Who We Are
Our board represents a cross-section of our community, are connected to those we serve, and have a passion for our organization and those we serve. The members work hard to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization and oversee that the funds raised directly affect those in need.
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Ben Williams, President
In 2002 Ben co-founded Devine Janitorial Service, LLC, a full service commercial Janitorial company. Ben personally knows the ins and outs of the Veterans Administration System as a service disabled veteran (Six years Air Force Pararescue). Ben has been a member of Building Owners and Managers Association for over twenty years and served on the board for two. Ben and his wife are the caregivers for Ben's Mom, a paraplegic, since 2005.
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Melissa Anderson, Treasurer
Melissa has been an active-duty Army spouse since 2004. She has a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Rollins College and a master’s degree in Training and Development from Roosevelt University. Her professional background includes experience in training, business analyst, human resources transactions, and product development. Melissa has served in many volunteer roles including Treasurer of the Fort Wood Community Spouses’ Club, Executive Consultant/Board Member for the AUSA FLW Mid-Mo Chapter, SFRG Leader in several units and Community Engagement Manager for Blue Star Families of Missouri. She enjoys everything associated with books, reading and learning and she is passionate about supporting the military family community.
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CareyLyn Ryan Secretary
I have been a caregiver since 2010 to my Army Veteran Husband. I choose to give my time to this organization because it focuses on us, the caregivers. Recently there has been an expansion to include the kids of Frontline Families and this makes my heart soar. My goal is to bring awareness to our families, neighbors, business owners, and elected officials of what our nation's caregivers go through daily and why they should support OFF!
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1SG Bryan A. Moore (retired), Director of Operations
Bryan served 23 years in the United States Army as a CH\MH47 Chinook Repairer with his last eight years serving with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). Bryan founded the Night Stalker Heroes Memorial of Savannah Foundation a 501(c)(3) which now falls under The Night Stalker Association Savannah Chapter. Bryan has earned his Associate degree in general studies from Columbia College of Missouri and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree. He also has a certification in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.
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B Caleb Jackson
A Kansas City native, Caleb Jackson is the executive director for the David Woods Kemper Veterans Foundation. Since 2016, he and the foundation have partnered with dozens of veteran based non-profits and organizations all over Missouri and Kansas to help bring together veteran communities and veteran-based services.
As one of the only purely veteran-focused foundations located in Kansas City, the David Woods Kemper Veterans Foundation works with organizations in aiding their missions while guiding start-up non-profits on how to successfully shape their vision. He also works with local universities to help promote a veteran’s path to higher education or trade school.
Caleb also serves on several veteran boards, both local and national levels. In 2021, he served on an advisory panel for Kansas City when speaking with White House representatives in regards to Afghan resettlement. In his off-time, he enjoys traveling with his wife Julia, reading, skiing, and volunteering at the school of his three daughters (that is, when he is not shuttling them between their various activities).
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Tara Plybon
Tara Plybon has been caring for her husband Todd for 14 years now. Todd is an Army veteran who was critically wounded in Afghanistan on 10/15/2009, which was their 15th wedding anniversary. He suffered a moderate traumatic brain injury, severe leg injury and many other health issues. Tara is a journalist by trade, and occasionally does freelance work. This has helped her advocate for her husband and get him the care he rightfully deserves.
Currently Tara is a part-time Marketing Director and Partner advocate for Bridge My Return.com, an online employment portal designed to help veterans, milspouses, and caregivers find meaningful employment. Tara is also a 2017 Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and a lead volunteer for growth. Tara helps create relationships with employment vendors and small business programs to enrich the fellows. Todd and Tara have a son, Liam who is twenty-five.
Tara has seen the lack of services for children ages 10 and up who are our hidden helpers and take on the burdens of caregiving without being asked. Tara attended the COH reboot weekend 2 years ago and found it incredibly helpful to her emotional health and wants to see the compassionate assistance COH provides, continue to being offered to other caregivers.
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Megan Vargas
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Rachael Barrett
Rachael Barrett has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, working with domestic and international organizations, in the areas of health and mental health, healthcare delivery, community development, legal services, criminal justice, and advocacy. Throughout her career, she has been committed to working with entrepreneurial organizations focused on systemic change through education and advocacy. Rachael has worked as a fundraising consultant, and been engaged with a number of nonprofits in New York, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Her core expertise is in the development and execution of strategies to increase revenues from institutional donors (foundations, corporations, and government). She compliments her core expertise and adds value to any project through prospect research, proposal writing, case statements, business plans, event and conference management, and project management.