WAR ERA VETERANS ALLIANCE

War Era Veterans Team

Matt and Dorie Kershaw Matt grew up on Orange county and has over 15 years experience in financial planning. From real estate to securities, employee benefits, health, life and long term care insurance, he specializes in helping families plan for catastrophic healthcare costs using traditional and alternative strategies.

Dorie grew up in Chicago and has over 20 years experience as an executive general manager of national corporations and over 10 years experience in the financial services industry, working with group benefits and pension plans.  Dorie graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Jacquie Scalet Before joining War Era Veterans in 2008, Jacquie worked as a paralegal. She grew up in Detroit, and has two sons, the elder of which is studying to become a veterinarian. She plays softball and volleyball in her free time. Jacquie is the daughter of a decorated Vietnam Veteran who underwent brain surgery during his tour. After his recovery, he became a chaplain for the Detroit Police Department and then worked as a Veterans Service Officer at the Veterans Administration until he retired. As you can see, Jacquie has inherited her passion for helping American Veterans from her father. She has an unending compassion and dedication to the families she supports at War Era Veterans.

Kelly EndresBeginning in the insurance business while still in high school, Kelly underwrote policies for cars, homes, and property. First licensed at age eighteen, he later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in business from Cal State – Fullerton. His diverse experience includes over seven years in the non-profit sector enrolling individuals in drug rehabilitation and literacy programs. Kelly grew up in Orange County and now lives in Sylmar with his wife, Donna, and their young son Logan.

Donna Endres Coming from a human resources consulting background, Donna joined War Era Veterans over two years ago as a community liaison in the Glendale and Arcadia areas. She also has extensive experience in private sector education.

She has two grown daughters and a thirteen-year-old son Logan. When she’s not working, gardening, or practicing photography, she can be found spending time with her seven-month-old granddaughter, Lilly.

Kevin RichardsBenefits and Long Term Care Insurance Specialist, Kevin has 7 years experience helping seniors and their families protect their assets so as to receive the many different benefits that they are entitled to. Additionally, Kevin can help the families of our veterans protect and grow their own savings and retirement accounts (IRAs) so that they too are prepared for possible future long term care needs.

Teresa HernandezTeresa has been working in the financial industry for twelve years and holds her Series 7 and 66 as well as her California Insurance License. She attended college at San Diego State University where she studied finance administration. Teresa has been managing the paperwork involved in making certain our veterans and spouses are financially qualified for the Veterans Long Term Care Benefit. She is also a passionate advocate for families, using her communication and organization skills to act as a liaison between financial institutions, families and our specialists.

Kristy O'BrienHer expertise in database management and attention to detail make Kristy one of the hardest working members of the War Era Veterans team. She grew up in San Diego, the daughter of a veteran, and now lives in Laguna Niguel with her husband and two sons. She is a avid karaoke singer.

Donna RybackiDonna has spent the last four years spreading the word regarding the Veterans Long Term Care Benefit to senior communities and care providers throughout southern California. She is a tireless advocate for senior veterans, working long hours and logging many miles in order to fulfill our passionate mission. Donna is also a reliable communicator and good will ambassador. The proud mother of six wonderful children, Donna lives in Orange County with her youngest daughter and her boyfriend Mike.

Jillian FirnJillian Firn joined War Era Veterans in 2009 and has since expanded her role to encompass public relations, advertising, event planning, and production of Senior Life Radio. A 2008 graduate of University of California - Santa Cruz, she spent time abroad and graduated with degrees in Classical Brazilian Literature and Psychology. Jillian loves representing War Era Veterans, and educating the community about the work we do. In her free time she enjoys traveling and rooting for the Minnesota Vikings.

Elizabeth RossElizabeth joined our team with enthusiasm and a great deal of experience in building relationships during her career. Elizabeth is a licensed advocate and works closely with our partners in the field to educate others about the benefits available to them. She is also the local radio host of Veterans Connection, a weekly program found on Senior Life Radio KCEO. Elizabeth grew up in New Orleans and is the daughter and granddaughter of Vietnam and WWII veterans. She enjoys distance running, reading, and volunteering at schools and various charities.

Nabila BolisayNabila grew up in Anaheim, California. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2008 with a degree in political science. She then spent two years working on Capitol Hill in multiple US Congressional Offices. She came to War Era Veterans in 2011 in order to make a tangible difference in the lives of the people she assists. She enjoys jazz music and learning to play the guitar.

Keith DennisKeith is the newest member of the War Era Veterans team, bringing fifteen years experience in management and quality assurance to the team. Formerly an employee of Boeing, he has been a resident of Orange County for thirty years. He has been married to his wife Anita for thirty years and they live in Placentia with their two sons.

Michelle Vale Michelle is the voice of War Era Veterans. She has been taking calls and managing all War Era Veterans Alliance calendars for over four years. Her compassion and dedication to our mission is proven day after day. Michelle is not only a wife and mother to four of her own children, she has lovingly made a home for several other teens in need. Her kindheartedness knows no boundaries. Michelle is also lovingly called the Dr. Dolittle of her hometown. Throughout the years, she has taken in over seven dogs, a parakeet, a hairless guinea pig, a bearded dragon lizard, a tarantula, tortoises, baby ducks and believe it or not a pot bellied pig - Just to name a few.

Bebe Hastings Bebe grew up in Old Town Orange and graduated from Orange High School. Prior to joining War Era Veterans she managed a local Starbucks. She enjoys disc golf and spending time with her family.

Bridget Sherriff Since the age of seventeen Bridget has dedicated her life to helping successfully teach study methods around the world, including Thailand and Gambia. She and her husband have been married for twenty-five years and have raised three wonderful girls. Bridget takes great pleasure in helping veterans and their spouses live more comfortably with help from the VA benefit.

Carla Dominguez The daughter of a WWII veteran who received the Aid & Attendance benefit with the help of War Era Veterans, Carla was so enthusiastic that she came on board and has made it her mission to educate veterans in the South Bay area. She attended University at Cal State – Dominguez Hills and she is also a part-time substitute teacher who lives in Torrance with her daughter and her boyfriend.

Shannon Heika Taking on the task of populating the WEVA claimant tracking system, Shannon has used her organization skills to help scan and input over 5000 veterans and spouses completed application into a secured datebase. This is a HUGE task and one Shannon does when she is not in school studying to become a doctor at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Aimee Aimee grew up outside Detroit. She worked for eight years in the automotive industry as a program manager. She recently had a beautiful son named Sam and has an outstanding attention to detail. Her mission is to make certain all applications submitted to the VA are completed accurately to continue our timely approval rates.

Cindy Ruggero Cindy is the newest member of our Pension Processing Team. Cindy lives in Macomb County with her husband and children and enjoys boating during the summer months. Cindy brings many years of administrative experience to her position at War Era Veterans. Her data processing skills and attention to detail have quickly made her an important addition to our team.

Founders

Mark and Marianne McCauley In 2003, the McCauleys' created a community out-reach program designed to help educate veterans and their families about the Veterans Long Term Care Benefit, better known as the Improved Pension with Aid & Attendance Program.

In the past eight years, they have been responsible for educating tens of thousands of families regarding the benefit and has supported thousands through the application process.

Mark and his family relocated to Southern California in 2008 and established War Era Veterans Alliance, the leading Advocate for Senior War Era Veterans and their families.

“We Serve You Now,
Because You’ve Earned It!”