BEVERLY LIST, Executive Director of Development and Veteran Volunteer Services
BEVERLY LIST, Executive Director of Development and Veteran Volunteer Services- Air Force Sergeants Associations Life Member, Chapter 751, Past International Aiman Activity Coordinator
- Veterans of Foreign War life member Post 4012, Northville, MI
- Disabled American Veteran Life Member Post 13, Ypsilanti, Michigan
- American Legion Auxiliary Unit 147, Northville Past Unit President
- American Legion Post 46 in Ann Arbor. As a past Post Commander of Post 13, she currently holds the position of Judge Advocate and District Judge Advocate, and Paid up for Life Member.
She is a graduate of the National American Legion College, has been Legionnaire of the year (2010), District Service Officer of the year, Department Americanism Chairman for several years.
MELINDA SCHWYN, Executive Program Director
MELINDA SCHWYN, Executive Program DirectorMelinda started with Camp Liberty in September 2023, bringing her leadership and business talents as the new Executive Program Director. Melinda has a diverse background, as she started working for the government and served as a Travel Coordinator for the U.S. Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. Later, she went on to work at the federal level of the government in the capacity as a Transcriptionist for wire taps and consensual monitoring within the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Washington, D.C., Detroit, Ann Arbor and Jackson offices.
Most recently, her leadership experience included that of Dean of Student Affairs for a liberal arts college in Michigan. Within 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 a Professor of Business, Organizational Leadership and Criminal Justice for the past 13 years.
In addition to Melinda earning her Master’s degree from Western Michigan University in Public Administration, she is now completing her PhD in Management and Organizational Leadership. Furthermore, she currently serves as a reserve police officer for Napoleon Township Police Department and continues to work in the legal and law enforcement fields 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 assist the mission of Camp Liberty, Inc.
ALLAN LUTES, President and Treasurer
ALLAN LUTES, President and TreasurerAllan Lutes serves as 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. He has served in leadership roles on several charities, foundations, industry associations, and his church. Allan studied economics at the University of Michigan, Master’s 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 a founder of Camp Liberty Inc. and previously served as its treasurer from 2012 to 2107. He rejoined the board was elected as its president and treasurer in 2022.
JEREMY BRIGGS, Vice President
Jeremy is an OIF/OEF combat veteran who has served with deployments to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq during his military career. Mr. Briggs holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University and is a lifetime member of the VFW. He is an avid outdoorsman who has volunteered hundreds of hours out at the Camp Liberty property along with numerous other Veteran focused non-profits. Jeremy previously served on Camp Liberty’s board of directors from 2012 to 2016 and rejoined the board in January 2022.
RICHARD V. BRIGGS, JR. MAJOR, USAF (Ret), Director
Rick Briggs enlisted in the Air Force in 1972 as an Airman Basic and retired as a Major in 1994. Some of the positions he has held in the Strategic Air Command were KC-135 “Combat Aircrew” member, Instructor Navigator, Wing Navigation Officer, Operations Officer, Flight Commander, Chief of Current Operations and Bomb Group Executive Officer. Major Briggs retired from Griffiss Air Force Base, New York in 1994 after serving in Operation Desert Shield.
After retirement, Major Briggs served as the Program Manager for the nation’s only full-time Veterans Program for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) until 2014. He then was the Veteran Programs Advisor to the Eisenhower Center’s “After the Impact” TBI/PTSD treatment program, and the Center for Neurological Studies’ “Hope after Combat” TBI research programs. He also was on the Veteran’s Advisory Council’s for two U.S. Congressmen.
Major Briggs served on the VA’s VISN-11 TBI Council for four years. He was the Co-Founder and Board Chair of Camp Liberty’s inclusive recreation program for injured and disabled troops. He served two terms as Chair for the State of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources Accessibility Advisory Council. Major Briggs also served as a Board member for the “Honor for All” PTSD program, as well as the faith-based Michigan Veteran’s Task Force.
Major Briggs also served as an advisor for JBS International’s Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Optimization Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and the Project Career Advisory Board for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR.)
Major Briggs earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his master’s degree from Central Michigan University. He retired in 2017 and currently lives in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas with his wife Pamela of 45 years. They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
SUZANNE KISER, Secretary
Suzanne Kiser is a senior manager and member of the management team for a real estate and business operations management firm in Ann Arbor. She was previously employed for 12 years as the Finance Director for a large non-profit organization. Before working in the non-profit world, Suzanne spent 18 years in the mortgage banking industry working her way up to a Senior Vice President level at both Citibank and GMAC. Suzanne has a compassionate heart and has served in many volunteer roles for over three decades. She served for six years as the Vice-Chair of a County-wide organization that helps people out of material and relational poverty. In 2008 Suzanne launched a community Personal Needs Pantry serving Livingston County that remains open today helping County residents. She also Co-Chaired a multi-year large-scale community service initiative that assisted Veteran, disabled, and elderly residents with home repairs and maintenance. Elected in 2022, Suzanne is new to the Camp Liberty Board and looks forward to again serving Veterans and their families.
LARRY ST. ANTOINE, Director
Larry joined the U.S Navy Seabee Reserves in 1964 and went on active duty in September 1966. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and left the Seabees in 1970. Following his military service, Larry worked as a police officer and for the U. S. Postal Service until he retired in 2015. Larry has been active in the Charles Kettles Viet Nam Veterans Association chapter, VFW Post 423, as a member of the Veterans Honor Guard and as a dedicated volunteer for several additional Veterans programs.
JAY TRUCHAN, Director
Mr. Truchan is extremely honored to serve the Camp Liberty nonprofit organization by bringing his leadership and managerial skills to the board of director’s role.
His previous work experience includes managing entire police department operations as a prior supervisor and command police officer.
Mr. Truchan’s public safety background and direct lead official in charge of homeland security for society extends to private and government municipalities. This also includes, but is not limited to, risk mitigation and threat assessment for large and major public events, Domestic Counterterrorism Intelligence, Drug Interdiction, Criminal Surveillance, and Interrogation.
As an administrator he has managed police department daily functions and was a lead public safety official for safety and security operations. Mr. Truchan has extensive leadership experience as a supervisor for dozens of law enforcement officers and staff. He has always promoted diversity, inclusion, and equity within his department and team. He has provided guidance and professional development to personnel as needed. He consistently proposes and implements new ideas to improve delivery from his agency and to his stakeholders.
Mr. Truchan takes a tremendous amount of pride in his community engagement and public outreach. 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.
Mr. Truchan 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. His highly specialized training is beneficial to the community, as mental health struggles continue to rise in numbers throughout the country.
Mr. Truchan has directly been involved with Camp Liberty and has supported its mission from its very existence. Besides taking the time to perform property inspections to protect the parcel, he has visited Camp Liberty during its events and has met many supporters and members over the years.
Mr. Truchan believes in supporting and celebrating our United States Military and Veterans, as it is very meaningful to him, as he is a member of the American Legion. Mr. Truchan’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 battle. 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 in World War II.
This United States Armed Forces support and inspiration that Jay Truchan’s grandfather instilled in him was extremely powerful and gives Jay the motivation to continue his path with Camp Liberty.
Furthermore, Mr. Truchan’s community outreach and public relation skills, along with a deep passion for solving problems will be a great asset to Camp Liberty., He is very proactive with consumer connectivity, by adapting to the community needs and their philosophy of engagement.
Due to Mr. Truchan’s professionalism and strong work ethic, he will represent Camp Liberty well as he tackles this new opportunity to further serve our Veterans.
You can learn more about Camp Liberty at www.CampLibertyMichigan.org
