Takes More Than Heart: Changing the Journey's Challenges into Opportunities

About the Author: Dennis Mellen, a USAF Academy graduate (1975), is a retired Air Force pilot after serving as a lieutenant colonel and chief pilot for 20 years until his retirement from the Air Force Reserves in 1996. At the time, he simultaneously worked as an instructor pilot and fleet captain at Alaska Airlines where he was the head of training over 550 pilots and 40 instructors. He was also part of the instructor cadre instrumental in establishing the Alaska Airlines route structure in eastern Russia from the destinations: Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Magadan, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. And as a veteran, he participated in the Desert One preparation, he was deployed to Sudan (in 1986) to counter Libyan incursions in Chad, and participated in Desert Shield/Storm. After retiring in 2012 from his 28-year flying career due to a heart attack, Dennis continued searching for a new purpose and new opportunities. He worked in aviation management at two air carriers heading up their training and standardization departments. He also worked as a training consultant and certified International Air Transport Association Operation Safety auditor before becoming a high school baseball coach, speaker, and author. His goal with his first book is to provide motivation, education, and humor to inspire those who face serious challenges in their lives. Dennis and his wife, Heidi of 37 years, live in the Chicago suburbs, and they have four sons and just welcomed their first grandchild as of August 2020-they look forward to helping raise their granddaughter, as well as welcoming more grandchildren.

Cortney holds a Master's Degree from Ithaca College in New York and professional certifications in human resources and the health sciences. However, she was compelled to pursue her dream of writing, speaking, and coaching after experiencing one of the greatest tragedies a marriage can face. Her book Clay Jar, Cracked, her devotional blog, "As a Clay Jar," and her involvement with the speaking ministry, icuTalks, Inc. are the products of her passion, faith, heart to encourage others, and God's provision.