LEADERSHIP

STEPHEN PECK

Stephen J. Peck, who served as a Marine officer in Vietnam, leads U.S.VETS, the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of housing and other essential services for at-risk and homeless veterans and their families. Peck, who has served at U.S.VETS for nearly three decades, advocates at state and national levels to bring attention to potential solutions for homeless veterans.

“Our job at U.S.VETS is to engage the enemy at home—the enemy of homelessness, disillusionment and disappointment—to let these men and women know there is a path forward,” says Peck. “U.S.VETS strives to empower each veteran to take responsibility for his or her success, guiding them toward independence in the community, developing their workforce skills and supporting recovery.”

Peck graduated from Northwestern University in 1968 and entered the Marine Corps that same year. In Vietnam, he was a first lieutenant in the 1st Marine Division, serving as a forward observer outside of Danang in 1969, and received the Navy Commendation Medal.

After his service, Peck became a documentary filmmaker. A series of films on homelessness and veterans’ issues compelled him to change careers. He went on to help the Veterans Administration place homeless veterans into housing, and in 1996 joined the organization that became U.S.VETS. Initially serving as the organization’s director of community development, Peck was also the inaugural director of U.S.VETS’ largest site in Long Beach before being appointed president and CEO in 2010.

Peck earned his master’s degree in social work from USC in 1997 and later became the president of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA), a consortium of seven nonprofit veteran service providers working in partnership to address the needs of California’s veterans.

He has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Service Award by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, named a member of the Mighty 25 Class of 2024 by We Are the Mighty, and will receive the Judge Harry Pregerson Public Service Award at U.S.VETS’ SALUTE Gala this November. He also has been honored by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Northwestern University, American Legion Auxiliary, City of Long Beach and Los Angeles Business Journal, in addition to receiving a doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa, by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Peck and his wife Kristine Kidd, a food writer, culinary consultant and the former food editor of Bon Appetit magazine, live with their Labrador retriever Atticus in the Los Angeles community of Topanga Canyon. He has a son Ethan, an actor, and a stepdaughter Marisa, a writer.

DARRYL J. VINCENT

Darryl J. Vincent, a Marine veteran and nationally recognized leader in innovating service delivery for veterans, is president and chief operating officer of the nation’s largest nonprofit service provider dedicated to preventing and ending veteran homelessness. Vincent, who began at U.S.VETS in 2003, will succeed CEO Stephen J. Peck on Jan. 1, 2025.

Vincent was appointed COO in 2012 and promoted to president and COO in 2024.

Under Vincent’s leadership, U.S.VETS continues to adapt to veterans’ changing needs, reflecting the positive downward trend in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S., which fell from 62,619 in 2012 to 35,574 in 2023. He has embedded preventative care in therapeutic communities, which have grown in the last two decades to include 45 residential and service sites nationwide empowering veterans to lead stable, independent lives with dignity.

As a social worker and certified substance abuse counselor, Vincent was recruited to U.S.VETS while working as a clinical supervisor at Hawaii’s largest homeless shelter by former U.S.VETS CEO Dwight Radcliff, an Air Force veteran who became a mentor to Vincent. Over the last 21 years, Vincent has worked across roles at U.S.VETS to ensure veterans experiencing homelessness or without stable shelter have access to a network of affordable housing developments and permanent supportive housing communities, helping more than 12,000 veterans a year access affordable housing, mental health treatment, employment, food security and other supportive services.

Vincent led expansion of U.S.VETS sites, including Barber’s Point in Hawaii, and the opening of others, while leading a national network of sites dedicated to providing high-quality care to veterans at every stage of their lives. As a national thought leader, Vincent was appointed by Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to the Veterans Affairs Advisory Council on Homeless Veterans, which advocates and makes recommendations to the secretary’s office on policy, budgetary and programmatic changes that aid veterans in regaining and maintaining independence.

He was instrumental in bringing living wages to U.S.VETS employees around the country and developing a shared governance model with subject matter experts at every level of the organization and across departments. Through initiatives including master leasing, where U.S.VETS signs leases with landlords and then rents to veterans providing case management, income and benefit supports as needed and after-care follow up, Vincent promoted housing integration for veterans rebuilding their lives.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation twice honored Vincent with the AIM for Excellence Award for outstanding leadership in fostering positive change for veterans, and Vincent was named a Weinberg Fellow focused on leadership and management development and strategic thinking. He has been widely quoted in the media, including the Honolulu Star Advertiser, ABC, CBS and Fox News, and has provided testimony at state and federal hearings, community coalitions and before VA leadership.

He was selected for Variety’s Annual Salute to Service Impact List, and the Hawaii Community Foundation awarded Vincent the Ho’okele Award, recognizing nonprofit leaders who enhance the quality of life in Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s “10 Who Made a Difference in Hawaii” recognized Vincent for his service, and he received the Unsung Hero award from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans for advocacy on behalf of veterans and their families. He was honored by Helping Hands Hawaii for his impact over two decades in the social service field.

Vincent leads with his heart, implementing policies that ensure veterans stand on their own, always supported with the services they need, from substance use and mental health counseling to aging in place and expanding outreach to women veterans. His attention to quality and measurable outcomes led to U.S.VETS’ accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which recognizes an organization has met the highest standards of care and is a leader in service delivery to homeless veterans.

In 2023, Vincent and the U.S.VETS leadership team accepted the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Community Service Award for courage, citizenship, commitment and patriotism, and going above and beyond to perform extraordinary acts of service. An ardent sports fan, Vincent was awarded Super Bowl tickets by the NFL for outstanding service to the community.

He started his college journey at Southern University and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human services and a master’s degree in social work from the University of New England. Vincent is the proud father of two sons, the youngest a high school senior and fourth-year Navy Junior ROTC cadet. His eldest son graduated in 2020 from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and is a captain and Apache pilot stationed in South Korea.

DAN WARZENSKI

Dan Warzenski joined U.S.VETS in October 2015 after more than three decades in retail, bringing with him a wealth of big company experience. Twenty of those years in the for-profit world were spent in Los Angeles-based Robinsons-May, where he held leadership roles from 1986-2006. Among his accomplishments at Robinsons-May was the 1993 merger of Robinson’s financial systems into May Co. systems. In 2002, he also helped fold Meier & Frank stores into Robinsons-May. A U.S. veteran, Warzenski served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969-71. After an honorable discharge, he went on to earn an MBA from Seton Hall University in 1976. Beyond work, Warzenski resides in Mt. Washington, is an avid runner and soccer fan, and enjoys spending time with his two grown children and three grandchildren.

