We Are Glad You’re Here! Here’s Who We Are
Kate Hardy, Founder, Executive Director
Kate Hardy is the founder and Executive Director of Six Feet Over, a Michigan based suicide prevention and postvention nonprofit. Kate is the survivor of nine losses by suicide beginning with the loss of her mother in 2003. She has been recognized as the 2017 American Association of Suicidology Loss Survivor of the Year, spent 6 years as a member of the 988 (formerly NSPL) Individual and Family Lived Experience Committee, the Lifeline Chat Work-group, an advisor on the Michigan Suicide Prevention Plan Workgroup, a member of the International Messaging Advisory Group, an advisory committee member of Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative and the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, as well as a board member of With One Voice and a national speaker. She lives just outside of Detroit with Kevin, her husband of 20 years, and their teenage son Griffin.
Benny Capaul, Board President (Funeral Professional)
Benny Capual, is a 4th generation funeral director in Ida, Michigan. He is a graduate of Wayne State University’s Mortuary Science school. Benny is active on multiple boards, supplying his knowledge and expertise on the topics of death, funeral services and best practices, including Gabby’s Ladder and The Michigan Funeral Directors Association. In addition to his work and board activities he is a husband, father, punk rocker, and podcast co-creator and co-host of ‘Let’s Talk About Death./p>
Liz Thon, Board Secretary
Liz has loved ones who have mental health concerns, as well as having many other experiences that have driven her to participate on our board. Liz is a student at LSU and works as a librarian for a correctional institute in Ohio, living in Monroe, MI with her husband, cats and many, many, many books.
Carlos Padilla, Treasurer
Carlos is the survivor of the loss of his God Mother and family friend Kathy Simpson, Kate’s mom. Carlos currently works in accounting with his family through their company, Carlex, based out of Detroit, MI. Carlos currently lives in the Detroit Metro area with his wife Kristen (who is way out of his league) and his dog Bullet (the unofficial mascot of SFO).
Dr. Nicholas Capaul Psy.D., DLLP, Board Member
Dr. Nicholas Capaul received a Doctor Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Currently his practice is in Wyandotte, MI where he helps others who are struggling with symptoms of grief and loss. Dr. Nick and his wife, Kathryn, have two children (Emilia ‘Mili’ and Nicholas). Lastly, Dr. Capaul co-hosts a podcast, Let’s Talk About Death, where the aim is to educate others on why it is important to discuss topics surrounding death.
Doug Jones, Board Member
Doug Jones is an interdisciplinary, Detroit-based educator and artist specializing in all-inclusive, co-creative design. Prior to his ongoing work as a professional artist, Jones led a decade-long career in clinical psychology, education, and nonprofit administration throughout the United States and Brazil. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Print Media and Architecture departments at Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2022. His work over the last year includes public art (printmaking, painting, photography, sculpture, and gardens), residencies, and workshops in Michigan, Connecticut, and Tennessee. Jones currently teaches as a Studio Manager in the MFA Photography Department at Cranbrook.
Nicole Law, PhD, Lemon Aid Committee Chair
Nicole graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in English literature describing a deep desire to understand “the artistic version of the human experience.” Nicole went on to work several careers including bridging cultural differences while living in Brazil, as a consultant in global intelligence/protection of global assets, and marketing.
After the loss of her eldest son due to a genetic disorder, Nicole reached the darkest point of her life. Connections with others along with an incredibly talented therapist helped to turn life around. Nicole decided to return to school and earn a Masters and subsequent doctoral degree in Humanistic, clinical, psychology.
During her first clinical internship at Affirmations LGBT cultural center in Ferndale, MI, Nicole witnessed many incidents of suicide and self-harm that seemed to be driven by the disconnect between familial and cultural expectations and the desire to be one’s free, authentic self. Since then, Dr. Law has devoted a large part of her career to helping reduce the risk of suicide in LGBTQ+ youth. Dr. Law is a speaker / advocate, Director of Clinical Training, Director of Diversity, and founder of her practice, Aloe Integrative Psychology Group.
Dr. Law lives in Rochester Hills, MI with her two kids, two dogs, and two kittens. Although she prefers odd numbers, she can’t seem to escape the number 2.
