OFFICERS

Dr. Arnell is the Executive Director for 22Zero. 

22Zero - United States - Healing The Hero

She has been the Youth Service Officer (YSO) for Giles County, Tennessee, since 2014. Before being the YSO, she owned Arnell’s Counseling Service, Inc., as a contract provider for the State of Tennessee for 14 years. Dr. Arnell has been an adjunct faculty at Columbia State Community College since 2004, teaching in the Psychology program and some Education classes. Dr. Arnell has been a member of the Giles County Fire and Rescue Squad since 2008 and is also a member of the Pulaski Lions Club. She served on the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network as the regional committee chair from 2004- 2011. Dr. Arnell also served on the State Advisory Council for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network from 2004-2014. As part of her dissertation, Dr. Arnell completed an analysis on The Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention based on the original National Strategies for Suicide Prevention.

Dr. Arnell became involved with 22Zero in March 2021, when the Giles County Fire and Rescue Squad assistant fire chief asked if she would be willing to go through the training. 

In April of 2021, Dr. Arnell went through the training process and was astonished at how well the program worked. “Due to my job, working with children/youth who have been abused, neglected and working with them with their trauma being in law enforcement for five years as a reserve deputy, a rescue squad member, childhood trauma, in addition to being married to a veteran;  Now, Dr. Arnell is involved with 22Zero/ Healing the Hero by analyzing data and assisting with publications. She has already successfully treated individuals that previously struggled with PTSD symptoms.

As of November 5th, 2022, Dr. Arnell became the Executive Director for 22Zero Follow Me, Inc. Dr. Arnell also provides marketing, speaking at conferences for 22Zero, providing co-training for the peer-to-peer coaches along with Dan Jarvis. 

Dr. Arnell will also collaborate with the board of Directors of 22Zero to identify, create, and implement strategic plans to actualize business objectives effectively for all mission clients, coaches, and staff. Also, to identify, recruit, train and develop a talented team of coaches and employees. 

As part of the Executive Director, other tasks are to identify potential sources of investment and organize fundraising efforts while representing 22Zero, at social and corporate events in ways that strengthen 22Zero and communicate the company’s message, professionally, ethically and with strong values.  Dr. Arnell can be reached at drarnell@22zero.org

John was born and raised in Medford, NJ and is the 4th of 5 children. He was the son of a US Air Force Veteran and gained a deep respect for the military at a young age. John graduated from Shawnee High School (1981) and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Finance from Trenton State College (1986). He has worked in the Finance Industry for the last 35 years. He is married to the love of his life, Lisa Regina. They currently reside in Hainesport, NJ.

John decided to play football for Trenton State College. He was a 4 year starter and had a successful career. John was voted Small College Football Player of the Year (1983) and is a two-time Small College All American Football Player (1983-84). He was inducted into the Trenton State College Hall of Fame in October 1998. He currently holds 13 school records as well as 1 NCAA Division III record. In 1985, John was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League. Unfortunately, the league folded prior to the start of the 1985 season. He was then invited to the NY Giants camp (1985) and the NE Patriots camp (1986) but was released both times before the season began. 

John has one son, John Jr., who is married. He has a 3 year old grandson, John III and another grandson due in November 2023. John Jr. is a Computer Science Professor at the University of Delaware.

John is the Co-Founder of Retirement Refined, LLC and has 27 years’ experience as a Financial Advisor. His emphasis is Retirement Planning, Investment Management, and Estate Planning. John prides himself on honesty, being proactive with his clients and being organized. His philosophy is to treat people with courtesy and respect and to provide prompt, attentive, and professional service. His goal is to assist his clients with their financial decisions so they can achieve financial independence and enjoy a worry free retirement.

In addition to guiding his clients with their financial needs, John’s life purpose is philanthropy. He and his wife Lisa are working to assist veterans in obtaining drone pilot careers through Lisa's non-profit, A Write to Heal, Inc. They hope to expand the program throughout the US. They also plan to get involved in other philanthropic endeavors dear to their hearts. John's interests include working out, sports, music, comedy, animals, traveling and spending time with family & friends.

