Mary Beth received her master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Purdue University. She worked in training and communications for seven years. In 2002, she developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after an ankle surgery. For six years, she volunteered as tutor for an English for Speakers of Other Languages. In 2017, Mary Beth received support group leader training through Pain Connection and led a support group in Maryland for a year before moving to Texas. Now serving as the Pain Connection Live group coordinator, she supports the Pain Connection website and leads one call per month. In 2020, she moved to Ohio where she currently resides with her husband. They have two sons in college and a goofy little dog at home.

With a B.S. in Education, Bobbi has worked in education, electronics/high tech, and health and human services. She and her husband lived and worked in Europe, backpacking there and in the Far East before settling in New Hampshire. While caring for aging parents and raising their son, Bobbi facilitated a free support group for caregivers for 12 years and received a Spirit of NH Award for volunteering with homeless families. Bobbi has pain from rheumatoid arthritis, spondylolisthesis, herniated discs and digestive issues. Her pain doctor encouraged her to attend support group leader training with Pain Connection in 2017. Currently, Bobbi facilitates a NH support group, assists Pain Connection with virtual support groups, and volunteers with VNA Hospice. She helped form the NH Pain Collaborative and attends Don’t Punish Pain rallies. She recently received a U.S. Pain Advocacy Award.

Gwenn Herman, LCSW, DCSW, is founder and clinical director of Pain Connection, She created the organization in 1999 following a motor vehicle accident that left her with unrelenting pain. In 2016, Pain Connection joined forces with U.S. Pain Foundation and has continued to expand its offerings nationwide. 

Over the years, Gwenn has become a leading voice in the chronic pain community. She has been featured in various media outlets on the topic of pain, and in 2009, co-authored the book, Making the Invisible Visible: Chronic Pain Manual for Health Care Providers. 

In 2018, Gwenn was appointed to the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, the highest-ranking pain policy oversight committee in the country. She also recently received a grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation.

Gwenn currently lives in Arizona with her husband, Malcolm, and has a private psychotherapy practice in Tucson.