The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is proud to welcome the 60 members of our 2025 Bunker Labs Ambassador cohort! After a rigorous selection process, we’ve chosen individuals dedicated to helping veterans and military spouses navigate their post-service journey, no matter if that’s helping veterans and their families connect with resources or organizations, or helping entrepreneurs from our community make the right local connections so their business can thrive.
These individuals are about to embark on a huge undertaking on behalf of veterans and their families in their region. Each is already familiar with aspects of the veteran service ecosystem in their area, but they’re going to take that to another level over the next year. Each Ambassador undertakes an Ecosystem Leadership Project designed to help veterans and military families access new resources, or better access existing ones. They’ll receive advanced training in how to map and develop local resources over two fly-in training events, as well as monthly virtual sessions.
This is also the first year we’ve added the new Regional Lead Ambassador position. These experienced Ambassadors help support the other Ambassadors in their region to ensure they’re able to best support veterans and military families in their area, and get the most out of their Ecosystem Leadership Project.
Let’s Give a Warm Welcome
Join us as we welcome this new cohort of selfless leaders to the IVMF family. If you’re a business owner or relevant resource provider, we encourage you to reach out to your local Ambassador and let them know who you are, what you do, and what opportunities you’re looking for. We’d also encourage you to let them know what resources you might have to offer as a contact to someone with less experience.
- Atlanta Ambassador, Brittany Ogden
- Atlanta Ambassador Dan Graham
- Atlanta Ambassador, Grover Henry
- Atlanta Ambassador, John Thomas
- Atlanta Ambassador, Jokonda Millan
- Atlanta Ambassador, Margo Ellis
- Atlanta Regional Lead, Michael Parks
- Austin Ambassador, Lauren Postler
- Boston Ambassador, Daniel Morden
- Charleston Ambassador, Moniek James
- Charleston Ambassador, Rachelle Waite-Bey
- Charlotte Regional Lead, Charlie Eadie
- Chicago Ambassador, Ryan Hunt
- Chicago Regional Lead, Lindsay Kough
- Colorado Springs Regional Lead, Samuel Westfall
- Denver Ambassador, Caza Gomis
- Denver Ambassador, Mike Barela
- Denver Regional Lead, Nathan Gray
- Houston Ambassador, Melanie Harleaux
- Houston Ambassador, Odie Gray
- Houston Ambassador, Tiara Abu
- Houston Regional Lead, Henry Bahn
- Indianapolis Ambassador, Luke Medvegy
- Jacksonville Ambassador, Mamie Pack
- Los Angeles Ambassador, Michael Segal
- Miami Ambassador, Alberto Porro
- Minneapolis Regional Lead, Jay Sachetti
- Nashville Ambassador, Bounyasith Mitthivong
- New York City Ambassador, Dr. Mecca Nelson
- New York City Ambassador, Dave Rossberg
- Philadelphia Ambassador, Raya Arbiol
- Philadelphia Ambassador, Stephen McKenna
- Philadelphia Regional Lead, Neferteri Strickland
- Phoenix Ambassador, Jerry Thielmann
- Portland Regional Lead, Keith Sherill
- Raleigh – Durham Ambassador, Paul Torrez
- Raleigh – Durham Regional Lead, Simon Karmarkar
- Rapid City Ambassador, Chris Roness
- Rapid City Ambassador, Gordon Decker
- Salt Lake City Ambassador, Becky Guertler
- San Antonio Ambassador, Alantheus Thompson
- San Antonio Ambassador, Melanie McCoy
- San Antonio Regional Lead, Laura Narpaul
- San Antonio Regional Lead, Rick Narpaul
- San Diego Ambassador, Nathalie Kocis
- San Diego Ambassador, Orlando Gonzalez
- San Diego Regional Lead, Josh Schrader
- Seattle Ambassador, James Schueren
- Tampa Ambassador, Yvonne Wise
- Tampa Regional Lead, Maryam Khazraee
- National Capital Region (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) Ambassador, Jasmine Rush
- National Capital Region (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) Ambassador, Guy Timberlake
- National Capital Region (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) Ambassador, Jake Dulle
- National Capital Region (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) Ambassador, TJ Clark
- National Capital Region (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) Regional Lead, Rod Loges
- Wilmington, NC Ambassador, Roy Bechtold
Represent IVMF and Help Veterans as an Ambassador
If you have experience navigating your local veteran resource landscape and want to share what you’ve learned and serve others, you might be just the person we’re looking for to represent IVMF! As an Ambassador, you’re positioned at the center of your local veteran service organization ecosystem, where you’ll meet transitioning service members and their families, and up and coming veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, and help them find solutions to a variety of challenges as they grow into their post-service lives and chase their American Dream. If this sounds like you, we’d encourage you to fill out an interest form for the next selection cycle of the Ambassador Program today!