VMW Announces Leadership Confere

Experience
2004-present    Missouri State Veterans Ombudsman (Missouri Veterans Commission)
As the State Veterans Ombudsman I have been responsible for developing and overseeing a statewide program to increase public awareness of the State Veterans agency and the needs of the military and Veterans, particularly in light of the extensive and unprecedented use of citizen soldiers during the Global War on Terror.

As the liaison to state and federal agencies, the Ombudsman advocates for changes that affect the way the State of Missouri and the federal government define and provide services to their citizen soldiers, active duty military personnel, and their families and Veterans.

Special emphasis was placed on developing advocacy programs for the injured Guard, Reserve and Active Duty, recognizing the significant injuries of this conflict to include traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress, and the necessity for mental health services for families.

Tasked with educating service members, families and Veterans regarding traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress.   Assisted with the development of the State Action Plan for "Traumatic Brain Injury in Missouri."

Developed the manual "Life After War - It's About Making A Plan" to assist injured in navigating the various Department of Defense and federal and state programs available.

Provide advisory support to the statutorily created Missouri Military Preparedness Enhancement Commission and served on the advisory board for the statutorily created Missouri Military Family Relief Fund and Operation: Military Kid. Provide the key leadership in all resource coordination activities that support the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund.

Coordinated efforts that created intra-state agency relationships to provide advocacy and education for service members and Veterans that resulted in cost savings to the state and increased benefits to the service members and Veterans in an expedited and timely manner. An Intra-Agency Veterans Summit was coordinated to continue that dialogue.

Organized national efforts to identify service member, family and Veteran gaps and needs due to mobilization, deployment, reintegration and injury and to match those needs to federal, state, community resources and policy solutions. Formed a national coalition of military donors and network to assist in providing funding outside state general revenue.

Invited to present testimony before a subcommittee of Congress on small business issues facing returning Veterans.   Provided written testimony to the Veterans Administration and various Presidential Commissions and Task Forces studying the needs of Global War on Terror service members, families and Veterans.

Instrumental in development of the issues defining the State of Missouri's Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans Issues.

Instrumental in development of the issues defining the Joint Committee of the House and Senate on Veterans Affairs for the State of Missouri.

2004-present Director, Operation Outreach (Missouri Veterans Commission)
As one of the leaders at the Missouri Veterans Commission, our team created a program to provide resources for service members, their families and new Veterans deployed to support the Global War on Terror. This program became a model in the nation.

With emphasis on advocacy, education, navigation and resource coordination, over $1 million in resources were coordinated in a two and one-half year period, over 5000 service members, their families and new Veterans were briefed and over 1200 cases were managed. New legislation was created and passed and new policies and procedures were developed and implemented.

Create statewide events to provide outreach avenues in order for Veterans to access federal benefits.

Board member of Operation Military Kids, Brain Injury Association of Missouri, Missouri Military Family relief Fund Advisory Board.   Missouri Veterans Commission representative to the Missouri Military Preparedness Enhancement Commission.


We look forward to welcoming you at the Hilton Greenville next week!