Our Team

MELINDA SCHWYN, Executive Director

Melinda 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.

LARRY ST. ANTOINE, President

Larry was elected as President of Camp Liberty effective January 2026.

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, Vice President/Secretary

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

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 organized 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 provided guidance and professional development to personnel as needed. He constantly reflects and proposes new ideas to excel his agency and stakeholders.

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

Continuing, 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, as he knows this highly specialized training is beneficial to the community, as mental health struggles continue to rise in numbers throughout the country.

Mr. Truchan has 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, with whom he has become very familiar.

Mr. Truchan has supported and celebrated 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 11 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 Truchan’s grandfather instilled in him is extremely powerful and gives him motivation to continue this path within Camp Liberty.

Furthermore, Mr. Truchan’s community outreach and public relations skills, along with his deep passion for solving problems shows to be a great asset for this board of directors’ assignment, as 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 in both appearance and demeanor, along with work performance, by providing a professional team member as a board of director.

ALLAN LUTES, Treasurer

Allan 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 and was elected as its president and treasurer in 2022, and currently is the treasurer.

CHAD FIRES,  Board Member

Chad Fires was elected as a Camp Liberty Board Member effective January 2026. 

Chad is a Retired Air Force Veteran with 25 years of service in Security Forces. Throughout his career, he was deployed five times, three of those were to active combat areas in the Middle East.  During his time with the military, Chad earned several awards, including the Air Force Commendation Medal and five Air Force Achievement Medals. He also completed three Associate Degrees and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. 

After Retirement, Chad continued his government service for six more years as a civilian, working as a Security Specialist for the Defense Logistics Agency in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He served as the Lead Security Specialist, overseeing the global security of disposed military assets until they were demilitarized.  

With strong skills in leadership and an education in Business, Chad continues to make a significant impact in his community as a Co-Owner of Callaghan’s Coffee Company in Brooklyn, Michigan.  He runs the day-to-day operations of the coffee shop and places a big emphasis on community involvement.  In the five years of running Callaghan’s, Chad has been instrumental in ensuring partnerships and giving back to The Fisher House of Michigan, Camp Liberty, Gold Star Teen Adventures, Wellwise Area Agency on Aging, Columbia School District, Napoleon Community Schools, and various school sports teams.  

Outside of work, Chad enjoys working on cars, Detroit Lions football, and coin collecting. He finds inspiration in finding ways to give back to the community, which fuels his professional and personal growth.

HARRY KRASS,  Board Member

Harry Krass was elected as a Camp Liberty Board Member effective January 2026.

Harry is a Navy Veteran,  serving from 1962-1963, positioned on the blockade of Cuba,  during the Cuban Missile Crisis on a destroyer, where he sustained an injury on board the ship and was released with an Honorable Discharge with a medical disability.  

After the Navy,  he joined the Barrington, Illinois Police Department and served as a Detective and a Juvenile Officer.  Harry was also a Bank Security Officer in Barrington, Illinois, and a Supervisor for the Work Release Prisoners in Wisconsin.  

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

Harry is one of our most active Volunteers at Camp Liberty,  serving as Host/Hospitality,  helping with maintenance/conservation efforts, and assisting with several presentations/fundraising in the community with other Veteran service organizations and community networking programs promoting Camp Liberty. 

CRAIG PEARSON, Board Member

Craig Pearson was elected as a Camp Liberty Board Member effective January 2026.

Craig is a Retired U.S. 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 Smoke Jumper pilot fighting wildland 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, Fixed-wing pilot, 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 youths to aviation, and is a Life Member of the Naval Helicopter Association. Additionally, heis a member of the Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Eagles in Brooklyn.  

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

TERRI MADDEN, Executive Assistant

Terri became the Executive Assistant at Camp Liberty in February 2025.  Terri and her husband relocated to the Irish Hills area in September 2023 from Columbus, Ohio. She retired from JPMorgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio, in September 2023, after a 39-year career primarily focused on technology, where she worked as a Program/Project/Risk Manager. During her time at JPMC, she also participated in small-scale projects for non-profit organizations.  Terri has a BS in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.  

Since retirement, Terri volunteers at Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, MI and is the Treasurer for the Irish Hills Corvette Club.

In her spare time,  Terri loves to garden, work out, water ski, kayak, watching her beloved Ohio State Football team play, and enjoying their Pontoon on the lake.