OUR TEAM

Our team consists of world-class former special operations warriors and elite athletes. We hire only those instructors with the experience, skills, and personal intensity needed to effectively challenge our clients to become better teammates and leaders on their respective fields of battle. Through our rigorous hiring process and uncompromising standards, we have assembled the best group of instructors possible to push you and your team to do ONE MORE™.

Eric Kapitulik

FOUNDER & CEO

“On whatever your chosen battlefield, individuals and individual talent can win games, but great teams compete for championships. And great teams are comprised of great teammates and great team leaders. It is such a privilege to first challenge, and then develop our clients to be both!” – Kap

Kap’s Story:

Eric is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he was a four-year varsity letter recipient on their Division 1 lacrosse team.

After graduation in 1995, Eric went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps as both an Infantry Officer and Special Operations Officer with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Marine Division. In 1999, during a routine training mission to prepare for an upcoming deployment to the Persian Gulf, Eric and his Force Recon platoon were in a helicopter crash that resulted in the death of six of his Marines. In an effort to raise money for a college scholarship fund set up for the children of his deceased teammates, Eric has completed eight Ironman Triathlons, The Canadian Death Race Ultra Marathon, The Eco Challenge, and The American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon. He is also an avid mountaineer and has summited five of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents): Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Aconcagua, Mt. Elbrus, and Mt. Everest.

Eric left active duty after eight years of service and received his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 2005. He founded The Program in 2008.

Listen to Kap as a guest on the Art of Manliness Podcast here.

Watch the Ironman coverage of Eric’s story here.

Cole Walter

LEAD INSTRUCTOR

“To be truly successful, you must be selfless, serve others, and surround yourself with high-caliber people. My teammates at The Program are all of this and more. We hold each other accountable and consistently seek to improve ourselves and our team!” – Cole

Cole’s Story:

Cole served in the United States Marine Corps for 23 years and retired at the rank of First Sergeant. He completed multiple combat deployments, including two to Afghanistan with Marine Corps Special Operations in the Helmand Province. He was a Military Skydiver and Jumpmaster, Tandem Parachute Master, Blackbelt Martial Arts Instructor, Firearms Instructor, and Drill Instructor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Texas A&M Texarkana. He practices Jiu-Jitsu and has competed in races such as the Tough Mudder.

Don Thornton

LEAD INSTRUCTOR

“Successful people take advantage of every situation they find themselves in. There is no sustaining. If we are not growing, we are falling behind”- Don

Don’s Story:

Don Thornton served for over 27 years in the U.S. Army, 20 years as a Special Forces Green Beret. He spent 10 years on A Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alfa (SFOD-A) as a teammate and commander. While there, Don trained, equipped, and led elite forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and various other Middle Eastern countries to combat terrorism, stabilize governments, and secure American interests. He rose to the position of Special Forces Senior Battalion Warrant Officer, where he was tasked with training, organizing, and leading highly specialized and adaptable teams, forming them into world-class, high-performing teams. Don graduated from some of the toughest training programs the U.S. military has to offer, including Special Forces Assessment and Selection, The Special Forces Qualification Course, Military Free Fall, Parachute Jumpmaster, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE Level C), Special Operations Language Training in modern standard Arabic, and Combatives training, among others. A few of Don’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart (for wounds sustained in combat), Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star medals, 2 Meritor Service Medals, and the Master Combat Infantryman’s badge. Don is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Professional, Project Director, Change Management Professional, Corporate team Builder, and Corporate Leadership trainer.

Stacey Pesce

INSTRUCTOR

“Any team can do what is easy. Be exceptional. Build resilience to what lies ahead by pursuing challenges that require physical and mental toughness and surrounding yourself with those that hold you accountable. Success cannot be found; it must be demanded.” – Stacey

Stacey’s Story:

Stacey is a 2006 graduate of the US Naval Academy with a B.S. in Chemistry. She was a four-year member and Team Captain of the Navy Women’s Lacrosse Team. Upon graduation, Stacey was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps. While deployed to the Middle East, Stacey led the Marine Corps’ first Female Engagement Team — a specialized team of female Marines chosen to augment all-male infantry battalions in direct support of combat operations. Stacey led over 40 missions entrenched with the Infantry Marines of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Before leaving the Fleet Marine Force, Stacey served as a subject-matter expert, advising the highest levels of Military and Government in formulating policy for the utilization of women in combat roles. Stacey also served as an Officer Selection Officer, one of only seventy-five active duty personnel who are entrusted with the mission of screening and evaluating college graduates from across the nation to become Marine Corps Officers. After nine years of active duty service, Stacey left to join a global technology corporation in an exclusive consulting role as a Human Capital Management expert. Stacey resides in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts with her husband and three kids.

