Dan Flanagan
President and Co-Founder
Dan graduated with a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2008. He joined Group Management Services (GMS) in 2011 and started his career as a Sales Rep. He worked his way up to become a Sales Manager in the Cleveland office, Vice President of Sales for the Northeast Region, and now is the National Director of Channel Sales. When Dan started GMS in 2011, they had 3 offices in the country and were 400th in size out of 900 PEO's. Today they have 24 offices around the country and are 10th in size out of roughly 500 PEO's in the country.
Dan and his family were strongly impacted by mental health throughout his life. After getting sober in 2019 and reading The End of Mental Illness by Dr. Daniel Amen, Dan decided to start turning pain into purpose. He began exercising, eating healthier, and was determined to change the lives of others. This is a big part of how BEI was created.
In his spare time, he loves spending time with his family, traveling, and continuing to build BEI. He is married (Jess) with two daughters (Brooklyn and Kamryn). Dan is an avid Cleveland sports fan. He is very passionate about helping others and also enjoys being involved in the community.
Briana Flanagan
Vice President, Co-Founder, and Director of Mentorship
As owner of Upper Crust Pizza and Chicken in Barberton, OH, Briana has 10+ years of management experience in the service industry and many as an owner/operator. With a mission-driven mindset, she has combined her love for community and service to help those less fortunate. Also, she is very passionate about creating meaningful, sustainable initiatives that support growth, community, and positive change.
Briana graduated summa cum laude from The University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in Middle Level Education, reflecting on her background in education during her current role of Director of Mentorship. She has always enjoyed working with young adolescents and believes this age is a crucial developmental milestone as they need stability and resources. As she brings her experience in education forward in her current business model and in her professional life, her leadership skills play an important role in advancing BEI's program development and education.
She shares her passion with others and takes time to support those around her and in the community. Briana knows how to make an impact, often donating and volunteering her time to organizations she cares about.
She enjoys spending time with her daughter, family, and friends. Briana also likes learning about holistic options in order to live a healthy, more balanced life—taking time to research and practice healthy eating habits and understanding how they impact personal and mental health.
Michael Kahoe
Board Member
Mike was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. He currently works at his family business, Group Management Services, and is running for State Representative in Ohio's 31st District (Summit County). Mike has completed his bachelor's degree in data analytics.
Mike has extensive experience in Education, Workforce, and Economic Development policymaking. Prior to this he served on the Revere Board of Education and Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Board of Education. He also served under Lt. Governor's Jon Husted and Jim Tressel in the Ohio Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation.
While serving on the Revere School Board, Mike grew increasingly concerned with how our kids will deal with the stressors of modern life and their impact on mental health: cell phones, social media, etc. Mike saw firsthand the struggles our children are facing and when he learned of BEI, immediately got involved. BEI helps deliver the tools our students need to cope with the often complex challenges of everyday life.
Aretha Brown
Board Member
Aretha is the Cognitive Enhancement Therapy Administrator for Community Support Services of Akron. Also, she co-facilitates the substance use disorder group as a chemical dependency counselor assistant.
She was at the initial discussions regarding BEI. She has 30 years of experience in mental/behavioral health. During the last twenty years, her work has been focused on psychiatric rehabilitation using computer technology to increase neural functioning.
Aretha had an interest in the mission of BEI because of her awareness of the importance of early intervention to assist youth that may be struggling. The BEI curriculum provides the participants an opportunity to learn about emotional regulation, brain health, and ways to manage stressors that can become overwhelming. She often wonders where the mental/behavioral health of this world might be if such a program was readily available while getting our initial education.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, and continuing to improve upon her skills as an amateur chef.
Peter Geise
Board Member
Peter works for FocusCFO, a firm that provides fractional CFO services to growing and mid-sized businesses. In his role, he helps organizations strengthen financial strategy, improve operational efficiency, and support sustainable growth. His work includes analyzing performance, identifying opportunities, and partnering with leadership teams to make informed, data-driven decisions.
