Executive Administration
Kathy Roth-Douquet
CEO and Board President
CEO and Board President
Marine Corps (ret.) Spouse
Kathy Roth-Douquet
CEO and Board President, Marine Corps (ret.) Spouse
Kathy Roth-Douquet is a non-profit executive, author, commentator, strategist, and attorney.
As Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Star Families, she is a national spokesperson for military-connected families. Kathy is a commentator on patriotism, civil-military affairs, the value of service, and the experience of military families. She has appeared on the Today Show, Fox and Friends, NPR, CNN, and other media outlets. Her work has appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country. She is a frequent speaker at universities, policy forums, military audiences, and civic groups. She is the co-author of two books, including AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America’s Upper Classes from Military Service and How It Hurts Our Country, (HarperCollins, 2006), with Frank Schaeffer.
Kathy has served in the White House and in the Department of Defense. In the latter role, as Principal Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acting), she received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service for her work on defense reform. She is also a recipient of President George H. W. Bush’s Daily Point of Light Award, and received the Chief of Staff of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award. She has served on a number of boards including Princeton University’s Board of Trustees, and was named the first nominee into the Ford Hall of Heroes at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
She currently holds appointments to three government boards or commissions - the Reserve Forces Policy Board at the Department of Defense reporting to the Secretary of Defense, the Commission to select the Under Secretary of Benefits for the Department of Veterans Affairs, reporting to the Secretary of the VA, and an advisory board to the Export-Import Bank of America, reporting to the Chair.
Kathy is also a military spouse of 24 years, four deployments, and 9 moves. She lives with her husband and two children in Northern Virginia.
Noeleen Tillman
Chief Operating Officer and Board Secretary
Chief Operating Officer and Board Secretary
Air Force (ret.) Spouse
Noeleen Tillman
Chief Operating Officer and Board Secretary, Air Force (ret.) Spouse
Noeleen Tillman is COO of Blue Star Families (BSF), a not-for-profit organization that supports and serves military families. Ms. Tillman leads and oversees BSF’s operations as the nation’s largest military family support organization.
Prior to joining BSF in 2010, Ms. Tillman was Executive Vice President of the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), a non-profit devoted to promoting sustainable approaches for government and businesses. While at GETF, Ms. Tillman managed a portfolio in excess of $30M and founded the International Institute for Sustainable Seaports (I2S2), a non-profit that provides technical support to the global maritime industry. Additionally, Ms. Tillman was a principal at TEC, Inc. responsible for leading the company's seaport environmental sustainability/engineering practice. Early in her career, Ms. Tillman served as Chief of Environmental Compliance for the 21st Space Wing; US Space Command where she managed civilian and military personnel responsible for environmental engineering activities at 32 geographically separated units located around the world.
Brian Whiting
Chief Transformation Officer
Chief Transformation Officer
Brian Whiting
Chief Transformation Officer
Brian Whiting joins Blue Star Families as the Chief Transformation Officer. He was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Mediflix Veterans Channel, an online platform designed to be the single source for trusted information to address an expanding array of Veterans health and wellness issues.
Brian served by the side of our military and their families for 16 years, as Chief Executive Officer of the USO of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (USO). Prior to USO, he has held leadership positions in the U.S. and abroad with PricewaterhouseCoopers and a national trade association.
Brian is a passionate supporter of our military and their families, and he continues his service by volunteering with several military support organizations including serving on the board of Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza. Brian was recognized with the US Coast Guard Public Service Commendation and is a recipient of the U.S. Army Freedom Salute Commendation. Brian has been a highly visible spokesperson for important military and Veterans issues, appearing in forums ranging from NBC’s Today, CBS’s This Morning, and Fox & Friends.
Jennifer Akin, MPA
Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
Army spouse
Jennifer Akin, MPA
Chief of Staff, Army spouse
Jennifer Akin is Blue Star Families’ first Chief of Staff, serving as a trusted advisor and brainstorming partner to the CEO and executive team as they lead Blue Star Families through a critical high-growth period. In her former role as Senior Director of Policy and Social Impact Research, Jenny was responsible for overseeing Blue Star Families’ policy, social impact, member research, and program evaluation efforts. She is a national thought leader on military life issues and led groundbreaking, first of their kind research studies to understand the unique experiences of military and Veteran families of color, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on military and Veteran families, perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine, and barriers to seeking financial assistance, among other things.
Prior to joining Blue Star Families in 2018, Jenny acquired nearly a decade of experience in the private sector and academia, supporting national security-related programs at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, serving as a military policy fellow for the University of North Carolina system, and working in business development for a small defense contractor.
Britany Thomas
Executive Administrative Assistant
Executive Administrative Assistant
Britany Thomas
Executive Administrative Assistant
Britany Thomas is a senior level Executive Administrative Assistant, with a strong foundation in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims before the Board of Appeals. Britany has been working in the field of Veteran's law and advocacy for nearly a decade. She spent over five years assisting veteran's and/or their dependents in applying for available federal benefits from the United States Department of Veterans by initiating and reopening claims.
In addition to her advocacy for Veterans and their families, Britany attained an immense amount of administration and editorial experience gained through interning, volunteering, and working for education and community enrichment organizations such as, Associates in Renewal for Education and The Children's Defense Fund. She wrote an article highlighting her role and some progressive changes that was featured in the February 2019 issue of Purple Heart Magazine.
Britany, is a mother of one and caregiver to her father, who is a proud Marine and Vietnam Veteran. She is located in Washington, D.C.
Operations & Human Resources
Megan Carthen-Jackson
Vice President of Operations
Vice President of Operations
Megan Carthen-Jackson
Vice President of Operations
Dr. Megan D. Carthen Jackson is an accomplished executive administrator and professor advocating lifelong learning with years honing a diverse array of experience in the public, private, education, and non-profit sector. With a doctorate and master’s degree in public administration and policy, Dr. Carthen Jackson finds passion in the processes implemented to promote the betterment of society for all. As a Pracademic (Practitioner and Academic), Dr. Carthen Jackson believes herself to be a facilitator and conduit for the promotion of best practices in organizational strategy and operations, leadership, investing in human capital, and educating the next group of diverse leaders for generations to come.
Her accomplishments include but are not limited to recognition for her extraordinary leadership skills, initiative, and commitment. Dr. Carthen Jackson believes in the importance of serving one’s community. She is the current President of the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated© Omega Omicron Omega Chapter North County San Diego, and serves as a board member for the Scholarly Pearls Foundation and the Women's Resource Center. Dr. Carthen Jackson is an active duty Navy spouse and enjoys spending time with her family and "furbabies" in Southern California Wine Country.
Ashley Molina
Human Resources Business Partner
Human Resources Business Partner
Marine Corps Spouse
Ashley Molina
Human Resources Business Partner, Marine Corps Spouse
Ashley joined Blue Star Families in May 2016. Ashley has spent the majority of her career assisting military families with children with special needs as an Exceptional Family Member Case Worker for the Marine Corps. Ashley has over 10 years experience volunteering with different military initiatives on base to include Marine Corps Family Team Building and various Marine Corps units as a Family Readiness Advisor.
Ashley graduated from National University with a Masters in Human Behavior. Ashley has been with her Marine Corps spouse for over 11 years. They reside with their two sons and two dogs in Pullman, WA.
Brittany Salter
Operations & Purchasing Specialist
Operations & Purchasing Specialist
Marine Corps
Brittany Salter
Operations & Purchasing Specialist, Marine Corps
Brittany Salter is an active-duty Marine Corps wife of 15 years, supporting her husband through 8 combat deployments and countless training maneuvers. She holds an associate's degree in Medical Business Administration from Coastal Alabama.
Her family is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. In her spare time, you can find Brittany in the outdoors. She loves riding dirt bikes, camping, long road trips, and spending time with her family.
