Shawn Banzhaf

Shawn Banzhaf [Bon-zof] is a highly innovative trainer and fresh author who inspires others around him to learn. He is considered by many to be an experienced developer of people, which is appropriate to the origin of his name: Banz in German (South) is a maker of vats and drinking vessels, and hafen means "pot." He longs to help form people (vessels) to be most receptive to great things in life. For twenty-one years Shawn served the United States in the Army National Guard. He retired as the acting First Sergeant of the 1057th Transportation Company. He is an Iraqi War Veteran, during which he earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge while executing 100 combat missions in and around Baghdad, Ramadi and Fallujah. His unit, the 1074th Transportation Company, was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation during their year long campaign (OIF 06-07). Training Soldiers was his passion and he was afforded the opportunity to train thousands of them during his military career. Shawn also served his community as a police sergeant and campus pastor in Nebraska and Arizona. Shawn has been connected to the Trauma Informed Movement across Arizona, through which he has been a guest trainer on the topics of PTSD and suicide prevention within the veteran community. Since 2015 Shawn has been a part of the Pat Tillman Veteran Center at Arizona State University and currently serves as the Executive Director of the center in service of over 20,000 military-connected students. Shawn is a lead facilitator for ASU's Trek for Vets in partnership with Huts for Vets Wilderness Therapy. Shawn is the creator of the 5 Ls: A Practical Guide for Helping Loved Ones Heal After Trauma. He has trained over a thousand individuals on how using this method is a tool anyone can use with a loved one struggling with PTSD, whether veteran or not. He is husband to Jodi, with whom he partners to serve communities. Shawn enjoys cooking and spending time with his children and grandchildren.