Meet the Team Behind FIT
Grounded clinical experts, retreat facilitators, and peer leaders dedicated to restorative resilience.
FIT is led by an interdisciplinary team specializing in trauma-informed care, somatic practices, and burnout prevention for high‑stress professionals. Our collective expertise bridges clinical precision with somatic wisdom to foster sustainable resilience for those navigating intense pressures.
Clinical Team
The clinical and somatic experts behind our retreats bring together collective experience in guiding participants through transformative journeys. We collaborate deeply to ensure every individual feels supported by evidence-informed care and compassionate facilitation, creating a safe container for sustainable restoration.
Dr. Ashley Massimino, PsyD
EXECUTIVE Director
CLINICAL Psychologist
Ashley affectionately describes herself now as a "recovering psychologist", recognizing that she along with her entire profession, have martyred themselves at the cost of their own wellness. The term "recovering psychologist" was recently coined by author and teacher Báyò Akómoláfé, to describe when someone in a helping profession recognizes when their work is harming them, and pivots, and begins to live a life of wellness and balance.
Ashley graduated from Biola University - Rosemead School of Psychology with her masters and doctoral degrees, is currently licensed in California and New York State, and seeking licensure in Hawaii. Prior to working with law enforcement, Ashley received intensive trauma training with a variety of populations, setting the groundwork for her specialized work with first responders. She is EMDR Certified and also utilizes Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Brainspotting in her sessions. Ashley specializes in treating complex trauma, sexual trauma, chronic pain and substance abuse. She tends to attract and work best with clients who have experienced a significant traumatic loss and also specializes in grief work.
As part of Ashley's journey, she has spent a considerable amount of time working for a variety of law enforcement agencies, including: Orange County Juvenile Drug Court, Patton State Hospital, Metropolitan State Hospital, California Youth Authority, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In her private practice, she has directly treated department members/family members from the following agencies:
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD)
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Orange County District Attorney
California Highway Patrol (CHP)
Fire Department of New York (FDNY)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Marin Probation Department
San Francisco Fire Department
El Segundo Police Department
Whittier Police Department
Modesto Fire Department
Fresno County Sheriff
U.S. Forest Service
Cal Fire
Ashley is also deeply committed to being well, and spends all of her free time in her garden, and in nature, enjoying the natural home that has been gifted to all of us. When not in nature, or immersed in water, you will find her with her husband and her two dogs.
Allison Hedgpeth
board president
pastor
Ali grew up in Huntington Beach, California, where she was rarely far from the water, whether surfing or in the pool. She served as a lifeguard for the City of Huntington Beach and spent as much time near the ocean as she could.
After competing in college water polo and earning her BA in Psychology, Ali pursued a career in the fire service and graduated from El Camino Fire Academy in 2005. Her path soon shifted as she stepped into the roles of wife and mother. During this season, her husband began his career in law enforcement, where he has now served for twenty years.
Along the way, Ali felt a calling into ministry, where she has led for the past fifteen years. After earning her MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, she was licensed as a pastor and now serves as the Care Pastor at a large congregation in Southern California.
Ali is passionate about caring for the whole person, soul, mind, and body, with compassion and curiosity. She offers pastoral counseling and guidance in spiritual practices that provide space for discernment and honoring the deepest human longing to be unconditionally loved. Ali also speaks in different settings, working with small groups, training leadership teams, and teaching and preaching in larger gatherings.
As a former athlete, a law enforcement spouse, and someone well acquainted with the personal cost that comes with offering care and overachieving, Ali feels a particular call to invite others into a life of wholeness and restoration.
Ali and her husband reside in Southern California with their four children, two dogs, a turtle, and plenty of laundry. In her free time, you will usually find her where there is sunshine and water.
Rosie Velasquez
board vice-president
sound healing practitioner
Rosie Velasquez is a holistic practitioner based in Big Bear Lake, California, specializing in hypnotherapy, spiritual coaching, and sound healing. Her work centers on guiding individuals—especially women—through deep personal transformation, healing, and self-discovery.
With experience as a hospice chaplain, Rosie brings a compassionate, grounded presence to her practice, supporting clients through life transitions, grief, and spiritual awakening. She combines intuitive guidance with practical coaching to help others reconnect with their inner wisdom and purpose.
Rosie also facilitates women’s circles, creating safe and nurturing spaces for connection, empowerment, and collective healing. Through her work in life and spiritual coaching, she is dedicated to helping women cultivate balance, resilience, and a deeper sense of alignment in their lives.
Leadership Board
Each board member was thoughtfully selected because of :
Their own history of service as a first responder
Their heart for service and community leadership
Their love for their brothers and sisters in the field
Their shared professional background fosters a culture of accountability, teamwork, and mission-driven leadership.
Ken Chapelle
Board treasurer
retired sergeant instructor
Ken Chapelle is a retired sergeant/academy instructor who took great pride in mentoring and teaching cadets at the Richard McGee Correctional Training Center in Galt, CA. He is also a law enforcement chaplain, who has worked with the California Chaplain Corps and the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento.
Donald Hudson
Board Secretary
attorney-at-law
Donald Hudson is an attorney and former correctional officer. He brings a solution-driven and experiential perspective to supporting veteran and first responder mental health through strategy, policy and legal analysis, helping to bridge the gap between advocacy and results.
Tim Fisher
board member
fire fighter
Timothy Fisher is a dedicated first responder, leader, and advocate for mental health within the public safety community. With 18 years of service in the fire service, he has held the ranks of Firefighter, Firefighter Paramedic, and currently serves as a Fire Apparatus Engineer Paramedic with the Orange County Fire Authority. Outside of his professional and advocacy work, Timothy is an active surfer, cyclist, and skydiver who embraces life with intensity and purpose. He is a devoted husband to his wife, Tonya, and a proud father of two.
Josh Cook
board member
retired police officer
Josh Cook is a proud husband and father of four. He served as a police officer in Maryland for seven years, where he developed a deep passion for supporting the mental health and spiritual well-being of fellow first responders. Now based in Tennessee, Josh leads an organization called Enter the Lion that is dedicated to serving first responders and service members across the nation. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University.
Steven Gonzalez
Board member
correctional officer
Steven Gonzalez is a California State Correctional Officer, loving husband, and proud father who carries on a legacy of service and sacrifice. As the son of a fallen officer, he picked up the weight of his father’s badge and wears it on his chest proudly honoring that legacy through the way he lives, works, and leads.
He is also the Founder and President of the Manuel A. Gonzalez Jr. Foundation, where he continues his mission to give back and support our nation’s heroes. Grounded in faith, family, and resilience, Steven is committed to making a meaningful impact while keeping his father’s legacy alive every day.