Terminator's coaches
Mary JesseY, National program director
Mary started with the Terminator Foundation as a volunteer swim coach in 2019, later moving into an Executive Swim Coach role and is now serving as the National Program Director for the organization.
Mary has been swimming her entire life – as a competitive age group swimmer, as a member of an NCAA University team and as a triathlete. She tackled her first sprint triathlon in 2002, a decade later completed an IRONMAN and then became an NCCP Certified Triathlon Coach and founded LYNX Triathlon to share her passion for the sport with others.
Mary has watched the Terminator Foundation grow enormously in scope and reach in two short years and is excited to oversee and assist in the development of the triathlon training program at a national level. She strongly believes that the Terminator Foundation’s collaborative recovery approach incorporating triathlon training and peer support, alongside physical and mental health & wellness education, is an important aspect for helping youth and young adults overcome addiction.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Economics from the University of Mary Washington and enjoyed a career in the Oil & Gas industry prior to starting her Triathlon Coaching business.
LYNX Triathlon is a valued sponsor of the Terminator’s triathlon program
VANISHA BREAULT, FOUNDER
Vanisha Breault is the Founder of the Terminator Foundation and Tri Terminator. Vanisha launched the Tri Terminator program in 2016 after the completion of her own first 70.3 Ironman. With just 3.5 months of training and with no prior triathlon experience, Vanisha found the training challenged her physically and mentally beyond what she had imagined she could achieve.
Vanisha had been an avid runner and running coach for over a decade. For the longest time running had been a go-to for her mental health and recovery, but the triathlon experience transformed her thinking and blew the lid off her own limitation.
Being in long-term recovery from alcoholism and being in one of the darkest periods of her life watching her own daughter battle addiction on the streets, Vanisha found training for the half ironman paralleled the fight to overcome addiction and depression.
And so, the dream of bringing others through this same journey to recovery was born in her heart and in the fall of 2016, plans were made to launch what today is known as: Tri Terminator. In 2017, Vanisha went on to complete her training and became a NCCP Certified Triathlon Trainer. With years of experience working within the realm of addiction/mental health from the front lines, business & community engagement to counselling/coaching, Vanisha believes that the physical component of exercise is one of the most vital keys to ensuring success in overcoming addiction and mental health issues.
“The truth is you can recover, it’s not just a tag line; it’s a fact.” –Vanisha
