Michael Baker:
Michael Baker is the Founder of PCs4Veterans, and a decorated combat wounded disabled Vietnam Veteran, honorably discharged from the U.S.M.C. He has started 2 companies prior to founding PCs4Vets one of which developed proprietary software and implemented a new management system for it’s industry. He was a consultant in the franchise industry for over ten years helping small franchisors achieve a national presence and was responsible for revamping one of the largest franchisors in its industry, encompassing 3 separate franchisors with over 600 franchisees per Franchisor. He has been involved with a number of volunteer organizations such as The Courage Center, Veterans Historical Museum, Blue Star Mothers, Wounded Warrior Battalion at Balboa Naval Hospital Sa Diego, CA., Vietnam Vets of America, etc., He worked as a mental health coordinator for over 3 years with ongoing training provided by Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. .
He was selected by Cambridge Who’s Who as the geographical outstanding business person in 2010 . He attended college at SIU Carbondale and studied practical application theory for over 2 years with internationally renowned business mentors in Southern California and Virginia..
He is familiar with some of the same disappointments that the current veterans are facing, such as finding employment and reintegrating with mainstream society.
Bernard l. Jacquez aka Hawk:
Highest decorated Warrant Officer in the history of the U.S. Army. He is currently working with the Veteran Museum ad Memorial Center training new guides, employees, and general HR functions. He is also finishing up a degree to accept one of a number of positions offered to him by Historical Museums as a director. His list of accomplishments is such that they don’t fit on one page so the following gives a partial picture only. More can be found in the military archives.
Officer and pilot, US Army
Fifty two (52) yrs. military career. All aviation.
Twenty (20) yrs. as an Army Chief Warrant Aviator and Operations Officer
Awards: fifty six (56) medals, five (5) ribbons. Medals, twenty six (26) for valor, ten (10) campaign, twenty (20) for service.
(All documented DA 201 Jacket.)
Combat: Southeast Asia (Viet Nam) as a combat helicopter pilot & Southwest Asia (Iraq) as a senior maintenance staff officer.
Domestic Service: 101st Airborne, Florida, Alaska, California Army National Guard Divisions, and the 69th Army Reserve
Foreign Service: Pacific, South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, Canada.
Diplomatic tours of duty: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 89-91, Common Wealth of Canada 06-09
M. Beth Davis, EA, M.S.:
A partner in the Tax Team, an accounting and tax preparation business in Middlebury, Vermont. Beth is an Enrolled Agent and certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a Masters Degree from South Dakota State University, Beth has held many leadership positions and served on numerous boards. She is currently the Secretary of the Green Mountain Chapter of the National Association of Tax Preparers and Treasurer of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Middlebury, Vermont. She has also consulted with and/or served on the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations, including MRCI Worksource, Mankato, Minnesota; Frog Hollow Craft Association, Burlington, Vermont; Habitat for Humanity of Addison County, Vermont; and Middlebury Studio School, Middlebury, Vermont. She is also the accountant and book keeper for PCs4Vets.
Dr. Sarah M. Young:
An internationally recognized print and broadcast journalist, seminar speaker, disabled advocate and therapist, Dr. Young is familiar to San Diegans and followers worldwide. Her first love, however, is empowerment education and advocacy. “Dr. Sarah” has performed on television and radio since she was seven years old, but San Diegans know her best as the host of “The Mind, Body and Spirit Show” on KCEO Radio, AM 1000.
Past shows have featured Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Richard Bandler, various experts in allopathic medicine and rehabilitation, and many more innovators in the field of mind-body integration and wellness. As an adjunct to the show, she also attends health Expos, seminars and educational events dealing with well-being. Having survived numerous disabilities including brain cancer, paralysis and temporary blindness, Dr. Sarah combines her love of communication and education with compassion and experience in the health field. These have led to some interesting sidelights: Reiki Master, Ordained Minister, Advanced meditation practitioner, etc.
During her recent hiatus from radio she’s founded the organization, DISCS (Disabled Individuals Suggesting Computer Solutions); joined The Disabled Businesspersons’ Association; LEAD San Diego (Leadership, Education, Awareness and Development); Miramar College CAC; Mira Mesa High School Business Partnership; Healthy Start/Mira Mesa; Citizens Health Coalition; Mira Mesa Town Council (President/2003); MCAS Miramar Community Leaders Forum; SDCLC (San Diego Community Leaders Council (a coalition of various Town Council Presidents/Vice Presidents); CEOC (Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission); CRC (Citizen’s Review Committee on Disabilities), City Attorney’s Advisory Committee on Disabilities, earned her second doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy, and founded The So Brave Foundation (for active-duty and veterans with PTSD and TBI). Dr. Sarah was a board member of Business Exchange Club of San Diego and the San Diego Republican Businesswomen (SDRB) as well as MENSA, National Association of Female Executives, Professional Women’s Roundtable, the Association of Bariatric Surgeons and American Hypnosis Association, and National Association of University Women. Her most recent volunteer positions have been for United Veterans Council – San Diego Veterans Day parade, and President of Blue Star Mothers of Greater San Diego.
