Community Wellness and Outreach, Mike is responsible for the agency’s external communications and media relations. In 2018, he added supervision of the NRVCS prevention team to his job, eventually rebranding that work as Community Wellness and Outreach.

Mike blends his background in journalism and graphic design with a genuine desire to have a positive impact on the community he has always called home.

Ross Wilsie is Behavioral Wellness Media Specialist at New River Valley Community Services and one of the co-hosts of this very podcast! Ross’s lifelong passion for using audio and video to capture and preserve stories led him to join the Community Wellness and Outreach team at NRVCS in 2022, and he often comments that he has finally figured out what he wants to be when he grows up.

Ross, his wife, and his two boys live in a small farmhouse in Blacksburg that backs up to Jefferson National Forest, and they each enjoy taking advantage of the trails and other outdoor recreation that surrounds them. While cherishing times of solitude as a means of self-care, Ross is eager to get the word out about the importance of community in each of our lives as we strive to have healthier families and communities.

Danette Gibbs is Executive Director of the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a background in higher education and community coalition development, Danette has spent much of her career helping people navigate challenges, build resilience, and find the support they need to thrive.

Her work has brought together individuals, schools, and communities across Virginia to strengthen suicide prevention efforts and promote wellness. But beyond her professional roles, Danette’s favorite title is “Mom,” and she aspires to make the communities in which her young children will learn and grow safer and more supportive for all.