Maria Tedford
Director of Human Resources
Director of Human Resources
Maria Tedford
Director of Human Resources
Maria Tedford joined Blue Star Families as the Director of Human Resources. Maria is a human resources professional with diverse experience, and works to support organizational leadership with the unique perspective that that human capital is every organization’s greatest asset. Prior to joining Blue Star Families, Maria was the Director of Human Resources at a 950 employee healthcare system in New York State.
Maria holds a Master of Arts in Economics, and a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University. She also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute, and is a licensed attorney in the state of New York. Maria is a military spouse, whose husband served on active duty and now serves in the Marine Corps Reserve. She resides in the Adirondack Region of upstate New York with her husband and two children.
Amanda Yeram
Senior Director of Operations
Senior Director of Operations
Marine Corps Spouse
Amanda Yeram
Senior Director of Operations, Marine Corps Spouse
Amanda Yeram is the wife of SSgt Yeram and the mother to two amazing children, Logan and Emma. Amanda began her military life as a child, growing up with a father who served in the Marine Corps. You could say she followed in her father’s footprints when she joined the Marine Corps, and served 4 years at Camp Lejeune, NC. Once out of the Marines, Amanda served as a civilian contractor for the Department of the Navy, and went on to receive a dual Bachelors degree in Human Resources and Healthcare Management. Amanda has spent much of her time volunteering for the Disabled American Veterans, TAPS (Tragedy Assistant Program for Survival Spouses), Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and many other great organizations.
Amanda and her family are currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. Amanda currently works for Blue Star Families as the Director of Operations, but has also served as a Fellow, and Chapter Director, working closely with Hunt Housing aboard Camp Pendleton. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys running, cooking, and bonding with her family.
Finance & Technology
Michael Kang
Vice President of Finance & Technology
Vice President of Finance & Technology
Michael Kang
Vice President of Finance & Technology
Michael Kang is the Vice President of Finance & Technology at Blue Star Families. Prior to BSF, Michael worked in the corporate sector for almost two decades in various roles such as technology implementations, project management, finance, process improvement, strategy, and analytics. Some of the companies he has worked for include IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Reuters, and Live Nation.
Michael received his bachelor’s degree in Economics with a Minor in Computer Science from UC Irvine and an MBA in Finance from the University of Southern California (USC). Michael lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.
John Barr
Senior Director of Accounting & Finance
Senior Director of Accounting & Finance
John Barr
Senior Director of Accounting & Finance
Assisting organizations’ expansion in their Accounting & Operational functions John utilizes his past experiences in professional services to implement processes improvements, controls and financial data sharing systems.
John currently provides consulting services to Non-Profits and Government Contractors with areas of proficiency in Accounting System design-procedures & workflows, Applications integration (Accounting ERP, Payroll-T&A, purchasing, banking, etc.), Operations and HR tie-ins, financial analysis-reporting, budgeting & proposals, grants and Government contracting, Net Assets, compliance and Tax & Audit management.
John has collaborated with all levels of organizational staff in strengthening Finance & Accounting operations during his career, from the C-Suite and Board to the Summer Intern.
Carly Ippolito
Director of Technology
Director of Technology
Carly Ippolito
Director of Technology
Carly attended college at SUNY Cortland where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in psychology. Following college, she pursued her passion for working in the non-profit sector and started her career as a volunteer coordinator at an organization that served local community members in crisis across eight service programs. She then worked at a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity supporting the organization’s fundraising and marketing efforts before joining Blue Star Families.
Her previous work experience includes managing a volunteer program, coordinating special events, donor engagement, fundraising, email marketing, and donor database development and management.
Carly joined Blue Star Families as the Data & Technology Specialist providing technology support, maintenance and training across the organization.
Faith Janes
Digital Transformation Senior Project Manager
Digital Transformation Senior Project Manager
Faith Janes
Digital Transformation Senior Project Manager
Faith Janes is the Digital Transformation Senior Project Manager at Blue Star Families. She is responsible for creating transformative digital experiences for our members and partners through our websites and online member platform. Faith has been building the websites of businesses and non-profits for over 20 years. She loves combining creativity with efficiency to deliver an organization’s mission to the world. Having many family members in the military inspired Faith to pursue a career with Blue Star Families.
Faith holds a Bachelor of Science from Point University in Counseling & Human Relations. Her family enjoys spending time together pretty much anywhere, but their true happy place is relaxing at the beach. They currently reside in Georgia.
Mary Anne McInerney
Salesforce Administrator
Salesforce Administrator
Mary Anne McInerney
Salesforce Administrator
Mary Anne joined Blue Star Families as a Salesforce Administrator, where she focuses on increasing the capacity and functionality of Salesforce and other technologies to help the organization. Prior to joining Blue Star Families, she spent over two decades in the Travel and Tourism industry as an IT professional. During this phase of her career, Mary Anne led business analyses, IT integrations, and project designs across multifunctional teams. She is passionate about helping improve organizational capacity and individual skills through Salesforce and IT tools.
Mary Anne holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration and is a Salesforce Certified Admin. In her spare time, Mary Anne volunteers as affiliate president for her local NAMI chapter, which advocates and educates family members who have loved ones with mental health challenges. She also enjoys spending time with her family, knitting, spinning, and reading.
Valerie Nicholas
Senior Manager, Marketing Technology
Senior Manager, Marketing Technology
Air Force Spouse
Valerie Nicholas
Senior Manager, Marketing Technology, Air Force Spouse
Air Force spouse, Valerie Nicholas, received a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s of Education. Her previous work experience includes teaching reading, writing, and social studies in elementary school, tutoring at-risk students, and event planning for a museum. Valerie has volunteered with her base’s Officer’s Spouses’ Club, previously serving on its board.
Shortly after her last PCS, Valerie began working with Blue Star Families. Initially beginning as a Membership Fellow as the Membership Engagement Manager, she then transitioned into the Technology and Engagement Management team as the Technology Fellow. She has been with Blue Star Families since July 2014.
As an avid supporter and daily user of Salesforce, Valerie’s favorite program Blue Star Families has to offer is SpouseForce, as she feels it is a powerful tool for military spouses.
Melinda Zilch
Controller
Controller
Melinda Zilch
Controller
Melinda is the Controller at Blue Star Families. Prior to BSF, Melinda worked in the corporate sector for 25 years in various accounting roles.
Melinda received her Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives in Hollsopple, PA with her husband and two sons.
Social Impact
Lindsay Knight
Executive Vice President, Social Impact
Executive Vice President of Social Impact
Lindsay Knight, PhD
Executive Vice President of Social Impact
Lindsay is an applied social impact geek and leader with over ten years of on-the-ground expertise in strategic planning and implementation; youth and community engagement; applied research; pilot program design, scaling, and evaluation—and spends most days figuring out how to design and embed equity practices within organizational structures. Her niche area of expertise is creating ways for public, non-profit, philanthropic, and private sector stakeholders to discover and achieve collective ends. She comes to Blue Star Families most recently from the private sector where she was responsible for designing and leading a Global Equity Strategy at a multinational firm.
She has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago, with an area focus on civic responsibility and duty, institutional change, and research methodologies. Lindsay is a mentor in the Institute of Politics’ Women in Public Service program, and serves on advisory boards for SXSWedu, People for Bikes, and Future Founders. Her work has been recognized with awards and fellowships from the Mellon Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, and the United Nations Association - Chicago for achievements in “Innovation, Industry, and Infrastructure” in social development. Though a midwesterner at heart, Lindsay lives in Santa Cruz Mountains near Woodside, CA. with her husband, David—where they ride and race bicycles... a lot.
