Panel 1 | Resilience in Action
Brain Health, Prevention & Mentorship
A practical conversation on brain health, prevention, and youth mentorship with Dr. Kristen Gilliland, John Harrison, and Josiah Holland —actionable tools for families, schools, and the broader community.
Dr. Kristen Gilliland
Josiah Holland
Josiah Holland has served Williamson County for over 20 years in the Williamson County School system as a teacher assistant, substitute teacher, special and gifted education teacher, assistant principal and now program director at the Alternative Learning Center where he serves suspended and incarcerated students in the community. He has dedicated his life’s work to using supportive, therapeutic methods to educate underserved populations. Josiah is a restorative practices trainer for the International Institute of Restorative Practices and currently serves as vice chair of the TN Governor’s Council for Alternative Education. He lives in Williamson County with his wife, Katherine, and two lovely children, Quinn and Naomi.
John Harrison
John Harrison knows firsthand that life brings both success and struggle, and he’s committed to helping others embrace both. A lifelong athlete, he played multiple sports growing up before focusing on golf and competing for four years at the Division III level. Those experiences taught him discipline and resilience but also brought challenges with addiction and mental health. His life has been full of highlights and hardships, giving him the ability to resonate deeply with others and fuel his passion for helping people pursue purpose over performance.
John is the current Executive Director of Champion Forward, where he helps athletes, parents, and coaches experience sports in a mentally and emotionally way. His background includes for-profit and non-profit operations, business development, marketing, and training, with experience alongside organizations such as Full Focus, CBMC, SPS Commerce, and Northwestern Mutual. Guided by and committed to his Christian faith, John enjoys golf, reading, workouts with friends, and time in the outdoors with his wife Whitney and their son Henry.
Keynote Speaker- Ben Zobrist
Ben Zobrist began playing baseball at 7 years old and never could’ve envisioned the professional career that was ahead of him. In 2004, Ben was drafted by the Houston Astros. From 2006 to 2018 Ben became known as a “Super Utility Player” playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs. Ben helped lead the Royals and Cubs to World Series victories and was named World Series MVP in 2016 after driving in the game winning run in game 7 of the 2016 World Series. In addition to his on-field achievements, Ben is a strong advocate for mental and emotional health and is now focused on addressing these challenges in the sports world. He is the Founder of Champion Forward, an organization that helps teenage athletes, parents, and coaches improve their mental wellbeing, increase confidence, and enhance relationships by leveraging the power of emotional intelligence skills.
