Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

Jamie Harpster

Founder & President

Jamie Harpster has had a passion for improving the mental health of others since he was a child and dedicated his life to this mission. He received his Bachelors in Psychology from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2013 and his Masters in Human Services Counseling from Regent University in 2019. Jamie started working in the mental health field in 2014 and has been in the field ever since. 

After purchasing his house in 2018, Jamie discovered woodworking because he needed a kitchen table. Since then he has learned that woodworking has greatly improved his own mental health symptoms and his basement shop soon became his retreat/safe space. He then developed a dream to one day combine his passion for mental health and woodworking; however, he never saw this as a possibility. 

He started a YouTube channel (Bat Cave Creations) in December of 2022 with the goal of helping others learn and enjoy the craft. The channel took off better than he ever expected and he was able to meet more like minded individuals. Through these interactions, Jamie met many people who shared their own experiences with mental health and how woodworking improved their mental wellness. This further solidified his dreams of combining mental wellness and woodworking to help others. 

In June of 2023, he took the plunge and founded Plane Wellness to make this dream a reality.

Jordan Stoltzfus

Governance Manger / Secretary

Jordan Stoltzfus is passionate about contributing to the flourishing of vulnerable populations and the environment we live in. He holds a Bachelor’s of Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Princeton University.

Jordan serves in the Strategy Department of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) where he contributes to the development of agency strategy, develops internal communications, and supports the CRS Board. Woodworking for Jordan is artistic outlet, a place to re-center himself, and a hobby that has led to a myriad of meaningful social connections. Jordan’s woodworking journey has included jobs in construction, a cabinet shop, and currently as a side hustle under the shop name Proud Foot Woodworking.

When not at work or in the shop you can find Jordan rock climbing, hiking, playing chess, or trying to keep his 3 kids, wife, and dog happy and healthy (no easy task). 

Matt Phillippi

Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer

Matt resides in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where he works in financial compliance and internal controls. In addition to his accounting background, he holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit administration. In addition to his day job, he has been involved in several nonprofits both as a volunteer and board member, including the offices of president and treasurer (not at the same time). 

Matt grew up around woodworking as his father was always carving or making something out of wood when he wasn’t working. While he learned a lot in the shop and helped often, he did not continue with the hobby once the trappings of adolescence took him away. It wasn’t until December 2024, the fifth anniversary of his father’s passing, that he took up woodcarving and then dove headfirst into the deep end.  

Having struggled with depression since a teenager and being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (which in hindsight made a ton of sense), he finds working with wood to be a therapeutic and productive outlet and way of honoring his father’s memory. If he isn’t crunching numbers or making shavings, you can usually find him doing something with the local Scouts or with his Masonic Lodge.  

Eric Whetstone

Vice President

Eric Whetstone was diagnosed with ADHD in 2023, along with both of his sons.  Seeing the impact of mental health on his family, Eric decided to join Plane Wellness to help others through their own mental health journey.

In 2020, Eric rediscovered his passion for woodworking and decided on an ‘unplugged’ approach so that he could disconnect from the electronic-dominated world.  Now that he is diagnosed, Eric understands the impact hand tool woodworking has had on his mental health and the importance of finding an outlet and way to disconnect.  Both of his sons spend time in the shop with him, where Eric hopes to pass on a love for hand tool woodworking.

Eric received his Bachelors in Marketing from Temple University in 2011 and has pursued a successful career in marketing and market research ever since.  He leverages these skills to help promote Plane Wellness and analyze performance metrics.

Eric O’Grey

Legal Advisor

Board member Eric O’Grey earned degrees in philosophy and business from San Jose State University and a Doctor of Law Degree from Emory University. He is a former Director of Philanthropy with a large Washington DC based 501(c)(3) and is also the Philanthropy Liaison for the National Kitchen and Bath Association Northern California Chapter. 
 
Eric is author of the bestselling non-fiction work “Walking with Peety, the Dog Who Saved My Life”, which is now in print in nine languages world wide. He has been a featured guest on numerous national TV programs, including The Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, and the Hallmark Channel, in addition to being interviewed and featured in hundreds of radio programs, news articles and magazines, such as O, People, and Reader’s Digest. Eric is also a frequent public speaker with main billing before audiences in the thousands.
 
Eric has been a wood worker since 7th grade wood shop, and enjoys fine woodworking, restoring vintage British tools, and shenanigans with his dog Jake.

Mara Ziegler

Member at large

Mara is a hobbyist woodworker who found this craft eight years ago at age 50. She quickly realized she had found her creative passion and that woodworking/making also helped her manage anxiety. 
 
Mara has a Masters of Education in Counselor Education from Penn State and spent almost 30 years working in higher education. Now she uses that experience to make woodworking inviting to a broader population. She teaches introductory woodworking and marquetry classes at her local makerspace, and volunteers as a course moderator for Plane Wellness and the Volunteer Coordinator for Hand Tool Haven. She also volunteers with Free Mom Hugs.
 
Mara enjoys learning from every new woodworking project, and has a never-ending “I want to build/try” list. She especially loves marquetry. Mara is lucky to have a very supportive husband/A ++ shop assistant, kids, Fargo the (no longer) Terrible empty nest pup, and good friends (both in and out of the maker community) cheering her on.
 

Matt Cottrill

Member at large

Matt was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. This is where he picked up his skills for repairing items and or coming up with ideas for new or improved ways to do what was required. This was the start of a skill set commonly referred to as a “jack of all trades”. Carpentry and metalwork were commonplace during his youth. 

Matt is a disabled veteran who spent 9 years in the US Navy. Upon leaving the service, he was diagnosed with some chronic injuries, PTSD and depression. In 2019 Matt took over as president of the Capital Beltway Warriors(CBW) LLC non-profit. CBW is a non profit that provides an environment for disabled veterans to be around fellow veterans and share their stories and regain some of the comradery that so many veterans are missing. This is accomplished through the sport of ice hockey. Matt Stayed on as president until 2023 when he rediscovered his drive for creating through multiple medias such as woodworking, metalwork, laser, etc. 

Matt is the owner/operator of Cottrill Tool and Woodworks. Through his company he provide refurbished hand tools, new woodworking tools and consumables.