CHARLOTTE, N.C. - s4story -- From 9 a.m. until nearly 5 p.m. on Friday, men gathered at The Hamilton Event Spaces for the inaugural Warrior Defined: Strength Is Not Silence. They came to hear stories about identity, loss, resilience and mental health. They stayed to talk with one another. The event was supported by trusted organizations like USAA, OURA, and Geode Health.

Throughout the day, attendees were present with the speakers and with the men around their tables. Phones rarely came out. Conversations continued through lunch, between sessions and after the program ended. As co-founder Candice Van Dertholen checked in around the room, she heard the same reflection repeatedly: "I needed this more than I realized."

"That is what we hoped to create," said Van Dertholen. "We wanted men to have a place where they could show up as they are, hear that someone else has lived through something similar, and leave knowing they have people they can talk to."

Attendees traveled to Charlotte from Washington State, Dallas and other parts of the country. The response has already prompted requests for Warrior Defined events in New York City, Washington State, Dallas and Washington, D.C. Organizers are also in conversations about bringing an event to Des Moines, Iowa, while planning the next annual gathering in Charlotte.

Founded by Van Dertholen, an international speaker and holistic practitioner, and Trevor Martin, a graphic novel artist, Warrior Defined was built around a simple idea: men need more opportunities to connect without feeling that they have to perform or carry everything alone.

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Four featured speakers brought distinct experiences to the stage. Jon Macaskill, a retired Navy SEAL Commander and co-host of Men Talking Mindfulness, spoke about mindfulness and resilience under pressure. Ryan Lavarnway, a World Series Champion and Olympian, drew on his experience in professional sports to explore perseverance and life's transitions. Jacob Brown, a former NFL player and TEDx speaker, shared his perspective on identity, purpose and adversity. Will Schneider, Stanford University's Ambassador of Compassion and co-host of Men Talking Mindfulness, spoke about presence, emotional wellbeing and connection.

Charlotte-area speakers Brian LaFontaine, Tiffany VanDeMark and Patrick Glenn also joined the program, alongside Glenn Proctor and Patrick Menefee. They shared personal perspectives on service, leadership, relationships and change. Facilitated table conversations gave attendees time to reflect together and continue the discussion beyond the stage. Community partners and organizations were present to offer support and resources.

"Seeing men stay engaged with one another for the entire day told us this space is needed," said Martin. "What happened in Charlotte is a beginning. We want to keep building places where these conversations and friendships can continue."

Warrior Defined will carry that momentum into informal dinners in Charlotte, giving attendees a chance to reconnect and bring another man who could use the support. The founders are developing future events and inviting sponsors and community partners to help bring the experience to more cities.

"We are hearing from men who want this in their own communities," said Van Dertholen. "For a sponsor, this is an opportunity to help create a space people are asking for, and to stay involved as those connections grow."

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The inaugural event was supported by sponsors and partners including USAA, OURA, Geode Health, SPARK Publications and Pearce Bespoke Charlotte. Warrior Defined also supports the work of Shields & Stripes.

Media and sponsorship opportunities

Candice Van Dertholen and Trevor Martin are available for interviews about the Charlotte event, attendee response and plans for future gatherings. Warrior Defined welcomes conversations with businesses, healthcare organizations and community partners interested in sponsoring upcoming events and local connection opportunities.

About Warrior Defined

Warrior Defined creates spaces for men to share real stories, build meaningful connections and change the conversation around men's mental health. Founded by Candice Van Dertholen and Trevor Martin, its inaugural event took place September 25, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Learn more at warriordefined.com.

Media contact

Candice Van Dertholen
Co-Founder, Warrior Defined
thewarriorwithinhealing@gmail.com
402-613-7225
warriordefined.com

Trevor Martin
Co-Founder, Warrior Defined
trevor@trevorsmartin.com
319-930-2194

Event photography: Seth Baird

Candice and speaker Brian were recently featured on Queen's City News

369 views  Sep 5, 2026. Here is the link Recent Queen's City News Segment. Please use that if it would help get more attention from the media.