CW Conner

Founder – Chairman / CEO

CW Conner is the founder and CEO of LifeQuest Transitions.  A US Army veteran himself, CW has over 25 years of business experience in transportation logistics, commercial insurance, and software development. CW built a successful transportation company in College Station, TX, with revenues of more than 40 million dollars and a client base with fortune 500 companies such as Compaq and Dell Computer. In 2000, CW left the transportation industry and founded the eSports broadcasting and technology company. In 2001, eSports broadcast the first Big 12 Baseball championships via live streaming Internet from Arlington, TX. Working with recognized coaching legend Barry Switzer and other sports figures, eSports built and developed over 80 internet clients within a two year period. After selling eSports in 2003, CW re-entered the transportation industry by founding Transportation Management Group, transportation insurance and consulting company.

In 2008, CW relocated to Colorado Springs and began his own transition from successful businessman and a sedentary lifestyle to something greater, starting LifeQuest Adventure Racing team. CW has a passion for helping people make change in their own lives and so, together with business partner Dr. Grove Higgins, created the community outreach program for children called Camp Challenge. This program caught the attention of the Ft Carson Warrior Transition Battalion commanders, who requested transitional solutions for our soldiers returning home from theater. Thus, LifeQuest Transitions (LQT) was founded. LQT has worked with the Warrior Transition Command and the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to help position LQT as the leader in the Colorado Springs region in championing solutions to help men and women of the armed forces and their families.

CW has a deep sense of community and has worked with numerous organizations over the years such as Boy Scouts, Little League, MDA, Lions Club, Salute to a Fallen Hero.  CW has an extensive athletic and high adrenaline sports background that includes football, rodeo, and wrestling and is a current LifeQuest Adventure team member.

Dr. Grove Higgins

Co-Founder – President / Director

Dr. Grove Higgins is the Co-Founder, President, Director of Training Services for LifeQuest Transitions and Team Doctor for the LifeQuest Adventure Racing Team. Known at LifeQuest as “Doc”, Grove began his work in health and wellness over 24years ago.  Early on, he became acquainted with the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury and intrigued with the effects of the brain on the body and how the body affects the development and rehabilitation of the brain.

Through his undergraduate education, he worked in collegiate sports doing paramedical work, rehabilitation, performance training, and strength and conditioning coaching. Inspired by a mentor, Dr. Higgins moved to New York to earn his doctorate from New York Chiropractic College.  While pursuing his doctorate, he also taught gross anatomy and physiology to doctoral level students and worked on biomechanical research, using 2^nd generation 3D imaging. Upon graduation he moved back to work with his mentor and started a new clinic in Colorado Springs, soon branching out on his own.

Taking a break from private practice, Dr. Higgins spent a year in Las Vegas, NV, helping found a technology company and working with MMA athletes.  During this year, he helped innovate breakthrough technology, which is currently being developed at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and he continued to learn and perfect ideas of training and clinical treatment.

In 2008, Dr. Higgins met his future business partner and friend, CW Conner. As team doctor for the LifeQuest Adventure Racing Team, Dr. Higgins recognized the potential of adventure racing and the transformative nature of the sport.  He began collaborating with CW to write motivational and instructional curriculum for children, which would be known as Camp Challenge.  Soon after, the Warrior Transition Battalion command at Ft. Carson, sought LifeQuest’s help to develop transitional solutions for our soldiers returning home from theater.  Thus, LifeQuest Transitions (LQT) was founded and exists to champion solutions to help men and women of the armed forces and their families.

Dr. Higgins is currently seeking his PhD in Sports and Performance Psychology from the University of the Rockies and Walden University. He continues to work as an occupational health consultant with major corporations and occasionally sees private patients.  He holds certifications in advanced soft tissue care and treatment, Active Release Techniques (Full Body), Zhealth (R,I,T), Biomechanics, NSCA Strength and Conditioning, Crash Reconstruction, and many others. He is an active part of the Colorado Springs community and the regional Catholic Diocese, helping to inform and to create outreach programs to the military and their families.