Laura Abubekr
Lockheed Martin NCR DEPLOY Fellow
Lockheed Martin NCR DEPLOY Fellow
Laura Abubekr
Lockheed Martin NCR DEPLOY Fellow
Laura has been a military spouse for 12 years. Her husband is active-duty Army, currently living in Washington D.C. Her family of six includes a college student and a fur baby. As a result of experiencing five PCS (permanent change of station) moves, four of her husband's deployments including activations for Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Dorian, and many training exercises, Laura has learned the deep meaning of resiliency and shares a sacred space in her heart for military families and spouses.
With an understanding of some of the challenges military families experience, Laura has volunteered as a Family Readiness Group Leader where she was honored with a Presidential Volunteer Award. In continuing her support for families and the community, she completed a Bachelor's in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Health with a specialization in Health Policy and Management.
Angela Alford
Salesforce Technology DEPLOY Fellow
Salesforce Technology DEPLOY Fellow
Angela Alford
Salesforce Technology DEPLOY Fellow
Angela attended college at Fontbonne University where she completed a Master's Degree in Supply Chain. She is a Salesforce Professional with a passion for building efficient and accessible systems to solve organizational problems. With over 10 years of experience in training and project management, Angela has unique expertise in researching and analytical skills to make informed business decisions and support others in process implementation.
Outside of her passion for Salesforce, Angela enjoys spending time with her husband Army (Retired) Captain Anthony Alford, sailing, camping, and giving back to her community.
Marla Bautista
Lockheed Martin Food Insecurity/Welcome Programs DEPLOY Fellow
Lockheed Martin Food Insecurity/Welcome Programs DEPLOY Fellow
Marla Bautista
Lockheed Martin Food Insecurity/Welcome Programs DEPLOY Fellow
Marla Bautista is an Army wife and the mother of three creative children. Her spouse, SFC Ulisses Bautista, is currently stationed at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. She is the author of "My Thoughts Abandoned" and co-author of "Brave Women, Strong Faith." Marla completed her first TEDx speech in December 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Maryland University College.
Marla also works on the Military Spouse Advisory Council for Caliber Home Loans; she educates, collaborates, and leads initiatives to prevent and eliminate Veteran homelessness. Her passion is helping people in need. She does so as the Co-founder and CEO of the Bautista Project Inc, a nonprofit organization providing for homeless community members in Tampa, FL.
Brooke Blaalid
Associate Director of Policy
Associate Director of Policy
Brooke Blaalid
Associate Director of Policy
Brooke Blaalid has over 17 years of experience in the field of youth, community, and organizational development, along with establishing collaborative relationships. She is highly conscientious, with an excellent community service record and over 10 years of research and program evaluation experience. Brooke spent six years working with children and families in the clinical space — specifically home-based and residential mental health facilities, and she has served as a graduate social work professor.
Utilizing her experience as a city commissioner, knowledge of politics and policy, and a strong commitment to having more women and individuals of color represented in local, state, and national politics, Brooke founded Ready to Run South Dakota in September 2017. Ready to Run South Dakota is a nonpartisan leadership and training program that encourages women to run for public office and/or become more involved in public life through various opportunities. Brooke resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with her son, Kellen.
Mickia Freeman
USAA Tampa DEPLOY Fellow
USAA Tampa DEPLOY Fellow
Mickia Freeman
USAA Tampa DEPLOY Fellow
Mickia has a degree in behavioral health sciences and experience working in both corporate and nonprofit sectors delivering family-centered services for the past twenty years. As the spouse of a retired Marine, Mickia understands the need for military family resources and support. During her husband’s active-duty service, she was honored to assist her military family as a Key Wife, LINKS Trainer, and Red Cross Station Chairman.
Mickia's husband is currently self-employed as a firearms instructor. Together, they have a grown daughter and son. In her free time, she loves to travel. Mickia also volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem, where she aids in protecting the best interests of children involved in the court system.
Esmeralda Gloria
P55 Policy & Outreach Fellow
P55 Policy & Outreach Fellow
Esmeralda Gloria
P55 Policy & Outreach Fellow
Esmeralda is a Policy & Outreach Fellow, having joined in 2022 through the Project 55 Fellowship Program. She graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and plans to pursue a career in law in the future. She has long since cultivated an interest in promoting equity, racial justice, and prison reform.
Esmeralda hails from Riverdale, California where she was raised alongside her two sisters but is currently located in the DC area. With two cousins that have served in the military, Esmeralda is passionate about supporting military members and veterans on the path of transition back into civilian life. She is excited to work with Blue Star Families and to learn more about how we can help military members and their families.
Kimberly Gold
Wells Fargo Housing Insecurity DEPLOY Fellow
Wells Fargo Housing Insecurity DEPLOY Fellow
Kimberly Gold
Wells Fargo Housing Insecurity DEPLOY Fellow
Born to a native Korean woman who would become the first Korean female Chief Warrant Officer Five in the United States Army, Kimberly prides herself on learning directly from her mother, her shero, who taught her firsthand how to turn obstacles into opportunities. Kimberly is fresh off the flying boat arriving in Colorado Springs from Korea in the Summer of 2021. She goes way outside the boxes people try to put her in by sharing her unique experiences growing up Black and Korean. Add in being married to a foreign-born spouse who currently serves in the United States Army and being the proud parent to a queer teenager, her world is all mixed in.
Kimberly is a survivor of childhood trauma, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She shares that story as a motivational speaker and coach. Kimberly is an avid traveler, visiting 30 countries, and performs stand-up comedy whenever the opportunity presents itself. Though she holds a Master of Arts in Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership, she lives by the Socratic wisdom, “the more I know, the more I realize I know nothing.” Learning and self-improvement should never stop, and Kimberly believes in applying the kaizen method to all parts of her life.
Kimberly strongly believes that community changes everything and as a transient global citizen, she believes that it is our purpose to make communities and the people who live in them better even if we will only be a part of that community for a season. This attitude has allowed Kimberly to thrive in countries from Korea to Kuwait and drives her to be a better version of herself to serve her now home of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Kimberly is involved in the following community organizations: PolkaDot Powerhouse, Mountain Post Spouses Club, Leadership Pikes Peak, Elevating Leadership Development, United Way Pikes Peak, and Golden Lotus Foundation. In the words of Kimberly, "Make good choices!"
Karly Howell
Senior Research Manager
Associate Director, Research
Karly Howell
Associate Director, Research
Karly Howell is the Associate Director of Research at Blue Star Families with responsibility for the annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey and other focused research projects. Prior to joining BSF she served in leadership roles at several non-profit organizations, guiding programs designed to help both individuals and families thrive. The spouse of a recently retired Veteran, Karly was involved in efforts supporting military families throughout her husband's 24 years of Navy service. This background gives her unique insight into the experiences of those on both sides of the military-civilian divide.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Karly resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two sons.
Ana Jackson
Evaluation Manager
Evaluation Manager
Ana Jackson
Evaluation Manager
Ana Jackson joins Blue Star Families as the Evaluation Manager of Applied Research.
As the daughter of a combat Veteran, Ana has dedicated her career to serving military-connected communities and utilizing her insider-outsider perspective of military culture and experiences to address the challenges military personnel and their families face. She has supported this community through direct service, academic, and government roles, and she looks forward to contributing to the efforts of Blue Star Families' Applied Research team.
Ana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in military families from the University of Southern California. She resides in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and their fierce seven-pound dog, Buffy.
Jerilyn Lim-Leonard
McCormick Foundation Chicagoland DEPLOY Fellow
McCormick Foundation Chicagoland DEPLOY Fellow
Jerilyn Lim-Leonard
McCormick Foundation Chicagoland DEPLOY Fellow
With a passion to help create resources and contribute to creating safe spaces for families of color within the military community, Jerilyn joins Blue Star Families' Campaign for Inclusion Fellowship program as the Robert R. McCormick Chicagoland DEPLOY Fellow. Serving on Advisory Councils and alongside District Equity Teams who work toward actively cultivating inclusive spaces through improvement goals around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Jerilyn has seen the positive impact these programs can have on a community and hopes to mimic those results for our military families.
