2021-2022 Board of Directors

Southwestern Oregon Veterans Outreach, Inc.
Board of Directors
2021-2022

Rick Anderson – President

Born in Coquille, OR, Rick returned home after retiring from 30 years in the Navy (over 20 of that with the Marine Corps) He now spends a large portion of his time volunteering in support of local veterans and veteran support groups.

 

 

 

Kyle Brown – Vice President

Kyle Brown was a Sergeant in the United States Marine corps, where he served for 8 years as a Motor transportation operator. Served in multiple different countries and was deployed in 2011-2012 to Lybia. After leaving the  Marines Corps in 2016, he decided to give back to the community. He helped start Operation Rebuild Hope and began my high school football coaching career at Marshfield high school. In 2018 my wife and I became foster parents as a way to serve our children in the community. In July 2020 I also became a CASA (Court appointed special advocate) to help better serve to foster kids in my community. In 2018 I also became the girls varsity assistant basketball coach.  I am currently still coaching football and basketball and a active foster parent and CASA as well as the Vice President of SOVO.

 Thomas “Tom” Benz –Secretary/Treasurer

Tom graduated from high school in Lebanon, Oregon, and joined the U.S. Army shortly after. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1969, including Vietnam in 1968. He received an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Southwestern Oregon Community College. From 1969 to 1997, Tom served with the Oregon State Police as a Game Officer, Patrol Officer, and a Detective. Tom has a strong desire to serve veterans, particularly those who have experienced PTSD. He has been with SOVO since 2012. In addition to serving as Treasurer.

 

Teka Brown – Director

Teka Brown served at the Navy-Marine Corp Relief society when her husband Kyle Brown was stationed in Okinowa Japan from 2013-2016. She served as training coordinator, performed weekly briefs for each command on base and recruited and trained new volunteers. She was a key starting member of Operation Rebuild Hope in 2016 and served as a board member until 2018. She has been with Kyle for 15 years and together they have 4 beautiful children. She is also a local business owner.

 

Matt Hays – Director (and Veteran Services Officer)

Matt Hays served in the Army from 2007-2011 as a Watercraft Operator at Fort Eustic, VA. After leaving the military he went to Yakutat, Alaska where he spent two years as a commercial fisherman while living off-grid in a tent and then in an abandoned cabin on the Situk River. He served in the Army Reserve from Feb.2014-to Aug. 2020. He has also worked as a SSVF homelest Veteran housing Case Manager and as Director of the Coos County Veterans Department since July 2019. As a Veteran Services Officer, he assists veterans and veteran families to obtain and retain benefits from the VA. In addition to volunteering with SOVO, he is active in the AmVets Post 10, Board member of FVA, and a supporter of Operation Rebuild Hope. He is the father of two daughters.

 

Mark Winders – Director

Mark is the newest director appointed in September 2018.  He is returning to service with SOVO as he was one of the founding members and previously served on the board. Mark served in the Marine Corps from 1968-1972 and was in Vietnam from 1969-1970. He drove an E1AMTrack and blew up minefields.  He worked diligently to establish the David  Dewett Veterans Memorial Wayside and is still working with volunteers and community partners to complete the Memorial.  He also volunteers with PointMan Ministries, where he has been assisting other veterans since 2001. Mark is a Peer Facilitator for PTSD groups.

 

Chuck Reinas – Director

Chuck is a retired Coos County resident, A US Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran. His background is in accounting.

 

 

 

 

Krystal Hopper – Director (Communications)

Krystal is the proud daughter of a military family and a strong advocate for Veterans. She serves as co-lead of the annual North Bend Veterans Stand Down and the South Coast Veterans Assistance Network (SCVAN). She serves on the Board for the Oregon Coast Military Museum and is a member of the Oregon South Coast Patriot Guard Riders. She facilitated the founding of the Women Veterans of the Oregon Coast and was instrumental in the founding of SWOCC Student Veteran Organization, where she was a vocal advocate for the current Veterans Center on campus. Krystal has served as the Director of Communications for Operation Rebuild Hope, currently serves as an Alumni Board Member, and has volunteered many hours towards their Veteran Housing projects, which include the Timberwolves Den and Bryan’s Home.

Kim Wesman- Director

Kim and her family are passionate about our Veterans, coming from a long line of dedicated family members that have served. Tehy enjoy volunteering their time to help serve the needs of veterans and honoring their dedication to our country.
Kim Wesman is owner and Agent of Farmers Insurance in Coos Bay. Born and and raised in Coos Bay, she married her husband, Steve Wesman, of North Bend. They have raised their four kids, two girls and two boys, that all still reside her locally. They enjoy boating, fishing, hunting, camping and time together as a family.

 

Steve Wesman – Director

I was born and raised in the North Bend/Coos Bay area and have lived here my whole life. I have a wonderful wife to whom I have been married to for 16 years, 4 children, two dogs, one cat, numerous goldfish in my pond and a goat. I enjoy participating in outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, hunting, water sports, ATV riding in the dunes and floating tubes on rivers on lazy sunny days. I enjoy travel with my family and have been to the Navy Pier and the Bean in Chicago. I’ve seen the blue ice of Michigan and survived a hurricane in Cancun. I watched the Fourth of July fireworks at Lake Tahoe. I have toured Mazatlán. I have zip lined, repelled and swam with the dolphins in Cabo San Lucas. I have been to Washington DC, twice….it is so worth the trip, and watched the Fourth of July fireworks from the Capital lawn.

Patrick Murphy – Office Coordinator

Patrick Murphy is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the SOVO office.  He assists the Board of Directors (primarily Tom Benz) with applications for funding from local and area grant-making organizations; he maintains the SOVO filing system and policy manuals, updating files as necessary; he works with SOVO volunteers, and participates in SOVO-sponsored activities.

Patrick is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, and proudly served in the South Dakota Army National Guard and US Army Reserve from 1980 – 1988.  He credits his military service to his father, who was a career Army officer with combat service in both Korea and Vietnam.

Patrick retired from corporate life in 2019, after a 36-year career that included positions in state, federal and tribal government; non-profit organizations and foundation leadership; and the private sector, including over 10 years as a self-employed communications and management consultant.

Patrick is married and has six adult children.  He recently relocated to Oregon from South Dakota, and spends his weekends exploring coastal Oregon and its many communities.