Who We Are

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.

Elizabeth Wells, MSN, RN specializes in Emergency Medicine at Liberty Hospital in Missouri. She graduated with her Bachelors in 2012 from The University of Kansas and her Masters from Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles in 2015. She's a daughter of two retired Army Officers. Both her step mother and her brother were both in the Army as well.

She is a Kansas girl at heart, who loves traveling abroad, hiking, camping, fishing, fostering animals, off road motorcycling, CrossFit and any and all things adrenaline bound. She also values the beauty in yoga, meditation, a good book, a long nap, a meaningful conversation, snuggles from her hound and a good strong glass of whiskey. She considers herself tenacious yet relatable.

Elizabeth lost her brother Murphy to suicide in February of 2019. Murphy served a tour in 2012 in Afghanistan as the Station Chief for the 750th Engineering Detachment. His profound loss has motivated Elizabeth into action. Elizabeth and her family have heavily participated in Caregivers on the Homefront's annual 5k fundraiser for the past three years. Elizabeth has represented her family as a spokesperson through words of loss, grief and hope. She touched many lives when she completed a raw and unfiltered Podcast hosted by Behind The Service. She discussed signs and symptoms, the grieving process for caregivers, how to start the difficult conversation and so much more you rarely hear about in terms of suicide. She is motivated to continue representing Veterans and their loved ones through involvement, compassion and action.

Michele Gregg CFM, SFP is an Engineering & Maintenance Manager with MilliporeSigma. Michele has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business with emphasis in Green and Sustainable Enterprise Management. She has worked in the facilities, properties, and engineering management fields for more than 20 years. Michele has been a member of the International Facility Management Association since 2007 and has served every role on the executive board including President. She also served on the Board of Trustees for the IFMA Foundation for more than three years. Michele and her significant other, Justin, enjoy spending quality time with their two girls, 15 and 8, doing a wide range of activities from cooking or reading together, to spending time outdoors.

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.

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.

Tosombra “Tai” Kimes is an idea generator that displays the true marks of a military brat flower, the dandelion. She’s bloomed wherever planted by the military. While stationed at Fort Bragg,North Carolina, with her husband and children, she earned her Etiquette Certification and opened a community preschool program. She ran that program which held eight different classes, as well as dabbled with other business ideas to include a nonprofit for youth and a marketing firm before moving to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Shortly after her move, she began volunteering in leadership roles with the local schools and local nonprofits.

Tai earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from American InterContinental University. She is a published author and also passionate about advocating for the youth and for military families. She is especially drawn to programs that support kids, women, and caregivers. As a caregiver herself, she is infamous for stating, “The military prepares you for the knock on the door, they do not prepare you for the phone call.”

Tai is a thought leader with 6 years of active military service. She is a caregiver to her husband who served 15 1⁄2 years active duty. His last tour to Afghanistan resulted in severe injuries thatled to his early retirement in 2015.

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.