As a military spouse of 17 years, Jerilyn has experienced first-hand the difficulties military families face. As an advocate of transformative change, she hopes to connect and empower our military members with the tools they need to thrive. She attended National University San Diego and currently resides in the greater Chicagoland area with her husband HM1 Kenneth Leonard Jr., their four children, and three-year-old porkie, Rhaja. Jerilyn enjoys traveling, loves street fairs, serves as a head football coach for her local Jr. Football League, and remains an active volunteer in her local community as well as with military organizations.
Leah Love
Associate Director of Community Impact
Associate Director of Community Impact
Navy Spouse
Leah Love
Associate Director of Community Impact, Navy Spouse
Leah originally joined Blue Star Families as a volunteer in 2014. A year later, she joined the Blue Star Families staff as the Volunteer Training Fellow and now serves as the Associate Director of Community Impact. Leah’s career, as with many military spouses, has been varied. She has worked in administrative positions in the legal, staffing and real estate industries, was a high school history teacher, and now is a volunteer recruiter, trainer and manager.
Throughout all of her positions, Leah has always most enjoyed her time directly working with people to help them learn and grow in their own lives, a direct extension of her formal education as a teacher. Leah has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan, focusing on Secondary History and Political Science Education. She is a proud Navy spouse and mother of two young sons. Leah and her family currently reside in California.
Carlandra “CT” Moss
Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion Initiative
Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion Initiative
Army
Carlandra “CT” Moss
Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion Initiative, Army
Carlandra “CT” Moss is an (Army Retired) First Sergeant with 24 years of experience in leadership, training, and community relations. She is a certified life coach, motivational speaker, and fitness influencer. CT Moss is the Director of Racial Equity & Inclusion (REI) Initiative for Blue Star Families, a not-for-profit organization that supports and serves military families. As the REI Director, she leads the multi-dimensional, cross-sector, collective-action effort to improve the service experiences of military families of color.
CT Moss received her Bachelor Professional Studies in Business & Administration and her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Social Media Management from Excelsior College. She is a native of Florida and enjoys volunteering in the community. She has a son currently serving in the Army and a daughter serving in the Air Force.
Anicia Myers
REI Coordinator
REI Coordinator
Navy
Anicia Myers
REI Coordinator, Navy
Anicia Myers joins Blue Star Families as the REI Coordinator. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Anicia is South African and a former teacher. She has taught in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
She is passionate about helping people and has a passion for ethnic and racial diversity and hopes to make a positive impact in the military community. She enjoys traveling, baking, reading and spending time with family. Anicia and her husband GM2 Myers are currently stationed in the Great Lakes Region, Illinois.
Lydiah Owiti
JPMC Financial Wellness DEPLOY Fellow
JPMC Financial Wellness DEPLOY Fellow
Lydiah Owiti
JPMC Financial Wellness DEPLOY Fellow
Lydiah is an attorney, international development practitioner, and project manager. She has been a military spouse for 11 years, raising a family while her husband served in different states, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. She has also continued pursuing her education and career interests in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors.
A Kenyan native, Lydiah pursued a law degree to help her protect the rights of children and advocate for the rights of women and minority populations. Because of the strides she made and her contributions to human rights advocacy, she was awarded a full scholarship to study international development management in London where she plans to expand her passion for serving humanity. The constant relocation with her husband's military career prompted her to pursue project management at Saint Mary’s University, which would enable her to continue working remotely.
An avid humanitarian at heart, she embodies her favorite quote by Martin Luther King Jr. - Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?
Vicky Perkins
Director of Impact Programs
Director of Impact Programs
Navy Spouse
Vicky Perkins
Director of Impact Programs, Navy Spouse
Vicky began volunteering with Blue Star Families in 2014 when her husband, Lieutenant Commander, J. Christopher “Chris” Perkins was stationed in Quantico, Virginia. The following year, she moved to Florida and became the Jacksonville Regional Director supporting military families in the surrounding community. One move and one promotion later, Vicky continues her work with BSF in Norfolk, Virginia. Currently, she serves an integral part of the team implementing a three-year NEH funded grant Serving, Thriving, And Reading Together (START). In addition, Vicky continues her outreach in the community providing support and solutions to the challenges facing military families.
Vicky holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree for Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She taught third grade for two years at William Tyler Page Elementary School in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 2003, Vicky married Chris following his graduation from Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, beginning their journey as a Naval Aviator family. Vicky and Chris have 3 children.
Vicky’s favorite Blue Star Families Program is Blue Star Books. The opportunity to visit military-impacted schools and encourage literacy among students, whether it be talking with them, reading together, completing a craft, or giving them new books to start a home library, is so rewarding! Attending events and creating smiling faces on military children when they pick a book for free fuel Vicky’s passion for the program!
Hope Petersen
Community Manager
Community Manager
Hope Petersen
Community Manager
Hope joins Blue Star Families as the Community Manager of Social Impact.
She graduated from the United States Military Academy and became a commissioned officer in 2020. Hope holds a Master of Social Work with a clinical specialization and a Graduate Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, with her husband, an active-duty explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officer. Hope is eager to bring her experience and knowledge to her role as Community Manager for Upstream Solutions to Crisis Support Circles!
Ashley Scott
Policy & Innovation Coordinator
Policy & Innovation Coordinator
Ashley Scott
Policy & Innovation Coordinator
Ashley joined Blue Star Families as Policy & Innovation Coordinator. She will focus her efforts supporting the Racial, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative. Ashley graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public and International Affairs and a certificate in French. Ashley is passionate about voting rights, politics, and criminal justice. Her senior thesis evaluated the effect of disenfranchisement on recidivism among felons in the United States.
Ashley grew up in Norfolk, Virginia with her two younger siblings. With a grandfather in the Air Force and many friends whose parents were in the armed forces, Ashley developed an awareness of the challenges faced by military families and how civilians can support this unique population. She is eager to work on behalf of military families and continue to strengthen ties between them and civilians.
Jessica Strong
Senior Director of Applied Research
Senior Director of Applied Research
Army spouse
Jessica Strong
Senior Director of Applied Research, Army spouse
Jessica Strong joined Blue Star Families as a Volunteer Chapter Director in 2017, then as a Consultant shortly thereafter, and joined the BSF Staff as an Applied Research Analyst in 2019. Her work with Applied Research focuses on the annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey, as well as developing, executing, and analyzing other research projects that support Blue Star Families mission and enhance the national conversation about military families.
She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Fayetteville State University and a PhD in Social Work from Rutgers University, which she uses to advance the research available on understanding military family issues and how helping professionals can support military families.
She has previously researched military families as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, publishing her research in the professional literature and focusing on teaching military-affiliated students at the extension site aboard Camp LeJeune. Jessica is an active duty Army spouse with three children, currently stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY.
Laura Torres
Associate Director of Workforce Engagement & Diverse Talent Sourcing
Associate Director of Workforce Engagement & Diverse Talent Sourcing
Marine Corps Spouse
Laura Torres
Associate Director of Workforce Engagement & Diverse Talent Sourcing, Marine Corps Spouse
Laura Torres joined Blue Star Families in the fall of 2016 and serves as the Associate Director of Workforce Engagement & Diverse Talent Sourcing. She supports our national military spouse career initiatives and program growth. Additionally, Laura facilitates training and development for new career management consultants and career interns/volunteers while ensuring Blue Star Careers reaches its full potential in all areas Blue Star Families has a presence.
Laura has a strong background in recruiting, business development, workforce training and development, program outreach, and networking. She obtained her BA in liberal studies with a concentration in early childhood education and an MBA with a concentration in human resource management. She also holds various training certifications in DEI, recruitment, and digital marketing.
