Life Renewed Team

Steve Schiffman: Executive Director

Executive Director, Steve Schiffman, has served as a marketing and media consultant and is a best- selling author. He is the visionary, one of the founders and a strategic planner for the Life Renewed organization. His accomplishments include receiving the National League of American Pen Women’s State of Georgia Award for Achievement in Letters and winning television’s most prestigious award, a local Emmy, as well as three National Religion in Media Awards. Steve has organized and directed creative teams to produce award winning commercials, which have aired on ABC, NBC and CBS network television. As a publisher, he was asked by the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation to conceptualize and produce the original Power for Living book, which has reached millions through their national media campaign.

Harry Wetzler, M.D., M.S.P.H.: Clinical Outcomes Measurement Specialist

Dr. Harry Wetzler is one of the founders of the Life Renewed organization and a principal author of the Life Renewed Quality of Life Assessment Software. Dr. Wetzler is an independent health outcomes epidemiologist and Clinical Outcomes Specialist with the American Medical Groups Association and is nationally recognized as an expert in outcomes management, and survey design. He has designed studies and analyzed data for a diverse group of outcomes including functional status and well-being asthma, diabetes and total hip replacement, glycosylated hemoglobin control and patient and provider satisfaction. Dr. Wetzler is board certified in Occupational Medicine and Aerospace Medicine. He is also a retired Air Force Colonel.

Dr. Sandra K. Young-Whigham:Psychotherapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Dr. Whigham-Young is an executive level professional with expertise in education, counseling, forensic social work, program development, management, grant writing, corporate training and motivational speaking.

She has worked as a Field Supervisor of PhD psychology, Masters level Counseling and Social Work. Her experience also includes 15+ years as a Clinical Supervisor for LCSW Candidates. She has developed and presented professional training on local, state and national levels; Developed and presented parent education training seminars; Conducted numerous classes and professional presentations at various universities in Texas; Served on state committee to review educational standards and programs for health care professionals; Developed nationally recognized educational program for at risk high school students; Oversight for Alternative School Program and Parenting Education Program for teens; Taught Community Education classes, Spanish for Adult Learners and provided tutoring in Spanish for high school students.

Her counseling experience includes: 10+ years as Crisis Team Leader with police department; Member of Red Cross Mental Health Cadre and Dallas County Medical Reserve Corps; Response team member for 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, and local Disasters; Taught Medical Reserve Corps and law enforcement training on emergency procedures and mental health issues; Evaluation of children referred through juvenile court and Child Protective Services; 15+ years of individual, family and group psychotherapy practice; 10+ years psychiatric intensive care including hospital emergency room Social Work; 15+ years of psychosocial assessment, academic and mental health testing in English and Spanish; 15+ years of forensic social work in criminal and domestic cases.

Her degrees include: Doctorate in Psychology, California Coast University; Master of Science in Social Work, University of Texas-Austin, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; Bachelor of Science in Social Work, University of Texas –Austin

Chris Pergantis: Software Development

Chris Pergantis c.pergantis@accelerateddesign.com has a background encompassing mainframe to programmable logic chips, including COMS, Macintosh OS and MS Windows. His software development background includes over sixteen different programming languages with experience in multiple types business and industry. Everything including robotics, visual recognition, industrial manufacturing and business applications make up his three decades of experience. Studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Southern Polytechnic Institute and the proprietary Control Data Institute make up a variety of approaches to the learning experience. As an instructor for Career Development Institute, he provided valuable direction to future software engineers. To all of the graduating students he provided instruction on the art of locating that important first job in their new profession. He is currently the CEO of Accelerated Design, Inc. which specializes in the development of custom software for OEM’s and VAR’s, as well as, providing custom and pre-developed applications for businesses.

LTC Richard McCaughey: USA(R), Vet Life Advisor

Lieutenant Colonel Richard McCaughy joined the army in August 1972 at 17, attended Basic Training at Ft Jackson, SC; advanced infantry training at Ft Polk, LA; airborne school followed by Ranger School at Ft. Benning, GA. He served in Ranger units and as an instructor at the Ranger Department until July 75. After a year at the USMA prep school reported to West Point with the class of 1980. Graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 80 as an Infantry Officer reporting to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment (3/7th), 197th Infantry Brigade (Sep) as a platoon leader, weapons platoon leader and company executive officer followed by duty with Combat Sup- port Company(CSC) as executive officer and 4.2” mortar platoon leader. After serving as the S-3Air for 3/7th Infantry, selected to command the 187th Pathfinder Detachment. Promoted to Captain, graduated from the Infantry Advanced Course and assigned as the S-3Air/Assistant Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea. Selected as the Aide-de-Camp for the Commanding General, Joint United States Military Advisory Group (JUS- MAG-K). Returned to Ft Benning, GA in 85, branch transferred to Military Police and served as the S-3 (Operations Officer) and Chief, Military Police Investigations at the Ft Benning Provost Marshals Office. Selected to command the 988th Military Police Company until Sep 89; reported to the Darmstadt Military Community, Federal Republic of Germany for 3 years as the Provost Marshal. After promotion to Major, reported to Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, KS followed by selection as District Commander, Ft Dix District, 3d Military Police Group (CID), United States Army Criminal Investigations Command(USACIDC), Ft Dix, NJ, responsible for felony criminal investigations, counter drug operations, personal protection operations, criminal intelligence and physical security operations throughout the nine northeastern United States. After two years, assigned as S-3 (Operations Officer) for 3d Military Police Group (CID), United States Criminal Investigations Command(USACIDC), responsible for coordination, command and control for felony criminal investigations, counter drug operations, personal protection operations, criminal intelligence and physical security operations throughout the Eastern United States South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned as the Deputy Group Commander for the 3d Military Police Group(CID), He holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY; MS from Troy State University, Phenix City, AL. He retired from the military in December of 1997 after serving our country for 25 years.

Dr. Douglas Huber, MD: Vet Life Program Coordinator

In April of 1965 Dr. Huber received a draft notice from my local draft board announcing that he was being inducted into the Army. At that time, all male physicians were required by law to serve in the military or another government medical service. He reported to duty at Fort Myer, Virginia, and served in the Dispensary as a General Medical Officer. The troop escalation announced by President Johnson several days after he arrived on July 1, 1965 resulted in his receiving orders for Viet Nam. At Fort Sam Houston, Texas, his unit was assembled and he was appointed commander of a type A dispensary with two physicians, one dentist and eighteen enlisted personnel. His unit was then sent to Long Bihn, Viet Nam. Upon returning to duty in the U.S., Dr. Huber was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he completed his active duty requirement of two years. At Fort Belvoir he received a Letter of Commendation. Because of his young age at the time of induction, he was required to serve four more years in the Army Reserves and was assigned to the 3297 Field Hospital, a 1000 bed Reserve unit that had not been activated since WWII and had multiple extensions throughout Georgia. Dr. Huber was honorably discharged in 1971. He is currently retired and serving as Vet Life Coordinator.

Michael E. McClellan: Marketing & Advertising Specialist

Founder and President of Designs In Motion, Inc., Michael McClellan brings with him more than 20 years of creative design, marketing, and advertising experience. His company, Designs In Motion, Inc., prides itself in delivering engaging brand identity, creative print media, commercial advertising, marketing, web development, web hosting and more. His professional career spans from commercial printing, interactive training, e-commerce development, advertising, and marketing. Mr. McClellan is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where he received his B.S. degree in Graphic Design/Illustration. He is also one of the founders of the Life Renewed organization.

Greg Griffin: Licensed Pastoral Counselor

Greg received his Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Psychology from Randolph-Macon College, and also holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. He is also a licensed pastoral counselor, professional fundraiser, and speaker. He lives in Marietta, Georgia,and has two sons, Ben, 11, and Corey, 8. During his free time, Greg enjoys family outings, softball, exercise, and inline skating.

Cpt. Santos Alfredo De La Rosa: USA (R), Vet Life Advisor

A retired Army CPT. with 22 years of Enlisted and Commissioned military services. He Graduated from Austin Peay State University, at Clarksville TN with a BS in Mass Communications & Theater. During his enlisted tour he worked as a Helicopter maintenance repairman and crew chief, at 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell Ky. He received his Commission through the ROTC program and he served as a Field Artillery Fire Support Officer, 2/8 FD Fort Ord CA. a Public Affairs officer (9th Infantry Division Fort Ord, CA.) Was Deployed to Panama for Just Cause invasion as the PAO. He was a community relations officer for 5th Army Fort Sam Houston TX. A Quartermaster Logistics Officer for DECA at Kelly AF Base, San Antonio TX, and finished his military career as the HHD Commander for 3rd Military Group CID, Atlanta GA.

Janet Orman: Program and Curriculum Development

Janet Orman is one of the founders of the Life Renewed organization and a principal author of the Life Renewed Life Coaching program. She has a B.S. Degree in Education from the University of North Alabama and has worked in the educational field for 30 years. She has written and developed instructional management plans and provided workshops for colleagues in the public school setting. Janet has also facilitated leadership development conferences and has given educational workshops to many professional groups. She was a volunteer in a local jail ministry in Mississippi for three years before moving to Georgia.

Dr. John Hutcheson: Research Director

Dr. John Hutcheson, founder and President of The Research Group Inc., has over 30 years of experience in applied research, both in academic settings and as a consultant. Before his retirement from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Dr. Hutcheson taught graduate courses in research methods and policy analysis. He founded an interdisciplinary applied research center that he directed for over 15 years. Prior to joining the faculty at Georgia State University, he was the Associate Director of a research center at Emory University and directed research for the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Community Health Service. The author of six books and hundreds of articles and research reports, Dr. Hutcheson was designated an Alumni Distinguished Professor at Georgia State University and won numerous awards for his research and teaching.

W. John Fedack: Program Development

John is a native of Atlanta, GA. He was a Detective Sergeant for the state of Georgia and uniform patrolman for DeKalb County, GA. After witnessing many horrific accidents and losing a good friend who was shot on duty, he can speak about police stress personally.

Recently John became a published author writing “Protecting Sharks” a fictional novel about a female detective who loses her partner. The book details the stress and trauma police see on daily basis.

John will be working with Operation Not Forgotten and our Code Blue Program for first responders. He will be reaching out to police departments, fire departments and all first responder organizations to stress the need for the assessment and any needed follow-up help. John is a strong advocate for first responders.


Heidi Smith: Administrative Assistant

Heidi Smith graduated with honors from a business college in Stuttgart, Germany and worked for one year with Robert Bosch GmbH before immigrating to the United States where she has lived in New York, San Francisco and since 1975 in Atlanta, GA. For the last 23 years she has been employed by a European owned company where her responsibilities included secretarial, accounting and executive assistance, management of shipping and receiving, technical translation, proposal and document preparation and assistance with spare parts distribution. Her extensive knowledge of all departments has been instrumental in training new employees.