Our Board

Maureen Shortt holds a BA in Education and a master’s degree in Nutrition Counseling. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Stress, and a 700-hour certified yoga and meditation instructor, with advanced training in yogic self-inquiry and yoga therapeutics.

She is co-founder and presenter of ‘Boots on the Ground’, a Meghan’s Foundation yoga teacher training in trauma sensitive yoga.

Maureen is Meghan’s mother.

In addition to being the Chief Operating Officer for Meghan’s Foundation, Deb is also a yoga instructor for the Foundation as well as a Psychology professor at Montgomery County Community College. She is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance (RYT500) and began teaching yoga to veterans in 2011. She also completed several advanced trainings, including the Veterans Yoga Project, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program; Mindfulness and Yoga for Transforming Trauma; and Yoga for 12-Step Recovery.

Michael Apa has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University and is an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Pennsylvania. Michael has been practicing public accounting for fourteen years and has a strong background in not-for-profit tax and compliance matters, as well an in-depth knowledge about the accounting and regulatory aspects of charitable organizations. Michael works as the Treasurer of Meghan’s Foundation and performs the day-to-day accounting and tax activities of the Foundation. He is also the Vice-Chairman of the Board for the Foundation.

Joseph Ochotny is the parent of three children, and grandparent to 2 girls. He and his wife Eleanor live in the Lansdale area and have been associated with Meghan’s Foundation since its earliest days.

Joe and Eleanor have a public accounting and wealth management practice in North Wales, PA.

Joe is a Certified Public Accountant and Personal Financial Specialist. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bloomsburg University.

Peter Chelak has had an extensive business career working for large corporations as well as privately held companies. Occupations include Regional Management in operations, logistics, training, property management and many other active management roles. He is also certified to teach and proctor classes for food safety, cross contamination, allergies, cleaning and sanitation, and viral spread.

Born in New York City, he emigrated to Ireland at the age of 11 . While in Ireland, he met and married his wife Pauline and served 13 years in the Irish Army. Peter and Pauline immigrated back to the United States in 1990.

He is the father of 5 adult children; Alan, Peter, Daragh, Ciara, and Colin. He and his wife Pauline live in Bucks County, PA. In his spare time he enjoys cooking for his family and gardening.

Andrew Thomas Shortt, is the son of Maureen and Thom Shortt and twin brother of Meghan Elizabeth Shortt (Wilent). Andrew moved to Mammoth Lakes, California in 2003 where he perused a professional snowboarding career. After seven years of following his passion he migrated south and currently resides in Southern California where he is an avid surfer and well known throughout the surfing community.

Andrew is currently an established Real Estate Agent in one of the highest income per capita cities in the country. His previous career as Director at a property management firm for eight years lead him into the world of real estate. Andrew is currently a board member on Meghan’s Foundation.

In addition to being a board member for Meghan’s Foundation, Kelly is a mother to her 9 year old daughter, Henley. She has also been married to her husband, Michael, for 10 years. Kelly and Michael met in Boston where they both graduated from Northeastern University with degrees in Economics.

Over the past decade Kelly has been recovering from a devastating car accident. However, in the past year, much to the thanks of holistic healing and an amazing support system, she finds herself in an extremely healthy and joyful place allowing her to focus as much attention on her best friend’s and her father’s legacy.

Sharon served 28 years in an Army career in personnel administration. She attended and completed many service schools including the Warrant Officer Candidate school and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer after having been responsible for mobilizing and returning thousands of soldiers for separation of Desert Storm. She has a lifelong love of art and has won awards for her work. She has educated herself in many classes in varied subjects such as iconography, portrait painting and calligraphy, and also teaches art classes for her local art league. She is a member of several military veterans organizations including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Military Officers Association. She is also active in the Order of the Eastern Star and is a past matron of the Doylestown Chapter.

Jeffrey P. Hoerger, LPC is the Director of the Bucks County Vet Center, an outpatient counseling center for combat veterans in Bristol, PA. Mr. Hoerger is a retired Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve. He previously worked for the New Jersey National Guard as a family counselor, and served as Director of Rutgers University’s Faculty and Staff Assistance Program from 1991-2008.

Jeff is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and has responded to over 150 incidents of workplace violence and disasters during his career. He has worked with 9/11 families in New York, and served in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He also worked with families following the crash of Egypt Air flight in 1999.

As a recent addition to the board of Meghan’s Foundation, Jeff assists in military outreach for our yoga and meditation programs. Jeff helped establish the Foundation’s first veterans yoga program in Bristol, Pennsylvania in 2013.

Jeff lives in Holland PA with his wife Michelle, who is also a licensed counselor. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.