Our Team

MELINDA SCHWYN, Executive Director

Melinda brings her leadership and business talents to her role as Camp Liberty’s Executive Program Director. Melinda has a diverse background. She started working for the government and served as a travel coordinator for the US Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. She went on to work for the federal government as a transcriptionist for wire taps and consensual monitoring within the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Washington, DC, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Jackson offices.

Most recently, her leadership experience includes that of Dean of Student Affairs for a liberal arts college in Michigan. As part of her leadership role, she supervised several departments, including campus safety, housing, residence life, Greek life, counseling services, chaplain services, medical services, and student activities.  Melinda also enjoyed teaching in the role of Professor of Business, Organizational Leadership, and Criminal Justice for the past 13 years.

In addition to earning her Master’s degree from Western Michigan University in public administration, she is completing her PhD in management and organizational leadership. Furthermore, she currently serves as a reserve police officer with the Napoleon Township Police Department, and continues to work in the legal and law enforcement fields, as she has for the past 24 years.

Melinda’s respect and dedication to the military and law enforcement personnel in her own family is one of the reasons for her desire to help lead Camp Liberty.

THOMAS WRIGHT, Development Manager

Tom’s work includes more than 20 years in developing strategy, marketing, media placement, advertising, content, and promotion for fundraising campaigns. He has worked for automotive dealers, suppliers, insurance companies, grocery chains, the US Navy and Marine Corps, faith-based organizations, and health care providers.

Tom has been a content producer and provider for the Community Television Network in Ann Arbor, and his content has been featured on Alliance for Community Media stations regionally and nationally. Founded in 1976, the Alliance represents over 1,700 public, educational, governmental (PEG) access organizations and community media centers throughout the country.

Tom brings a passion for helping veterans to his work with Camp Liberty inspired by the military service of his family members, including his father and grandfather. He is a member of American Legion Post 315 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

JAY TRUCHAN, President and CEO

Jay is extremely honored to assist the Camp Liberty nonprofit organization by bringing his leadership and managerial attributes to the board of directors. His previous assignments include managing entire police department operations while he was employed within his working career positions as a supervisor and executive commander.

Jay’s public safety and homeland security background encompasses both private and government work. It includes risk mitigation and threat assessment for large and major public events, domestic counterterrorism intelligence, drug interdiction, criminal surveillance, interrogation, and other areas.

As an administrator, he has organized police department daily functions and was a lead public safety official for safety and security operations. Jay has extensive leadership experience as a supervisor for dozens of law enforcement officers and staff. He has provided guidance and professional development to personnel as needed.

Jay takes pride in his community engagement and public outreach by developing new and innovative practices. He succeeds at working independently as much as he enjoys mutually sharing ideas and knowledge with other team members to complete a task or goal.

Jay brings knowledge from his time spent on a local special response team as a trained Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation hostage negotiator and additional task force dealing with crisis intervention, as he knows this highly specialized training is beneficial to the community, as mental health struggles continue to rise in numbers throughout the country.

Jay has been involved with Camp Liberty and has supported its mission from its very beginning. Besides performing property inspections to protect the campgrounds, he frequented Camp Liberty events and came to know its many supporters and members over the years.

Jay has supported and celebrated our United States military and veterans, as it is very meaningful to him. He is a member of the American Legion. Jay’s grandfather, George Truchan, Sr., was an infantry sergeant with the United States Army during World War II and was involved with many campaigns that endured live fire combat. George Truchan, Sr. sustained injuries in this war, but was able to survive and live an enjoyable life with his family. George Truchan, Sr. was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery and honored for his heroic actions during World War 11. The support and inspiration that Jay’s grandfather instilled in him is extremely powerful and gives him motivation to continue this path within Camp Liberty.

Jay’s community outreach and public relations skills, along with his deep passion for solving problems is a great asset for his role as Vice President and Secretary of Camp Liberty’s Board.

ALLAN LUTES, Treasurer & Board Member

Allan Lutes is President of Alpha Design Build, which he founded in 1989, and Alpha Management Group, which specializes in campus housing and serves clients in 26 states and four Canadian providences.

Allan has served in leadership roles with several charities, foundations, industry associations, and his church. Allan studied economics at the University of Michigan, did graduate work in business administration at the University of Michigan–Flint, and achieved several professional designations including Master Builder, Certified Restorer, and Certified Green Builder. He is one of the original founders of Camp Liberty and previously served as Treasurer from 2012 to 2107.

Allan recently rejoined the Camp Liberty Board and was elected President and Treasurer in 2022. He is currently Treasurer.