JEFFREY W. COLEMAN

Jeff Coleman is the Vice President of Fiscal Evaluation and Compliance. The primary responsibility of this position is to evaluate the financial performance of the organization as it relates to its budgets, sites, programs, and grants. This position also provides oversight of organization wide regulations and procedures to ensure fiscal compliance.

Mr. Coleman is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a B.A. degree in Economics. Mr. Coleman began working with U.S.VETS in June 1994 as Program Officer of the Corporation for National Service AmeriCorps Program. As the organization expanded, the position of Program Officer also expanded to include financial reporting and accounting. Mr. Coleman has worked in all aspects of accounting for the organization and has years of experience in financial grant management. He was then promoted into the position of Senior Financial Analyst for U.S. VETS and experienced the growth of the organization to 14 sites in 7 states. He has worked closely with each of those sites and corporate accounting in providing financial assistance and oversight.

LANEY KAPGAN

Laney Kapgan is the Vice President, Development & Communications for U.S.VETS, overseeing national and regional fundraising, communications and marketing strategy for U.S.VETS operating and capital projects, and leading a team of regional and national staff in growing philanthropic engagement and increasing brand visibility across the country.

She has focused much of her career on expanding public and private funding, visibility and partnerships for key safety-net programs supporting homeless and low-income individuals and families across Los Angeles. Prior to joining U.S.VETS, Kapgan served as Chief Development Officer for Venice Family Clinic, a UCLA Health System-affiliated community health center. In addition to significantly increasing both government and private operational funding, Kapgan led capital efforts to build and renovate two new health centers and expand signature homeless and women’s health programs. She also held fundraising and leadership positions at Chrysalis, a social enterprise and nonprofit that helps low-income and homeless individuals secure employment, as well as GLAAD, Race to Erase MS and Break the Cycle. In total, Kapgan has raised more than $250 million to provide housing, health care, employment and other vital direct services for at-risk and underserved members of our community.

Kapgan received her B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a certificate from the UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Clinic Leadership Institute. In her spare time, she is hard at work perfecting her recipe for homemade bagels and taste testing the competition.

JESSICA A. ROHAC

Jessica Rohac is the Vice President of Operations & Compliance, and provides operations and grants management support to all locations nationwide.

Ms. Rohac earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology at Michigan State University and her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She completed the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling Core Counselor Training program and served two terms representing veteran services in a governor-appointed seat on the State of Nevada Advisory Committee for Problem Gambling.

Ms. Rohac joined U.S.VETS in September 2001 as a Case Manager at the Las Vegas site. In 2011, she received national recognition as the recipient of U.S.VETS Manager of the Year Award. The following year she joined the executive team at U.S.VETS – National office.

Ms. Rohac is a Field Instructor for the University of Southern California Military Social Work Program and formerly for the University of Nevada Las Vegas Social Work and Counseling Programs. She has also served as a member of Veteran Stand Down Committees as Co-Chair and Treasurer, the National Association of Social Workers Student Member, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, and the VA Mental Health Consumer Council.

CARLA A. FORD

Carla A. Ford is the General Counsel for US VETS.  She is responsible for providing legal advice to officers and directors in the organization, assisting in the management of company risks, and overseeing the company’s legal matters, including contract formation, litigation, dispute resolution, and protection of the company’s property rights.

Ms. Ford served for 16 years as an Assistant United States (“AUSA”) in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (“USAO”) in Los Angeles, where she represented the government in a varied civil litigation practice.  In 2010, Ms. Ford left the USAO to join Walmart Stores, Inc. as a senior member of their field-based Environmental Compliance & Ethics Team, which helped the Fortune One’s 300+ California facilities stay in compliance with State and Federal environmental laws.  During her legal career in Atlanta, she served as an AUSA and, later, she was appointed chief executive officer of Georgia’s Commission on Equal Opportunity, the agency that investigated claims of discrimination in housing and in state employment. Ms. Ford has also been in private practice at law firms in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Pasadena.

Involved in her community, Ms. Ford serves on the board of Being Alive!, a nonprofit organization that helps those affected by HIV/AIDS and she is a life member of the Black Women Lawyers  Association of Los Angeles.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. Ford is a graduate of Boston University, where she earned a B.A. in English, cum laude, and Georgetown University Law Center.  She and her husband have one adult son and reside in Mid-City L.A.

LARRY WILLIAMS

Larry D. Williams is the Vice President of Programs. Mr. Williams completed a four year enlistment in the United States Army; he was discharged honorably in 1989.

Mr. Williams graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2009 with a Bachelors Degree in Human Services and obtained his Masters of Business Administration in 2011. Mr. Williams has been serving veterans for 10 years, and has received several awards for his service to the homeless population – including two senatorial commendations, and 2 congressional recognitions and a Congressional Record from the House of Representatives, signed by Congressman Jon C. Porter. Mr. Williams has a long history of receiving accolades from veteran clients for his remarkable contribution in assisting them with acquiring food, housing, clothing, and employment services.

His proudest accomplishments are his marriage, four children and four grandchildren. Mr. Williams considers them his greatest sense of motivation and his greatest sense of support.

LORI ALLGOOD

Lori Allgood joined U.S.VETS in April 2017, as Vice President and Director of Housing Development after working extensively in real estate development and nonprofit operations.

As VP of Housing Development, she oversees U.S.VETS portfolio of properties and manages affordable housing development, including property acquisition and development, financial structuring and acquisition, compliance and partnerships.

Ms. Allgood’s past accomplishments include implementation and direction of a $350 million dollar product philanthropy program, as well as over 20 years of real estate development.

KIM COOK, PsyD

Dr. Kim Cook is Vice President, Clinical Services for U.S.VETS.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and completed the Masters and Psy.D. Clinical Psychology programs at Argosy University Hawaii in 2006 and 2008, respectively. After working many years in the non-profit sector with children with autism, adults with severe mental illnesses, and in the field of Chemical Dependency, Dr. Cook joined U.S.VETS in 2009 as Clinical Director. She transitioned in to the role of Executive Director in 2012.

Dr. Cook was born and raised on the island of Oahu and is involved in a number of community groups, including the West Oahu Professional Network (WOPN).

