Jack Lyden is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant who spent his military career leading in the aircraft maintenance field. Throughout his military and civilian careers, he has found success through developing talent, encouraging high level performance and helping people find their best place. Jack is a man of faith and believes that when you are in the place God has planned for you, you will thrive. No matter who you are, if you bring your best, we can help you succeed.

Jack has held positions in the Veteran employment field as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and as Community Employment Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Veterans Health Administration. Jack holds a master’s degree from the University of La Verne in Business Organization Management and recently acquired the six-sigma black belt.

Brian Harkins is a United States Marine Corps Veteran and a retired Pittsburgh Firefighter. As a Marine at Camp Lejeune, Brian worked at the Joint Public Affairs Office and deployed to Central and South America in 1986 after earning a bachelors degree in journalism from Point Park College in 1984. Brian serves as PHV’s Employment Specialist.

Kaluunda Taylor is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran with over 20 years of distinguished leadership experience. During his military service, he earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management and a Master’s degree in Human Relations from the University of Arizona. Known for his ability to mentor and positively influence the careers of fellow Airmen, Kaluunda was highly respected throughout the chain of command. Today, he brings that same dedication and insight to PHV, where he builds strong relationships with local employers committed to hiring veterans and supporting their transition into civilian careers.

Mr. Rossi attended the University of Pittsburgh and obtained a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors provide guidance, insight and resources to improve employment outcomes. He was a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor since 1997. Later he became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2002, providing vocational counseling, consulting and research services to individuals, rehabilitation providers, medical professionals and businesses.

James began providing employment services to service members and veterans in 2008. “They encounter a whole different set of barriers resulting in higher unemployment and underemployment”. Focusing on each person and providing individualized vocational direction, guidance, and counseling breaks down some of those barriers to establish relationships integral to career development.

Mr. Rossi served two terms as a Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Professionals. Prior to one term as president. He continues to be a regular presenter at Rehabilitation Counseling Seminars.

Carissa Snedden is a U.S. Air Force veteran and systems thinker with dual master’s degrees in Social Work and Business Administration from Carlow University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Western Carolina University, where she focused on military and Appalachian cultures—an academic foundation that continues to shape her work in veteran services and workforce development.

Carissa contributed to Southwestern PA Partners in Recovery by evaluating the recovery-to-workforce ecosystem in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties. Her work identified systemic barriers to employment for individuals navigating recovery and informed collaborative efforts to address the opioid crisis in Appalachia. She has held roles across nonprofit, healthcare, and administrative sectors, focusing on improving access and outcomes for veterans.

With over a decade of involvement in the veteran community, Carissa holds certifications as a Recovery Coach from Recovery Coach Academy and in Supporting Morally Injured Female Veterans from NBCC Academy. From 2017 to 2018, she completed a fellowship with The Mission Continues, volunteering weekly to support underserved communities through construction projects and community events alongside fellow veterans.

Carissa’s approach to employment services is strengths-based, culturally humble, and trauma-informed. She recognizes how vital it is for veterans to be empowered to see the value they bring to an organization—because she has seen firsthand how a strong sense of professional identity can restore confidence, foster purpose, and lay the foundation for long-term success.

A Navy submarine nuclear electrician turned regional Emmy Award–winning photojournalist. Matthew spent six years in the Navy, most of that time stationed on the submarine USS Michigan. He attended the University of Colorado, Boulder obtaining his bachelors in Journalism. He built a fifteen-year career in communications for local news and city communications. At PHV he leads marketing, media, and grant writing. He made the transition he now helps other veterans make.