Retired Army Captain, Leslie Nicole Smith, graduated from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and received her commission from the Army ROTC program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Leslie was then assigned to the Nuclear Biological Chemical Corps, and also attended the Army Defense Information School, enabling her to serve as a Public Affairs Officer.

Leslie deployed to Bosnia in September 2001 with the 29thInfantry Division for Stabilization Force 10 during Operation Joint Forge. While in Bosnia, Leslie developed a blood clot and returned stateside two weeks before the end of her deployment. She was immediately admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and diagnosed with a blood infection, resulting from exposure to a chemical agent or toxin. Ultimately, Leslie lost her left leg and she is now legally blind.

Leslie was never discouraged by her losses and forged ahead. Her positive attitude carried over into her work at the USO and the Department of the Navy. Leslie is an Ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation. She has appeared on Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars to raise awareness for women veterans and on the daytime drama, Days of Our Lives, for a special veterans episode dedicated to PTSD. 

Leslie has shared her inspirational story across the country including the White House, West Point and Wall Street. She has appeared on both local and national media such as FOX News Live, MSNBC, CBS Talk Philly, News Close Up with Marvin Scott and SNJ Today.

Leslie’s story was included in the third book of the American Heroes series written by New York Times best-selling author and former Marine Colonel Oliver North. In February 2014, both Colonel North and Leslie were guests on the Katie Couric Show to discuss the book, “On the Homefront The Hearts of Heroes” and to share her motivational story. 

Leslie is always accompanied by her faithful and hard-working service dog, Issac, who helps her navigate through life each day with confidence and happiness. 

Frank served his country in Desert Storm as a Mental Health Specialist. Johnson provided counseling to veterans who were suffering from depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Johnson understood the perils of the Gulf War and was able to help his fellow soldiers envision better days ahead. Little did he know that he would soon need every bit of this optimism to guide him through a dark chapter of his own.

In 1993, shortly after returning stateside, Johnson was shot twice in the back by a group of teenagers during a random dispute in his hometown of Philadelphia. He was instantly paralyzed from the waist down, with doctors informing his family that he would never walk again.

Always the optimist, Johnson was not ready to give up. In the hospital he had his first experience of that ‘silver lining’ while sharing a room with a man who was a quadriplegic. Johnson’s life lesson, “Whenever I feel like a victim, I think of my roommate who never complained and I’m grateful.”

Johnson’s faith and strong will proved doctors wrong and he was walking in two years. However, he was challenged once again when an infection led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Never giving up Johnson went on to pursue a career in acting and play as a team member of the Magee Sixers and the Wounded Warrior Flag Football Team. 

Johnson still serves his community as a peer mentor for newly injured patients at the VA and a neighborhood rehabilitation center. He is a keynote speaker and advocate of mental health for A Write to Heal, and other non-profit organizations, Think First, Get Back Up Today, Inspiring People and iFit.

Denise grew up in a household with a sister who was a special needs student, thus generating her interest in special needs populations. In college, she majored in special education, graduating from West Chester University in 1972 with a Bachelor’s degree in this area, and graduating from Trenton State College with a Master’s in Special Education in 1975. Denise received her Educational Specialist degree in Learning Disabilities from Rowan University in 1983. She has worked with children in various programs including being the Learning Disabilities Consultant for the Hammonton School District from 1980 to 2006. She continues to freelance as a Learning Consultant and advocates for parents and special needs students. Denise has worked for the Youth Advocate Program for the past 10 years.

Denise also has an acting career and has been affiliated with the Reinhard Agency in Philadelphia for over 30 years. (reinhardagency.com) . She has done numerous commercials over the years, and has been a QVC model during that time, most notably modeling Luxhair wigs for Sherri Shepherd and many other vendors. She recently played a role in the Indie film, Dismissal Time, which focuses on cyberbullying and suicide prevention.

Denise is the board president for IDEA, which is the Institute for Development of Education in Arts, which promotes educating youth in the arts. She is also involved as a Camden Liaison for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.