CAROLE BENEDICT

A licensed professional counselor, Carole Benedict, M.Ed. led U.S.VETS Prescott for eight years, creating housing where no affordable housing for homeless and at-risk veterans existed. Among her accomplishments, she built up a team from 15 to 38 professionals that enabled the organization to construct and open the $10-million Liberty Pointe housing complex that offers 132 low-income housing units and transitional beds for veterans. Benedict has also been the backbone of the ongoing 103-unit Fort Whipple extended-lease project on the Prescott VA campus, which has required some multi-agency maneuvering to accomplish, but is targeted for a grand opening in 2026. In 2023, Prescott was one of the U.S.VETS sites to receive a $3-million suicide-prevention grant, which her team used to launch the Veteran Connections Hub in collaboration with other local veteran service organizations to provide a center where all veterans can come for social recreation, educational programs and referrals for services including housing and obtaining military benefits. The same year, Benedict was promoted to national director of executive leadership, a new role in the U.S.VETS national organization that allows her to work with executive directors of other U.S.VETS sites, helping them reach new levels of success in serving veterans.

Benedict is active in her community, having founded the Yavapai County Collective Impact Partnership to end homelessness, and she works closely with other local agencies to identify and address the needs of people facing homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse and poverty. She was selected as U.S.VETS Executive Director of the Year in 2017 and awarded the Innovative Leadership award from Arizona Public Service in 2021. She is also a member of the governor’s Interagency and Community Council on Homelessness and Housing and a board member for the Arizona Housing Coalition.

Before her tenure at U.S.VETS, Benedict served as director at Verde Valley Sanctuary for 17 years. She is a licensed child, adult and family therapist with experience facilitating anger management groups for high school and middle school students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology from Prescott College and a master’s in school counseling from Northern Arizona University.

SHALIMAR CABRERA

With non-profit management experience since 2003, Shalimar Cabrera has been commended for her innovative leadership in the field of homeless veteran services.

Cabrera began her career as an outreach specialist, bringing veterans off the streets and out of the deserts, camps and tunnels of Las Vegas and into transitional and permanent housing. She went on to lead a state AmeriCorps Program that celebrated highest member retention, among other awards in Nevada for four years, before accepting a promotion to lead the National AmeriCorps Program of U.S.VETS across multiple U.S. cities. Cabrera was appointed executive director of U.S.VETS Las Vegas in 2008, before being promoted in 2023 to the national role she currently holds.

She oversees a multimillion-dollar budget with oversight of five other operating sites in the country, in addition to Las Vegas. She and her dedicated team have developed highly successful programs for homeless and at-risk veterans and their families to include outreach, service-enriched housing, rapid rehousing, homeless prevention, and employment and training programs.

Cabrera’s values are leadership and impact. She is well known for her transformational leadership style and culture coaching, strong administrative skills, and effective client-centered service delivery, as well as her expertise in fundraising and community and event organizing. Cabrera is chair of Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down, coordinating outcome-driven services to meet the needs of hundreds of veterans experiencing homelessness each year.

She completed a term as co-chair of the Southern Nevada Homeless Continuum of Care Board. Cabrera is an alum of Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2021, a Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Emerging Leader, and alum of the FBI Las Vegas Citizens Academy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in social work, with a concentration in management and community practice, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

TEREE CARTER

Teree Carter is a results-driven executive with more than 15 years of experience dedicated to fostering impactful partnerships and driving transformative change across diverse sectors, including public, private, non-profit, and higher education. Positioned at the intersection of strategic vision and practical execution, Carter excels in aligning organizational goals with effective strategies. As a recognized leader, Carter has managed teams effectively, overseen initiatives, and spearheaded the creation of transformative frameworks. She is responsible for the oversight of all programs, services and operations at U.S.VETS Inglewood. Carter is a native of the D.C. area and a proud graduate of Howard University.

JESSICA STEVENS

Jessica Stevens joins U.S.VETS Long Beach after 24 years with The Salvation Army. Her leadership has extended across diverse communities, from Medford, Ore., to San Diego. She held key roles, including executive director for The Salvation Army in Glendale and Torrance, and family care director at the College for Officer Training in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Stevens’ expertise includes directing community enrichment programs, cultivating strong partnerships and leading innovative fundraising efforts throughout Southern California. She has been instrumental in launching initiatives such as the People’s Choice Market—her agency’s first Southern California client-choice food pantry—and organizing popular events including The LA Donut Festival.

Stevens’ leadership style is marked by her relational approach and dedication to transparency. She believes strong connections and open communication are vital to building effective teams. She is certified as a mental health first aid instructor and holds a bachelor of science degree in behavioral health and trauma-informed care.

In her free time, Stevens enjoys walking her dog, Simba, baking her way through “The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion” by King Arthur Baking Company, and relaxing with a good book and a cup of French roast.

NICOLE STARKS-MURRAY

Nicole Starks-Murray, a proven visionary and strategic leader, has over 33 years executive and senior management experience working for nonprofit, government, profit and public entities. She has an extensive background in Business Management, Finance, Contract/Program Administration and Continuous Quality Improvement processes.

Before joining U.S.VETS — Inland Empire, Ms. Starks-Murray was the Program Director for Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino, where they focused on programs geared towards assisting families impacted by the drivers of poverty. She worked with former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as Treasurer for the Greater Los Angeles Vendor engagement project, where they helped to ensure small businesses had the opportunities to compete and work with larger metropolitan businesses. Ms. Starks-Murray was the Executive Director of Assistance League of So California, leading the efforts of reunifying parents with their children in the court system while providing compressive support services that included mental health services, childcare, case management, housing and referrals. Nicole also launched her own consulting firm which provides services to entrepreneurs, grass root organizations, and individuals looking to start a business.

She graduated in 2001 from California State Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Business Management and then went on to receive her Master of Business Administration in 2006 from University of Phoenix. Both disciplines had focus on non-profit management/administration.

Ms. Starks-Murray is passionate about people and has enjoyed working with organizations with missions outlining their commitment to serving people in need and having a social impact that results in tangible outcomes.

ROBERT STOHR

Robert Stohr is executive director at U.S.VETS Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Stohr earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in educational psychology from California State University. Following a 20-year career as a psychotherapist, Stohr acted as division director for the Suicide Prevention Center at Didi Hirsch, where he managed the operation of the suicide prevention hotline, as well as supervised education, outreach and training. In this position, Stohr trained FBI and SWAT teams on crisis negotiation for suicide prevention and met nationally at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to discuss partnerships with local emergency departments. He has presented at national conferences on a manual that he co-authored about working with suicide attempt survivors.

Stohr joined U.S.VETS in 2016.

