Afternoon of Hope 2025

Dan Lukasik

Dan, New York State’s Wellness Coordinator, is a nationally recognized speaker on stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression, having delivered over 200 presentations across the U.S. His PBS documentary, My Brother Lost in Time: A Bipolar Journey, explores his relationship with his late brother Paul and their shared experience with mental illness. Dan founded the Buffalo Depression Project, a resource hub supporting individuals and employers in addressing depression. Having lived with depression and anxiety for over 25 years, he brings authenticity, empathy, and practical tools to every presentation—empowering others and breaking stigma around mental health.

Sarah Gaer

Sarah is a mental health professional with over 25 years of experience in trauma, addiction, and suicide prevention. She holds a master’s in clinical psychology from Antioch University and is a Suicide Prevention Specialist who has trained over 1,000 people and led crisis response following significant incidents. A recognized speaker on Soul Exhaustion and mental health, Sarah also works in Law Enforcement mental health and the H.O.P.E. Certification program, advancing evidence-based practices in mental health promotion. Her published works in suicide prevention provide resilience, guidance, and hope for those seeking healing and renewal in their lives.

Allison Bankert

Allison, National Grid’s Manager of Wellbeing, has a passion for holistic and person-centered health to optimize a person’s wellbeing across multiple aspects of their life. She holds a master’s in occupational therapy from Utica University and has over 10 years educating clients in both the clinical and corporate settings to empower individuals to live and contribute to a fulfilling life. Allison brings evidence-based practice alongside a commitment to a balanced lifestyle for front-line workers in the utility industry with proactive mental and physical health programs. Her professional knowledge of interconnectedness has driven her to further her education with a Doctorate in Business Administration. She is currently trailblazing research topics of occupational health factors in high-risk industrial workers, leadership, demand, and strain in the workplace. Allison brings empathy, adaptability, and authenticity to wellbeing promotion focusing on reducing stigma in mental health and fostering balance across all aspects of life.

Dennis Gillan

Dennis is an ordinary man with an extraordinary story who tragically lost both of his brothers to suicide. His lost sent him into a spiral of depression and addiction. Through therapy, sobriety, and volunteering at a crisis hotline, he began to heal and transform his personal grief into a powerful mission to help others. Today, Dennis is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and author working to break the stigma around mental health. He is known for creating safe spaces through his authentic and warm demeanor. Trained in QPR, ASIST, SafeTalk, Talk Saves Lives, and SoulShop, Dennis brings both lived experience and professional knowledge to inspire hope, build resilience, and help reduce stigma.

Allie Dresser

As a Director of Health & Safety for National Grid in New York, Allie leads a team of about 50 health, medical, wellbeing, and safety professionals serving more than 9,000 employees across the state. Over the past 20 years, she has held leadership roles in multiple industries including utility, manufacturing, trucking and rail, always focused on keeping people safe and building strong safety cultures. She earned her degree in psychology from Rutgers University and went on to study occupational safety health engineering at NJIT. She also holds certifications in leadership and crisis response. Outside of work, Allie coached youth basketball for several years and organized volunteer efforts including annual environmental clean ups at Liberty Island. She is driven by the belief that everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and able to thrive both on the job and in the community.