Meredith Brenalvirez
President
Meredith Brenalvirez is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College where she earned her degree in Economics and Political Science. Following careers in advertising and commercial real estate, Meredith shifted her focus to family and MWIN. A board member since 1994, she has been a part of the growth of MWIN from a small housing facility to a nationally recognized non-profit.
Lisa Schwab
Secretary
Caitlin Carroll
Vice President
Caitlin Carroll is a Vice President at Gibraltar Associates, offering strategic counsel to a range of geospatial, technology, and healthcare clients in the development of effective public awareness, campaigns, corporate communications strategies, and in the management of crisis communication issues. She has had previous experience at Public Strategies, Inc., where she ran the corporate communications function for a Fortune 50 technology provider and created the company's first comprehensive marketing-communications strategy to support multi-million dollar sales pursuit efforts. She has also served as U.S. Rep. Kay Granger's communications director and leadership staffer, where she led a number of key initiatives for both the congresswoman and the Republican Conference. Prior to working on the Hill, Caitlin served as a television and radio director for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2004 election cycle, successfully booking over 300 national radio and TV interviews for Republican candidates and members of Congress.
Before moving to Washington D.C. in 2003, Caitlin worked as a campaign manager and press advisor for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Los Angeles, and also worked as a reporter for a local newspaper. Caitlin holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Al Garcia, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) & California Air National Guard
Treasurer
Stephani Hardy
Director
Stephani Hardy spent 15 years with U.S. VETS which she helped design, create, and grow into the largest non-profit serving homeless veterans in the U.S. When she resigned as CEO in 2008, U.S.VETS was serving over 2200 veterans each night in housing in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Riverside, Honolulu, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Houston, and Washington D.C. Most recently Ms. Hardy was the Director of Policy and Planning for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority which is the largest continuum of care for the homeless in the U.S., covering 4000 square miles and 88 cities. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, and does consulting in the areas of non-profit management and veteran specific projects. Stephani is originally from Texas and holds a BA from Baylor University.
Patricia Jackson-Kelley, Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Ret.)
Director
Patricia Jackson-Kelley is a veteran of the United States Air Force and Air Force, Army and Navy Reserve. She retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after 26 years of combined active duty and reserve service. Lt. Col. Jackson-Kelley served as the Program Manager for a 40-bed substance abuse ward and as the Women Veteran Program Manager with the Department of Veterans Affairs – West Los Angeles. During her employment, she was instrumental in implementing programs, funds and resources for women veterans. During her time at the Veterans Hospital, she also served as one of the initial board members during the formation of U.S. VETS.
Lt. Col. Jackson-Kelley has received awards and commendations from President George W. Bush, California Governor’s Offices 2006-2009, the California Department of Veteran Affairs, NAACP, Blacks in Government, and various other community organizations. She was recently selected as the 2010 Southern California Women Veteran of the Year by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA).
Kristine Hesse, Master Sergeant, US Air Force (Ret.)
Secretary
Kristine was born and raised in Ohio until the age of 19 when she joined the US Air Force. She attended Personnel Management training at Keesler AFB, MS. Upon graduation she reported to Loring AFB, ME where she stayed for one year. She moved to Misawa AB, Japan where she spent five years and worked in the 14th Fighter Squadron, and traveled to the Philippines, Indonesia and Alaska. She then spent 5 years in Hanscom working in the 66th Logistics Squadron, during which she was awarded the Noncommissioned Office of the Year Award.
At Edwards AFB, CA, Kristine worked in several different squadrons and was assigned a special duty to the 31st Test and Evaluation squadron. Here she reached the rank of Master Sergeant. In her final 6-year assignment in London, England, Kristine served as the Senior Noncommissioned Officer in Charge where she was the lead manager for establishing the newest Air Force Base.
Upon retirement in 2012, she returned to Alhambra California and completed her intern hours for her MS, Professional Counseling degree at the HAVEN, Salvation Army at the West Los Angeles, CA VA complex and worked with Vietnam veterans. Kristine is also involved with The Mission Continues and The National Veterans Foundation. She has found her time transitioning from the service exciting and challenging at times; she is excited to aid in ending the struggles that women veterans face.
Abigail d’Autremont, First Lieutenant, USA (Ret.)
Director
The military is quite literally in Abigail d’Autremont's blood. She traces her ancestry in the military many generations back to France, and from the time her family came to America they have had officers in every generation and in every major war this country has fought. She proudly states that she was the 5th generation to don the exact set of Second Lieutenant gold bars she wore before her promotion to First Lieutenant.
