USA Cares

Our People

Bryan Anderson

USA Cares National Spokesman

Veteran, Actor, Stuntman, and Advocate

Johnny Bench

USA Cares Ambassador

Former Major League Baseball World Series Champion and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

Heather French-Henry

USA Cares Ambassador

Miss America 2000, Heather French Foundation for Veterans, Inc., and Former Commissioner for Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

Doug Flynn

USA Cares Ambassador

Central Bank and Trust Co., Lexington, KY; Former Major League Baseball World Series Champion & Gold Glove Winner

Brian Forrest

USA Cares Ambassador

Partner, Hoagland Commercial Realtors

Emily D. Chambers

USA Cares Ambassador

Associate Treasury Management Officer, Republic Bank


USA Cares Staff

USA Cares’ team members are essential to the organization’s ability to deliver high-quality programs and services to veterans and military families living across the nation and abroad.

TRACE CHESSER

PRESIDENT/CEO, USA CARES

Veteran, U.S. Army

Army combat veteran Trace Chesser joined USA Cares in February 2018, with the intent of aiding transitioning military, National Guard and Reservist veterans, as well as military spouses, to overcome the challenges they face in obtaining employment opportunities. As Vice President of Career Transition, Chesser focused on assisting clients with obtaining suitable employment, which ultimately would reduce their need for Housing and Emergency assistance.

Prior to joining the USA Cares team, Chesser was a Managing Partner of SCOUT Solutions Group, an executive search firm.  With SCOUT, he was responsible for the business development strategies, policies and procedures, and government contracting operations. From 2010 to 2015, he was the Vice President of Career Services for Sullivan University System. There he was charged with developing new systems that would improve the graduate employment opportunities, increase salaries, enhance business development opportunities.  He was also instrumental in developing relationships with the U.S. Military.

Prior to his corporate roles, Chesser served in the United States Army where he functioned in a variety of roles ranging from combat arms occupations to positions with the U.S. Army’s Recruiting Command.  Additionally, Chesser served as an instructor for the U.S. Army Air Assault School, an Observer and Controller for the Joint Readiness Training Center and in leadership positions within several combat operations units. Chesser served in the Gulf War with the 101st Airborne Division and has graduated from several military leadership courses and specialized combat operations schools.  His civilian education includes a Masters in Business Administration from Sullivan University and Bachelor of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

MATT CASTOR

VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT & CORPORATE RELATIONS

AMY CALLAHAN

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & PROGRAMS

WHITNEY HOBBS

VICE PRESIDENT OF OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT

PAULA REDDING

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RELATIONS

TODD MURPHY

CAREER TRANSITION MANAGER

MARLO TAFT

SENIOR PROGRAMS MANAGER

ALICE BLACKBURN

GRANT MANAGER

CARSEN PARKER

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MANAGER

ANNICE McEWAN

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER

MICHAEL WHITTICK

CHAPTER OUTREACH MANAGER

 DAVID KEENE 

 HVRP – PROGRAM MANAGER 

 RICHARD CARULLO 

 HVRP – JOB READINESS SPECIALIST 

 JAMIE RIEHM 

 HVRP – CASE MANAGER

LEAH MARUNA

ACCOUNTING MANAGER

SHEILA KNIGHT

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE

ANGELA CHATTOO

PROGRAMS PROJECT MANAGER

JERRY NEWMAN

FAMILY RESOURCE CASE MANAGER

BECCA

FAMILY RESOURCE CASE MANAGER

KARLA

FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST

TY

FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST

ADAM

FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST

ROO

Service Dog