Colonel Terry McDowell, USA (ret)

Director

Terry has served our Nation as a Soldier for the last 26 years.  He enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1985 and served in various Army Reserve and National Guard units in the state of Georgia until he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1990.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Georgia and a Master of Aeronautical Science degree in System Safety from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.  His primary occupation as an Army Officer was as a medical evacuation aviator, MEDEVAC pilot. Terry has lead Soldiers in Germany, Korea, and multiple installations within the US.  He commanded an Aeromedical Evacuation Company in Iraq from March 2004 – March 2005.  His secondary skill set in the Army was as a comptroller.  Terry has served as the CFO for the military treatment facilities at Fort Campbell, Fort Irwin, Fort Meade, and Fort Bragg.  His final assignment on active duty was as the Commander of the Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion – leading the healing and transition process for over 600 Soldiers.  Terry currently serves our Nation as a Department of the Army civilian where he manages the Army’s portion of the Defense Health Program, a budget of over $7 billion a year for the US Army Medical Command in San Antonio, TX.  His life’s calling has been to take care of Soldiers.

Jonathan W. Cole

Director

Jonathan W. Cole is a local Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Advantage and specializes in the Residential Market but also does Commercial Real Estate. Jonathan is part of the Peak Producers, which is based on performance and encompasses the top 10% percent of real estate agents in El Paso County. Jonathan has been with LifeQuest since the beginning serving and serves on the Board for LifeQuest. He provides real estate and business advice to LifeQuest, as well as helping in other capacities. Jonathan completed a goal by riding his pedal bicycle across the United States visiting Graduate Schools and National Parks in 1995 after obtaining a B.S. in Environmental Biology. That trip served as a framework for his life on pursuing goals and motivating others. The empowerment programs that LifeQuest Transitions teaches is something that Jonathan fully endorses and supports. Jonathan is married to Mary Therese and together they have three children Madeline, Jonathan, and Olivia. He is Head Coach for 2 soccer teams with Pride Soccer and a baseball team for Academy Little League. He is active in his Church, Boy Scouts, and numerous community projects.

Brigadier General Norman Andersson, USA (ret)

Director

Brigadier General Norman H. Andersson, USA (ret) graduated from the US Military Academy in 1974 and later, from the University of Utah, with a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering.  He is also a graduate of the US Army War College.  His military career saw him in both the US and overseas, including commands of the 5025^th Garrison Support Unit and 1^st Mobilization Brigade at Fort Carson.  His final assignment was the Deputy Commanding General for Division West (1^st Army) at Fort Carson, responsible for the mobilization and deployment of all National Guard and Army Reserve units west of the Mississippi to operations in support of missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Multi-National Force Observer, Kosovo, and others.  He is highly dedicated to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, their families and mission success.

Norm is the President and CEO of Veteran Engineering and Technology, LLC a service-disabled, veteran-owned, small business based in Colorado Springs.  Having served over 36 years in the US Army and US Army Reserve, as well as in defense contracting, he gained experience with both large and small companies.  He has been active in the Colorado Springs community and has lead several organizations including the Pikes Peak Club, the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, and the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Association of the United States Army.

Colonel Nanette Mueller, USA (ret)

Director

Colonel Nanette Brédé Mueller, USA (ret) earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and her master’s degrees in Marketing and Management, from Webster University.  She also graduated from the US Army War College.  After her commissioning in 1982, Nanette served in a variety of planning and management positions, at company and corps levels, both in the United States and abroad.  She was the lead program manager and system integrator for a national-level integrated air and missile defense program for NORAD/US Northern Command, and Army Space and Missile Defense Command / Army Strategic Forces Command and her final assignment, before retirement in 2010, was as Test Director, Joint Air Defense Operations, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.  She is currently a defense industry consultant. 