His background in financial strategy and operations helps BEI focus on long-term growth, sustainability, and measurable impact. Peter believes in addressing challenges at their root and building strong systems that create lasting change. He is also well-connected in the community and enjoys leveraging his network to form partnerships and expand BEI's reach across Northeast Ohio.
He became involved with BEI after his friend, Dan Flanagan, shared his vision and the organization's impact. Peter strongly believes in investing in the next generation and equipping young people with the tools to build resilience, navigate challenges, and become confident leaders. BEI's focus on mental wellness and prevention aligns closely with his values.
He enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and cooking. He also likes staying active, following sports, and being involved in his local community.
Dominic Ruby
Board Member
Dominic graduated from The Ohio State University in 2009. He is a Managing Partner for a Wealth Management Firm in Akron, OH, Momentum Wealth Partners. Dominic has focused on assisting individuals and families, as well as business owners, with their financial planning needs. His holistic wealth management approach allows him to understand each client's "big picture" goals and aspirations. Dominic advises clients in the areas of retirement planning, investment management, estate and insurance planning, and education funding.
He has a passion for making connections and helping people find solutions to problems. As a lifelong friend of Dan Flanagan, the BEI vision and mission really hit home as an organization that will attack the growing concern with mental illness.
Dominic enjoys cooking, golfing, and spending time with his family: wife (Monica), their two sons (Dominic and Nico) and daughter (Elliana). Dominic is a die-hard Cleveland sports and Ohio State Buckeye fan.
Scott Gnau
Board Member
Scott is the Commercial Lending Leader at First Federal Lakewood. He is responsible for directing, planning, organizing, and growing the revenue base of the Commercial Lending department of the bank by creating a vision and strategy for future growth in new and opportunistic markets. His responsibilities also include actively promoting business development and securing new customer relationships in Northeast Ohio, while managing his existing client base and their ongoing needs in both financing and treasury. All of this is possible by providing a partner-like model.
Scott's expertise impacts BEI through strategic guidance, financial expertise, and networking opportunities, which help assist the reach and impact that BEI has on our communities in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
BEI's foundational mission immediately resonated with him. Witnessing its evolution from a concept to a tangible curriculum enriching local schools inspired his commitment to help scale its proven impact. His personal passion as a father to empower the next generation further fuels his dedication to this initiative.
Scott loves spending time with his wife, daughter, and their two dogs. Fan of Ohio State, Cleveland Guardians, and Dallas Cowboys everything. He enjoys golfing, shooting, skiing, and traveling.
Luke Juengel
Board Member and Administrative Assistant
Luke's background is in operations and business management. He ran his own business and worked recently as a manager for two landscaping firms. Luke is currently enrolled at the University of Akron, pursuing his bachelor's degree. His experience in operations, communication, and organization allows him to support BEI in an administrative capacity and contribute to the structure behind growing the nonprofit.
He chose to support BEI because, like many others, he has a personal connection to mental health. Him and his family have struggled with their own mental health challenges. When he first learned what Dan and Briana were building, Luke was immediately drawn in. The passion, the authenticity, and the strength of the program truly are what set BEI apart. He often thinks that if something like this had existed when he was in middle school or high school, it would have made a real difference for him—a big part of why he's here. Being involved with BEI feels like home. Luke gets to work alongside great people while contributing to something that truly matters, which is helping students, one at a time, build healthier and more resilient futures.
Outside of BEI, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to country music, golfing, and expanding his ever-growing knowledge of cars. Luke has been a car enthusiast for as long as he can remember. He also enjoys learning about politics and staying engaged in the world around him.
Anne Flanagan
Board Member and Director of Education
Anne is the Principal of Holy Trinity School in Avon, Ohio. With decades of experience in special education, student services, instructional leadership, and STEM program development, she has devoted her career to helping every child feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Her commitment to BEI's mission is deeply personal. She has witnessed firsthand how tailored support, mentorship, and brain wellness education can transform students' confidence, resilience, and love of learning. Continuing to bring expertise in special education, MTSS, and social-emotional learning to design programs that are both effective and engaging—ensuring every student has the tools to succeed.
