Leadership of Education Training Center, Inc.
Leadership and Board of Directors
President and Executive Director
Joel David Lesses, MS MS
Joel David Lesses is President and Executive Director of Education Training Center, Inc. and his work experience is in education, psychology, and counseling for people marginalized by trauma, addiction, and psychological distress. He is deeply vested in addressing the effects of mental health distress and its marginalization including, incarceration, homelessness, and institutionalization. Joel is dedicated to reframing mental health distress as a potential spiritual marker and existential opportunity. He holds dual Master of Science degrees from University at Buffalo in Rehabilitation Counseling and Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Epidemiology. He can be reached by email.
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Board Member
Heather Bourn
Heather Bourn serves as the Vice President of a family-owned business for the past 25 years. Following her college years, Heather worked in the environmental consulting industry. She also lived for a time in New York City. For the past 25 years, Heather has lived in Rochester. She holds a degree in Biology with a minor in Comparative Areas from Duke University.
Board Member
Chris Brown-Hall, MA
Chris Brown-Hall, co-owner and CEO of Allwel for the past 25 years. Chris holds a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling, and completed University at Buffalo's School of Management Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. Chris’ serves on both the New York State Alliance of Medicaid Waiver Providers and Education Training Center, Inc. Board of Directors.
Board Member
Samuel Floyd
Samuel Floyd is a mental health professional, a lifelong learner, and a seeker, with a strong sense of purpose. Sam is a poet and a Wayfinder, a certified peer specialist, who has worked in mental health for many years, A Sawubona Healing Circle Practitioner and recently a Certified Personal Medicine Coach. Sam looks at all experiences as an opportunity for growth and strives in his work both creatively and in support of others, to find the calm in the chaos.
Board Member
Tom Kowal
Tom is the property caretaker and oversees the training program at the Chapin Mill Retreat Center in Batavia, NY, which is owned and operated by the Rochester Zen Center. He has been practicing Zen Buddhism for over 25 years, and has been a residential staff member for over ten years. Since being a member of the Zen Center he has served as a Trustee and Board Chair. He was also instrumental in starting DepreshZen, a support group for Zen practitioners living with mental health issues.
