Biography

First the stats:

Ben graduated from Lewis and Clark College in 2004 with a BA in Religious Studies and subsequently completed several graduate courses in rehabilitation counseling at Portland State University. He received professional certification as a Life Coach in 2009 from the Baraka Institute in Portland, OR. In 2010, he recieved certification as a Peer Support Specialist through Project ABLE in Corvallis, OR. He currently sits on the board of Empowerment Initiatives, a non-profit providing support for individuals living with mental health challenges, is a proud member of MindFreedom International and the Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition, and is involved with several other non-profits and community projects. Along side his path of career development, Ben has dedicated himself to the study and cultivation of martial arts. He currently trains in Sun Moo Do, a Korean form rooted in Zen philosophy. Ben resides in beautiful Eugene, Oregon with his loving partner and two precious daughters. He enjoys outdoor adventures, intellectual pursuits, martial arts, and music; but there is nothing more rewarding to him than meeting a kind and empathetic neighbor.

You may wonder how Ben wound up in this field:

Ben grew up along side an older brother with autism and spent much of his childhood working with individuals of varying ability levels. Then at age 12, his life took a dramatic turn. The car he was riding in was hit head-on by a semi-truck and he sustained a severe Traumatic Brain Injury. He spent three months in the hospital relearning how to walk, talk, think, etc. Upon re-entering society, he found himself faced with severe physical, mental, and social difficultines. The next fifteen years of his life were a long string of successes and setbacks dealing with those challenges.

Near the end of those fifteen years, Ben was introduced to martial arts. He quickly became a devoted student and for the first time since his injury, began to place value in his body and its capacity for movement. He gained confidence and learned to move in ways he had before considered "out of his league." The progress he made in the physical realm was then matched by progress in the mental and spiritual realms. Doubt disappeared from his horizon and he began to consider everything possible. Eager to acheive, he set out from harbor once again with fresh ambition and hope. He has since returned, wiser and more knowing from his voyage and eager to share the lessons he learned with others.

Business Origins

The strategies underlying Launch Empowerment Mentoring were first featured in the article "Questing Beyond the Horizon: Redefining Personal Potential," which began as a recount of Ben’s experience with a severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Over time, the article transformed into a comprehensive manual for recovery, Beyond the Horizon: Redefining Personal Potential After Brain Injury, now available from amazon at: Amazon.com. The story follows.

During an intervention techniques training at work, Ben was asked to share something about himself with the group. He briefly described his brain injury and its aftermath. When class was over, the instructor approached him and suggested that he write a story about his experience. He obliged and began drafting outlines. In doing so, he found himself considering his injury and process of recovery from new perspectives. After spending the better part of a year and a half working on this project, he emerged with a holistic guide for rehabilitation.

He applied his ideas and strategies to his day job and observed promising results. He volunteered his services with local organizations and was pleased by participants' reception. A business plan and brochure followed. Then he became certified as a professional Life Coach at the Baraka Institute in Portland, OR. He has since integrated this training into his services. These days, Ben keeps himself busy offering his services to clients, leading workshops around Oregon and surrounding areas, writing literature, training, volunteering his time with various organizations, and spending precious time with his beautiful family. Most recently, he co-founded White Tiger Martial Arts School in Oakridge, Oregon, where he serves as assistant instructor.