TESS BANKO

Tess Barragan Banko, MSW/MPA, a Marine Corps veteran, serves as the U.S.VETS West Los Angeles project director and The Veterans Collective community development director. She is part of the team leading the billion-dollar transformation of the 80+ acre West Los Angeles Veterans Administration North Campus that will result in the largest permanent supportive housing and services community in the nation for homeless and at-risk veterans, families and caretakers.

A survivor of post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma, Banko deeply identifies with fellow veterans and families on their paths to recovery, wellness and empowerment, and is honored to serve the community on behalf of her military and veteran sisters, brothers and their families. With a diverse background in nonprofits, organizational leadership and management, public administration, community organizing, human services and behavioral health that includes the impacts of trauma, resilience and post-traumatic growth, Banko has a holistic and unique perspective regarding veterans, their families and the community.

ZACHARY BROOKS-MILLER

Zachary Brooks-Miller is a mission-driven leader with 15 years of experience supporting the growth and scale of non-profit organizations around the world. With a focus on operations management, he specializes in strategic planning, execution, and cross-functional leadership. Known for his ability to excel in dynamic environments, and build strong trust-based relationships, he consistently delivers positive outcomes and sustainable impact for clients, partners, and other key stakeholders.

Brooks-Miller’s career includes senior and executive leadership roles at organizations such as Team Rubicon and The HALO Trust. As senior director of international programs at Team Rubicon, he led the formation and launch of the organization’s international subsidiary, enhancing global reach and operational effectiveness when deploying specialized medical and health teams to respond to global disasters and conflicts. Under his leadership, Team Rubicon provided lifesaving services to over 100,000 individuals in disaster and conflict zones, including Haiti, Ukraine, Guatemala, and Mozambique.

At The HALO Trust, Brooks-Miller managed a variety of operations, from small six-person community survey teams in Somaliland and Nagorno-Karabakh, to large-scale landmine clearance operations with up to 2,000 staff in Mozambique and Sri Lanka. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, as country director, Brooks-Miller launched and stabilized a new country program, securing competitive grants and building a diverse team of 210 local staff. His innovative data collection methods drove accountability and allowed for data-driven decisions, significantly enhancing program impact to clients, value for money to donors, and supported the national government’s coordination efforts.

He has also contributed strategic insights as a board member for organizations like Empower Lebanon and the Education for Peace in Iraq Center. His responsibilities included financial oversight, strategic fiscal planning, and ensuring compliance with all legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

A veteran of the U.S. Army and two tours in Iraq, Brooks-Miller led a squad through more than 200 combat missions clearing Improvised Explosive Devices, earning a Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service and an Army Commendation Medal with valor device. His military background instilled a strong sense of leadership by example, discipline, and integrity, which he has carried into his civilian career.

Brooks-Miller holds a master of arts in international affairs and administration from Missouri State University, and a bachelor of arts in history from Drury University.

Growing up in Ozarks, Brooks-Miller developed a strong love for the outdoors. He now spends his free time rock climbing and fly fishing around the U.S. and the world. As a novice sailor, he is also restoring a 1987 Ericson sailboat.

DAVID TRAXLER

Marine veteran David Traxler is the executive director for U.S. VETS — Houston. During his 20-year career in the Marine Corps that included tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he served across multiple levels of leadership and as the lead investigator for the Marine Corps Inspector General’s Office. He has a background in command and control, operations, recruitment and project management.

MICHELLE JAMESON

Michelle Jameson is an accomplished and transformational leader in the nonprofit sector. Her remarkable career showcases a legacy of strategic restructuring, leadership and program development. As an executive consultant, Jameson has led strategic board and program restructuring, aligning organizations with their missions, and fostering future growth. With expertise in governance, policy oversight and risk management, she has enhanced transparency and decision-making.

As executive director of U.S.VETS — Phoenix, Jameson has achieved a significant increase in program size and revenue, earning her accolades and recognition. Her contributions have garnered numerous awards, including the 2020 Arizona Public Service Inspirational Leadership Award, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition and the 2018 Lincoln Award from the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce. She was also recognized by the Senior White House Advisor to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for her collaboration in the Military/Veteran Community Network.

During her tenure as manager of the education division at the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, she was recognized for her dedication and leadership and was nominated and acknowledged as one of the Top 5 Employees of the Year out of 7,600 employees. Jameson’s track record in education highlights her commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for the communities she has served. As a director at Pelican Rapids Public Schools, she successfully established an alternative learning center, resulting in a dramatic increase in graduation rates. Additionally, she designed and managed a portfolio of five programs, boosting student academic performance, and transformed an elementary afterschool and summer academic program into a self-sustaining district program.

Jameson holds a master’s degree in educational administration and a master’s degree in education, underscoring her commitment to personal and professional growth. In addition to her professional pursuits, Jameson actively contributes to her community with roles on advisory boards and committees, reinforcing her commitment to effecting positive change.

BRYAN CAMPBELL

Bryan Campbell, (retired) first sergeant, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1997, with a military occupational specialty of 6174, a UH-1 helicopter crew chief. After basic training, he received orders to begin his pipeline of primary and secondary schools, including Marine combat training, naval aircrew candidate school and survival evasion resistance and escape (S.E.R.E.) training, along with his initial helicopter mechanic and flight schools.

As a helicopter crew chief, Campbell attained qualifications as a weapons and tactics instructor, night systems instructor, quality assurance representative, collateral duty inspector and UH-1N and UH-1Y helicopter crew chief evaluator.

In 2009, the Marine Corps Aviation Association presented him with the prestigious Danny L. Radish award as the enlisted “Aircrewman of the Year” for the Marine Corps. In 2012, Campbell received orders for drill instructor duty. He held billets as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor, chief drill instructor, and company first sergeant. Upon completion of drill instructor duty, Campbell reported to inspector-instructor dutA in Stockton, Calif.

Campbell participated in three combat tours to Afghanistan, one combat tour to Iraq and one tour on the 13th Marine expeditionary unit, and he received a combat meritorious promotion to the rank of gunnery sergeant.

In 2022, Bryan joined the U.S.VETS Prescott team as program manager, where he received the Outstanding Site Leadership Award in 2023 and was subsequently promoted to program director and then executive director, overseeing a team of consummate professionals carrying out the U.S.VETS’ mission. His various awards, ribbons and badges include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with combat “V” and 22 strike flight numerals, Navy Commendation Medal in lieu of 3rd award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in lieu of 4th award, combat action ribbon, combat air crew insignia with three silver stars, expert rifle and expert pistol badges.

He loves his wife Trisha Tavaglione of Riverside, Calif. and his son Colton Joseph Campbell whose heavenly birthday is October 29, 2021.