ROB CLARK,  Vice President

Rob Clark is a US Army Veteran who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he deployed overseas and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. During his military career, he sustained combat-related injuries, an experience that continues to shape his perspective on leadership, resilience, and service to others.

Following his time in the Army, Rob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational safety and health and went on to build a career leading operational and safety programs within the automotive and aerospace industries. He currently serves as Environment, Health, Safety, and Facilities Operations Manager for Eaton Corporation’s aerospace facility in Jackson, Michigan. In this role, he leads and develops teams across multiple disciplines in support of both military and civilian aircraft production.

A native of Manchester, Michigan, Rob has been volunteering with Camp Liberty for several years. He considers the organization a home away from home and is deeply committed to connecting fellow veterans and first responders with the support, camaraderie, and purpose that Camp Liberty provides. He is also a life member of the VFW and the leader of Eaton’s veteran organization.

When he’s not at work or volunteering at Camp Liberty, Rob can usually be found rebuilding old engines or restoring equipment—most often on a tractor—supporting his wife in running their family hobby farm.

Rob believes that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—it just evolves. Camp Liberty is where that mission continues for him.

HARRY KRASS,  Board Member

Harry is a Navy Veteran, having served from 1962-1963 on a destroyer enforcing the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he sustained an injury on board the ship and was released with an honorable discharge with a medical disability.  

Harry joined the Barrington, Illinois Police Department where he served as Detective and Juvenile Officer. Harry was also a bank security officer in Barrington, Illinois and a supervisor of work release prisoners in Wisconsin.  

Harry is an active member of American Legion Post 46,  a lifetime member of the Brooklyn Sportsman Club, a member of the Freedom for Patriots in Menominee, Michigan, and a member of the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security.  

Harry is one of our most active volunteers, serving as host, helping with maintenance and conservation efforts, and assisting with several presentations and fundraising in the community with other veteran service organizations and community networking programs promoting Camp Liberty. 

CRAIG PEARSON, Secretary

Craig is a Retired US Navy Commander and Naval Aviator, a veteran of the Kosovo War and Global War on Terrorism. His military duties included strategic reconnaissance, search and rescue, and aviation operations. He also has extensive experience working with first responders as both a search and rescue pilot and a “smokejumper” pilot fighting wilderness fires.

Craig has a BS from Western Michigan University in aviation technology and operations and an MS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in aviation aerospace operations.  

Since retiring from the Navy, Craig has worked with different companies as a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, and an aviation specialist, ensuring MDOT airport regulation and licensing standards for airports, hospital helipads, and flight schools, and a “smokejumper” pilot for the Bureau of Land Management.  

He is a life member of the VFW, has been involved with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, which introduces youth to aviation, and is a life member of the Naval Helicopter Association. Additionally, he is a member of the Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Eagles in Brooklyn.  

Craig is Volunteer Chief Flight Instructor with the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum Flight Academy in Detroit, and is a trustee of the Michigan Military Heritage Museum in Jackson, Michigan.

DARIUS UDRYS, Board Member

Darius Udrys, PhD is an award-winning communications professional with more than two decades of experience—as content creator, journalist, strategist, marketer, and senior manager. Darius has helped companies and organizations in the United States and Europe increase awareness and support through effective communication strategies, high-quality media content, and bringing together and managing the teams that make it happen.

As a multimedia journalist with Fox 47 News, he investigated, wrote, filmed, and produced daily online and broadcast news content. As a broadcaster with Radio Free Europe, he brought a global perspective to coverage of developments in Europe and the world for audiences in Eastern and Central Europe. As Associate Professor of Communications (Adjunct) at Vilnius University (Lithuania), he enjoys helping students understand and manage contemporary challenges in communications and public affairs.

Darius was Founding Director of Go Vilnius—the official development and marketing agency of Lithuania’s capital city. He also served as Vice-Rector for Development & Communications at the European Humanities University in Vilnius, and was Director of Development at the California-based Center for Civic Education.

Darius is presently Director of Communications at Interstate Capital, and holds a PhD and MA in political science from Claremont Graduate University, and a BA in political science and German from Hillsdale College.

MICHAEL WORZNIAK, Board Member

Michael Worzniak, MD is a US Army Veteran who served in the 207th MASH Unit out of Southfield, Michigan during the Vietnam War. His unit was preparing to deploy just as the war came to an end.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Science at Eastern Michigan University, was Research Fellow at the College of William and Mary, and earned his MD from the University of Virginia. He practiced family medicine for 21 years in Adrian, Michigan.

In 1994, Michael joined the faculty of the University of Michigan as part of its residency program, where he taught until 1998. He then became program director of a family medicine residency at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn.

Michael is an active member of the American Legion.