Anne enjoys cycling, hiking, sitting on the shores of Lake Erie with a good book, and spending quality time with family and friends. Guided by her passion for student wellbeing and her belief in the unique potential of every child, she will continue to lead BEI in its mission to equip young people with the skills, resilience, and confidence they need for lifelong success.
Trevor Shaver
Board Member and Clinical Specialist
Trevor is a Certified Psychiatric Physician Assistant and has been working as a Psychiatric Physician Assistant for 11 years. He previously worked at the Louis Stokes VAMC primarily in outpatient mental health with emergency, inpatient, and IOP experience. Bringing clinical experience with patients on healthy coping strategies, mindfulness, challenging limiting beliefs, and assessment inventories.
Growing up he wished he was taught a foundation of healthy coping skills, mindfulness, and resilience to help mitigate struggles better. Seeing this as a common theme among his patients and that starting earlier is paramount in changing the mental health crisis we see today. These are the skills Trevor is trying to instill in his children as well to be more competent and resilient members of society.
He joined BEI to be involved in a movement that gives our children the tools he tries to give his adult patients now. Trevor has always had a passion for mental health and self-improvement.
Trevor enjoys time with his family: wife (Lindsey) and children (Rylie, Graham, and Piper), and is a huge Notre Dame and Browns fan. He likes watching comic book movies, documentaries, and thrillers. Learning about WWII and revolutionary war history are also passions of his.
Brittany Fillous
Program Manager and Graphic Designer
Brittany studied graphic design at Kent State University and has worked in the Marketing and Advertising industry for 17 years. She is currently a Marketing Designer at Huntington Bank using visionary ideas and strategy to bring ideas to life.
With a passion for volunteering and through her personal journey with mental health, she has learned that struggle can be a powerful teacher. By engaging in her local community, she has found healing in connection and strength in service. Helping others and paying it forward isn't just a choice—it's a calling. She believes in turning pain into purpose, using her experiences to uplift, support, and inspire those walking a similar path. Because when people come together, it's not just to survive but to thrive.
She helps BEI with collaboration, organization, and community outreach while constantly strategizing growth and evolution. Brittany is excited to watch BEI further its mission of meeting the social and emotional needs of children in the local community while being their biggest cheerleader in getting ahead of mental health risks. Brittany enjoys time with her son, crafting, and holistic medicine. She is a sucker for a colorful spreadsheet and loves chasing waterfalls.
Kaitlyn Michaels
Mentorship Facilitator
Kaitlyn graduated with her bachelor’s in psychology in 2024 from Kent State University with a concentration in Child Psychology and a minor in Community Inclusions and Disabilities. Prior she was a case manager working in stark county within homes and schools, then worked in ABA therapy before accepting her position with BEI.
Her level of expertise and personal experiences allow her to connect with children in a compassionate and understanding way. Having struggled with mental health, anxiety, and depression, she understands how important it is for children to feel supported, valued, and never alone. These experiences motivated Kaitylyn to pursue work where she can make a positive impact by being a mentor and dependable support system for kids who may be struggling emotionally or behaviorally. She believes her empathy, patience, and passion for helping others will allow her to make a meaningful impact across the organization.
Kaitlyn chose BEI because the mission statement strongly aligned with my own personal values and career goals. She wants to work with children in a way that not only helps them succeed, but also ensures they feel loved, appreciated, and supported. BEI’s focus on making a difference in the lives of children and families stood out to her because it reflects the type of environment and purpose-driven work she is passionate about. She hopes to use her past experiences to encourage and uplift children while being someone they can trust and look up to.
For fun, she enjoys photography, watching movies, going to concerts, and serving at her church. She enjoys activities that allow her to be creative, connect with others, and be involved in the community.
