Michal Ann is retired as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of City Development for the city of Milwaukee. Her work experience includes: Special Assistant to Mayor John Norquist; Staff Assistant to the Commissioner of City Development; Staff to the Finance and Personnel Committee of the Common Council; Past Commissioner of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Commission; and Past Commissioner of the Plan Commission of the City of Milwaukee.

Besides her involvement with VetsNet, Michal Ann is currently a member of the Shorewood Community Development Authority and Vice President of Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative (MHVI).

Her past memberships include: Professional Dimensions; YWCA of Greater Milwaukee; YMCA of Greater Milwaukee; Women's Fund of Milwaukee; Local Initiatives Support Corporation (USC); Select Milwaukee organization; and Menomonee Valley Partners

Michal Ann earned her BA and Graduate Education credential from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has pursued graduate work at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Michal Ann is married to Chris Dawson, PHO researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin. They have two children, Marcey Gulley (teacher) and Brian Dawson (lawyer,) and five grandchildren - Dawson, Kana, Christopher, Jona and Jesse.

U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Veteran | Milwaukee, WI

Dave is a retired Captain in the USPHS where he spent 17 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 11 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He earned several awards for his scientific and leadership contributions during his service, which included the Outstanding Service, Meritorious Service, and Distinguished Service Medals. He received a medical degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan.

He is a member of the Military Officers Association of America and the Commissioned Officers Association. In the Milwaukee area, he is actively involved with the Northshore Kiwanis Club and as a volunteer tax preparer for low-income individuals through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. 

“I’m proud to serve as a member on the VetsNet board to help those who have given so much through their service to this country.”  

Nick Gomez is a Director, Private Wealth Advisor with BMO Private Bank

Nick serves as a lead advisor and relationship manager to high-net-worth individuals, families and organizations, including closely-held and family-owned businesses. Nick closely works with clients to gain a complete understanding of their lifestyle, career, philanthropic and wealth planning goals. Once he has a holistic understanding of his clients’ objectives, he engages a Client Strategy Team to create a unique and constantly evolving financial plan and strategy to help meet these goals. Nick joined the organization in 2021 and has over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Nick earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MBA in Finance from Concordia University Wisconsin. Nick has a Series 7, 24 and 66 securities licenses along with his life, health and annuities insurance licenses.

Nick is the current President with the UW Milwaukee Veteran Alumni Chapter. Nick resides in Bayside with his wife and three children. In his spare time Nick enjoys traveling, golf, lifting weights and spending time with family and friends.

Nick is also a Wisconsin National Guard Veteran, staff sergeant, with two deployments to Afghanistan. 

Eric Weiss is the founder and CEO of an importing company with offices in Brookfield, Fort Wayne, IN and Shanghai, serving businesses throughout the greater Midwest.

While not a veteran himself, he has long supported veteran organizations and causes. Eric earned a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he took extensive Chinese language courses. He also earned his MBA from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. Eric has remained active in the community through the coaching of youth soccer and basketball. He has served on the board of Lake Country Montessori as well as serving as Treasurer for the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative. Eric and his wife have four young children and live in Brookfield.

Caressa (Cari) has been employed at Rockwell Automation since October of 2016, first as a Lean Project Manager, where she spent 5 years managing projects, teaching corporate yellow belt classes, mentoring employees through their lean and six sigma certifications, and facilitating workshops using Lean methodologies to solve corporate problems.  Currently as the Workforce Consultant, she is facilitating and coaching leaders on executing long term workforce strategy, transforming the technical workforce, and meeting the evolving demand on technology skills.

Cari is a highly decorated 30-year veteran of the US Air Force, enlisting in 1988.  She spent 10 years as an enlisted airman, achieving Staff Sergeant rank in July 1992.  She was then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in September 1998 and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in September 2013.  She was deployed to the Iraq/Afghanistan/Qatar theater of operations in 2010 where she received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and had two additional deployments to Italy and France.

Cari holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Management from Marion College and a Master of Science in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL. She also is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Cari and her husband are a blended family of 16 years (4 children and 4 grand kids).  They like to travel and spend time outdoors.  Cari likes hiking, doing yoga and spin classes. She also loves a good comedy or enjoys binge watching shows here and there with a glass of wine.

Mervyn Byrd is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and was a Signals Intelligence Analyst, serving from 1982 – 1987, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Byrd started his Marine Corps career as a Morse Code Intercept Operator, getting his training in Pensacola, FL and spent over two and a half years in Misawa, Japan in the capacities of Intercept Operator and Analyst. Byrd got his official certification as a SIGINT Analyst through Analysis School in Amarillo, TX. He also had deployments to Norway, Germany and England during his career in the Marine Corps. He was formerly the Vice President of Sales and Leadership Development at the Waukesha County Business Alliance. He has been there since 2014. The Alliance is a member-based business association, with the mission of driving economic growth to Waukesha County through the success of its member companies. Byrd also headed Leadership Waukesha County, Mervyn also previously had a career as a commercial banker. He has a BBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He and his wife Chantel have six children and live in Pewaukee with their grandson, Zyair

Mervyn Byrd is founder and CEO of Practical Execution Consulting Group (PractX). PractX is an executive coaching firm focused on leading and coaching leadership teams to align their vision around leadership, strategy, talent, execution, customers, profit and systems. Mervyn’s Vistage CEO Peer Advisory Group work also falls under this umbrella. Mervyn chairs, facilitates and coaches two Vistage Peer Advisory Groups of CEOs in the Greater Milwaukee Area. His group meet monthly for a full day to address their most pressing issues. Mervyn also coaches the CEOs one to one to illuminate blind spots and to challenge their thinking and execution.

