In support of the Hero’s Hundred trek and the 10th anniversary of The Summit Project, (10) hikers of various backgrounds will come together from across the country to take part in such a memorable adventure. This team will spend the next (6) months taking part in a rigorous training regimen and conditioning program in preparation for this amazing journey. Each have their own unique experiences to share. Each have their own remarkable connections to our fallen Maine heroes and The Summit Project organization.
Below are their stories…
TEAM LEAD
Greg Johnson
Veteran, U.S. Marine Corps
Executive Director, The Summit Project
Greg Johnson is a 10-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps who has dedicated his service to The Summit Project since its inaugural event at Baxter State Park over Memorial Day Weekend of 2014. During his military career, Sgt Johnson deployed on (5) separate occasions – to include (3) deployments to Iraq, (1) to Afghanistan, and (1) to Southeast Asia.
Born and raised in our beloved state, Greg is a University of Southern Maine alumnus where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and a minor in Nature-Based Tourism. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in the field of Leadership Studies. Sgt Johnson currently works Pratt & Whitney’s North Berwick Aero Systems as forward-representative of the Eagle Supply Delivery Assurance Team in direct support of advanced aerospace technology, and manages the F100, F119, and F135 aftermarket military programs for both U.S. and commercial-based engine centers around the world.
As an avid outdoorsman, his most favorite pastime activities include spending time out on the water with his wife and three kids and embarking upon new wilderness adventures at every possible chance he gets.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving with the most amazing men and women that this country has to offer. Many of them I have been fortunate enough to call my friends. Many I consider my family. Throughout the time I served in the Marines, some of those friends were lost. TSP helps provide an inherent ability to work through that.
The Summit Project taught me that our service does not end the moment we take off our uniforms, it simply transforms into new a new mission and a new environment as our journey continues. We will forever take care of the families of our fallen brothers and sisters. We will forever ensure their legacies are carried forth within us.
It is a privilege to take part in such an incredible journey and a tremendous honor to help carry forward the stories of each hero with each step that we take.”
THE HERO’S HUNDRED HIKER TEAM
Jeremy Aldrich
Veteran, U.S. Army
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Jeremy Aldrich is a United States Army Veteran who is now a shop teacher at Old Town High School in Old Town, Maine. He previously worked at General Electric in Bangor and Old Town Canoe. He is now pursuing a degree in Outdoor Leadership at The University of Maine and lives in Argyle with his wife, Jessica, and son, Ian. He became involved with TSP in late 2014 when the Honor Case visited Maine Savings Bank in Lincoln; an event coordinated by Justin and Jessica Cloukey.
In addition to being a high school teacher, Jeremy is also the Scoutmaster for his son and Troop 76 of Old Town. During the winter sport season, you can usually find him at the pool refereeing Ian’s swim meets. In his free time, he likes to spend his time outdoors, hiking, canoeing, camping, planning annual trips up Katahdin, and doing the occasional obstacle course race… anything to be outside!
“I could not be more excited and feel very privileged to be part of this incredible journey with such an amazing group of people. The 100-Mile Wilderness has been on my to do list for a while now.”
Amy Brooks
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Amy Brooks was introduced to The Summit Project through participation in a 9/11 memorial ruck in 2021. She feels it is a huge honor to be invited on this journey to commemorate 10 years of TSP and to honor the fallen heroes of Maine.
Although she has never served in the armed forces, she takes pride in her efforts to show support for our men and women in uniform. She has completed the Boston Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, and Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon as a Semper Fi and America’s Fund community athlete.
Wife, mother of two, lifelong resident of Rhode Island, and arborist by trade, Amy enjoys being outdoors and trying her hand at new experiences. While she’s participated in a variety of endurance events, this will certainly bring another level of challenge.
“I welcome the opportunity to be on this team and complete this mission.”
