Our LEADERSHIP Team
Convergence is a program founded and led by Veterans, First Responders, and mental health professionals. Our senior leadership team members bring a combined wealth of personal and professional experience navigating the types of mental health and well-being challenges our Veterans face in their post-military lives.
Daniel Erbling, CEO/Executive Director
Daniel’s professional career includes senior executive roles in Fortune 250 organizations in marketing resource management, IT, and supply chain.
He currently works as a consultant, volunteer firefighter, and rancher in the Inland NW.
Erbling brings a personal perspective to Convergence’s mission as a current TBI patient whose treatments, insurance claims, physiological, and psychological events afford him a firsthand perspective of what Veterans encounter with their disability claims, post-military careers, and adjusting to civilian roles.
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Mark Ford, Co-Founder/COO
Mark is a U.S. military Veteran whose background includes training as an EMT/Medic along with completion of several pre-hospital emergency care and other advanced medical training courses.
Mark is a certified peer counselor, Veterans’ assistance liason, critical incident stress de-briefer, and is trained in cognitive hypnotherapy.
Mark’s passion is to assist returning Veterans who have physical and/or psychological trauma which is beyond the scope of currently available VA support.
Mark provides Veterans with dive therapy and reintegration training via humanitarian outreach mission participation opportunities aboard the M/V Ceaseless Explorer.
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Capt. Dave Mucci, Programs Director (Panama)
Dave is a Pararescue veteran with a special skill set and a no-fail attitude willing to assist those in need. He is a previous owner/operator of the dive charter business Bluewater Adventures of Pensacola and was the dive safety officer for the Escambia County Marine Resources division and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He holds the Divemaster certification rating through PADI and NAUI and has logged in excess of 2500 dives. Dave is an environmentalist and an “Invasive Species Control Specialist,” focusing on the removal of the highly Invasive lionfish. Dave’s dedication to his fellow veterans and his love for the environment provide a very unique therapeutic setting and outlet for those veterans suffering from PTSD.
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Susan (Rose) Ford, Spouse Peer Support Specialist & Director of Operations (Panama)
Susan has been married to Convergence co-founder, Mark Ford, for over 12 years. She refers to her marriage to her husband as her military service. Military members and Veterans, particularly those in Special Forces, have consistently higher divorce rates than their civilian peers. Susan is passionate about providing peer support for the spouses of Veterans as they navigate their own unique challenges and marriages.
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Nathan Akridge, Director of Public Relations
Nathan Akridge has served 22 years in the United States Army. During that time, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and served along the Southwest U.S. border.
Akridge has served as a Public Affairs NCO, a Family Advocacy Specialist, and a Community Relations NCO.
His passions include volunteering and he continues to help out at the Killeen Food Care Center during his spare time.
Akridge’s long-term goals include getting his dog Olivia trained as a service dog and to continue serving the Active Duty and Veteran communities.
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Erin Driskill, Director of Mental Health Services
Erin Driskill, LCSW, is the founder and director of Choose Well-Being Psychology Education.
She has her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and over 15 years of experience working in community mental health at the first worldwide Dialectical Behavior Therapy clinic
Erin has extensive experience with high-risk populations, including suicide substance, trauma, loss, co-morbid disorders, chronic depression, panic, and anxiety.
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Howard Breitrose, VP of Creative/Marketing and Communications
Howard is a creative photographer, filmmaker, creative designer, and storyteller with experience in creative direction and operations management. He enhances and streamlines creative workflow processes and technology integration initiatives to deliver valuable client solutions. Howard helps brands connect meaningfully through empathy, emotion, and big ideas. He works collaboratively with other practice leads to create brand and marketing strategies and launch marketing campaigns that drive revenue. Howard is passionate about elevating brands and his team.