Curt Maggitt

INSTRUCTOR

“Leaders should be servants, first and foremost. I am incredibly passionate about serving my community and helping people become better teammates and better team leaders.” – Curt

Curt’s Story:

Curtis “Curt” Maggitt is a former NFL Football player. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Curt attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee. After an All-American career, Curt went to on the play for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Curt earned his MBA from the University of Tennessee where he earned the MBA Program Service Award, and College of Communication Studies Alumni of the Year Award. He continues to compete in obstacle course races, DEKAfit challenges and running events.

DJ Dolan

INSTRUCTOR

“There are few things more rewarding than witnessing a team composed of high caliber athletes and coaching staff transform into a more cohesive organization with more effective leadership. The Program gives each organization we work with the recipe to build and sustain a championship culture – the fun part is watching to see which teams bake the cake!” – DJ

DJ’s Story:

DJ has served the majority of his career on two teams; as a detective with the violent fugitive apprehension section attached to the US Marshals fugitive task force where he was responsible for planning and carrying out hundreds of operations with the mission of locating and apprehending fugitives who are wanted for violent offense as well as safely locating victims of human trafficking and kidnapping. DJ also serves on the Special Tactical Operations Team which is a full-service state-wide tactical team. DJ is the founder of One Tribe, which is a non-profit mentorship service with the mission of building purposeful relationships between servant leaders and youth leaders from at-risk communities guided with curriculum from positive psychology, health science, and leadership development. DJ is a graduate student earning an MS in positive and performance psychology with a “ONE MORE” goal of becoming a better teammate by earning a doctorate.

Maise Wong | The Program | Team Building and Leadership Program

Maisie Wong

INSTRUCTOR

Maisie’s Story

Maisie is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United State Marine Corps Reserves and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She served for seven years on active duty as an Air Support Control Officer deploying to Japan, South Korea, and Central America to conduct exercises and operations before leaving active duty to receive her law degree at the University of Miami. While continuing to practice law in Florida, Maisie has deployed to the Middle East to assist the State Department with the humanitarian conflict in Syria. Maisie has served in a variety of leadership positions in the Marine Corps to include Battalion Operations Officer and subsequently the Executive Officer responsible for training and deployment of over 250 Marines. Most recently she served as the first female commanding officer of an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron. Maisie lives in Miami, Florida with her husband and two children where she competes in CrossFit and the Tactical Games.

Leigh Ross

INSTRUCTOR

“Intentional pursuit of shared objectives combined with the courage to address difficulties fosters a team mindset that is not only aligned but dynamic and resilient in the pursuit of shared goals. In the words of my fallen comrade, ‘Be strong. Be accountable. Never complain.’ Live life with intention and execute with purpose.” – Leigh

Leigh’s Story

Leigh grew up in a small town outside of Nashville, TN. In 2004, she graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where she was a lettering member of the Division 1 Navy Women’s Swim team. Leigh was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed in a combat zone, she operated in a fast-paced, high-profile unit, responsible for maintaining all the Marine Corps aircraft in the area of operations. Leigh earned a Masters from Naval Postgraduate School in 2009. Her last active-duty tour was with Marine Corps Logistics Command as a Program Manager for a critical supply chain information system. After eight years of active duty, Leigh transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserves and has served in various leadership positions, most recently as the Operations Officer for the 4th Civil Affairs Group. She served as the Diversity Officer for Marine Corps Recruiting Command and Senior Watch Officer for Marine Forces Pacific; she worked with NATO while deployed to Norway and has trained Brazilian Marines in civil-military operations.

Leigh retired from swimming and took up triathlons. She competed nationally and internationally as a selected member of the All-Marine triathlon team. Leigh is an Ironman triathlete in both the Full 140.6 and Half 70.3 distances. She has run 5 Marathons, several Tough Mudders, and Spartan Ultras. Leigh resides in Colorado with her husband and two daughters, where they seek all the outdoor adventures.

Brian Norwood

INSTRUCTOR

“We can supervise tasks and manage processes, but we must lead people.” – Brian

Brian’s Story

Brian was a Marine Corps reservist and graduating senior at Louisiana State University in the fall of 2001. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, Brian was ordered to withdraw from the university and report to active duty. He then served the next two years supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom while earning two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. After being released from active duty, Brian transitioned into a full-time career in law enforcement while simultaneously enrolling at the University of New Orleans where he soon completed the requirements for his Bachelor’s degree. While in law enforcement, Brian spent more than half his career serving as a Narcotics Detective, spending his final two years on an elite DEA & FBI joint task force investigating the metropolitan area’s most violent drug offenders. Since retiring from that profession, Brian has worked as a Security Management Professional, Executive Protection Agent, and most importantly, as a proud teammate of The Program.