Laura deeply resonates with the journeys of those within the community she supports: military spouses. After relocating to California in 2009 and being unable to find satisfying work, she had to retrain in a new career to advance and secure meaningful employment while her family transitioned from the Marine Corps following 21 years of service. Armed with that experience, her community involvement and passion for empowering fellow military spouses through her day-to-day work can make a positive impact.
She currently lives on the West Coast and supports her disabled Veteran as a caregiver. Together, they have four beautiful grown children. Outside of her work with Blue Star Families and caring for her spouse, Laura volunteers for other SVOs and serves local civilian organizations.
Andrea Unzueta
USAA San Diego DEPLOY Fellow
USAA San Diego DEPLOY Fellow
Andrea Unzueta
USAA San Diego DEPLOY Fellow
Andrea R. Unzueta joins Blue Star Families as the USAA San Diego Chapter Delpoy Fellow. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, with a concentration in Relational and Organizational Communication from California State University San Bernardino.
Andrea has previous law enforcement experience from volunteering as a Police Cadet to working as a Community Service Officer. She has always and continues to have a passion for helping others. For her community involvement, she was awarded the Good Citizenship Awards from Riverside County Bar Association in April 2017.
Andrea is an active-duty Navy spouse. She currently resides in beautiful San Diego, California with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys exploring her community from trying out a new restaurant to learning how to kayak.
Storytelling & Experience
Kimberly Bacso
Senior Operations Manager, Storytelling & Experience
Senior Operations Manager,
Storytelling & Experience
Army
Kimberly Bacso
Senior Operations Manager, Storytelling & Experience, Army
Kimberly Bacso is the Senior Operations Manager of Storytelling & Experience for Blue Star Families. For over 20 years, she has paired attention to detail with creativity to drive organizational success by leading educational and wellness initiatives. Highly skilled in creating strategic digital content strategies, she’s grown online and in-person communities with a word-of-mouth, grassroots approach.
A proud U.S. Army spouse, Kimberly seeks ways to use her strong leadership skills to uplift the military community. She co-founded InDependent, a non-profit on a mission to make wellness accessible to all military spouses, where she served as the operations/content director and the board treasurer. She especially loved providing wellness strategies at the individual and small-group level to help spouses connect and successfully navigate military life. She has also worked as the managing editor of Legacy Magazine and as a Parent to Parent team lead for the Military Child Education Coalition where she learned the profound impact of storytelling on the lives of military families. She volunteers as a writer for the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs, covering wellness, entrepreneurship, and business topics.
Early in her career, Kimberly worked as a staff accountant at a public accounting firm and as a senior accountant at a Fortune 100 company where she learned to deliver better-than-expected work product and lead a team of professionals. During that time, she fell in love with the health benefits of yoga and later became a registered yoga teacher. She holds a degree in business with a concentration in accounting, magna cum laude, from Walla Walla University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado at Denver.
When she’s not working, you can find Kimberly trying new plant-based recipes, practicing yoga, or traveling off the beaten path with her husband and teenage daughter.
Marisa Donovan
Senior Manager, National Experience
Senior Manager, National Experience
USMC
Marisa Donovan
Senior Manager, National Experience, USMC
Marisa Donovan joins the Blue Star Families team as the National Experience Senior Manager. She has a background in event logistics and sales/development, having worked in both the non-profit and private sector. Marisa graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with a degree in English and Concentration in Peace & Conflict Studies. Prior to joining the team, Marisa spent the past two years at home raising her young daughters and enduring two PCS moves in support of her Marine husband. She is so appreciative of the opportunity to work for an organization that understands and is working for the military family.
Marisa is married to Captain Rob Donovan, USMC, and they live in Monterey, CA with their two daughters and dog Tank. Marisa and her husband are avid outdoors people, recently summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and they look forward to their next adventure with their girls!
Adriene Engstrom
National Manager, Storytelling
National Manager, Storytelling
Army
Adriene Engstrom
National Manager, Storytelling, Army
Adriene Engstrom joins Blue Star Families as the National Manager of Storytelling. As an active-duty Army spouse and former Air Force dependent, she hopes to integrate BSF survey findings and REI initiatives to better assist military families of color in her area. Further, she works to build bridges between existing community services and those families.
Adriene Engstrom earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech; Communications from Kansas Wesleyan University and her Masters of Science in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University. She has served on several corporate boards including Employee Engagement and Inclusion and LGBT Business Resource Groups. Likewise, she has enjoyed volunteering for the military community since her youth. She is active in the West Point Spouses Club and is the mother of two girls.
Tom Hausman
Manager, National Experience
Manager, National Experience
Tom Hausman
Manager, National Experience
Tom Hausman (he/him/his) joins the Blue Star Families team as the National Experience Manager, with a background in experiential event logistics and multimedia production. After graduating from the University of Maryland College Park with a degree in multiplatform journalism, Tom worked with a D.C. based events company, producing large-scale experiences for clients like R.E.I. and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Growing up an Army Brat, Tom is deeply familiar with the needs of military families, and is thrilled at the opportunity to join Blue Star Families to support and celebrate families like his.
Tom lives in Washington, D.C. with his partner, Louis, their dog, Chef Girlardee, their Western Hognose snake, Linda, and too many houseplants to count.
Maria Mahoney
Coordinator, National Experience
Coordinator, National Experience
Army Spouse
Maria Mahoney
Coordinator, National Experience, Army Spouse
Maria Mahoney has been a part of Blue Star Families in various capacities since 2011. Starting as a special projects volunteer, to Chapter Director, to her current role of National Experience Coordinator.
Maria graduated from Boston University with a BA in Political Science in 2006, and earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2009. She has worked in the areas of mental health, domestic violence and sexual assault (direct services and prevention), parent education through her work with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) and volunteer work through Blue Star Families, various Family Readiness Groups, and Junior League.
A former Army spouse, Maria has two elementary school age boys and lives in Northern Virginia.
Veronica Praeger
National Brand Manager, Storytelling
National Brand Manager, Storytelling
Marine Spouse
Veronica Vidal Praeger
National Brand Manager, Storytelling, Marine Spouse
Veronica Vidal Praeger is a graphic designer with experience on both the client and agency side of the business. After working in various industries like corporate consulting, word-of-mouth marketing, and traditional advertising, she found herself working in publishing for a small-but-quickly-growing nonprofit organization. It was through this work that she found a distinct sense of purpose. Since then, she has sought out cause-driven work to try and make a contribution to the greater good.
Veronica is also a wife — her husband is a former Marine — and a mom to a very energetic 3-year-old. She enjoys long-distance running, yoga, photography, mid-century architecture, and generally anything that involves being active outdoors.
Meghan Wieten-Scott
Director, National Experience
Director, National Experience
Army Spouse
Meghan Wieten-Scott
Director, National Experience, Army Spouse
Meghan Wieten-Scott has been a part of Blue Star Families since 2009, starting as the Operation Appreciation program manager and also working as the Event Planning Manager. Meghan now manages Blue Star Families’ relationship with The Walt Disney Company by coordinating book shipments and planning Disney partnership events. Meghan also assists with numerous national level events throughout the year and provides program consultation and historical background of the organization.
Meghan is married to MAJ Andrew Scott, US Army, and they are currently stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ where they live with their son and dog. Growing up in Michigan, Meghan graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with an emphasis on Women and Gender Studies. The Wieten-Scotts have PCSed eight times and endured two deployments. During that time, Meghan has served as a Family Readiness Group Leader at three different units, volunteered with the USO, and been an active member of the Junior League.
Meghan’s favorite resource is the Blue Star Books because it puts so many books into the hands of our military children!