Her position as Chairperson of the American Cancer Society Mira Mesa Relay For Life has led to her membership in the ACS Action Network, a cancer advocacy group. She has also been selected to be the Border Region Representative to OVAC (One Voice against Cancer — a gathering of health advocacy organizations nationwide to meet with members of Congress on cancer related issues) and as a Border Region Representative to Celebration on the Hill, a demonstration of the American Cancer Society’s signature event, Relay For Life for Capitol Hill legislators. She has also accepted a volunteer position helping to manage the group, StuntsAbility, an organization that trains and helps obtain employment for disabled stunt people in the entertainment field and a role as mentor in the DBA-sponsored Youth Entrepreneurial Program. She is currently volunteering with and taking sailing lessons from Challenged America, a phenomenal free sailing program for persons with disabilities.
Published in eight countries, Dr. Young has written cover stories and features for The Bangkok Post, Asia Magazine, The Jakarta post, American Express Magazine, Expressions Magazine, The Online Times, Living Better Magazine, California Women (where she was copy editor) and many others.
Recent awards have included America’s Remarkable Women (2002), City of San Diego Park & Rec Stuart Glassman Award (2002), Friends of Park & Rec (2003), ACS Spirit Award, America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals (2003), Certificates of appreciation … SD City Disability Services, Business Exchange Club of San Diego (2004). She received the “Oprah Winfrey Up From Her Bootstraps” Award from San Diego Women, Inc., was inducted into the Who’s Who of Poetry with the publication of her work in The Best Poets and Poems of 2006 and a subsequent selection for recording on CD. Her work has been selected for publication by Laureate Press, London, 2006, 2nd Place Mixed Media in CA-Diego Paralyzed Veterans Art Show, and she has been tapped as an American Poetry Ambassador, 2006-2009.
Please contact Dr. Young for a list of events and organizations that have not been added to this list yet.
Carl Lee:
A volunteer in MN and a Vietnam veteran. After serving in the Air Force and attending North Dakota State University, Lee has spent the last 30+ years in public relations and marketing working in both the profit and non-profit sectors. He assists in the development of communications programs and presentations in the State of MN.
Joshua Marin:
Joshua is also in MN and is a technical consultant as well as a board member. He is a software engineer and has been a consultant in the IT field for over twenty years.
Derek G Jaworski:
Derek is a native of MN. and now resides in S CA. He was honorably discharged from the USMC in January 2012 . During Mr Jaworski’s time in the Marine Corps he was promoted a number of times and was discharged as a non commissioned officer after completing 3 deployments and receiving multiple awards for personal performance.
Mr Jaworski served as a Patrol Squad Leader, conducting 100′s of patrols and was responsible for finding over 30 IED’s. During his last combat tour, while serving as a turret gunner on a ‘Mounted Patrol’ he was seriously wounded. In spite of this, after an extensive recovery period he elected to finish his tour.He is currently in college where he is studying for an engineering degree. He will be taking a one year hiatus starting in February where he will serve as an overseas consultant while continuing to help as a director for PCs4Vets.
Alfred Shuryan
Al is a Vietnam Era and Service connected Disabled Veteran. During his military service he received 4 Army Commendation awards for excellence in service. He retired after a career as a Data Base Engineer/consultant and has stayed involved as a volunteer for various causes, and now builds sponsored customized Desktop computers for auction which he donates proceeds from to help fund PCs 4 Vets. He also provides valuable, ongoing consultation and other support such as blogging, etc. .
Some of his accomplishments as a volunteer working with charitable organizations include: 10 years Coach Wayne/Westland YM/WCA softball (12 teams), 8 years Manager Various Youth Hockey Teams, 4 years Director Wayne Youth Hockey Program, 4 years President Great Lakes IDMS/R User Group, 2 years Board Member Great Lakes IDMS/R User Group, 4 years Teacher/School assembly Science instructor, 4 years Home Owners association PAC director
Dr. Bonnie Lund: (Recently added, complete bio available upon request)
Bonnie Lund, Ph.D. CCC-SLP Associate Professor/Department Chair
Department of Speech, Hearing, and Rehabilitation Services