Veterans Welcome

Joe is a 23-year Retired U.S. Navy Veteran and seasoned marketing professional with a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and community impact. Throughout his military career, he developed extensive experience collaborating with military and government agencies, cultivating strategic partnerships, and leading with integrity under pressure. Following his retirement from the Navy, Joe built over two decades of experience working closely with physicians, nurses, and diverse public populations. His work has consistently centered on relationship-building, operational excellence, and mission-driven results—skills that now directly support the vision of Warriors Retreat. At Warriors Retreat, Joe plays a vital role in advancing initiatives that serve and support veteran communities. His leadership is grounded in firsthand understanding of the challenges veterans face during transition and reintegration. He is passionate about creating tangible pathways to stability, dignity, and long-term success for those who have served. Joe brings strategic insight, operational discipline, and a servant-leadership mindset to every endeavor, helping position Warriors Retreat as a scalable, community-centered solution for veteran housing and support services.

Jeff comes from a multi-generational military family with service that dates back to before the Revolutionary War. Jeff’s father, uncles, brothers, sister, brother-in-law, two daughters and son are all military veterans. Jeff is nationally recognized for the creation of lasting venture ecosystems, and co-authored in 2021 the Amazon bestselling book, Creating Startup Junkies – Building Sustainable Venture Ecosystems in Unexpected Places. Jeff has held senior leadership positions in nine startups and multiple Fortune 500 companies including American Freightways and FedEx Freight. He has made more than 90+ venture investments. Jeff now leads Startup Junkie Consulting, and co-leads Innovation Junkie and Cadron Capital Partners. Jeff served as Associate Vice Provost, Research and Economic Development, and Director of Technology Ventures at the University of Arkansas until leaving to pursue Startup Junkie Consulting full-time in 2015. Jeff served as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at University of Arkansas from 2009-2024. Jeff graduated from United States Naval Academy in 1984, served as an Air Force Officer for 6 years, and holds a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.

Gerry , a founding member of Warriors Retreat, is a retired attorney with more than 30 years of experience in private practice. Throughout his career, he also served as County Attorney and County Counselor for Clark County, Kansas, dedicating much of his work to public service and the administration of justice. In addition to his legal career, Gerry has been actively involved in professional and community leadership. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Kansas Bar Association and the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association. Gerry has also contributed to the community as a board member for New Chance, Inc., an organization supporting individuals in recovery and reintegration. Gerry brings decades of legal expertise, governance experience, and a strong commitment to service to his role with Warriors Retreat, helping guide the organization’s mission to provide stable, supportive housing and resources for veterans.

Scott, is a 22-year Wall Street investment banker with Lehman Brothers, bringing extensive financial, strategic, and housing development expertise to Warriors Retreat. Following his career in investment banking, Scott transitioned his focus toward community impact and recovery-based housing solutions. He has played a key role in implementing structured housing models for individuals in recovery, helping create stable, accountable environments that promote long-term transformation and self-sufficiency. Alongside his wife, he was instrumental in establishing Oxford House homes, supporting sustainable peer-led recovery communities. Scott is also deeply committed to education and entrepreneurship. He has served as an adjunct faculty member teaching entrepreneurship at North Arkansas College (NorthArk), Portland State University, University of Alaska Anchorage, and in graduate business programs including École Supérieure de Commerce de Marseille and Sorbonne University. His academic work has centered on entrepreneurship, venture development, and economic sustainability. A founding member of the Recovery Center of the Ozarks and a founding partner of Warriors Retreat, Scott serves as a vital resource and community connector. He brings financial acumen, housing implementation experience, and a deep understanding of recovery ecosystems to support Warriors Retreat’s mission of building structured, sustainable housing communities for veterans.

A dedicated veteran advocate with eight years of leadership and hands-on service through organizations such as Honor Flight Network, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Rolling Thunder, she has committed her time and expertise to serving those who have served our nation. Her work has focused extensively on housing placement, benefits access, and VA system navigation for homeless and at-risk veterans. With a deep understanding of the barriers many veterans face—including paperwork challenges, service-connected disability claims, and transitional instability—she works diligently to bridge the gap between need and access to critical resources. Known for her persistence, compassion, and practical problem-solving, she walks alongside veterans through some of their most difficult seasons, ensuring they are not navigating complex systems alone. Her advocacy is grounded in trust, relationship-building, and the belief that every veteran deserves dignity, stability, and a clear path forward. At Warriors Retreat, she plays a vital role in connecting veterans to safe, stable housing and comprehensive support services, helping transform uncertainty into opportunity and restoring hope one family at a time.

Pete brings more than five decades of professional experience in military service, energy operations, executive leadership, and consulting to the Warriors Retreat team. A U.S. Army veteran who served as a Microwave Satellite Radio Operator and Repairman, he built his career on precision, accountability, and technical expertise.

Throughout his career, Pete has held senior roles including District Manager, Fracture Engineer Supervisor, Training Director, Hydraulic Fracture Supervisor, and Fracture & Completion Consultant for several respected energy firms. His experience spans operations management, personnel training and mentoring, sales and client relations, vendor oversight, and complex problem-solving.

A Lifetime Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers since 1981, Pete is recognized for his commitment to safety, innovation, and operational excellence. His background in logistics, systems development, and team leadership strengthens the mission of Warriors Retreat to build and sustain housing for those who have served.

Elizabeth, whose father and grandfathers are veterans, is a faith-driven leader, educator, and community builder committed to creating sustainable pathways of stability for veterans and their families. As Founding Organizers of Warriors Retreat, Elizabeth and her husband, José combine strategic leadership with servant-hearted compassion to address one of the most pressing challenges facing veterans today: safe, dignified housing paired with long-term support. Elizabeth has worked alongside several startup companies, helping implement administrative systems, document design, and strategic marketing initiatives. She has supported early-stage organizations in building operational structure. A former councilwoman, and former member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Elizabeth brings public leadership experience, policy insight, and understanding of community development. Her work bridges grassroots compassion with practical, scalable solutions that create measurable impact. She understands discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, qualities that now drive her work in veteran housing development, partnership cultivation, and long-term community planning.

Chris Johnson is a veteran of the United States Air Force and is also the son of an Air Force veteran. Chris grew up around the world in many different countries as his father was stationed throughout Asia, the Middle East as well as many states here in the United States. Chris served proudly in the United States Air Force and then after his time in the military, he worked for 20 years as  Senior Division Manager for international business for a major telecommunications organization owning their International business and much of their U.S. based business on the East Coast. Chris is an active member in his community and is an advocate for veterans affairs. With specialized skills in call center management, technology implementation, and with project management along with people management. Chris is an inspirational leader and a driving force for technology implementation, as he is certified in generative AI for business.