Chapters
Adam Vanek
Executive Vice President of Chapter Impact
Executive Vice President of Chapter Impact
Adam Vanek
Executive Vice President of Chapter Impact
Adam Vanek joins Blue Star Families as the Executive Vice President of Chapter Impact. Previously, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Stop Soldier Suicide, the nation's largest and fastest-growing nonprofit solely focused on preventing military suicide. Adam has also served as the National Chief Executive Officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), National General Counsel for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the same role for MADD before then.
Born and raised in a military family, Adam understands firsthand the importance of strong communities for our active-duty and Veteran families. He is dedicated to growing the mission and national and local impact of Blue Star Families.
Adam earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University, where he was named a College of Business Administration Fellow and awarded the Buck Weirus Spirit Award for service. Adam lives in Raleigh with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children, and they are active members of their community.
Sheila Stevens
Senior Director, Chapter Impact
Senior Director, Chapter Impact
Navy Spouse & Parent
Sheila Stevens
Senior Director, Chapter Impact, Navy Spouse & Parent
Sheila Stevens joined the Blue Star Families (BSF) team in 2010 as a chapter director and volunteer in Jacksonville, Fla. She now serves as the director of communication operations. She oversees operations and implementation and manages and executes all logistical aspects of our applied research team, the communications team, and the national events team. Sheila guides and oversees all of our local and national events and serves as senior Blue Star Families representative at selected meetings and events. She is an experienced executive in military family affairs.
Sheila grew up in a military family; her father is a retired U.S. Navy officer. Years of deployments and moves helped her transition from Navy daughter to Navy spouse and now Navy mom. She is a strong leader with a history of successful planning and executing military family events. She continues to work with nonprofit organizations developing and managing programs for military members and their families, as is evident in her volunteer role as vice president of family matters for the Maritime Patrol Association, for which she developed and oversees the scholarship program for military dependents. She is passionate about military family readiness during times of war, constant deployments, and defense budget cuts. She has volunteered as an ombudsman and has supported several other VSOs and MSOs. She and her husband, U.S. Navy Captain Mark Stevens, live in the DC Metropolitan area. She is the mother of naval aviator Madeline Stevens stationed in Jacksonville, FL, and University of Arizona junior Zachary Stevens.
Jeffrey Chin
Executive Director, New England Chapter
New England Chapter Executive Director
Navy
Jeffrey Chin
New England Chapter Executive Director, Navy
Jeffrey Chin, MSW, LCSW, is a senior executive and nonprofit administrator with over 27 years of leadership experience in nonprofit organizational management, social services, mentorship, higher education, social work, and community counseling. He has held numerous teaching, professional training, and certified instructor positions. Prior to joining the team at Blue Star Families, Mr. Chin served as the Chief Executive Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass. & Metrowest for nearly nine years, and additionally served as Executive Director of Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Central Massachusetts, the Board of Directors for Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, the Board of Corporators for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Communications Committee for the United Way of Central Massachusetts, and on the Steering Committee for the United Service Executives group of Central Massachusetts.
Mr. Chin is a 1994 graduate of Wheaton College (Norton, MA) with a degree in psychology, as well as a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) at Boston College. Mr. Chin received his honorary doctorate (LLD) from his alma mater, Wheaton College, on May 18, 2019.
Mr. Chin is also an active Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Navy Reserve, with the current rank of Lieutenant Commander. He has served in multiple tours across the globe, including a nearly nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2018. During his 2018 tour at RSHQ, then Lieutenant Chin served with distinction as Media Operations Director under General John Nicholson and later, General Austin Scott Miller, both of whom served as Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Andie Coakley
New York Tri-State Program Director
New York Tri-State Program Director
Coast Guard
Andie Coakley
New York Tri-State Program Director, Coast Guard
Andie Coakley is the New York Tri-State Program Director. For 16 years, Andie has supported and served alongside her husband in the United States Coast Guard. Their family is currently stationed at Coast Guard Sector New York on Staten Island. Andie is a prior reservist in the Coast Guard in which she served as a Marine Science Technician. Her professional experience includes work in event management, marketing, product launches, fundraising, development and event operations.
Andie is an avid runner and volunteered for numerous years with the Stroller Warriors Running Club, training and guiding hundreds of military spouses as they completed their first 5K’s, 10K’s, half-marathons, marathons and ultras.
Andie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Sport Management from the University of Minnesota. She is excited to explore the New York region with her husband and four children, Emily, Megan, Jake and Abbey.
Yolanda Rayford
Baltimore Chapter Director
Baltimore Chapter Director
Air Force
Yolanda Rayford
Baltimore Chapter Director, Air Force
Yolanda Rayford has a proven record of achievement throughout her career that includes 20+ years of proficiency in establishing, organizing, and managing projects within diverse regional and global military communities. Her key skill areas include community outreach, program management, human resources, employee engagement, and volunteer management. The spouse of an Air Force retiree, Yolanda has been a global community volunteer for Girl Scouts USA, Red Cross, and Military Family Centers assisting and supporting the relocation, job search, transition, life skills training, resource connections, and financial management assistance.
As a program manager, Yolanda is adaptable and dependable, able to drive change and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to achieve quantifiable results. Her interpersonal skills and professionalism provide her with the knack for developing rapport and building relationships while aspiring to help people in a variety of settings – providing empowerment and engagement!
Originally from Maryland, she is delighted to join the team of Blue Star Families as the Chapter Director – Baltimore.
Suzy Malloy
Tampa Chapter Director
Tampa Chapter Director
Navy
Suzy Malloy
Tampa Chapter Director, Navy
Suzy Malloy joined Blue Star Families is 2021 as the Tampa Chapter Director. Suzy has moved twelve times with her Active Duty husband. Suzy has a passion for volunteering and at every new duty station has made life long connections through volunteering. Suzy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematic from Monmouth University. She has a love of math and really enjoys tutoring.
Besides being an Active Duty Spouse, Suzy is also an Active Duty Mother and Mother-In-Law. She is a proud mother of three amazing Navy Brats.
Karissa Poe
Tennessee Chapter Director
Tennessee Chapter Director
Karissa Poe
Tennessee Chapter Director
Karissa joined Blue Star Families in 2019 as the Tennessee Chapter Director. She has 15 years of experience as a Military Spouse and has volunteered and worked for many organizations that service Military Service members and their Families throughout the years. Karissa has a keen interest and desire to serve Soldiers and their Family Members.
Karissa’s life experiences have led her to pursue many diverse educational opportunities. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from Bethune-Cookman University in 2003; went on to pursue a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration in 2008 and a Master of Business Administration from University of Maryland University College in 2010. Karissa is a lifelong learner who enjoys research and planning.
Prior to joining Blue Star Families, she has held positions such as Installation Special Events Coordinator and Recreation Delivery Program Manager where she had the opportunity to plan and deliver events based on the needs of the community she lived and served in. Karissa also held the position of Community Services Coordinator for a Privatized Military Housing provider where her role consisted of planning and organizing community events through partnering with stakeholders and sponsors. She has also worked in the Financial and Insurance industry where she served as a solutions specialist for military service members and their families. Karissa has over 15 years of event and program management experience. She has planned, organized, and executed events that formed partnerships that benefitted service members, their families, and the civilian community at large.
Karissa volunteers, plan events, and enjoy spending time with her daughter in her spare time. She enjoys helping others and provides consultation on program planning for several organizations in her local community. Karissa’s favorite Blue Star Resource is Blue Star Books because she is an advocate for literacy as it is the gateway to learning and understanding.
Tosombra "Tai" Kimes
Missouri Chapter Director
Missouri Chapter Director
Army
Tosombra “Tai” Kimes
Missouri Chapter Director, Army
Tosombra “Tai” Kimes displays the true marks of a military brat flower, the dandelion. She blooms wherever she is planted. She earned her Children’s Etiquette Certification while stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, with her husband, SSG (ret.) Casey Kimes. There, she implemented etiquette classes for and volunteered with several non profit youth organizations and even developed a preschool program. Shortly after moving to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, in 2011, she began volunteering with the local schools, local non profits, and Blue Star Families.
