Ohana Means Family
Ohana Preservation Foundation would not exist without it's amazing Ohana of Volunteers, Program Partners, Animal Partners, Employees and Board of Directors.
Volunteer Staff
Founder / Board of Directors President
Melissa Pankas and her husband, Jim, own Ohana Equestrian Preserve and generously donate their time and the use of the property to the Foundation. Melissa is grateful to John and Tess Jubinsky for their enduring support of Ohana's mission and is honored to carry their legacy forward.
Chief Financial Officer
John Dickow is a Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. John spent many years in public accounting then moved to the private sector, which involved many different real estate and non-profit entities. He retired from Banner Real Estate Group in 2025, where he was the Chief Accounting Officer. John joined the Foundation in 2025.
Director of Marketing and Digital Technology
Jenn Soliah leads the Foundation's communications, social media, digital presence, and a wide range of technical needs. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Pennsylvania State University and brings a background in federal service, having retired from a 29-year career with the U.S. government. She joined the Foundation in 2025.
Individual Counseling
Jennifer Hannett is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and EMDR Certified/EMDR Consultant-in-Training with a Master's degree in Social Work from New York University. Jennifer is licensed as a clinical social worker in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia and has approximately 25 years of experience working as a social worker and/or therapist with vulnerable children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups in multiple roles and settings, including: adoption, therapeutic foster care, adolescent residential treatment, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, CPS, and outpatient mental health. In addition to her private practice, Jennifer works as a psychotherapist with The Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education and has received specialized training in several play-based assessment and treatment modalities for traumatized children and youth. Jennifer practices an integrative, trauma-informed, and strength-based approach with children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups. Jennifer has a passion for guiding others to find their natural strength and ability to heal from difficult and traumatic experiences in order to live happier and more fulfilling lives.
Wendy D'Anna holds a Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America and is a resident with The Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education. She brings over 15 years of practice as a social worker across child welfare, family services, and crisis intervention. Throughout her career she has worked in family preservation and reunification programs, supervised visitation, parent skills training, foster care and adoption services, domestic violence shelters, child crisis shelters, and early intervention.
In her therapeutic work, Wendy draws deeply on attachment theory and holistic perspectives, integrating them through expressive, play-based interventions to support healing from trauma, adjustment through life transitions, the development of regulation skills and enhanced connection to caregivers. She believes that children innately seek connection, creativity, and mastery—and that through play, they can reclaim agency, co-regulate affect, heal and grow in safety. Guided by the ethos of the Gil Institute, Wendy views therapy as a relational, integrative journey. She offers children a space for nonverbal expression—through sand, art, puppets, storytelling, symbolic play—and adapts her approach along the continuum from non-directive to more structured methods when clinically needed. She partners with caregivers to strengthen attachment, foster secure relational repair, and support the therapeutic work beyond the playroom walls.
Above all, Wendy believes therapy should feel inviting and alive for children. Her goal is to make regulation, growth, and connection not only possible—but also playful, empowering, and joyfully accessible. Wendy is honored to complete her LCSW and RPT residency under the supervision of Jennifer Hannett.
Louise Chapman of Open Skies Therapy, LLC, LPC, NCC has a Master of the Art's in Human Development and Counseling from The George Washington University and is a licensed professional counselor in Virginia and Colorado. Louise specializes in supporting children, adolescents, and adults as they navigate emotional challenges and enhance their coping skills. She integrates nature, art, and animals into the therapeutic process and specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment issues, family conflict, mood disorders, ADD/ADHD, and grief.
Joyce Montgomery is the Director of Clinical Services for the non-profit ACT Now for Mental Health (ANMH) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Capital Caring. She is an integral part of the Ohana team, where she facilitates many of our grief programs and hospice family programs. She also offers private counseling for some Ohana clients. She specializes in adults dealing with grief and loss, life transitions, relationship issues, depression and anxiety, and health-related concerns, as well as children and teens experiencing grief, loss, and health issues.
