Welcome to

THE RESILIENT FORCE PROJECT

At the heart of The Resilient Force Project is the belief that resilience is a collective force — sparked by one person’s growth and carried forward through connection.

Rooted in values-based action, reflection, and compassionate accountability, we help individuals cultivate environments where belonging, courage, and growth can take root.

Resilience is the courage to face difficulty with honesty, take compassionate accountability for our choices, and reflect deeply enough to become stronger through the process. Supported by the people who stand with us, resilience is not simply about bouncing back — it is about becoming greater than where you started.

Our Team

A portrait of a middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a light blue dress shirt and a tan blazer, outdoors with blurred green trees in the background.

Dr. Pettinelli grew up in Rome, NY, but spent much of his childhood moving through Florida, Bermuda, Germany, and Italy. Experiencing different places, cultures, and ways of life gave him a broad perspective on people, resilience, and human connection — a perspective that continues to shape the way he works with others today.

His personal challenges have been just as formative as his education and professional training. Those experiences are a meaningful part of why he is drawn to this work and why he approaches it with compassion, honesty, and grounded understanding.

At home, Dr. Pettinelli has been married for 21 years and is the father of one adult daughter and two teenage boys who keep life full and meaningful. Much of that fullness looks like coaching basketball, supporting his son through scouting, attending band concerts, and cheering loudly — and proudly — at cross country and track events.

When he is not coaching or standing on the sidelines, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, watching Syracuse University sports, attending games, and catching up with good friends. He also deeply values downtime and believes that knowing how to recharge is essential to resilience, wellbeing, and sustainable leadership.

Dr. Pettinelli brings that same straightforward, grounded, and genuine approach to everyone he works with. No pretense — just a real commitment to helping people reconnect with their strength, purpose, and resilience.

Dr. Michael Pettinelli II

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Donald Joseph Roussel,

MSW, LICSW

Donald Joseph Roussel, MSW, LICSW, is a partner and strategic resilience consultant with The Resilient Force Project, where he provides leadership consultation on workplace resilience, drawing on decades of experience as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and a compassionate clinician committed to improving wellbeing and readiness.

With more than 20 years of experience across federal, military, healthcare, and community settings, his work spans clinical assessment, psychological resilience, suicide and violence prevention, organizational wellness, and integrated primary prevention strategy. He is the owner of Psychological Resilience Consulting and Training, LLC, and previously served as Director of Psychological Health for the New Hampshire Air National Guard. He also advises the leadership of United Postmasters and Managers of America on mental wellness and resilience.

Donald holds a Master of Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and is licensed as an LICSW in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
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Strategic Advisor

Beckett Loenhart-Bowden is an entrepreneur with a passion for helping people and purpose-driven businesses grow with clarity, confidence, and direction. Her work is rooted in creativity, connection, resilience, and the belief that meaningful ideas can become impactful services when they are supported with structure, strategy, and heart.

Beckett grew up in both Northern California and the Front Range of Colorado, two places that shaped her love for the outdoors, her appreciation for different ways of life, and her ability to adapt to new environments with curiosity and strength. Those early experiences helped her develop a grounded, open-minded perspective that continues to influence how she connects with people and supports their growth.

As a military spouse, Beckett understands resilience, adaptability, and the importance of building something steady through seasons of change. She brings a warm, practical, and people-centered approach to every project, helping others move from uncertainty to action with greater confidence.

Outside of her professional work, Beckett enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and caring for her dogs, chickens, and goose. Her creativity shows up in everything she does — from building ideas and developing services to creating spaces where people feel encouraged, supported, and ready to grow.

Beckett’s entrepreneurial spirit is grounded in purpose, compassion, and a deep desire to help others bring meaningful visions to life.

Beckett Loenhart-Bowden

“Resilience isn’t something you’re born with or without. You build it through the small things you do every day, even when it doesn’t feel like it matters. You don’t have to be perfect at it, you just have to keep showing up. Resilience is a verb; it’s something you do long before adversity hits.”
— Dr. Pettinelli

Who We Are

  • The Resilient Force Project takes an integrated approach to resilience that connects mindset, physical health, emotional regulation, human connection, and time spent in the natural environment. We help individuals and organizations strengthen daily habits through personal accountability, self-kindness, and values-based living. Our philosophy is that resilience is built through consistent practices that help people handle stress, recover from hardship, and maintain long-term well-being.

  • What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. The Resilient Force Project grew out of years spent working with people in high-stress environments where they were expected to keep moving no matter what was happening internally. Through military service, mental health work, and supporting veterans transitioning into civilian life, many people were seen carrying burnout, grief, trauma, anxiety, failed relationships, and the weight of trying to handle everything alone. What stood out most was not just the struggle, but watching many of those same individuals regain their footing and become stronger and more grounded through what they had lived through.

    Over time, it became clear that there was often far more right with people than wrong with them. Many were having normal reactions to difficult situations or living out of alignment with their values. Most did not need to be “fixed.” They needed support, honest reflection, accountability balanced with self-kindness, healthier habits, and connection with others and the natural world.

    The Resilient Force Project was built from that belief and from a passion for sharing the message of resilience and hope through an approach that extends beyond the traditional therapy setting. We believe growth often begins when people realize there is wisdom inside pain and more right with them than wrong with them.

  • Authenticity

    We value honesty, self-awareness, and transparency over image or appearances. Meaningful growth begins when people and organizations are willing to acknowledge what is and is not working.

    Integrated Resilience

    We believe resilience is strengthened through consistent daily practices that support physical health, emotional well-being, reflection, recovery, connection, and time spent in the natural world.

    Human Connection

    We value strong relationships, belonging, and community. People are healthier, more grounded, and more capable of handling adversity when they feel connected and supported.

    Growth Through Reflection

    We believe hardship can become a source of insight and growth when people take time to reflect honestly on their experiences, behaviors, and values.

    Belief in Human Potential

    We believe there is often far more right with people than wrong with them. With support, accountability, self-kindness, and healthy environments, people are capable of growth, change, and rebuilding.

    How We Show Up

    We value professionalism, compassion, direct communication, and trust. We are committed to meeting people where they are while creating an environment that encourages accountability, dignity, and meaningful growth.

  • These initiatives are part of the long-term vision of The Resilient Force Project; future extensions of our mission created to strengthen individuals, deepen community, and spark collective growth.

  • To empower individuals to cultivate resilience and step into their future with purpose, courage, and renewed strength.

  • We trust in the inherent strength within every person and the possibility of transformation at any point in life. These beliefs honor the growth that emerges through challenge, the clarity gained through reflection, the comfort of belonging, and the grounding presence of values and nature.

Get Involved

For the Community

  • The Resilient Force Podcast: Conversations at the intersection of growth, courage, and the human spirit.

  • Community-Wide Resilience Challenges

  • Guest Speaker Series: Voices from psychology, leadership, wellness, and lived experiences.

  • Online Learning Hub: Self-paced resilience micro-courses & downloadable tools.

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