Founders
Grandson of Viktor Frankl, Alexander Vesely, MA. is a producer and award-winning documentary film director at Noetic Films in Los Angeles, California. He is also a licensed psychotherapist and head of the Viktor Frankl Media Archives in Vienna. Vesely began in TV- and film-production and co-founded the production company Clipwerk. His interest in psychology and cinema led him to become a licensed psychotherapist, tutor at the University of Vienna and guest-lecturer at the Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film (HFF) in Munich, Germany. Besides his therapeutic practice, he traveled the world speaking on the topic of Logotherapy, the meaning-centered school of psychotherapy founded by his grandfather Viktor Frankl. Vesely worked with renowned dramaturg Christian Mikunda at CommEnt Production Group over five years before continuing his work with Noetic Films in Los Angeles, California. In 2010, his documentary Viktor & I won several awards.
Through her writing, speaking, and mentorship, Pam advocates for the mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults. She writes a blog for parents about education and preparing students for life and work. Inspired by the meaning-centered philosophy of Viktor Frankl, Pam is involved in film and book projects related to bringing his ideas to a new generation. She is co-founder of the Straight Up Impact film company and Executive Producer of an upcoming short film series entitled, Meaning in Madness, as well as the feature film of Man’s Search for Meaning. Pam is the co-author of The Inspiring Wisdom of Viktor Frankl: A 21-Day Reflection Book about Meaning and developed the online course Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy: The Discovery of Meaning with Alex Vesely.
Moira’s first career was as a civil litigation attorney where she specialized in research and writing. She left in 2015 to pursue her dream of working with children and young adults. Since 2011, Moira has worked with several non-profits that assist foster youth and has worked with individual foster youth as both a mentor and a summer camp volunteer. She currently works with a non-profit that puts on quarterly programs to help foster youth deal with stress and learn the life skills needed for independent living. Moira read Man’s Search for Meaning and became a Viktor Frankl fan–convinced that his life philosophy has the potential to transform lives. She co-authored The Inspired Wisdom of Viktor Frankl: A 21 Day Reflection Book about Meaning and is currently working on a program that will incorporate Viktor Frankl’s teaching into her non-profit work with foster youth.
Advisory council
Kate launched Straight Up Films with partner Marisa Polvino in 2008, where her resourcefulness, exceptional sales skills, and knack for uniting creative talents laid the foundation for a thriving business in one of the most challenging economies in decades. Their recent film releases include Transcendence, directed by Academy Award Winner, Wally Pfister, starring Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman and Rebecca Hall; Jane Got a Gun, directed by Gavin O’Connor, starring Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton and Ewan McGregor; and Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock, produced with Vice Media. Among their upcoming films is Man’s Search for Meaning, an adaption of Viktor Frankl’s best-selling memoir. They are also producing a series of short films called Meaning in Madness, which look at the systemic issues affecting student health and well-being. Forging her career in New York, Kate found her exceptional ability to build relationships integral to her early success working in freelance PR for high-end brands, and subsequently in raising significant financing for films. With this latter endeavor, Kate found the perfect home for her creative passion, persistence, and business savvy, as a feature film producer.
Margarita’s initial connection with the work of Viktor Frankl was through her cousin Sebastian Tabernero, who founded the Viktor Frankl Association in Valencia, Spain. Inspired by Sebastian, Margarita became a follower of Dr. Frankl’s work and a close friend of Alex Vesely. In 1992, Margarita founded Capella + Solazzo, Inc, a design and advertising agency in Dana Point, California where she served as President and developed the branding for many commercial and residential real estate developments throughout California. As a volunteer, Margarita donated her time and marketing expertise to support many charities and not-for-profit institutions in her local community and abroad. Margarita has served on many nonprofit boards, including her role as Board Chair of the Mission Hospital Foundation in Mission Viejo, California, part of the Providence hospital network.
For over 10 years, Margarita dedicated her time and passion for funding health and wellness initiatives for her community. She served on the Executive Committee and chaired multiple annual fundraising events to raise funds for the building of the Leonard Cancer Center as well as supported Mental Health and Wellness initiatives at Mission Hospital and Mission Laguna in Southern California. Margarita is currently involved with Be Well OC, working with leaders in the community to help define and implement a next-generation set of initiatives to assist with the mental health crisis in Orange County. Born in Spain and emigrating to the United States as a child, Margarita brings a world-view and a compassionate heart to assist organizations who help those in need. She and her husband, Tom, have two grown daughters.
Stefan E. Schulenberg received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in Clinical-Disaster Psychology, from the University of South Dakota in 2001. He is a licensed psychologist in the state of Mississippi, a Professor in the University of Mississippi’s Psychology Department, and a Logotherapy Diplomate. Dr. Schulenberg is the Director of the University of Mississippi’s Clinical-Disaster Research Center (UM-CDRC), an integrated research, teaching, and training center with emphases in disaster mental health and positive psychology.
Dr. Schulenberg has authored/co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in scholarly texts. He is the editor of Positive Psychological Approaches to Disaster: Meaning, Resilience, and Posttraumatic Growth (2020) and Clarifying and Furthering Existential Psychotherapy (2016), and he is the co-editor of Clinical Perspectives on Meaning: Positive and Existential Psychotherapy (2016.
Dr. Schulenberg’s research interests include clinical-disaster psychology, positive psychology, and logotherapy, concepts such as perceived meaning, purpose, resilience, posttraumatic stress, and posttraumatic growth. He offers workshops and provides training on disaster preparedness, psychological first aid, disaster response, meaning and purpose in life, resilience, and posttraumatic growth.
Dr. Schulenberg has served as a disaster mental health volunteer and supervisor in the American Red Cross, and has worked previously with various other volunteer organizations, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Sabine Indinger is the administrator of the public Facebook Group, Viktor E. Frankl – Logotherapy & Existential Analysis (link at the bottom of this website). Over 5,000 members share and discuss their viewpoints related to the work of Viktor Frankl. Sabine has a background in business administration and organizational psychology. She completed her studies in logotherapy with Elisabeth Lukas in 2008 and received an Academic Associate Credential in Logotherapy in 2009 and finished her Diplomate Educator credential in 2020 with Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy (Abilene, TX, USA). She works as a human resource & business consultant. Additionally, Sabine is a work-life coach and trainer/educator, finding ways of applying Viktor Frankl’s ideas to the workplace.