KnowResolve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing youth suicides through outreach, advocacy and education. Our mission is to break down the silence, shame, and stigma surrounding mental health by providing adults and teens with tools and skills to help improve their overall well-being.
Since 2007, we have reached more than 170,000 teens.
Board of Directors and Staff
Dennis Liegghio (Founder, President) - After losing his father to suicide as a teen, Dennis struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide for many years. A song that he wrote for his father was the turning point toward healing and the inspiration for founding KnowResolve in the Spring of 2007. Dennis maintains the website, designs the printed materials, coordinates fundraising and awareness events and speaks to an average of 12,000 teens and young adults each year about mental health and suicide prevention.
Nancy Buyle (Vice President of the Board) - Nancy has her Master’s Degree from Oakland University in Counseling and Post Master’s Education in Mental Health. She has been working for the Macomb Intermediate School District since August of 2000 as the Safe Schools/Student Assistance Specialist. She has been instrumental in developing comprehensive crisis management protocols that have been distributed and shared with schools across the nation.
Nicole McGlory (Board Secretary) - Nicole is a mother of 2 wonderful boys and a wife to a great man. She is also an elementary teacher who has a passion for learning and reading. Nicole first became interested in KnowResolve in 2007 after attending the Breaking the Silence dinner. From there, her passion grew for the organization. Nicole first got involved by joining the street team and then applying for a board seat several years later, and has been a part of since 2015. She takes pride in being a part of such a great and growing organization.
Nikki Mack (Treasurer) - Nikki is a numbers girl at heart and an accountant by trade at Financial Plus Credit Union and has been a board member since 2014. Her passion for suicide prevention and awareness became personal after losing a close friend to suicide in 2011. In addition to spreading the word in the community about our mission and activities, Nikki enjoys helping the organization keep a close eye on the financials and helps with organizing details and volunteers at our fundraising events.
Michael Kalmeta - Hailing from Marine City, Michael has recently retired from a career in sales and customer service with Prime Office Innovations and has been a supporter of KnowResolve’s mission from the beginning. When he was a teenager, one his friends took his own life and he struggled with the thought: “could I have helped somehow?” Michael has a passion for helping to educate, promote and support suicide prevention so that no one else will have to wonder, could I have helped?
Catherine Livingston - Catherine has her Master’s Degree from Oakland University in Counseling and a Bachelor Degree from Marygrove College in Childe Development with a Teaching Certificate. She has over 35 years of experience working with youth in the child welfare system and public education. Since 2000 she has been a high school counselor with Utica Community Schools and her passion is youth mental health and suicide prevention awareness. Catherine has been involved with KnowResolve since 2007 as her school was one of the first to have Dennis present. She established the first KnowResolve Student Club at Henry Ford II High School in the fall of 2014.
Lisa Shepard - Lisa has her Masters Degree in Counseling and a Wellness Counseling Certification from Oakland University. She was a School Counselor for 10 years and has been an associate of Wentworth and Associates since 2011, She works with children, adolescents, adults, families and couples. She is dedicated to helping individuals reach their full potential, health and wellness. Lisa became a member of the Board as a representative of Wentworth and Associates in 2016 because of her work with adolescent depression and experience in the aftermath of teen suicide as a school counselor.
Joe Zago - Joe is the founder and CEO of The Carpet Guys, The Glove, and BWM Basement Waterproofing of Michigan. He decided to get involved with KnowResolve after attending their annual Breaking The Silence gala in 2017. He’s lost 2 friends to suicide, a former employee, a family member of someone close to him, and has himself contemplated suicide. Knowing that some of us are lucky enough to survive those thoughts and many others are unable to at their moment of desperation, he wants to want to help raise awareness and get others involved in our mission to help stop suicide, especially for kids, teens and young adults.