Meet the People Behind Warrior Impact

Matt Bassitt is the President and Founder of Warrior Impact, a nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans and first responders. He served as a C-130 Crew Chief in the U.S. Air Force with a mission of Combat Search and Rescue, Matt continues to live by the motto Ut Alii Vivant — That Others May Live. This guiding principle continues to shape his life’s work: creating opportunities for healing, connection, and renewed purpose for those who have sacrificed for others.

Beyond Warrior Impact, Matt is also the founder of Northwestern Home Loans, one of Oregon’s leading mortgage companies. He has built his business on the same values that guide his service: integrity, service before self, and excellence. Profits from Northwestern Home Loans help fuel Warrior Impact’s mission, extending the impact of his professional success into life-changing support for others.

At his core, Matt is a husband, father, and storyteller who believes in leaving people better than he found them. From his early days in search and rescue to his leadership today, his mission has remained the same: to serve others with honor and to ensure that those who give so much are never left to walk alone.

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Raychad “Ray” Vannatta is a retired U.S Army Combat Veteran and Army Aviation Captain who devoted over 23 years of service to our country. Ray is a Pre 9/11 veteran who enlisted into the Active Duty U.S. Army in the late 90’s as a Forward Observer. After his initial enlistment he joined the Ohio Army National Guard to continue his service and begin his academic career. After witnessing 9/11 Ray decided to not only extend his service, he attended Officer Candidate School to be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, subsequently followed by the U.S. Army flight school to become a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot. 

Ray has been profoundly shaped from the loss of his best friend to suicide and experiencing a tragic event while deployed to Iraq as a Company Commander. His experiences have led him to lead a life pursuant to healing, growth and being in “service to others” to help them do the same. Ray previously led a similar organization addressing Complex Post-Traumatic Stress and suicide prevention among Veterans and First Responders. Having directly supported numerous cohorts, Ray has been instrumental in creating and facilitating Warrior Impact’s transformative program, which fosters a profound sense of healing, growth, and resilience all while creating a sense of community. 

Ray is a two time graduate of Capital University, he holds B.A. in Health and Exercise Studies and a Masters in Business Administration. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration from Franklin University, in Columbus Ohio. Ray also holds an Associates Degree from Columbus State Community College, a program which he has a deep rooted affinity for since being inducted into the Health and Exercise Studies Hall of Fame in 2011 and recognized as the Alumnus of the Year in 2017 for his work with the Veteran community.

Kevin Swem is a U.S. Navy veteran who retired from the Department of the Navy after 32 years, 20 years active duty as a Chief Petty Officer, with 12 years as a Department of the Navy civilian. Kevin has held a variety of jobs from his time in the military up to when he joined Warrior Impact. He was a supervisor at Bangor Sub base in Washington state, he was an operations chief for Olympic Mountain Rescue with Joel Hardin professional tracking service and was an adjunct professor for the Basic Mountaineering course at Olympic College in Bremerton Washington. 

While completing the Outdoor Leadership course at Central Oregon Community College, Kevin fell in love with white water rafting. Currently, Kevin plans and serves as a river guide during week-long trips for Veterans and first responders. Kevin’s work is imbued with a deep sense of purpose and gratitude for the opportunity to impact lives. During the white water trips Kevin shares his transformative experiences, which has given him a profound sense of healing and resilience. 

Kevin’s desire to serve others has been a life-long journey. Kevin believes that he has much to offer those who struggle by serving as a “wounded healer.” He believes his experience in the resiliency space saved his life. Kevin is dedicated to guiding others through this life-changing program in any way he can so that others may realize their inner healing and freedom.

Toby Rey served as a firefighter, fire inspector and arson investigator in California for over 27 years. During his time in the department, especially near the end, Toby knew something wasn't right with his mental health but he couldn't quite identify what it was. After he retired, his psychological well being began to rapidly deteriorate, which led him to attend a trauma/PTS resiliency program in 2019. Upon the completion of his cohort, Toby was so profoundly moved he made it his life-charter to heal, grow and be in service to others. He volunteered and eventually became a staff member at the trauma and resiliency program he attended. 

As a sought out leader and member of the Veteran transition and reintegration community, as well as his work with First Responders exposed to workplace trauma, Toby has a strong passion to be in service to the brave men and women who serve our society. He remains motivated to continue working with the Warrior and First Responder communities to “go back for others” the same way others came back for him. Toby’s experience and passion makes him an excellent addition to the executive team at Warrior Impact.