Executive Staff
Anna Bigham, Chief Executive Officer
Anna founded Hidden Wounds in 2009 after she suffered post-war challenges alongside her younger brother, Marine Lance Corporal Mills Palmer Bigham. She serves as Chief Executive Officer, guiding Hidden Wounds with her vision and overseeing all aspects of the organization.
When her brother succumbed to his hidden wounds with a gunshot to his forehead on October 19, 2009, Anna decided that his death would not be in vain. She focused her efforts on starting an organization that provides the support returning veterans need to overcome post-war challenges, as well as to increase education and awareness among veterans and their friends and families.
Chris Younts, Chief Operations Officer
Chris co-founded Hidden Wounds in 2009 and currently serves as Chief Operations Officer. He oversees resource development, with accountability for the organizations annual capital campaign, regional development, and corporate sponsorship. In this capacity, he focuses on developing and implementing plans aimed at raising funds from the public and private sector.
Prior to joining Hidden Wounds, Chris served in financial advisory capacities in a variety of Columbia businesses. He has also been a self-employed CPA.
Sharing in Anna grief over her brother as a close family friend, Chris supported her vision and took the reigns, piloting this idea into an operating non-profit organization ready to serve those who have served us all.
John Bigham, Awareness Leader
John Mills Bigham, born November 11, 1945 in Columbia, SC. Attended public school graduating 1964 from Dreher High in 1964 and Erskine College in 1968. Married Margaret Ann Palmer April 30, 1978, two children, Anna Palmer Bigham and Mills Palmer Bigham. Retired in 2008 following 25 years as Curator of Special Collections in 2008 with the SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum.
After mourning the loss of his only son to PTSD, John was equally as resolved as Anna to prevent this tragedy from happening to other families if at all possible.
Dan Ramsey, Executive Director of Strategic Outreach
Dan Ramsey is a veteran of both the Navy and the Marine Corps. In the Navy Dan served as a construction man in the Seabees and in the Marine Corps he served in the Infantry as part of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Charlie Company, stationed out of Camp Lejeune, NC. Dan has served in numerous places around the world including East and West Africa and the Middle East. During his last deployment with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, while on a mission, Dan broke his neck in several places which almost left him paralyzed and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Dan was subsequently retired from the Marine Corps and diagnosed with PTSD, TBI and other combat-related injuries, but despite his injuries, he is still fully supportive of all branches of the military and of their missions. He is using his experience as an Infantry leader along with his experiences with PTSD, TBI, and the VA to bring a unique perspective to the Strategic Outreach Program, called “Fire Teams”. Dan was appointed as the Executive Director of Strategic Outreach in January 2010. He is directly responsible for providing strategic direction, management and coordination of Hidden Wounds Fire Team, and is also a co-founder for Fire Team. He focuses on developing and implementing plans aimed at raising funds from the public and private sector through recruits and events associated with lowering the stigma surrounding psychological injuries among military personnel. He seeks to let veterans know they are supported and appreciated, and that help exists when trying to re-assimilate to civilian life.
Steven Diaz, Fire Team Leader
Steven Diaz joined the Marine Corps after he graduated from high school. Initially he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and alter volunteered to go to Iraq in January 2005. He spent three months escorting convoys out of Al Asad Airbase. During a mission he was hit by an IED, severely wounding him and leaving shrapnel scattering throughout his body. As a result he is now blind in his left eye, cannot run or stand for long periods of time, and has been diagnosed with TBI, PTSD, and a seizure disorder. Having been prematurely medically discharged from the Marine Corps since October 2006, Steven felt like he was not finished fighting his war. Inspired by President Ronald Regan’s 1985 quote, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem,” Steven got involved with Hidden Wounds. As the Fire Team leader he has a chance to continue his commitment to never leave a fallen brother behind by providing the help veterans need after returning home with post-war challenges of all kinds. His shared goal, along with Hidden Wounds’, is to let veterans know they are supported when they come back and to spread awareness about PTSD and how families, friends, and comrades can help fight it.
Jan Barkan, VA Benefits Advisor
