Amanda Davarn, MA, LPC-S, EMT-B
Founder & President of the Board of Directors
Anthony Lerma
Chief Operating Officer
Heather Lerma, CCEMT-P, I/C, FF, BaS, AA
Director of Educational Programs
Clifford VanDeusen III, Captain, FF, EMT-B
Director of Life Coaching and Peer Support
As Chief Operating Officer of The S.T.R.O.N.G. Center Foundation, Anthony Lerma brings over 20 years of leadership in high-risk operations, multi-agency coordination, and first responder training environments. With a career rooted in command center management, use-of-force instruction, crisis response, and large-scale incident operations, Anthony understands firsthand the operational and psychological demands placed on first responders.
He has led integrated security, medical, and emergency communications operations supporting federal, state, and local agencies, while also serving as a nationally certified firearms and high-liability instructor. His background in Incident Management Systems (IMS), crisis intervention, disaster response, and workforce development uniquely positions him to build structured, resilient systems that support both operational readiness and long-term wellness.
At The S.T.R.O.N.G. Center, Anthony oversees strategic operations, continuing education development, safety compliance, and cross-agency partnerships — ensuring the Center remains a trusted, professional, and mission-driven resource dedicated to strengthening the mental health, resilience, and professional growth of first responders and their families.
Amanda Davarn is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The S.T.R.O.N.G. Center Foundation, a nonprofit created with one clear purpose: to care for those who spend their lives caring for others. With a unique background as both a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and an Emergency Medical Technician Basic, Amanda understands the world of first responders from both sides of the door, in the therapy room and on the scene.
Amanda’s passion for this work is deeply personal. She is married and the proud mom of two young daughters, ages six and three, and she credits her close knit family and friends for keeping her grounded and connected. Outside of work, you will most likely find her at an MSU sporting event, especially football games and tailgating, playing soccer, or making memories on family vacations. These relationships and experiences shape her belief that strong support systems and healthy connection are just as important as clinical care.
Professionally, Amanda brings advanced training in EMDR, Trauma Informed Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Critical Incident Stress Intervention (ICISF). She specializes in working with first responders, healthcare professionals, veterans, and others who face high-stress and high-risk environments.
Amanda has more than eight years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health. She has spent five years as the Clinical Director of a local private practice, where she provided administrative and clinical supervision, staff development, policy creation, and operational oversight for a multidisciplinary team of providers. Prior to that role, she gained three years of experience in substance use treatment, working directly with individuals in recovery while contributing to program operations and care coordination.
Her career has also included work in emergency medicine, high intensity residential services, and outpatient behavioral health program development. She has served as an adjunct faculty member and participated on an EMS advisory board, helping strengthen the connection between clinical mental health and responder education.
As CEO of The S.T.R.O.N.G. Center, Amanda leads the organization’s strategic vision, clinical programming, responder-focused curriculum development, and statewide partnerships. Her mission is simple and deeply personal: to ensure that those who serve on the front lines have access to mental health care that understands their culture, respects their experiences, and truly meets them where they are.
Heather Lerma serves as Director of Education for The S.T.R.O.N.G. Center Foundation, bringing extensive experience in EMS program leadership, critical care transport, and postsecondary paramedic education. A licensed Paramedic and Instructor/Coordinator in the State of Michigan, Heather has built a reputation for high-reliability outcomes, structured program management, and measurable student success.
As EMS Program Manager and former Lead Paramedic Instructor at Dorsey College, Heather achieved 100% NREMT pass rates by the third attempt across multiple EMT and Paramedic cohorts, while maintaining the highest retention performance among campus programs. Her leadership emphasizes early at-risk identification, structured remediation systems, consistent documentation standards, and instructor mentorship — creating resilient learners prepared for both certification and field performance.
Heather’s operational background includes critical care transport, large-scale event medical direction, and progressive field roles spanning EMT, Paramedic, Instructor, and Emergency Medical Dispatcher. She integrates peer-support principles and high-performance accountability into educational design, ensuring students are both clinically competent and psychologically prepared for the demands of emergency services.
At The S.T.R.O.N.G. Center, Heather oversees continuing education development, accreditation alignment, instructor standards, and responder-focused curriculum design — building structured, sustainable educational systems that strengthen clinical readiness, certification success, and long-term professional resilience for first responders.
Ellie Mae
Chief Snuggle Officer
Breanna O'Keefe, DO
Medical Director
Clifford VanDeusen is a devoted family man who has been married to his high school sweetheart for more than 30 years. Together, they have raised two daughters, now 31 and 26, and recently welcomed their first grandson. Cliff often says he is “the luckiest man alive” and firmly believes that he would not be here, in more ways than one, without the love and support of his family.
Cliff has proudly served the Grand Ledge Fire Department as both a volunteer and career firefighter in Grand Ledge, Michigan. He began his service in January 1996 as a volunteer firefighter and quickly advanced through the ranks. In October 2000, he accepted a fulltime career position with the department. Over the past two decades, Cliff has served as both an EMT and an officer and currently holds the rank of Captain and Public Information Officer. He also served as President of I.A.F.F. Local #2627 for nearly 16 years, advocating for firefighters and strengthening the profession from within.
A passionate advocate for mental health in the fire service, Cliff is an active member of the Capital Area Peer Support, a multi-jurisdictional team serving departments across three counties in the Greater Lansing area. His work in mental health is driven by both professional training and deeply personal experience. Cliff has completed extensive Peer Support and Critical Incident Stress Management training, participated in numerous mental health conferences, and received care and education through the Sparrow Adult Psychiatric Unit and the IAFF Center of Excellence.
Cliff’s advocacy has also extended beyond the firehouse. He is a published author with Firehouse Magazine and has shared his story and experience as a guest on the Front Line Strong podcast, helping bring national attention to the importance of mental wellness in the fire service.
Cliff’s mission is simple and unwavering: To leave the fire service better than he found it. If his story can help even one person feel less alone or find the courage to seek help, then every step of his journey has been worth it.
Leadership Team
Board of Directors
Snapshots highlighting our support for Michigan’s first responders.