A holistic approach to completely train all first responders and their families. Our goal is to empower them to live their best life on and off duty.

Dr. Tia White, DSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, researcher, program and curriculum developer, and training instructor. With a Doctorate and Master’s in social work, her education focuses on the best ways to holistically empower communities, develop programs, initiate, translate, and apply research, and engage public safety in specialized clinical treatments. 

Over her career, she has been a certified Utah crisis worker and has worked as a community crisis interventionist and field trainer for a mobile crisis outreach team (MCOT). Tia has spent several years in regional emergency departments, leading patient crisis intervention efforts and directly supporting medical providers. She has 22+ years of experience working with various populations and social systems, including international service-learning, forensics, individuals with disabilities, severe and chronic mental illness, geriatrics, child welfare, juvenile justice, and schools. Additionally, she is a passionate educator and has been an adjunct instructor for several years at two local universities.

Tia owns The Wellness & Empowerment Center (The WEC) in Orem, UT. The WEC specializes in serving public safety professionals and their families. Tia concentrates her efforts on trauma-focused therapeutic interventions, such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), to help empower individuals' natural healing abilities.

Jerry Lund is the Fire Captain/Paramedic currently working at the local fire department since 1990 and SWAT medic with the police department in Utah since 2009.

Becoming a firefighter or police officer is not an easy process, and enduring each day the misfortunes, deaths, and accidents; changes a person forever. But it is the job of first responders every day, aptly put in the following words:

"Where your worst nightmare is just another day at work."

Despite all the misfortunes, some humans with special hearts still choose this job, saving lives and choosing others over their lives. People like Jerry Lund restore faith in humanity for how they risk their lives each day.  

Let's get to know Jerry Lund.

His experience as a first responder takes us way back to 1990 when he was a volunteer EMT with Lehi City Ambulance in Lehi, Utah.

He achieved his education to become a paramedic, and he was determined to help the people of his city. He has dedicated a significant part of his life to saving people, witnessing how people act when they see death right before them, and experiencing human vulnerability at worst.

He has been happily married for years, with the love of his life and the father of six kids. He enjoys his time outdoors with his family and plays sports with kids. Fortunate for him, he has two grandchildren; seeing them grow is an out-of-the-world experience.

He travels whenever he can to experience the cultures of the world. Seeing them going about their day in their fashion is a fantastic experience.

In his free time, he watches documentaries about all world religions, understanding the essence of life and the ideology behind this universe. Seeing other faiths, how they perceive religion, how it influences their daily lives, and how it embodies them as humans are intriguing; it brings him closer to understanding the Higher power.   

Jerry Lund, The Firefighter/Paramedic

His various experiences he was starting from his first-ever experience as a volunteer EMT with Lehi City Ambulance in Lehi, Utah. Since then, he has been associated with the same industry but with different departments, upgrading his skills and doing courses to do better.

1997: He joined South Jordan Fire Department in Utah. Within three years, he managed titles of Firefighter, Engineer, Paramedic, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Fire Investigator.

Since it was a small department, he cared for all the South Jordan Fire Department sections and departments.

As a firefighter, he joined the school to become a Certified Paramedic. Later in 1997, he joined part-time special events EMT to work with Rio Tinto Stadium and the Maverick Center.

2005: He started as a part-time firefighter, paramedic, and fire investigator at Saratoga Springs Fire and Rescue.

2006: He left his job at Lehi City Ambulance to reduce his work hours and be more with his family.

2009: He started working full-time as Fire Captain/Paramedic and Fire Investigator. He became a SWAT Medic at the Local Police Department

2011: He became an Interim Fire Chief for a year until the city council looked for a new chief for the department.

Enduring the Badge Podcast

Working as a firefighter and paramedic, he experienced a lot, and sometimes it was a bit difficult to bounce back to everyday life. He witnessed the firefighter/paramedics tend to be the type A, always tough ones.

With this attitude, they all become less expressive and bottle up all the emotions that need to be shared.

Many first responders have PTSD and mental health issues; some even make the mistake of keeping the brave front and not asking for help.

In the podcast, Jerry Lund reaches all the responders and their families to unite as a community. He brings people from all walks of life, health care professionals, first responders, and psychologists who help cope with the process.

While they talk about things of grave importance, they also talk about everything in life, like work, the wonders of life, and something that matters to each.     

As a community, many individuals need clarification about asking for help and need to learn how to cope. After listening to accounts of those who helped themselves or asking for help and how they came out of it, they may encourage some individuals.

PTSD could be a small or even a huge problem; while it affects the individual, it also affects their families. With this small initiative, Jerry Lund aims to address the issues and make a difference in anyone’s life by listening to podcasts.