Alex Cloukey
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Alex Cloukey is a Family Nurse Practitioner living in Lincoln with her wife, Jessica, and two children, Kaelyn and Blake. Not only have they been part of the TSP family since the initial Acadia National Park event, but also are actively involved with military and veteran-based organizations. A known TSP leader, Alex has navigated multiple roles, including Team Lead and Assistant Team Lead for multiple TSP hikes as well as providing integral support for Honor Case events and the annual BSP convoy.
Born, raised, and working in the Lincoln area, Alex understands the importance of being an engaged community member and is frequently found volunteering in local events and coaching soccer on a variety of levels. Keeping local with schooling, both undergraduate and graduate degrees were attained at the University of Maine at Orono, where she also taught new nurses for 10 years. Now specializing in obesity management, Alex has a firm commitment to helping people improve their health in proactive ways.
Justin will undoubtedly be a cornerstone piece of the Hero’s Hundred team from a nutrition, training, and medical perspective. We hope you will give support as we all continue to ensure Maine Heroes Are Not Forgotten.
Courtney Evans
Public Relations Manager, The Summit Project
Courtney Evans came to TSP in 2018 and has been an active member ever since. She has stepped into roles as Assistant Team Lead for TSP at ANP 2019 and as Team Lead for both TSP at BSP and ANP in 2020. She is presently the Public Relations Manager for this incredible organization. She achieved her Master of Education degree from the University of Maine and is employed as a clinical counselor at Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine, where she also calls her home.
She is actively involved in Girl Scouts of Maine as a troop leader and is an adult learning facilitator for the organization. She is also the President of the UMaine Band Alumni Association, responsible for coordinating the homecoming events for the alumni band which is the largest returning organization each year.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors chasing the 4,000 foot summits of New England and going on amazing adventures with her daughter, Delaney.
Andrea Hayes
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Andrea Hayes is a native of Maine and mom of four currently living in Windham with her husband and two youngest children. Andrea is a new small business owner and esthetician owning Appreciate You Esthetics located in Westbrook Maine (2022).
She loves good heart-pounding adventures, hiking, traveling, gardening… basically most anything outside, including riding scooters in the driveway with her family—Maggie the dog included!
Andrea began her volunteer journey with TSP in 2019. Since that time, she has served as Honor Case Manager, hiker team lead at multiple signature TSP events, basecamp volunteer lead, and fundraising volunteer. She has helped in many ways to raise funds for the TSP mission and was one of the 11 chosen hikers to summit Katahdin in the last leg of the 150-Mile TSP Memorial Ruck that took place in October of 2019.
Bruce Leonard
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Bruce Leonard is a Maine native who grew up in Bangor. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, then commissioned into the Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged after ten years. He has worked for Siemens Energy since 1989 in positions ranging from field engineer, project engineer, and marketing & sales engineer. Bruce lives on Cold Stream Pond in Lowell, Maine with his wife Emily, of 33 years. They have two sons, Stephen and Patrick, and a daughter-in-law Brittany.
Bruce’s initial involvement with TSP was at Acadia National Park in 2022. Then again at Baxter State Park in 2023. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, spending time with family, and volunteering at his local church.
“I’m honored to be a part of TSP. It’s a small way of giving back to those who gave all by keeping their legacy alive.”
Amy Lilley
Gold Star Sister
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Amy Lilley lives in Scarborough with her husband Steve and their two sons, Ryan and James (21 and 19) as well as their beloved dog, Angus. She works as a physical therapist for Northern Light Homecare. In homecare, she works mostly with the elderly and loves trying to help older people stay active and healthy. In her spare time, she tries to practice what she preaches. She likes to run, hike, bike, lift weights, and enjoy the outdoors.
Amy is a gold star sister. Her brother, U.S. Army CPT Christopher J. Sullivan is one of the heroes honored by The Summit Project. He was killed in Iraq in 2005. Her parents found a memorial stone for him in 2017 after they moved to Maine full time. They had learned about TSP through some of the Gold Star mothers they knew. Amy got to hike with TSP for the first time in 2019 at Acadia National Park.
Amy loves the mountains and loves to be outdoors adventuring whether it is hiking up a mountain in the summer, looking at the amazing foliage in the fall, or snowshoeing in the winter.
