Co-Op Survival
Board of Directors

Sharon is a native Arizonan, the mother of 4, the dog-momma of 5, and has been married to Pete Grassi for almost 30 years.

Sharon earned two AAS degrees in manufacturing from Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) and a bachelors in technical communications from Arizona State University.  She’s worked for Northrop, McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Global/Sunstrand, Alstom/Areva, JP Morgan Chase, Freescale Semiconductors, Wells Fargo, and is currently working (volunteering) with the Department of Labor in support of caregiver terminology in employment tutorials.

In 2005, her son Derek joined the US Army.  His injuries in the Army were life changing for Derek and Sharon. In 2015, she took a break from her career to care for Derek.  A few months turned into ten years, and, like many caregivers, her career became a casualty of caregiving.

In 2018, she launched Co-Op Survival and has been growing the organization ever since.

Sharon is Elizabeth Dole Fellow/Alumni and continues to volunteer and advocate for caregivers with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. She enjoys membership with the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and supports many Veteran and caregiver events in Arizona and across the country. She is a founder and former president of Central AZ Blue Star Moms, a chapter of the congressionally recognized Blue Star Mothers of America.

Ora Marie (OM) was born and raised in Gorham, Maine, where she currently resides.

She is a Gorham High graduate class of 2007 and a 2015 graduate of the University of Southern Maine where she received her bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation with minors in political science and community recreation.                  

In 2004, at the age of 16, OM became a secondary caregiver for her father who was injured by suicide bomber in Mosul, Iraq. As a secondary caregiver I not only support my mother (primary caregiver) and father, but I also have the opportunity to support and connect with other military caregivers.

Co-Op Survival gives caregivers, like me, a sense of community and reminds us we are not alone on this journey.

Ora lives in Gorham, Maine with her husband of 39 years and her daughter Ora Marie (secondary caregiver). Her oldest daughter, Ashley, and 2 grandsons, Logan and Ronin, also live close by.

Ora has been a full-time caregiver to her husband, a medically-retired, 27-year Army veteran, since 2004.  Her husband was injured in a suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq.

Prior to becoming a caregiver, Ora volunteered with the Maine Army National Guard family readiness program, was the co-creator of their military youth camp, and organized their family outings and holiday events.

In addition to her work as a Co-Op Survival board-member and volunteer, Ora supports Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation at their Veterans No Boundaries summer and winter retreats, and she spent 10-years volunteering with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a couple’s peer mentor, supporting WWP Odysseys across the United States.  In 2014, she became the first Maine Elizabeth Dole Fellow. As a Maine Fellow, Ora’s mission continues to be raising awareness on the effects of caregiving on the entire family, not just the injured veteran. I have represented the Elizabeth Dole Foundation at various resource fairs in my home state.

As an out of state Co-Op board member, Ora is a perfect example of how caregivers can support each other across the country.

Derek is a medically-retired US Army Veteran.  He served as a combat medic from 2005 – 2009, left the military, then re-enlisted in 2010 as an infantryman (medic qualified). 

During his time in service, Derek deployed to Ramadi, Iraq (2006 with 1^st Armored), Sadr City, Iraq (1^st Armored, task force 1-6), and Korengal Valley – Kunar Province, Afghanistan (2011).  Awards: 3 Army commendation medals (1 with valor), combat infantry badge, National defense service medal, Global war on terror service medal, Iraq campaign medal w/2 campaign  stars, non-commissioned officer ribbon, Army service ribbon, overseas service ribbon, Afghanistan campaign medal w/campaign star, Army good conduct medal, NATO medal, Expert field medical badge, Overseas service ribbon (4).  In addition, Derek was recommended for: combat medic badge and a purple heart (they sat on someone’s desk and were never processed).

Read more about the troubled transition of many of our service-members, including Derek: https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2019/09/11/derek-pope-veteran-ptsd-says-iraq-afghanistan-wars-left-him-scarred-but-unbroken/2136568001/

Neysa is the co-founder and Director of Business Operations for Deep Sea Valkyries. Founded in 2014, DSV provides clinical trauma counseling retreats to Veterans and First Responders. Deep Sea Valkyries’ week-long intensive retreats pair a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) based curriculum with recreational activities and daily devotionals.

Neysa is a NAUI Divemaster and supports DSV retreats by leading dives, facilitating one of the sessions on family dynamics, and assists the Media team to document the program.

Prior to founding DSV, Neysa worked as a Department of the Army civilian assisting in the planning of large-scale Military Installation and city events and facilitated corporate sponsorship for those events.

Neysa holds a BA in Public Relations & Marketing and a MA in Organizational Management with a focus on government entities. She is the recipient of the US Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service and the Army Family Covenant Excellence in marketing award. She served eight years as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child in the SE Valley and has also created DSV programs outside of their primary mission to include their annual back to school event, supplying local area military families with essential backpacks and school supplies.

Danelle Kelling serves as HOPCo’s General Counsel. Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo) is the national leader of integrated musculoskeletal value-based health outcomes management, practice management and health system service line management.

Before joining HOPCo, Danelle was Assist. General Counsel at American Medical Response (AMR), a subsidiary of Global Medical Response (GMR), which was previously a division of Envision Healthcare, and prior to that served as Division General Counsel for Rural/Metro Corporation.

Danelle started her career in private practice with a focus on corporate and golf related real estate transactions at law firms in Phoenix, Arizona.

Danelle earned her J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University graduating Order of the Coif, where she served on the law journal and was appointed by Governor Jane Dee Hull to serve as a Student Regent on the Arizona Board of Regents. Danelle also has a B.A. in Political Science also from Arizona State University.

Danelle has served on numerous community boards and committees and volunteered with a number of community organizations, including Women in the Golf Industry, Valley Leadership, Arizona Town Hall, Wings of Gold, ASU Alumni Association, and Maricopa County Bar Association.

Lt Col (Retired) Matthew K. Morrison embarked on his distinguished military career in 1997, earning his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force through the ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. He successfully completed pilot training at Laughlin AFB, TX, receiving his wings in 1999. His first operational assignment as an F-16 Fighter Pilot took him to Shaw AFB, SC, where he played a critical role in post-9/11 combat air patrols over the East Coast and Washington, D.C., including escorting Air Force One.

During his tenure at Shaw, Matt deployed three times in support of Operations Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Notably, he was part of the first daylight mission over Baghdad at the onset of Iraqi Freedom.  Matt flew 42 combat missions acquiring 238 combat hours in the F-16. His career also included a remote assignment at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, followed by a role as an instructor pilot at Luke AFB, AZ. After 10 years of active duty, Matt transitioned to the Air Force Reserves, continuing his service at Luke AFB for an additional 11 years. He retired in 2018 with over 2,500 flight hours in the F-16.  His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, three Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal to name a few.

Currently, Matt is a Captain at Southwest Airlines, where he has been flying for 17 years. His commitment to service extends to his involvement with veteran organizations such as the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, Folds of Honor, and Co-Op Survival, and he remains a dedicated supporter of Luke AFB through various volunteer efforts.

In his personal life, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife, Brooke, and their two children, Parker (17) and McKenzie (15). His hobbies include golf, photography, and videography. He has contributed articles to publications like Lonely Planet, Staff Traveler, and the Distinguished Flying Cross magazine. Matt and his family reside in North Scottsdale.

Rachael Barrett has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, working with domestic and international organizations, in the areas of workforce development, health and mental health, healthcare delivery, community development, legal services, criminal justice, and advocacy. Throughout her career, she has been committed to working with entrepreneurial organizations and focused on systemic change through education and advocacy.

Rachael has worked at nonprofits in the East Coast including senior-level positions and as a consultant. Her portfolio includes afterschool programs, civic engagement organizations, veteran and caregiver nonprofits, and conservation groups. She has provided strategic planning, proposal development, report writing, and prospect research.

Rachael has been published in Health Affairs, William Mitchell School of Law, Law Review, and has presented at conferences on workplace wellness, mental health, and the practice of Inclusive Care across the country.

Rachael graduated from Emerson College in Boston, MA with a bachelor’s in mass communication and a MBA from the University of New Haven. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Patrick Hayes, PhD.