Paul Quessenberry

INSTRUCTOR

“A good teammate is committed to upholding the team’s core values above all else. They hold themselves and others accountable to these values by ensuring performance standards are met or exceeded every day. Those who prove this through actions will find themselves in positions to lead. This process breeds leadership from within.

Leadership from within is a common denominator amongst championship caliber teams.” – Paul

Paul’s Story

Paul is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he was a three-year varsity letter recipient on their Division 1 football team. After graduation in 2015, Paul went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer with 2nd Battalion 1st Marines as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, and the Deputy Director of the 1st Marine Division school house. In 2020 Paul left active duty after 5 years of service to play in the National Football League. He played 3 years in the NFL; 1 year with the New England Patriots and 2 years with the Houston Texans.

Paul is a proud teammate of the program and is fired up to work with you.

Gabe Voumard

INSTRUCTOR

“The strongest teams are built in the grind — where limits are tested, egos are stripped away, and every person learns what ‘all in’ really means.” – Gabe

Gabe’s Story

Gabe is a graduate from the United States Naval Academy, where he earned his commission, and was a four-year varsity letterman on the Division I Men’s Lacrosse Team. He began his career as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, and 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.

He later served as a Special Operations Officer with the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion (MARSOC). Over the course of his career, Gabe deployed multiple times around the world, leading Marines and partner forces through complex missions in demanding environments. Gabe graduated from some of the most demanding training programs in the U.S. military, including MARSOC Assessment and Selection, the Individual Training Course, Military Free Fall, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE Level C).

A lifelong competitor and athlete, he has completed the No Bull Marathon in Spain, multiple triathlons, and 50K ultramarathons, continually pursuing challenges that test his endurance and resilience.

Gabe resides in Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters.

Ann-Marie “AM” Saccurato

INSTRUCTOR

“Efficiency and effectiveness to execute with excellence and exceed all expectations with no excuses. LIVE SAVAGE. RYSE UP.” – AM

AM’s Story

Ann-Marie, also known as “AM”, beat the odds after a life-threatening car accident as a teenager to become a three-time WBC Lightweight World Champion Professional Boxer and a 2016 inductee of the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame. During her career, she was ranked in the top 10 Pound-for-Pound in the world while also receiving KO of the Year, Fight of the Year, and Fighter of the Year honors.

Since stepping out of the ring, she has fully focused efforts on her 28-year career as a strength and conditioning coach as well as a performance specialist. Her background includes certifications such as National Strength & Conditioning Association – Certified Personal Trainer, MMA – Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach, National Academy of Sports Medicine – Mental Strength Coach, Institute of Human Performance – Performance Training Specialist, and other various performance specialties.

She currently works with some of the top fighters and combatant athletes on the planet in such organizations as the UFC, Eagle FC, BKFC, and professional boxing, while also working with some of the top tactical athletes in South Florida (law enforcement, military, fire rescue). AM is a tactical athlete herself serving in tactical protections.

Cameron Chatman

INSTRUCTOR

“Being a good teammate is about doing your part in setting the example and holding others accountable. Sometimes, in doing your part, you find that a teammate is struggling to meet the standard. You must be ready to take strain from the individual to your left or right. The willingness to go above and beyond your personal load, while not impairing your own mission effectiveness, is what separates good teammates from truly great teammates.” – Cam

Cam’s Story

Cam has served in multiple levels of law enforcement for more than a decade. Since August 2020, Cam has served as a full-time instructor at his state’s Trooper Academy. Cam is considered a subject matter expert for instruction in Response to Active Shooter Event Courses, Emergency Vehicle Operation Courses, Basic Life Saver Courses, Basic Tactical Medical for Law Enforcement, and Chemical Weapons Instruction. Prior to his assignment at the academy, Cam was assigned to the Special Investigation Bureau’s Interdiction Unit. While on the interdiction team, Cam was responsible for combatting drug smuggling operations, human trafficking operations, identity theft trafficking operations, and domestic terrorism, as well as locating and apprehending violent offenders. On top of all this, Cam has also been in the Army National Guard for more than a decade. He currently serves as an Operations Non-Commissioned Officer for the Sustainment Battalion of an Armored Brigade Combat Team. Cam is the senior unmanned aerial vehicle operator and the Mission Command Digital Master Gunner on command information systems.