Colonel Knabe's 28 years in the Air Force have enabled her to travel to 20 different countries and deploy four times in support of U.S. national security objectives. Her military resume includes Air Force Reservist assigned to the Chief of Media and Opinion Leader Engagement Secretary of the Air Force /Public Affairs, Pentagon,Washington, D.C.; Senior Integrated Communications Planner, Central Command Office of Military Commissions (Guantanamo Bay War Court); and PentagonKnabe offers dynamic leadership as a Public Relations/Public Affairs Counselor and Strategist - adept at all !eve's o· rommunication - tactical, operational and strategic. She has more t an 20 years of experience in public relations, crisis commun' ation, government relations and military public affairs. Her accreditation in Public Relations (military emphasis) further demonstrates her expertise and thorough understanding of complex communication issues, policies and practices. Areas of expertise include: Issues Management, (-suite consultation, Nonprofit and Government Communications, Leadership Positioning, Senior Executive Media Training, Outreach and Engagement, External Communications and Community Relations, Digital Strategy, International Relations, Public Affairs, MediaTraining and Strategic Communications Planning. A Marquette College of Communications graduate, she also earned her Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D in Public Relations, Education and Distance Learning from Marquette University. She has taught public relations, journalism and communications at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for 17 years. Knabe is most proud of juggling a family, a civilian job, and her Reserve commitment for more than two decades.

Joe Dean founded the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight in 2008 and the documentary film: Honor Flight received seven separate awards. The movie quickly climbed to the number one ranked documentary at Amazon.com and it set the Guinness World Record for the largest movie premiere in history (shown to a sell-out crowd at Miller Park). The book, Honor Flight: A Visual Journey, was released on Veterans Day and has raised over $250,000 for veteran causes. A 28-year IBM executive, Dean is also the former Mayor of Port Washington, as well as a past County Board Supervisor, Chairman of Health and Human Services and recently retired Senior Advisor in the U.S. Senate. Dean was voted Port’s Citizen of the Year and has received numerous awards including Rotary’s Paul Harris recognition, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s (Master of Science Degree) Distinguished Alumni Award, and the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Service Award. Dean, is the father of four children. He is the son of WWII hero David A. Dean. Joe is an Ultra Marathon runner, former YMCA Director and serves on several Boards including the War Memorial Center. As an advocate for families and children working through the many issues in the area of pediatric cancer – Dean worked on the U.S. Senate team, actively seeking solutions, partnerships, funding and appropriate legislation. Joe is also the author the children’s book: My Dog Named Hope, with all proceeds going to pediatric cancer research and services.

Veteran Supporter | Delafield, WI

Tim is the Director of Private Wealth Management at Robert W. Baird & Co. While not a veteran himself, he is dedicated to serving all those who have worn the uniform. He has many veterans in his family who have demonstrated the values of patriotism, honor and sacrifice.

As he is very active in his community, Tim has served on several local boards and is involved with many charities and organizations. He enjoys golf, skiing and road trips with his family.

“VetsNet is on the front line of serving our veteran community. As a volunteer I am able to see firsthand the difference we make”

Dirk J. Debbink (Vice Admiral – USNR Retired) served as the 12th Chief of Navy Reserve in Washington, D.C., from 2008–2012. His service as a Surface Warfare Officer included approximately 11 years active duty and 24 years of drilling reserve duty. In his civilian capacity, he is Chairman & CEO of MSI General Corporation in Oconomowoc, WI. The company is a medium size design/build general contractor specializing in new construction and renovation of industrial, retail, commercial and institutional buildings throughout Southeast Wisconsin. Debbink serves on the board of directors of Cincinnati Financial Corporation of Cincinnati, OH; U.S. Naval Institute in Annapolis, MD; Froedtert Health System in Milwaukee, WI; Navy League of the United States, Milwaukee Council; and Fisher House of Wisconsin. Debbink earned his BS degree in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1977 and his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1990. He holds his registered Professional Engineer and Real Estate Broker licenses in the State of Wisconsin and is a licensed private pilot. Married to Teresa (Terry) Debbink, they have four children and seven grandchildren. Their two sons are currently serving on active duty with the U.S. Navy as Naval Aviators.

Carl P. Meyer has a great passion for those who are and have served our Nation. He is a tireless advocate of Veterans employment, who lives in Merton, WI. To support those who have served he holds a golfing event every 4th of July, 100 Holes for Our Heroes benefiting Hire Heroes USA. Hire Heroes USA seeks to connect U.S. military veterans with civilian jobs. Over the past 11 years, Hire Heroes has placed over 20,000 Veterans into new jobs. For 10 straight years, Meyer has played at least 100 holes of golf at Chenequa Country Club to raise money and awareness for the charity and has cumulatively raised more than $650,000. In 2017, he played 180 holes over 16 hours and 35 minutes. Meyer said the highlight of the day was spending time on the course with retired Staff Sgt. John Matter and Erin Kuhlmann from Hire Heroes USA, as well as his friend and excellent fore caddie Bob Mallow. Meyer is the Executive Vice President of The Wetrich Group, a health care management consulting firm assisting medical device companies and medical/surgical distributors to optimize their opportunities in the US Healthcare market. He and his wife Amy have one daughter, Tiernan (Washington, D.C.) and one son, Drew (Charlottesville, VA).

Saul Newton is a U.S. Army veteran and was an infantry team leader from 2009–2012. Newton was deployed to the Kandahar, Afghanistan from 2010–2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Newton was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After leaving the Army, Newton returned to his hometown of Milwaukee, WI, to pursue his education at the University of Wisconsin – Waukesha.