*Currently not accepting new clients*
Emily Prusator LCSW, RPT has been providing direct, clinical grief and trauma services for children and their families for over eight years in school, community, and office settings. Most recently, her work has centered on providing individual outpatient services to children and adults who are navigating trauma, loss, and the intersection of both. Emily has additional training and experience in supporting clients who experience symptoms of dissociation, OCD, and ADHD.
Emily has received specialized training in play therapy and became a Registered Play Therapist in 2020. Emily is also certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 1) and EMDR to support children, youth, and adults in processing traumatic experiences. She is currently pursuing training and consultation to become certified in the model of Sensory Motor Arousal and Regulation Treatment (SMART).
Equine-Assisted Activities
Autumn Brennan brings 20 years of experience in the mental health and wellness field to Ohana, where she facilitates Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine-Assisted Activities. She is deeply passionate about helping individuals, families, and teams break through barriers to reach their highest potential. She utilizes a systemic, nervous-system-driven approach, partnering with Ohana’s horses to offer hands-on wellness interventions, practical skill-building, and group cohesion curriculums.
Autumn’s highly effective, whole-person framework is informed by her extensive career as a Certified Trauma Therapist, Animal-Assisted Therapist, Clinical and Coaching Director, and Counselor Educator. Through her ongoing practice at Autumn Brennan Coaching Counseling & Consultation, Autumn has dedicated her career to helping driven people align their daily reality with their true capabilities. At Ohana, she loves using the intuitive, non-judgmental nature of horses to help clients find clarity, strength, and lasting mind-body balance.
Shelly Dixon is our lead PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She is a certified Human Flourishing Coach and Mental Health Coach through the American Association of Christian Counselors. She heads up all our Equine-Assisted Activities. Shelly lives in Virginia with her husband and two children and is an integral part of many of our programs.
Heather Hess is one of our Path Certified Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning and also serves on our board of directors. Her family donated Bella, a large pony that has become Ohana's lead horse for our equine programs. She has been an integral part of expanding our equine programs and building our volunteer support network. Heather, who is a teacher with Loudoun County Public Schools, has over 25 years of experience in the classroom. She has taught both middle and high school. She currently teaches history and psychology at Tuscarora High School. In addition, she is the Key Club Co-Sponsor with access to a large teen volunteer group.
Other Specialists
Tara Hoit is a Certified Children's Grief Counselor, Certified Horticultural Therapist, and Virginia Master Gardener. Tara spent many years in non-profit program development and fundraising. Tara joined the foundation in 2022 and now leads our Therapeutic Horticulture program.
Genevieve Stack is a local educator and artist who offers classes for all learning levels at Ohana Preservation Foundation. She loves engaging in the artistic process with people of all ages and abilities to promote connection, purpose and healing through art. She has a B.A. in Psychology & B.Ed with a Fine Arts focus. She thrives in spending time outside with her husband and two daughters. She is originally from the Yukon & Coastal British Columbia, Canada.
Brody Ohana Fund Advisory Board Members
Ashley Watson and Wendy Watson
Additional Board of Directors
Laura TeKrony lives in Aldie with her husband and three girls and has been an active member of the Aldie community for two decades. She has served on the Aldie Heritage Association since and was appointed to two Loudoun County Advisory Boards and Commissions: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Board and Heritage Commission. Since 2016, she has worked as a Legislative Aide to Phyllis Randall, Chair At-Large of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. In November, 2023, she was elected to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as the Little River District Supervisor. Laura has been part of our BOD since inception.
Mike Overson joined our board in 2020. Mike Overson is a partner at Moyes Hanssen Overson, PLLC in Leesburg, VA. Real estate, estate planning, and business law are the focal points of Michael J. Overson’s law practice. He currently lives in Leesburg, Virginia with his wife and daughters.
George Ohlin became a key volunteer in early 2025, and joined our board later that the fall. George is passionate about mental health, and brings to our foundation his expertise in operations and fundraising.
Ashley Watson, Vice President, has been a valued member of our Ohana team for several years and serves on the advisory board of the Brody Ohana Fund. He brings a strong passion and drive for helping others, along with executive experience in strategic planning, enterprise-wide transformations and program management. Ashley currently works as a Senior Consultant with The Pinnacle Group