Murray “Murf” Clark

INSTRUCTOR

“I studied, practiced, and taught leadership for nearly 40 years before learning of The Program. Its direct, no-excuses, values-based approach humbled me. The next day, I applied to join their team. Why? Its approach quickly teaches timeless principles in a compact, direct, values-based program. It works because it covers a full range of attributes needed by leaders and teammates in a way that is inspiring, memorable, and lasting.” – Murf

Murf’s Story

Murf grew up in a small town in Iowa and first changed into a military uniform at the United States Air Force Academy in 1983. Thirty-two short years later, he retired from active duty as a Colonel in the United States Air Force. As a pilot flying KC-135s, he commanded at the flight, squadron, and group levels and deployed to numerous major operations all over the world between 1988 and 1999. After the attacks on September 11th, 2001, he deployed six times to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, serving his final deployment supporting combat operations over Afghanistan as the commander of the 376th Expeditionary Operations Group at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. He is a recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and four Air Medals. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College as well as the Air War College and studied corporate leadership and business practices as a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Humanities and a Master of Language Arts from the University of Notre Dame.

Murf has completed more than 20 endurance running events, including the Boston Marathon, the Tahoe Triple, and nine JFK50Mile ultramarathons. He and his wife Andrea live in Fountain Hills, Arizona. They have four children and three grandchildren. He continues to fly even today as a commercial airline pilot.

Jerry Gomes

INSTRUCTOR

“We will fight to the very end for each other if we develop professional and personal relationships built on trust and admiration. To do this, teammates must hold each other accountable.” – Jerry

Jerry’s Story

Jerry served in the Marine Corps for 30 years and retired as a Sergeant Major. Throughout his career, he served in all phases of the training pipeline to include recruiting duty, Marine Combat Training, boot camp drill instructor, and a job specialty school instructor. At the high points of his career, he served as the First Sergeant for Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment as well as the Marine Aircraft Group 13 Sergeant Major. He completed nine different deployments training with foreign militaries across the globe and in support of combat operations. He earned a graduate degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University and is a Certified Fitness Trainer through the International Sports Science Association. He is also an avid CrossFitter and holds a CrossFit Level 1 certificate. He enjoys hiking, mountain biking, running half marathons, and a variety of other fitness challenges.

ONE MORE™

The ONE MORE™ Philosophy

We are members of numerous teams: our families, our schools, our athletic teams (other extra- curricular activities), and our businesses. Success is being the best teammate and team leader that we can be on all the teams that we are privileged to be a part. To achieve this, we must make a commitment to constant self and team improvement. Improvement requires ONE MORE™ in everything we do.

The Program Leadership

“We Do One More”™

(781) 281-0751

Give us a call, we’d love to talk about your goals, missions, and objectives!

Sign-up for our monthly “Letter on Leadership”

What We Offer

Whatever your team’s situation may be, The Program can help your teammates become “that much better” through our unique services and coaching techniques.

Have Questions?

The Program Leadership

“We Do One More”™

(781) 281-0751

Give us a call, we’d love to talk about your goals, missions, and objectives!

Sign-up for our monthly “Letter on Leadership”

What We Offer

Whatever your team’s situation may be, The Program can help your teammates become “that much better” through our unique services and coaching techniques.

Have Questions?

THE PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

“We Do One More”™

Get In Touch

48 Quinebaug Road
North Grosvenordale, CT 06255
info@theprogram.org
(781) 281-0751

OUR TEAM

Eric Kapitulik

Kap’s Story:

Cole Walter

Cole’s Story:

Don Thornton

Don’s Story:

Stacey Pesce

Stacey’s Story:

Curt Maggitt

Curt’s Story:

DJ Dolan

DJ’s Story:

Maisie Wong

Maisie’s Story

Leigh Ross

Leigh’s Story

Brian Norwood

Brian’s Story

Paul Quessenberry

Paul’s Story

Gabe Voumard

Gabe’s Story

Ann-Marie “AM” Saccurato

AM’s Story

Cameron Chatman

Cam’s Story

Murray “Murf” Clark

Murf’s Story

Jerry Gomes

Jerry’s Story

ONE MORE™

The Program Leadership

(781) 281-0751

Sign-up for our monthly “Letter on Leadership”

What We Offer

Have Questions?

The Program Leadership

(781) 281-0751

Sign-up for our monthly “Letter on Leadership”

What We Offer

Have Questions?

THE PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Get In Touch

Quick Navigation

THE PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Get In Touch

Quick Navigation