Tai earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from American InterContinental University. As a servant leader within the community, she earned a Presidential Award. She continues to work with youth through dance programs and etiquette classes.
Tai is passionate about advocating for our youth and our military. Her favorite Blue Star Families programs are Books on Bases and Caregivers Empowering Caregivers. Tai’s father served over 30 years in the Army, she served 6 years, and her husband served 15 1⁄2 years, which included one tour to Iraq and two tours to Afghanistan. His last tour resulted in severe injuries that in turn led to an early retirement in 2015. Tai and her husband made Missouri their home with children, Xianne and Xzjuan.
Emily Harrison
Utah Chapter Director
Utah Chapter Director
Army Spouse (ret.)
Emily Harrison
Utah Chapter Director, Army Spouse (ret.)
While seeing the great need for relevant and reliable information and resources for military families as a volunteer in her husband’s unit Family Readiness Group (FRG); Emily turned her passion for family readiness into a career supporting military families for the last 17 years.
After volunteering for several years in FRGs, Army Family Action Plan, and Army Community Service, Emily went on to serve as a Family Readiness Liaison and then Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA) for the active duty Army at various levels of command from company all the way up to division level from 2005 to 2014. She then migrated careers to Healthcare Administration but did not find the work as rewarding as working with Soldiers and families. In 2017 she returned to family readiness as a FRSA once again for the Army Reserve. In her time as a FRSA, she was lucky to be able to serve over 10,000 Soldiers and over 20,000 family members. Her professional experience also includes work as a journalist, photojournalist, editor-in-chief, graphic and layout designer, and social media marketer. Emily has certifications in Digital Photography and Social Media Marketing.
Emily has been married for 17 years to her husband James, who is now retired from the Army after 22 years of service. They have settled down in the greater Salt Lake City area to be close to family for the first time in their marriage. They have three children, Connor, Delaney, and Declan. In her free time Emily likes to throw heavy things for fun and fitness, competing in Scottish Heavy Athletics, otherwise known as traditional Scottish Highland Games. Emily’s favorite Blue Star Families Program is Blue Star Parks because it allows families to get out and experience nature cost-free.
Wendy Layton
Jacksonville Chapter Director
Jacksonville Chapter Director
Air National Guard
Wendy Layton
Jacksonville Chapter Director, Air National Guard
Wendy Layton officially joined the Blue Star Family team in February of 2019. She resides in Jacksonville, FL which is host to numerous military installations with the largest being Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and Navy Submarine Base Kings Bay.
Wendy’s extensive career assisting military families began as a military spouse and Ombudsman for the now infamous USS Stark. She then accepted a position as Center Director for the Mayport USO Center, where she provided support and services to over 15,000 military members and an estimated 32,000 family members. She developed and marketed 20 Quality of Life Programs, as well as, additional seasonal programs that resulted in the growth of a typical program from under 100 participants to over 2500 participants. Wendy was lauded by leadership in her role as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Specialist serving the Florida Air National Guard across the state. Her passion to build and institute a highly effective, informative and efficient Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program within the Florida Air National Guard ensured her Airmen and their families were well prepared for upcoming deployments, and upon their return, helped them transition back in to civilian life. Wendy worked with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families to help launch the Onward to Opportunity program in Jacksonville. In her latest role she worked as a hybrid Outreach Specialist for CASY and the National Guard Employment Network.
Two years ago, she also had the opportunity to return to school to finish the degree she started over 20 years ago. She will both complete her undergraduate degree and begin her master’s coursework in March of 2019, Wendy has been awarded the Florida Commendation Medal from former Governor Rick Scott for her Yellow Ribbon role with the Army National Guard’s 53D Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Maggie Meza
San Diego Chapter Director
San Diego Chapter Director
Marine Spouse
Maggie Meza
San Diego Chapter Director, Marine Spouse
Maggie Meza is the Chapter Director-San Diego for Blue Star Families (BSF), an organization that supports and serves military families. Maggie has over twenty five years of experience volunteering, advising, holding numerous executive board member positions, and fundraising for numerous organizations that advocate for military families.
Prior to joining BSF, Maggie served for two years as President of the Military Spouse Association of Camp Pendleton which is the first spouse club in the Marine Corps that hosts all ranks, all military branches, and retired spouses. Maggie also has served as an Advisor for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Camp Pendleton and the Exceptional Family Member Program for Marine Corps Community Services.
Maggie is the proud wife of a Marine who has served for thirty years, as well as the mother of three accomplished children. Through her husband’s career, Maggie has been exposed to multiple deployments and many permanent change of stations. Due to these experiences, she understands what many other military families go through, which is why she was driven to join Blue Star Families.
Benjamin Gould
Chicago Chapter Director
Chicago Chapter Director
Benjamin Gould
Chicago Chapter Director
Ben has worked on political campaigns, for advocacy organizations, and in state and federal government offices. Ben completed constituent casework for military veterans in then Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth’s government office and worked on and helped pass Illinois’ sexual harassment protection bill for unpaid interns while running the office of a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
Ben serves as Advocacy Director of the United Nations Association of Greater Chicago and is on the Israel Policy Forum’s Chicago Young Professionals Steering Committee. He earned his M.A. in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and holds a B.A. in History and Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University.
Geri Maples
Dayton Chapter Director
Dayton Chapter Director
Army Spouse
Geri Maples
Dayton Chapter Director, Army Spouse
Geri Maples is a Military Spouse & Caregiver to her husband Robert, who served in the United States Army & the Ohio National Guard for over 20 years. They have two children, Shane and Emily, and both are working on their Graduate Degrees! Since her spouse’s return home from Operation Iraqi Freedom, she has dedicated her career to assisting others in understanding the uniqueness associated with the military way of life both during and after service.
She served as Military and Veterans Family Program Director with Union Institute & University and helped develop the university’s inaugural Military & Veteran Program. In 2019, Geri defended her Doctoral Dissertation, which is dedicated to raising awareness to the educational needs of Military Spouses, Caregivers, and dependent children. Today, her dissertation is published as a book with Barnes & Noble!
Julie Riggs
Acting Executive Director, National Capital Region
Acting Executive Director, National Capital Region
Julie Riggs
Acting Executive Director, National Capital Region
Julie Riggs is the Acting Executive Director, National Capital Region for Blue Star Families. She brings to the position over 12 years of experience working with military, veterans, and families in the nonprofit sector. Julie has a long history of working for organizations that advocate for military-connected families including, the USO, the National Military Family Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and ServingTogether.
Julie has a proven track record of capacity building in communities through partnerships and collaborations. She is passionate about the work she does and is dedicated to identifying solutions that will impact the important issues facing our military and veterans. Julie serves on numerous boards and is dedicated to straightening our nation’s military-connected communities.
Julie has Navy in her blood. She is the daughter of a retired Naval Senior Chief Petty Officer and the wife of an active duty Naval Chief Petty Officer. Although she was born and raised in CA, Julie has fallen in love with the DC Area and plans to make it her home for the foreseeable future. Julie and her husband Kurt have amazing twelve-year-old twin girls and a curmudgeonly bulldog named Hank. Julie holds a BA in English from San Jose State University in California.