MAE WORTHEY-THOMAS

Mae Worthey-Thomas, Ed.D., is a respected community leader and dynamic public servant whose career encompasses varied trajectories, spanning journalism, healthcare, marketing/public relations, the legal field, higher education, and workforce development and housing in state government.

Prior to joining U.S.VETS, Worthey-Thomas served as deputy administrator at the Nevada Housing Division in the Department of Business and Industry. In that capacity, she was responsible for overseeing the state’s housing programs, including weatherization, tax credits, and Housing and Urban Development entitlement grants. Worthey-Thomas first joined the Housing Division as its affordable housing advocate and was the first to hold the position created by the Nevada Legislature in 2017.

She worked for the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation as its spokesperson for 11 years, most notably when the state was frequently featured in the national media for the unfortunate distinction of boasting the highest unemployment rate in the nation during the Great Recession.

A life-long learner and organizational leadership enthusiast, Worthey-Thomas holds a bachelor of arts in communications from the University of Alabama, a master’s in public administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of LaVerne. Worthey-Thomas is a highly-adept communicator whose passion lies in creative writing and serving others. As a writer she gives the world binoculars into her soul and her mantra is we realize peace-filled joy when we allow our lights to shine on others’ paths to help them find their way.

Worthey-Thomas is a founding board member of the Nevada Housing Coalition, which seeks to improve the state’s affordable housing crisis. Appointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak, she is also a member of the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council. She is former co-chair of the nationwide Building Performance Institute and was a member of the national organization Energy Out West.

Her other passions include rooting for her alma mater’s team, the Crimson Tide, spending time with family, including her husband, son, grandchildren and bonus children, and serving the community through the alumni chapter of her beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she has held numerous leadership positions and currently serves as the strategic planning committee chairwoman.

TAMAH-LANI NOH

Tamah-Lani Noh is a retired veteran with 30 years of enlisted and commissioned service in the Hawai’i Air National Guard and the United States Air Force. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held various leadership roles, including serving as the counterdrug coordinator with joint command time, where she managed a statewide drug program that encompassed prevention, education, marijuana eradication, and intelligence support to law enforcement agencies.

She has been instrumental in advocating for and establishing numerous prevention programs, including the Hawai’i Youth Challenge Academy, the Elementary School Attendance Program and the Kokua, Ohana, Aloha Program. These programs, developed in collaboration with the Hawai’i National Guard, Honolulu Police Department, Department of Education, and Department of Health, have been vital in supporting youth through drug prevention and parenting initiatives.

In her role as the Homeless Community Engagement Specialist for Gov. David Ige and his homeless coordinator, Scott Morishige, Noh was responsible for engaging community members and agencies, facilitating training, and addressing homeless issues statewide. Most recently, Noh served as the assistant sergeant-at-arms in the Hawai’i House of Representatives, where she was responsible for security and decorum during proceedings with the 51 members of the House.

TANYA BROWN

Tanya Brown is an experienced leader in non-profit management, strategic planning and building cross-functional teams. Driven by her own family’s experience with homelessness, she takes pride in providing the best resources and services possible. As an executive director, her goals include implementing a therapeutic milieu in support of U.S.VETS’ mission and philosophy, and ensuring the overall integrity of the site by following regulations at all levels of government. In addition to her primary job functions, Brown is a member of multiple community organizations and has been recognized as Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for her extraordinary commitment to her community. Brown holds a master’s degree in public administration from Chaminade University and is currently working on mastering being a mom to a sticky-fingered toddler and his dog.

QUANDREA PATTERSON

Quandrea Patterson began her public service journey in 1993 when she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Over the course of her 20-year military career, she served in various roles, including administrator, recruiter and academic instructor. In 2009, she deployed with Marine Air Control Squadron 2, MCAS Cherry Point in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Patterson concluded her military service in 2013 as a personnel administration school instructor for Marine Corps Combat Services Support Schools at North Carolina’s Camp Johnson, attaining the rank staff sergeant.

Following her retirement from the military, Patterson’s dedication to public service continued through various impactful roles. She served as an AmeriCorps member, a public school teacher in Dallas, Texas, through the Troops to Teachers program, and as a site lead for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Transition Assistance Program at Fort Belvoir/Quantico. Her expertise further extended to policy analysis for The American Legion, where she managed portfolios on homelessness and benefits compensation, and as associate director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national legislative services, overseeing portfolios on disability assistance and memorial affairs, and military service members.

In her role as a policy analyst, Patterson worked closely with federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations to prevent homelessness and suicide among veterans through community outreach and congressional advocacy. She represented The Legion during visits to multiple VA regional offices, conducting interviews and reporting on service-connected disability claims processes. As an associate director with VFW, Patterson testified before Congress and consulted with senate and house members, ensuring the promotion of VFW’s legislative priorities for veterans.

In 2022, Patterson was appointed by the VA secretary to serve on the advisory committee for homeless veterans. Her academic credentials include a bachelor of science in human relations from Point University, and a master of business administration in marketing from Keller Graduate School of Management. She lives in Arlington, Va.

STEPHEN PECK

Stephen J. Peck, who served as a Marine officer in Vietnam, leads U.S.VETS, the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of housing and other essential services for at-risk and homeless veterans and their families. Peck, who has served at U.S.VETS for nearly three decades, advocates at state and national levels to bring attention to potential solutions for homeless veterans.

“Our job at U.S.VETS is to engage the enemy at home—the enemy of homelessness, disillusionment and disappointment—to let these men and women know there is a path forward,” says Peck. “U.S.VETS strives to empower each veteran to take responsibility for his or her success, guiding them toward independence in the community, developing their workforce skills and supporting recovery.”

Peck graduated from Northwestern University in 1968 and entered the Marine Corps that same year. In Vietnam, he was a first lieutenant in the 1st Marine Division, serving as a forward observer outside of Danang in 1969, and received the Navy Commendation Medal.

After his service, Peck became a documentary filmmaker. A series of films on homelessness and veterans’ issues compelled him to change careers. He went on to help the Veterans Administration place homeless veterans into housing, and in 1996 joined the organization that became U.S.VETS. Initially serving as the organization’s director of community development, Peck was also the inaugural director of U.S.VETS’ largest site in Long Beach before being appointed president and CEO in 2010.

Peck earned his master’s degree in social work from USC in 1997 and later became the president of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA), a consortium of seven nonprofit veteran service providers working in partnership to address the needs of California’s veterans.