Following more than 29 years of military service, Nanette continues to serve our Nation, our Nation’s troops, and the Colorado Springs community with her volunteer work.  A past president, she was elected to the national board of directors for the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Nanette is a national speaker and advises US senators and congressmen concerning military entitlements. 

In addition to being a client at LifeQuest, Nanette is a conduit between LifeQuest and the Community Blueprint project.  She also facilitates classes at LifeQuest that help prepare warriors to transition successfully from the military into their civilian community. 

Colonel Michael Resty, USA (ret)

Director

Mike Resty retired from the United States Army in June 2008 after 30 years of service having attained the rank of Colonel. After his retirement, Mike served as a consultant for business development with the Booz Allen Hamilton firm located in Colorado Springs. Mike also worked as the Director of Business Development (Federal Sector) for a VirtualAgility, a software company headquartered out of Boston, Massachusetts specializing in disaster management software applications across the globe. Mike was responsible for all government accounts west of the Mississippi and was instrumental in securing business with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters.

Mike traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to serve as the Director of Training for a prominent Emirati consultancy, training and education company. In his role as the Training Director of Knowledge Point, Mike worked very closely with the office of the Crown Prince, the UAE Armed Forces and various internationally renown defense companies conducting business in the Middle East.

Mike currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Aztec General Contractors, LLC located in Colorado Springs, CO. He is also President/CEO of a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business specializing in training management and consultancy. Aegis Security Services, LLC holds several contracts with growing companies in Colorado.

He is an active member in the Colorado Springs community and is an advocate for military members and their families.

Kevin Maguire

Director

Kevin Maguire was born in Belvidere, Illinois in 1957 and is currently a resident of Colorado Springs since 1969.  He Graduated with BS in Business Administration from Colorado State University in 1980.  Kevin is currently President and owner of Overhead Door Company of Colorado Springs, Inc. and they just celebrated their 54^th Anniversary in 2011. Kevin’s family has owned the business for 42 years (1969). Kevin is a supporter of over 75 local community events, traditions and organizations. He was presented the ESGR Pro Patria award in 2008 in recognition of continuing support of National Guard and Reserve. He is a  member of the Colorado  Springs East Rotary Club, Past President of the Pikes Peak Range Riders, member of Overhead Door Corporation’s Distributor Council, and a member of The Church at Woodmoor.  Kevin is Married to Cathe and has 6 grown children. Maguire lives in Monument, Colorado. He enjoys western and cowboy heritage  lifestyle.

John Buckley

Director

John Buckley is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy as well as Harvard Law School, where he concentrated on corporate litigation and international law. He is a founding member of Wealth Counsel LLC , an organization comprised of many of the best tax, business and estate planning lawyers in America. John was also a member of Business Enterprise Institute, which provides advanced education & mentorship to attorneys helping business owners exit their businesses & secure retirement through the owner’s departure. He has published articles on topics as diverse as USAF fighter safety, space warfare, and the legal risks of the present divorce laws and their adverse effect upon children.  John Buckley is an owner of the Thunderbird Corporation. He has been an international business consultant with 20 years experience in Middle Eastern culture and business practices, as well as experience in Russia. 

He served 24 years as an Air Force officer, including ten years on active duty and 14 years in the reserves. During his career, he was checked out as pilot in command in the T-33 Shooting Star, the F-106 Delta Dart, and the T-41 Muscalero. He logged time in the O-2 Skymaster, T-38 Talon, F-101 Voodoo, F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, L-39 Albatross, and Mig-29 Fulcrum. He is a retired reserve lieutenant colonel who finished his career after serving as the plankholder (first) squadron commander of the first combined space test and aggressor squadron in the history of the United States Air For He serves on the Advisory Board of the Veterans Trauma Court  in El Paso County Colorado. This court is a special treatment court offering additional help and incentives to veterans seeking treatment and counseling to better themselves and get out of the court system, and is a model for veteran courts across the nation.