Ian Boyle, Board Member (Events and Booking Coordinator)
Ian is an experienced SIS volunteer for events and has experience in the music industry. Ian lost one of his best friends in 2012, Jason Lockwood, which propelled him into his loss survivorship. Ian has a great many connections to artists, venues and booking agents after having been involved in the music industry for most of his adult life.He believes that SFO/SIS can create long lasting partnerships that can increase our presence through the community and help bring the conversation to new places and people. Ian currently lives in Metro Detroit with his girlfriend Kaitlyn and their dogs.
Lisa Klein, Board Member (Brand Ambassador, Visual Media)
An award-winning director and writer dedicated to crafting groundbreaking documentary features. Her current project, THE S WORD, is a documentary that tackles one of the most cloistered issues of our time through the emotional stories of suicide attempt and loss survivors. She tours the country speaking and using her films to raise awareness of mental health issues. She is co-founder, with her husband Doug Blush, of MadPix Inc., an LA-based production company dedicated to producing character-driven stories that create global impact and social change. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received an M.F.A. from the University of Southern California.
Hudson Harris, Board Member
Hudson is an expert in behavioral health with cross sector experience in state and local, federal, higher education, and justice. He has deep expertise in designing behavioral health systems of care, community support services, diversion programs, and suicide prevention efforts. Hudson has earned a reputation for innovation that spans traditional boundaries to create inspired solutions to complex problems that are sustainable and impactful. He worked for San Diego County as a Population Health Strategist in Behavioral Health Services and for the California Children’s Hospital Association on statewide behavioral health initiatives. He is a California attorney, holds an MBA and an MA in marketing. He is on the board of directors for the American Association of Suicidology and Six Feet Over.
Mike Pierce, Board Member, Events Committee Chair
With over a decade of event production history, Mike has a knack for identifying, collecting, and executing the organizational and creative details that are needed to produce successful events.
Having worked with dozens of Michigan-based non-profit organizations, Mike has assisted in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in crucial funding. He is immensely humbled and excited to be on the board of Six Feet Over and is passionate about cultivating new fundraising opportunities and seamless experiences that exceed expectations, raise awareness, and will be remembered.
Dave Aro, Board Member, Development Committee Chair
Dave is our token Upper Peninsula of Michigan member. He is a suicide loss survivor after witnessing the death of a close friend and learned about the lack of resources for those left behind. Dave became involved with Six Feet Over in partnership with the establishment of a fund he created in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Marquette to support Marquette County families experiencing suicide loss. With over 30 years of involvement in a variety of non-profit organizations and boards as a volunteer, none of which was court mandated, Dave is hoping to utilize some of his experience in support of SFO as it grows. In the working world, Dave is a partner and general manager for a physical therapy clinic and therapy staffing company, along with the volunteer Executive Director of the UP Hospice Foundation and founder of UP Children’s Therapy. Previous to going independent (i.e. downsized) he was the Vice President of Operations and Foundation Director for Bell Hospital in Ishpeming, MI. He lives with wife Joy, and bulldogs Lola and Henry in Marquette MI only 2 blocks from the cheapest bar in town, and Lake Superior two blocks the other way
Advisory Board Members
Dr. Leela Chandrasekar, MD, Board Member (Advisory)
Leela Chandrasekar is a recent graduate from Central Michigan University College of Medicine. Completing her senior year rotations at St. John Hospital in Detroit in 2018/2019 and now moving on to her pediatric residency program in Chicago. Passionate about working with children, she has learned a great deal about mental health from the adolescent population in the Detroit area. Leela is our resident medical advisor badass!
David S. Parnell, Esq, Board Member (Advisory)
David, unlike Liz, has nothing but professional pictures that can be found via Google. David acts as the counsel for Six Feet Over and advises us on all things legal. He concentrates his professional practice in deceptive business practices, debt collection harassment, class actions and representative actions, business organization and litigation, civil rights, criminal defense, and credit report errors. He has worked as part of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and Washtenaw County as a public defender, as well as working for a private defense firm before joining The Parnell Firm. We affectionately refer to David as The King of Ireland, just go with it but if you have questions about this, ask Liz.