He has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Service Award by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, named a member of the Mighty 25 Class of 2024 by We Are the Mighty, and will receive the Judge Harry Pregerson Public Service Award at U.S.VETS’ SALUTE Gala this November. He also has been honored by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Northwestern University, American Legion Auxiliary, City of Long Beach and Los Angeles Business Journal, in addition to receiving a doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa, by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Peck and his wife Kristine Kidd, a food writer, culinary consultant and the former food editor of Bon Appetit magazine, live with their Labrador retriever Atticus in the Los Angeles community of Topanga Canyon. He has a son Ethan, an actor, and a stepdaughter Marisa, a writer.

CARLOS CONTRERAS

Carlos Contreras is currently the Vice President – Commercial Marketing for California Resources Corporation (CRC), the largest oil and natural gas producer in California and a spinoff from Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy). Prior to joining CRC, Carlos has had a distinguished fourteen year career as an Oil and Gas executive with Occidental Petroleum. While at Oxy, Carlos assumed successive management positions of increasing responsibility encompassing business development, acquisitions and divestitures, marketing and operations.

In addition, Carlos has held positions of increasing responsibility with Arthur D. Little and Enron where he managed or worked on large scale projects, throughout the Americas, in oil, gas and power. He has also served in varying roles within the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army.

Carlos holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Economics and Systems Engineering from The United States Military Academy and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Carlos serves on the Board of Advisors to the USC MBA for Veterans Program.

BOB FOSTER

Robert (Bob) G. Foster served as Mayor of the City of Long Beach, the sixth largest city in California, from July 2006 to July 2014.  He is a proven executive with keen ability to visualize an enhanced future path to further an organization, motivate personnel and structure fiscal resources with purpose and enthusiasm. His 21 years with Southern California Edison, culminating in the office of President for four years, demonstrated his strong and thoughtful executive leadership skills.

Foster serves or has served on a number of governing bodies for civic, cultural and governmental organizations and non-profit agencies including the board of directors of the Alliance of Save Energy, the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy and the Long Beach Aquarium, and the Advisory Board for Long Beach Memorial Hospital.  He also served for over eight years as a trustee of the California State University system and is currently on the California State University-Foundation Board.

DAVID L. KIRMAN

Mr. Kirman is a trial lawyer who draws on his experience as a former federal prosecutor to represent clients in government investigations, prosecutions, and business disputes.

With extensive experience in healthcare, he represents clients in civil and criminal trials, white collar criminal defense, False Claims Act cases, business litigation, and internal investigations. In addition to understanding the complex regulatory and compliance issues unique to healthcare, Mr. Kirman focuses his practice on clients in the financial services and defense industries.

Before rejoining O’Melveny as a partner, he spent seven years as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, where he was a member of the Major Frauds Section and served as the Criminal Healthcare Fraud Coordinator. As a federal prosecutor, he served as lead or co-lead trial counsel in jury trials, argued appeals before the Ninth Circuit, and directed complex grand jury and wiretap investigations.

He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 1996 to 2001.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in January 2018.

PAUL LARKIN

Paul Larkin is vice president of supply chain at Home Depot, overseeing 55 distribution centers and 15,000 associates across 25 states that supply Home Depot products to all U.S.-based stores. Prior to joining the company, Larkin held roles of increasing responsibility in sales, business development and supply chain with AutoNation USA, Office Depot and Casella Waste Systems. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Clark University in Massachusetts. A veteran of the United States Army, Larkin served 10 years on numerous domestic and international assignments.

STERLING BEAIR

Sterling Beair is a Hawaiian native, born and raised in the islands. He joined the U.S. Army shortly after high school, having served for the next ten years as a combat medic. Staff Sergeant Beair served in the Iraq war on numerous combat missions.

Upon returning home he had difficulties assimilating back to civilian life and eventually found himself a homeless veteran in 2011. Sterling is an alumni of the U.S.VETS program, having attended the program in 2012. He was able to acquire permanent housing, rebuild his life and further his education. He has since earned an associate degree in liberal arts, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. He is also trained in traditional Hawaiian approaches to conflict resolution and family therapy. He has worked in the field of substance abuse treatment for years as a counselor, cultural director, and clinical supervisor.

His current work is in providing family therapy and grief counseling for native Hawaiian orphans, destitute children, and their families in rural Hawaii. He has served on the Veterans Advisory council since 2016 and is dedicated to his fellow veterans. Sterling Beair is a family man now, he loves his children and is an advocate for positive change.

VICE ADMIRAL JODY BRECKINRIDGE (RET.)

Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge retired after serving 34 years in the Coast Guard and now gives back to veterans, military members and their families, and the community. She is active in Mission Readiness – Leaders for Kids supporting evidence based public policy and smart investments in youth. Appointed by the Governor, she currently serves as Board Chair for the San Francisco Water Emergency Transportation Authority, a regional ferry transportation service and emergency response organization. Additional Boards include: San Francisco Fleet Week Association, Oakland Military Institute, Marines Memorial Association, Marines Memorial Foundation, the Association for Rescue at Sea, and First Command Financial Services. She is Vice Chair for the Governor’s Military Council and was recently appointed to the Board of Visitors for the National Defense University.

Vice Admiral Breckenridge’s last assignment in the Coast Guard was Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Forces West with responsibility for all operations across 73 million square miles of the Pacific, Arctic, and Antarctic Oceans. Her flag assignments included Director of Strategic Transformation guiding the largest business practice and organizational change in the modern history of the Service; Assistant Commandant for Human Resources; Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District (covering California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, along with the West Coast of Central and South America); and Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific (all logistic and support services.)

Vice Admiral Breckenridge holds a BS in biology from Virginia Tech, a Master in Public Policy from University of Maryland (graduated with honors), and a Master in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy of the National Defense University.

JAMES CADET

James Cadet is a market executive at Merrill Lynch in charge of the branches in Freehold, Manasquan and Toms River, New Jersey. He has two decades of experience leading businesses and directing sales initiatives at numerous levels within the wealth management industry.

Cadet is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Following five years as a military intelligence officer at Fort Hood, he began his brokerage career as a financial advisor and regional vice president at Morgan Stanley. Moving on to UBS Wealth Management, he held branch manager and complex director positions in Albany, New York, New Orleans, Louisiana and Fort Worth, as well as regional sales manager for the firm’s southeast region. Cadet was also a business development coach, introducing the top tier of UBS advisors in Tennessee to innovative practice management and client service models.