Abigail was born in Bad Kreuznach, Germany where both of her parents were in the United States Army. After living all over the country and the world, she landed in Southern California and spent her high school years at Notre Dame Academy. She went on to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she majored in Systems Engineering and played Women's Army Rugby. In 2005, Abigail attended the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Aberdeen, Maryland, and was stationed at Fort Irwin as a Supply and Logistics Officer. Abigail left the military due to a medical disability, and is an account executive for Myriad Genetics, a company doing cancer research.
Marisa Walter, US Army Veteran
Director
Marisa Walter currently serves as the Interim Director of External Relations at Claremont McKenna College. In this capacity, she assists undergraduate and graduate students with internship and full-time placement. In addition, she helps to facilitate the career development process, networking opportunities and other on and off campus activities designed to enhance the recruiting experience for students and partnered employers. Marisa graduated from Claremont Graduate University with a Master's in Education. Her background includes work with human capital consulting, financial service recruiting and coordination of youth education programs. Along with her work with the MWIN organization, Marisa also provided additional community support as a volunteer board member for the Claremont Educational Foundation and a parent board member of the Claremont Presbyterian Children's Center. Marisa is a proud Army Veteran.
Robert K. Wrede, JD, LLM, Captain, USA (Ret.)
Advisory Board Member
Following a forty year career as a commercial trial lawyer, Mr. Wrede is now a full-time mediator and neutral case evaluator and arbitrator, serving on Alternative Dispute Resolution panels established by the Los Angeles Superior Court; the United States District Court for the Central District of California; and ADR Services, Inc., in Los Angeles, among others. A frequent speaker on the effective resolution of complex commercial disputes, he has appeared at seminars or lectured at the Cornell Law School, the California CPA Education Foundation, the Practicing Law Institute, Woodbury College, California Continuing Education of the Bar programs and the Anderson School of Management at UCLA. He is on the Executive Committee of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. In addition to his mediation and arbitration practice, Mr. Wrede is also an adjunct professor of law at Pepperdine Law School and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, where he earned his LL.M.in Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Wrede graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, where he served as a Trustee for a number of years, Cornell University and Cornell Law School. Mr. Wrede was an officer in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and served in the US Army Reserves following his completion of active duty.
J.P. Shotwell
Advisory Board Member
J.P. Shotwell is Director and Deputy Ethics and Compliance Officer for Southern California Edison. His principal focus in this position is the continuing build-out and implementation of the Edison International Compliance Management Program, along with the Company's Information and Records Management Program, Privacy Compliance Program and Policy Management Program.
Prior to accepting this position in July 2009, Mr. Shotwell worked in Southern California Edison's Washington, D.C. office, where he served as the primary liaison between SCE and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Previously, J.P. was a Senior Attorney with the company, practicing chiefly before the California Public Utilities Commission. J.P. received his B.S. in Economics from Arizona State University in 1987 and his J.D. from University of Arizona College of Law in 1990.
Jodie Grenier, M.A. Nonprofit Leadership & Management (Program in progress),
Staff Sergeant, US Marine Corps Veteran
Executive Director
Jodie Grenier is the Executive Director of Military Women In Need, an organization that works with women veterans to utilize their strength, resilience and achievements to overcome obstacles as they transition to civilian life. Jodie began her career in the United States Marine Corps serving with 1st Marine Division, G-2, military intelligence. She deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II as an Intelligence Collections and Watch Chief and was honored with the Navy Commendation, Navy Achievement, and Global War on Terrorism Service, and Iraq Campaign Medals. In 2005, Jodie was honorably discharged from active service and promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2006 in the Reserves. Jodie held various intelligence and security advisor roles over the past ten years including Force Protection and Security Supervisor in Al Kut, Department of State in Kabul, and Modeling and Simulation Intelligence Analyst for the Marine Corps Battle Simulation Center in Camp Pendleton, CA. In pursuit of her passion for philanthropy and serving veterans, Jodie was a founding member, Director of Events and Fundraising, and former VP of the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation. Jodie has also raised awareness and stewarded significant financial contributions for Final Salute, an organization that assists homeless women veterans and their children. Jodie holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing her Masters in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San Diego.
Program Coordinators
Lisa Cash, MA, LMFT
Director of Programs
Ms. Cash is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience working with people in a variety of contexts and at all stages in their lives. Her experience includes a term of service with AmeriCorps at U.S.VETS, working beside our Veterans and assisting homeless Veterans in securing housing and employment.
Mayra Galeas
Program Coordinator
Ms. Galeas has experience in social services working with survivors of domestic violence, homeless services, rental assistance HPRP, and permanent supportive housing. She has military veterans in her family, including her sister who served in the United States Marine Corps. Ms. Galeas has a Bachelors of Science majoring in criminal justice.
|
|
|