Dennis Shipman
Gold Star Father
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Dennis is a Gold Star father to Sergeant Joshua E. Shipman, USMC.
Born and raised in Texas, he joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 19. He met Joshua’s mother shortly after bootcamp and they married not long after. During his time serving in the Armed Forces, he deployed numerous times to various parts of the world during Desert Storm/Desert Shield. He and Joshua’s mother went their separate ways towards the end of his enlistment. Following his time in service, Dennis met his wife, Amanda. They currently live in Limerick and have two children—Dennis III (21) and Grace (14).
Dennis retired from the State of Maine/Criminal Justice in 2019 and since then has been involved in manufacturing/production leadership, communications, and organization. He has always enjoyed the outdoors and all types of outdoor activities. Most of his experience outside of the military were solo adventures in backcountry hiking and kayaking. He enjoys extreme weather and testing his limits (after a lot of planning).
“Shortly after Joshua passed in January 2021, I found The Summit Project. I attended and hiked the 2022 BSP event, 2022 House in the Woods, and the 2022 ANP event. I learned a lot about many of Maine’s Hero’s and was blessed to meet their families and friends.
Joshua was caring, selfless, a joker, quietly unrelenting, compassionate and many other things. I’ve learned that many of his characteristics and traits are the same characteristics and traits shared by our other TSP hero’s.
When I meet other Gold Star families and speak with them and hear about their loved ones, it’s easy to understand where many of the hero’s learned those traits. Those same characteristics and traits are prevalent in the volunteers and staff as well, and because of all those people, I always look forward to seeing everyone at each event.”
Danny Stokes
Veteran, U.S. Army
Cadre Team Leader/GrowRuck Director F3
Danny Stokes has been a friend and supporter of The Summit Project ever since coming to Portland, ME in 2014 to lead a GORUCK Tough Challenge. During that event, participants carried TSP tribute stones and at sunrise conducted a ceremony to honor the Maine heroes inscribed on those stones. Upon witnessing the ceremony, Danny knew he had to align with the TSP mission.
Danny currently lives in Tacoma, WA, after a 23-year career in the US Army. While in the military, his first job was a Tanker, then a Special Forces Communications Sergeant, and lastly a Signal Officer. He deployed to various locations such as the Philippines, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and served in overseas assignments in both Germany and South Korea.
Danny is still leading GORUCK events these days but devotes most of his time to managing F3’s GrowRuck program. Additionally, over the past few years Danny has been working on a goal to ride his bicycle from Alaska to Argentina (3000 miles remain.)
THE HERO’S HUNDRED HIKER TEAM ALTERNATES
Chris Douphinett
Gold Star Brother
Volunteer, The Summit Project
Chris Douphinett is a proud Gold Star family member that has been a part of The Summit Project since May of 2017. His family got involved in the organization after his younger brother, U.S. Navy PO2 Benjamin A. Demers, passed away in September 2016. He’s 33 years old living in Scarborough.
Chris works at Texas Roadhouse and is a little bit of a goofball. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family, although most of his time is spent running.
“It’s an honor to be invited to hike with these incredible people for such a wonderful cause and I’m excited to make some great memories.”
Jake Hill
Veteran, U.S. Air Force
Marketing Manager, The Summit Project
Jake Hill decided to join the military when he was (10) years old after witnessing the attacks of September 11th in 2001 and enlisted directly following his high school graduation in 2010. He is a 6-year veteran of U.S. Air Force Special Forces. During his military career, he deployed on two separate occasions to Afghanistan and Africa where he participated in missions to capture the world’s most wanted terrorists.
Though born and raised in Maine, he travelled the world during his military career and spent two years living in New Zealand. In 2018, he decided to come back home to Maine to live the way life should be. Currently, he works at Tyler Technologies as a Deployment Engineer providing global support for his public sector clientele. Jake loves anything and everything to do with the outdoors, and especially loves spending it with his girlfriend and two dogs.
“Any chance to reboot from the long week and spend that time outdoors, is simply underrated. The world needs more of it.”