Cadet has four children and resides in Mahwah, New Jersey. In his spare time, he enjoys mentoring veterans who are planning a transition into corporate America, bingeing a great TV series and spending time with family and friends.

WILFRED N. COOPER, SR.

Wilfred N. Cooper, Sr., is the founder, chairman of the board, and a director of WNC & Associates, Inc. The company’s core business is sponsoring investments in affordable rental housing tax credits. In this capacity, WNC and its affiliates serve as a general partner with expertise in structuring investment funds. This includes raising investment capital from individuals and corporations, selecting qualified properties for each fund, negotiating acquisition terms and actively monitoring the financial performance and compliance of each property.

Mr. Cooper is a U.S. Navy veteran with two years of active duty during the Korean war era (1951-1953) serving as a Hospital Corpsman.

Mr. Cooper is a recognized leader in the affordable housing industry. He was a panel participant in tax reform hearings before a committee of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In 2001, he received the Limited Income Communities (LINC) Housing Honors award. Mr. Cooper was elected as Life Trustee in 2006 of the National Housing Conference (NHC) and is a co-founder and director emeritus of the California Housing Consortium (an affiliate of the NHC). In 2011, he was inducted into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame of the Affordable Housing Finance Magazine. In June 2012, he was inducted into the California Homebuilding Foundation’s (CHF) Hall of Fame. He is a senior life director of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a national trustee for NAHB’s Political Action Committee, a past chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Council, and in 2012, NAHB honored him with the Robert J. Corletta award for Affordable Housing. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Building Industry Association of Orange County (BIA/OC) and Southern California Building Industry Association (BIA/SC).

Mr. Cooper volunteers his time with several nonprofit organizations and serves on the Board of Advisors for Jamboree Housing (a non-profit developer of affordable housing) and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. In 2013, the California Housing Consortium gave Mr. Cooper the California Housing Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2016, The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC) honored him the David Reznick Lifetime Achievement Award. In June 2019, Mr. Cooper received the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Public Service Award from the NHC, in recognition of his outstanding commitment and leadership in the effort to provide decent, safe and affordable housing.

As a prior Board of Director for Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS), Mr. Cooper awarded U.S.VETS a VOANS grant to help support homeless and at-risk veterans. Over the past decade, Mr. Cooper has also participated in and sponsored several U.S.VETS Salute Gala’s.

Mr. Cooper graduated from Pomona College in 1956 with a B.A. degree and completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in May 2018.

JOSEPH A. CZYZYK

A longtime aviation industry executive, Mr. Czyzyk is chairman of Los Angeles-based Mercury Air Group Inc.

He was born in Poland, the son of Holocaust survivors, and grew up in Canada. At the age of 16, he moved to the U.S with his parents and soon became a citizen. A graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, he served two tours of duty with the U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalions (Seabees) in Vietnam. He is a board member of the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation.

Mr. Czyzyk serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce where he was Chairman in 2011, and also serves as treasurer of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). He is a member of the Board of Pepperdine University and the Chairman of its Board of Advisors for the Graduate School of Public Policy.

He is a past president of the City of Los Angeles Board of Taxicab Commissioners, having served on the commission since its inception in 1998 until his retirement in 2008. Mr. Czyzyk has the distinction of having served as a city commissioner under three mayors of Los Angeles.

In 2013, he was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown of California to serve on the Governor’s Military Council, which reviews and facilitates California’s commitment to its military infrastructure.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in March 2012 and elected Chairman in February 2016.

AMY GRAVITT

Amy Gravitt is executive vice president, HBO Programming, for Home Box Office, responsible for developing and overseeing the production of original comedy series. She was named to this position in May 2016.

She currently oversees “Barry,” “Insecure,” “The Righteous Gemstones,” “Avenue 5,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Betty,” “Los Espookys,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “How To With John Wilson” from Executive Producer Nathan Fielder. She also oversaw the hit series “I May Destroy You,” “VEEP,” “Silicon Valley,” “RUN,” “Mrs. Fletcher,” “Vice Principals,” “Eastbound and Down,” “Sally4Ever,” “Ballers,” “Entourage,” “Extras,” and “Flight of the Conchords”. Her upcoming projects include “The Baby” from Sian Robins-Grace and a new series starring Bridget Everett.

Gravitt joined HBO in 2004. Prior to HBO, she spent several years in the U.S. Navy, serving onboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) rising to the rank of Lieutenant. She deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1997, in support of Operation Southern Watch. She began her career in entertainment at Section Eight, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s production company. She graduated from Duke University with a BA in Political Science.

HERBERT A. LAMPERT

A partner in the accounting firm Lampert & Eskridge, Lampert has been a Certified Public Accountant for more than 30 years. He is also a principal in several Southern California and Washington-based businesses and serves on the boards of the Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind and the Vintage Hollywood Foundation. He was re-elected to the U.S.VETS board in August 2023.

JEROLD B. NEUMAN

Mr. Neuman is a partner at Liner, LLP in the Real Estate, Land Use and Government Relations department, and is one of California’s preeminent land-use, environmental and government law attorneys.

He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and graduated from Columbia University School of Law. He has acted as lead negotiator and project coordinator for many of Southern California’s real estate, green energy, infrastructure and governmental procurement projects.

Mr. Neuman has worked on the Mixed-Income Housing Technical Advisory Committee in Los Angeles and has served on the Fresno General Plan Implementation & Infill Development Task Force. He has been awarded the Crystal Eagle Award for outstanding leadership in public affairs, and a was named one of California’s Top 50 Development Lawyers by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He is also a founding director of Mission Valley Bank and is on the executive boards of many Los Angeles commercial and charitable organizations.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS Board of Directors in October, 2016.

MAJOR GENERAL PETER S. PAWLING (RET.)

Major General Peter S. Pawling was born in Palm Springs, CA and spent his teenage years living in Palm Springs and Kingsburg. In 1967, his family sailed to Hawaii, where he lives today. He attended the University of Hawaii where he earned a degree in psychology.

General Pawling was commissioned in 1972 through the Officer Preparatory Academy at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee. While assigned as the 154th Operations Group Commander, he served as Detachment Commander for the Wing’s first F-15 combat deployment to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in 1994, and Detachment Commander for the KC-135 squadron deployment to Istres, France, during the Kosovo campaign in 1999. He was Commander of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard from 2003 to 2009. General Pawling also served as past chair of the F-15 Weapon System Council and the Fighter Task Force chair for National Guard Association of the United States.