Erica Newhouse
Executive Director, New York-Tri-State
Executive Director, New York-Tri-State
Erica Newhouse
Executive Director, New York-Tri-State
Erica Newhouse, originally from Philadelphia, PA, has lived and worked in NYC for over 20 years. She is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and The Juilliard School where she studied acting. Erica has worked professionally in theater, TV, and film and was first introduced to military life while performing with Theater of War at bases all across the US, Kuwait, and Qatar as part of suicide and sexual assault prevention programs. Following a seven-year tenure teaching acting at Sarah Lawrence College, Erica transitioned to full-time nonprofit work as Program Manager for Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker’s organization, Arts in the Armed Forces, where she rose to the position of Artistic Director. While at AITAF Erica planned and executed over 100 theater and film events for veterans and active duty military, conceived of and ran the prestigious Bridge Awards for Playwriting and Screenwriting, established the organizations DEI and anti-racist practices, and traveled to bases all over the world from Djibouti, Africa to Romania and Germany and all across the US. In 2022 Erica was appointed one of two New York State Community Ambassadors to SECNAV and continues to serve in that volunteer position. Creating opportunities for military families and bridging the MIL/CIV divide is a driving force in Erica’s career and she’s thrilled to continue to serve in that capacity as Executive Director of the NYC Tri-State Chapter. Erica lives in Brooklyn with her daughter Luna and when she’s not working can be found running through Prospect Park, taking trips upstate, and attending plays and many of the cultural offerings NYC has to offer.
Development
Margaret Davis
Executive Vice President of Development
Executive Vice President of Development
Margaret Davis
Executive Vice President of Development
As an executive leader, Margaret has helped facilitate non-profit organization growth including as President & CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation for nine years where she led the organization through annual record-setting years of mission and financial success. Margaret’s career has focused on strengthening organization capacity through planning, team-building, communications, constituent engagement, and philanthropy. She has worked as a nonprofit executive and consultant with numerous national organizations and their teams.
Margaret is a passionate supporter of military families and has served in volunteer leadership positions with command family readiness programs throughout her husband’s Marine Corps career. She is the recipient of the Department of the Navy’s Superior Public Service Medal and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Service Above Self award where she was appointed only the second President Emerita in 60 years.
Penny Bolden
Senior Director, Cause Marketing & Brand Partnerships
Senior Director, Cause Marketing & Brand Partnerships
Marine Corps Spouse
Penny Bolden
Senior Director, Cause Marketing & Brand Partnerships, Marine Corps Spouse
Combining a career in business development, strategic marketing and entrepreneurship, Penny is currently Blue Star Families Senior Director of Cause Marketing & Brand Partnerships. An experienced and adaptive leader she brings an entrepreneurial flair to her role in soliciting support for military families from the private sector.
A graduate of the University of New South Wales, Australia, Penny managed strategic marketing efforts for Otis Elevator in Australia/New Zealand and later for their regional headquarters in Singapore. Her proven business acumen led her to a partnership with Sunchi Capital Corporation, an international consulting firm assisting US international expansion.
After marrying a US Marine she settled into a more “domestic” role stateside, as director of economic development for a non-profit organization, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. Later she accepted a business development director position with PRA International, a clinical research organization, where she closed more than $30 million in new business.
While stationed with her family in Madrid, Spain, Penny established a new business venture in leadership consulting and motivational speaking. She also founded and managed an international distribution business in the sporting goods industry.
An 18-year Marine Corps spouse, Penny seeks unique opportunities to contribute to her community. She has served on committees for the San Diego World Trade Center, the MIT Enterprise Forum, and the Marine Corps Key Volunteer program. She was a founding board member of non-profit GetGear.org, and is currently the Yearbook Committee Chair at Haycock Elementary School. As an officer’s spouse she has served alongside her husband in his command roles and is a member of the Marine Aviation Spouses Club, Washington DC.
Penny resides in McLean, VA with her husband, Col Ché Bolden (USMC) and their three daughters.
Jeanine Cavicchia
Senior Development Director
Senior Development Director
Jeanine Cavicchia
Senior Development Director
Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, just a few miles from Naval Station Great Lakes, Jeanine escaped to southern California for college, leaving polar vortexes and other cold weather traumas in the rearview mirror. While she remains devoted to her hometown teams (White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks) and deep-dish pizza (Gino's East), she enjoys every second of sunshine in Los Angeles, as well as the beach, the Desert, Central Coast wine country, and the way snow looks on the mountain tops, far far away from her apartment. An ardent soccer fan, she has been a supporter of Los Angeles Football Club since they joined MLS five years ago and holds season tickets for Angel City Football Club, LA's NWSL team. Jeanine also follows the Premier League but will stop now as she risks giving her new teammates the impression she only thinks about sports. Believe it or not, she has other interests, like reading, baking, traveling, and scuba diving.
Jeanine is proud of her grandparents, cousins, and friends' service to our Nation. Blue Star Families' mission to empower military families to thrive is deeply personal for her, and she can't wait to get to work!
Liz Jones
Senior Manager of Operations & Stewardship
Senior Manager of Operations & Stewardship
Army Spouse
Liz Jones
Senior Manager of Operations & Stewardship, Army Spouse
Liz Jones is an Active Duty Army spouse located outside of Scott AFB in Southern Illinois. She started with Blue Star Families as the Program Administration Fellow sponsored by the McCormick Foundation.
During that time she worked with the Blue Star Arts Suite. In October 2016 she came on board full time with Blue Star Families working as a Careers Coordinator primarily focusing on Spouseforce, Networks Live! and the new Networks Live! On Demand Programs.
Liz has a vast understanding of the military lifestyle having been active duty, a reservist, a key volunteer with the Illinois National Guard supporting their deployment in 2009 and now a spouse to an active duty military member.
Susan Messina
Director of Development, Grants & Stewardship
Director of Development, Grants & Stewardship
Susan Messina
Director of Development, Grants & Stewardship
Susan Messina is a fundraising professional with a long career in health and human services. She joins Blue Star Families after 10 years in aging services, most recently at the Jewish Council for the Aging in Rockville, MD. Prior to her work in aging services, Susan worked at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association and the American Association of Health Plans and spent many years as a freelance grant writer.
A committed volunteer, Susan currently serves on the board of a hyperlocal aging services organization and on the executive board of the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association. Susan graduated from Bryn Mawr College, holds two master’s degrees from the Bryn Mawr School of Social Work & Social Research, and earned a master’s in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Susan and her wife, Maryann, live in Washington, DC, and are empty nesters with their daughter graduating from college in May 2023. She and Maryann both have fathers who served: Susan’s father was a First Lieutenant in the Army in the early 1960s and Maryann’s father received a Purple Heart during his Army Air Corps service during WWII. Susan loves to read and is a reviewer of Young Adult literature for Kirkus Reviews.
Ashley Saville
Senior Director of Development
Senior Director of Development
Ashley Saville
Senior Director of Development
Ashley joins Blue Star Families after serving in fundraising and sales roles for the past 15 years. She has led development, event, and gift planning departments, where she coordinated and directed initiatives for principal-level partnerships with individuals, corporations, and organizations to advance philanthropic endeavors.
As the daughter of two senior master sergeants in the Air Force, Ashley was led to serve upon graduating from Kennesaw State University, commissioning as a second lieutenant in 2009. While on active duty, Ashley was a platoon commander in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, leading convoy operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Her last duty station was Marine Barracks Washington.
Ashley currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband, LtCol Mark Saville, U.S. Marine Corps, and their son, Robert.
Cris Smith
Director of Individual Giving
Director of Individual Giving
Cris Smith
Director of Individual Giving
Cris Smith has a wide range of non-profit experience. His passion for supporting organizations through philanthropy began right after college when he served as an event coordinator and performing arts instructor for developmentally disabled adults. Those men and women taught him that generosity is the response of gratitude.
Cris continued to blend philanthropy and the arts in his roles as Executive Director of First Night Mobile and as Events Coordinator for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce in Fairhope, Alabama.
Cris had the opportunity to focus more on fundraising when he joined the development team at his alma mater, the University of South Alabama. There he worked as a major gift officer and established channels of annual giving as the Associate Director of Annual Giving. For the last five years, Cris has worked to establish and direct the Office of Annual Giving at Spring Hill College.
When not working, Cris enjoys being involved in community theater, directing worship arts, hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail, and keeping up with his border collie, Rudy (aka: The Flying Rudinsky).