Together our team of experts bring over 140 years of experience assisting and advocating for veterans.
James (Jim) Finley - Volunteers with the Minnesota Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) as their Employer Outreach Director. ESGR is a Department of Defense program that started in 1972 and works with both employers and service members. Jim worked 40 years for the Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), retiring in 2019 as the Director of Veterans Employment and Training Programs. Mr. Finley is a Viet Nam era Veteran who served with the Army's 9th Infantry Division. Besides ESGR, Jim also volunteers with a non-profit called Veterans Resilience Project (VRP) that provides no-cost trauma therapy to ANY Minnesota Veteran.
Dean Ascheman - Is a U.S. Army veteran, Graduate of U of MN Carlson school of Management, retired IBM executive (40 yrs.) with software development, software service, and international marketing experience. Former Adjutant/executive Director of MN Disabled American Veterans organization and Foundation and served on seven foundation board of directors.
Annette Brechon Kuyper is an accomplished community relations leader. As a Blue Star Mother, Annette created the nationally known Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program uniting over 500 communities, companies and military support organizations in support of service members, veterans and military families. Annette is passionate about workforce development for veterans and partnered with over 100 Minnesota Companies, including 14 Fortune 500 Companies to enhance veteran employee recruiting, hiring and retaining policies. She remains dedicated to the care of veterans as the Secretary of the Bloomington Beyond Yellow Ribbon Network. A graduate of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, Annette grew up in Bloomington, MN and married her high school sweetheart. They enjoy spending as much time as possible with their six grandchildren.
Greg Peterson - Is a Certified Veterans Advocate, one of three in Minnesota. As the Director of Veterans Services for Brown County, he oversees all facets of obtaining earned benefits for Veterans, dependents, survivors, National Guard and Reservists, and Gold Star families. A consummate leader, Greg served as President of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers for 2.5 years, where he implemented a strategic plan that focused on training the state's 155 Service Officers, positively impacting legislative decisions, and developing professional relationships with their stakeholders. Before his 2004 appointment as a Veterans Service Officer, Greg served nearly 24 years in the United States Air Force as a Career Enlisted Aviator in the Loadmaster field. He has over 7,000 in-flight hours on the C-17 and C-141 jet transports. He participated in every conflict, from the Grenada operation in 1983 to Operation Southern Watch. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Six Air Force Commendation medals, and many more theater medals. Greg is a member of The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Professional Loadmaster Association, and he is the Treasurer for the Minnesota Veterans for Veterans Trust. He hails from New Ulm, MN, and lives on his family's 1880 farm with his spouse and Blue Heeler dog.
John Baker is currently the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers. He is a retired tenured Professor of Criminal Justice at St. Cloud State University. John is also retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant after serving twenty-two years in various infantry, artillery, and administrative capacities in numerous locations within the United States and around the world. He graduated magna cum laude from Saint Cloud State University and is a graduate of Hamline University School of Law. John is a licensed attorney having previously represented veterans in the criminal justice system and with a variety of legal issues that are related to their military service. John chaired the initiative to start Veterans Courts in Minnesota. Minnesota Lawyer named John as an Attorney of the Year in 2010 for this work. In addition, John has been active at the Minnesota legislature and Congress writing legislation to benefit veterans. He was also an instructor with the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute (UMPCI) traveling the nation teaching de-escalation to law enforcement.
Randy Tesdahl - Served from 1977-1997 Active Service in the United States Marine Corps, 1999-2004 with Dol Vets. Dept. of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Program through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Security. Served as a DVOP Disabled Veterans Outreach Program specialist helping put veterans back to work. Also served as an LVER Local Veterans Employment Rep working with employers in understanding the benefits of hiring veterans. 2004-2019…15 years The American Legion Department MN (MN State) Veteran Service Officer. Here I was responsible for Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation activities relating to disability claims and VA hospital patient advocacy. In 2009 was selected to serv as the Minnesota State Adjutant (Exec. Director) of the Minnesota American Legion. In this role I covered all matters of the largest veterans’ service organization in Minnesota, serving over 100,000 members at over 600 Posts and communities in Minnesota. In 2019 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and took medical retirement. As such, I voluntarily help fellow Marines that have disabilities because of exposure to drinking water at Camp Lejeune NC. I now volunteer with several veterans’ groups & activities: TRR Team River Runner... We provide VA approved training for disabled veterans and have regular outing for all levels throughout the year (winter months we are in an indoor pool). Magnus Veterans Foundation... They provide professional medical, mental health, physical, spiritual, and overall wellness services to Veterans and their family members free of charge to them.
Tim (Timothy) Murray MBA Carlson School of Business, U of M BA Macalester College. Tim’s business career can be summarized by his favorite saying when talking about his 40+ year business background: “Back when I used to be who I thought I was, I was a “big deal”, and if you didn’t believe me, I would have told you such”. Those “Big Deal” jobs included 9 start-ups, 10 roles as Senior Vice President, CEO, or Chairman in industries ranging from financial services to trucking to medical services and an art gallery. Today, Tim is a grateful recovering alcoholic, helping save men’s lives one-day-at-a-time as Executive Director of Bravo Zulu House, an all-military sober home unique in the nation helping Veterans dealing with BOTH PTSD and substance abuse. Bravo Zulu House is a spinoff from Trinity Sober Homes, a post-treatment sober housing organization Tim co-founded with Colonel Father Martin Fleming in 2011. At Bravo Zulu House, Tim has banded together with Military Leaders all across the state and together they are declaring war on PTSD. See www.bravozuluhouse.org
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