General Pawling assumed duties as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, United States Pacific Command in June 2009 to 2012. He was the principal advisor to the Commander regarding reserve component readiness and operations and facilitates Homeland Security activities between State, National Guard, active military and Federal agencies.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in 2015.

ANDREA PLATE

Andrea Plate is a California licensed clinical social worker who served over 14 years at the West Los Angeles branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she ran a residential program for veterans suffering from substance use disorders, chronic homelessness and mental illness. She is the author of the internationally published nonfiction book Madness: In the Trenches of America’s Troubled Department of Veterans Affairs (Marshall Cavendish International).

Plate is also a senior lecturer in the Sociology Department of Loyola Marymount University and was formerly senior editor of the LMU Asia Media International web magazine. She has been a keynote presenter for the National Association of Social Workers and has published two other nonfiction books, including one about her days as a child actress in the entertainment industry. She holds a bachelor of arts from UC Berkeley and two master’s degrees from UCLA and USC.

B. TAYLOR

Renowned musician B. Taylor has been deemed the “Stevie Wonder of Hip Hop” for his musicianship and ability to play four instruments—piano, drums, guitar and organ. Discovered by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles’ Pete Moore, he has been endorsed by The Miracles, The Supremes, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Gordy Family and the iconic Cash Family of country music for his unique talents as a hip-hop artist, producer and songwriter with consummate musicality.

As a No. 1 Billboard-charted musician, writer, producer and performer, the Peoria, Illinois native was a University of Missouri football and basketball student athlete and later became a decorated sailor in the U.S. Navy, as well as a standout player of the All Navy and Military Team USA basketball team. During the war, he was awarded special duty and a honorary discharge by the Secretary of the Navy in order to pursue the NFL and his entertainment career professionally. Taylor maintains an active presence as a global ambassador of music and entertainment for the U.S. military, veterans, first responders and their families, and has been supported by many top ranking officials from all four branches of the U.S. military, as well as Department of Defense officials.

He earned two Grammy nominations in 2012 for his single, “Fire In Your Eyes,” featuring NCIS star Pauley Perrette, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles sales chart. Taylor has also performed for three presidents and opened for Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Ray J and many other notable entertainers.

With increasing Facebook fans, Instagram and Twitter followers and more than 1 million views on YouTube, he has also garnered national presence on ESPN, Extra, The Insider/Entertainment Tonight, Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC, as well as features in Billboard Magazine, BRE (Black Radio Exclusive) Magazine, Yo! Raps Magazine, Respect the Grind, The A&R Chronicles, El Diario and allhiphop.com.

This rising young mogul has received over 60 endorsement letters and testimonials from top government officials, military officials, Fortune 500 executives, educators, legendary entertainers, and continues to redefine the music industry with his impeccable brand. Taylor has changed the culture and is the first artist to bridge the gap between hip hop urban/pop culture, Classic Motown, the U.S. military and motorsports. His “1 Life” movement is a positive, powerful force, as he is helping, changing and saving lives all through the universal power of music.

MARJORIE WILLIAMS

Marjorie Williams is senior vice president, business and legal affairs at Skydance Sports, the joint studio venture between Skydance Media and the NFL that produced “Air”, “Kelce” and “Bye Bye Barry,” where she heads the business and legal affairs team and also focuses on operations. Prior to joining Skydance Sports, Williams was recruited to help launch a boutique entertainment law firm where she represented A-list actors, showrunners, writers, directors, producers, production companies and rights holders in film, television and new media. Williams was previously a senior business affairs executive at Amazon Studios and United Talent Agency and was a member of the business and legal affairs teams at Endemol Shine North America and Viacom (Comedy Central and BET Networks).

Williams also serves on the board of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP) and the John M. Langston Bar Association. She is a frequent panelist and has received numerous awards and honors including being recognized by the National Bar Association as a Top 40 Lawyer Under 40 and a Woman of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Williams is a Los Angeles native who holds a B.A. from Howard University, M.A. from the University of Oklahoma, J.D. from Loyola Law School, and an executive M.B.A. from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

She retired as a Major in the U.S. Air Force Reserves with 22+ years of combined active duty and reserve service, where she worked out of embassies abroad and supported Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

CAPT. ROBERT A. DEWS JR. (USN RET.)

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Robert A. Dews Jr. is a business and organization leadership consultant and commercial real estate advisor.

A 31-year Naval officer and Operation Desert Storm veteran, Dews retired in 2019. Before retiring, he served as director of safety at the U.S. Naval Academy. He managed a multifaceted safety and prevention program that ensured the safety and welfare of 6,500 personnel and 300 facilities.

After retirement, he was a senior medical sales consultant for a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. He was responsible for the sales, marketing and management of accounts for VA medical centers serving the Baltimore, Oklahoma City and Houston areas.

With a strong background in project management and community outreach, Dews served as director of operations for Navy Recruiting in 2014-15, and led strategic development and operational management of the Navy’s recruiting efforts throughout the U.S.—including recruiting more than 62,000 personnel. Dews previously served as director of the Navy’s Personal and Family Readiness Division and was a lead analyst for the Office of the Secretary of the Navy during a base realignment and closure review, where he identified facility relocations and closures that resulted in $255 million in projected savings.

Active in the community, Dews was appointed to the Annapolis Board of Appeals and the Maryland Park Advisory Commission in 2019. Dews currently serves on the boards of the Anne Arundel County Boys and Girls Club, Community Action Agency of Anne Arundel County, and Annapolis Kappa Scholarship Foundation, and was 2022-23 president of the Rotary Club of Annapolis.

Dews holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering technology from Southern University A&M, an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, and is a doctoral candidate in the Learning and Organizational Change program at Baylor University.

Hans P. Getty

Hans P. Getty is a senior vice president and the Los Angeles regional manager for Middle Market Banking at U.S. Bank, based in downtown L.A. Before moving into his current role, he was a senior relationship manager and portfolio manager at U.S. Bank.

Prior to joining U.S Bank, Getty served in the Army (infantryman), where he achieved the rank of staff sergeant. During his eight years of active-duty service, Getty was deployed to Macedonia with the United Nations in 1996; Kosovo with NATO in 1999; and Iraq as part of U.S. combat forces in 2003.

An active and dedicated member of the community, Getty’s leadership extends to several civic organizations. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall; Easter Seals of Southern California; and U.S.VETS. He is a committee member for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater L.A., and is a member of the Jonathan Club. Getty has completed annual, 100-mile charity rides for multiple sclerosis, and recently completed his first triathlon.

Getty earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Denver.

He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. His passions are golf, cycling, and spending time with his family.