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

Michael Dees
USA Cares Ambassador
President/CEO, AHS/BluMine Health
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 OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT

AMY CALLAHAN
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & PROGRAMS

PAULA REDDING
DIRECTOR OF CAREER TRANSITION

Dr. Gregory Bishop
CAREER TRANSITION Coordinator

Alexis Becker
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER

MARLO TAFT
PROGRAMS MANAGER

ALICE BLACKBURN
GRANT MANAGER

Jenny Davis
CHAPTER OUTREACH Manager

Taylre Campbell
Project Manager/Executive Assistant

LEAH MARUNA
ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE

JOSH KERBY
MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER

CONNER MAYFIELD
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

ANGELA C.
FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST

JERRY NEWMAN
FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST
