The Cape and Islands
Veterans Outreach Center
Our mission is to provide comprehensive life sustaining services for veterans and their families.
Thanks to the continued generosity of our supporters, the Outreach Center is a robust and resourceful organization with the professional capacity to continue serving the veterans of the future.
What We Do
Providing Help & Supportive Services to Veterans & Their Families
We continue to strive for an innovative and integrated program of essential services which evolves as the needs of each new generation of veterans emerges.
Donate today to assist us in preserving and expanding our reach to Cape Cod veterans in need with programs that may save their lives.
Our Team
Cape & Islands Veterans Team
Jim Seymour, US Navy Veteran
Executive Director
Jim Seymour, US Navy Veteran
Executive Director
Mr. Seymour has devoted the majority of life to the service of others, beginning as the Associate Pastor at various parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston. During those years, he was also the Chaplain for various Police, Fire and Emergency Services agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His devotion to his fellow man led him to serve eight years as a Navy Chaplain in the US Naval Reserve, filling a wide range of assignments to various Naval and Marine Corps commands. During his service, he also attained the rank of Naval Lieutenant.
After leaving both the navy and the priesthood, Mr. Seymour invested 13 years working as a key member of the Human Resources leadership team at Cape Cod Healthcare. During his tenure at CCHC, Mr. Seymour was recognized as a leader among executives in healthcare management by becoming a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Prior to taking on the leadership role at the Cape and Islands Veterans Resource Center, Mr. Seymour was an Adjunct Professor with New England College of Business specializing in the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programs in Quality Systems Management. He also
served on the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center Board of Directors for three and a half years prior to assuming his new leadership position.
Mr. Seymour holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Suffolk University, and Master of Divinity from Saint John’s Seminary, as well as a Master of Healthcare Administration from Cambridge College.
Jim lives with his wife of ten years, Kristen, and his daughter Emily, in South Yarmouth.
Mike Gleason, US Army Veteran
Director of Finance and Operations
Mike Gleason
Director of Finance and Operations
Michael brings over thirty years of operational, logistical, and management experience to his role as Director of Finance and Operations at CIVOC. Before joining us, Michael had a long career in the private and non-profit sectors, most recently working with Intuit and as a consultant. Prior to that, Michael spent the better part of two decades as the Chief Financial Officer locally and at a large, west coast company as well as a national nonprofit. In his role as CFO, Michael’s responsibilities included accounting, HR, business planning, training, key contract negotiations, and marketing. Michael joined the military immediately after high school and served as a Medical Specialist. During his time in the Army, he received both a “Letter of Commendation” as well as the “Commander’s Commendation for Military Merit”, before leaving the service. Michael has lived on Cape Cod for the last thirty-five years and in Centerville for twenty-four with his wife Christine, as well as his three children Alex, Lilly and Madison, and two dogs. He was promoted to Director of Finance and Operations in February, 2024.
Jeffrey Begg
Director of Development
Jeffrey Begg
Director of Development
Mr. Begg has had an expansive career in philanthropic work as a member of the development teams at Emmanuel College, Boston College, the Boston Ballet, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Jimmy Fund. He is well-known and highly regarded in the Boston nonprofit community for his prospect development, prospect management, and event management expertise. Mr. Begg is a Cape Cod native. He is an avid sports fan who has coached soccer, lacrosse, and skiing for over 25 years. Mr. Begg graduated from Cape Cod Academy and earned a degree in Marketing from Bentley
College.
Barbara-Anne Foley
Outreach & Programs Manager
Barbara-Anne Foley
Outreach & Programs Manager
Barbara-Anne Foley holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Family Counseling from Quinnipiac University. She has dedicated over 30 years of her career working in healthcare, 18 of which were spent as the Director of the Council on Aging for the Town of Harwich. In that role, she was responsible for providing programs and services to fulfill the health, educational, social, financial, recreational, outreach, food, and transportation needs of a growing elderly population in a safe, friendly, and comfortable environment.
Additionally, Ms. Foley is the Co-Director of the Holy Trinity Church Religious Education Program. In that role, she has worked with many homeless Veterans through her Youth Group’s work with the “Street Reach Program”, St. Clare’s Sober House, CHAMP House, and St, Joseph’s Shelter in Hyannis. This program takes introduces students to a range of ways in which they can make a difference in the lives of others.
Ms. Foley’s expertise in working with community and state service providers, collaborators and outreach organizations has allowed her to provide vital resources and activity programming necessary to meet the needs of new and already established veterans.
Ms. Foley has been married to her husband John for 35 years. They have 2 adult sons, and 2 grandchildren.
Carey Dobson, US Air Force Veteran
Manager – Case Management Services
Carey Dobson
Case Manager
Carey Dobson is a US Air Force Veteran who served as a Mental Health Tech at Travis Air Force Base and RAF Lakenheath, UK. She has a wide scope of knowledge and experience in the human services arena in both the military and the private sectors and has also worked in the Cape Cod community as a Care Coordinator at a non-profit transitional housing program. She has an extensive background in helping residents find long term, stable housing, adequate healthcare, employment, and other support services. A passionate advocate for her clients, Carey works hard to find available resources to meet the needs of all those in her care.
Carey has an Associates Degree in Mental Health Services from the Community College of the Air Force and is matriculating towards her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Thomas Edison State University. A Cape Cod native, Carey and her husband retired from the Air Force and returned home after serving in multiple duty locations as part of their military service. They have three children and an old yellow lab named Travis, and during her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, reading, cooking, and traveling.
Dr. David Mishkin
Counselor
Dr. David Mishkin
Counselor
- BA in Psychology, Clark University; MA in Psychology, Boston University, PhD in Neuropsychology, Boston University
- Greater than 30 year career as neuropsychologist and life coach
- Alternates between traditional counseling and mindfulness training offering a selection of modalities depending upon client preference and effectiveness of approach
Lt Col Dwayne Turmelle, USAF, (Retired)
SSVF Program Coordinator
Lt Col Dwayne Turmelle, USAF, (Retired)
SSVF Program Coordinator
- BA, Political Science, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; MA, Human Resources Management, Webster University; scheduled to receive MPA, Suffolk University
- 21 years service in the United States Air Force, 5 year employee of the organization as Housing and Homelessness Prevention Manager, and employed for the last 4 years by the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center as the Cape & Islands SSVF Program Coordinator
- Offering a high level of expertise and compassion in the implementation of the homelessness prevention program, accessing the resources of multiple collaborators to ensure the success of his veteran clients and their families.
MaryRose Hovestadt
Administrative Assistant
MaryRose Hovestadt
Administrative Assistant
Experienced Executive Administrative Assistant with a demonstrated history of working with Non-profit Organizations. Strong Administrative Office Skills. Excellent Customer Service. Database Management. Bookkeeping, Payroll, Food Pantry Volunteer Coordinator, Food Purchasing and Receiving Representative, Demographics Management.
Guy LeMay, US Army Veteran
Operations Support Specialist
Guy LeMay
Operations Support Specialist
Guy is an army veteran, and a Hyannis native. He spent his 3 years in the army as an infantryman. Guy has spent the majority of his career in retail. He enjoys playing electric guitar, and drawing comic books in his free time.
Brooke Sargent
Outreach & Transportation Coordinator
Brooke Sargent
Outreach Coordinator
Brooke is a Cape Cod native, who has recently come back home to the Cape after spending 9 years in San Diego, California. During those 9 years, Brooke worked as an engineer for a general contractor, and later for a private civil engineering design firm. During her time in San Diego she also served on various boards including the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), the San Diego Fly Fishers, and founded and led the Skanska Women’s Network for the West Coast. She relocated back to Cape Cod to be closer to family, she has 8 siblings, two of whom are veterans.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her 8-year-old shepherd mix named Hurley, fly fishing, and camping.
Danny Sawyer, US Army Veteran
Food Distribution Supervisor
Danny Sawyer, US Army Veteran
Operations Support Specialist
Danny Sawyer is a Cape Cod native and a military veteran with four years of service in the U.S. Army. He chose to be a combat infantryman, joining the Army at 18, and was handpicked out of basic training to join the prestigious 3rd United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) based at Fort Myer, VA. As the oldest active Army Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard is responsible for all ceremonial and funeral services for the military district of Washington, as well as Arlington National Cemetery.
After graduating basic training, Danny was assigned to Echo Company, the company charged with the responsibility of providing the official Escort to the President. In the course of that service, he trained for hours on proper ceremonial procedures including, parade events, retirements for high-ranking Army officers, and funerals in Arlington National Cemetery. During his assignment at Arlington, Danny was a casket bearer and served as part of the firing party, while also fulfilling the regular responsibilities of an Army infantryman.
Danny was also part of the US Army Caisson Platoon, where he underwent 770 hours of training in the proper way to ride horses, as well as for them. He received his Brass Spurs from the Army for having served at 500 funerals on the Caisson wagon.
During his career, he was involved in over 950 Arlington funerals, as well as dozens of retirements and parades.
Martha Buyer
Operations Support Specialist
Martha Buyer
Operations Support Specialist
Martha Buyer is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, who moved to live on Cape Cod in 1988 to pursue a career as a Graphic/Production Artist; a vocation in which she worked for 20 years. As the world of graphic design rapidly changed due with the arrival of new design technologies, Martha made the decision to “reinvent” herself on multiple occasions to survive a rapid, expansive increase in industry-wide layoffs.
Martha is a 1986 graduate of Wheaton College, Norton, MA, and holds a BA in Studio Arts. She is highly creative, and an innovative thinker who enjoys bringing organization and structure to her work on behalf of veterans. Martha shared with us that she finds her greatest joy in spending quality time outdoors, where she can enjoy all that Cape Cod offers.
A resident of Centerville, Martha lives with her elderly mother and is her primary caregiver. Martha always tries to see the best in others, going out of her way to be helpful to the veterans and their families which we serve. We are happy to have her on the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach team.
Bryan Bourbeau, US Air Force Veteran
Housing Operations Manager
Bryan Bourbeau
Operations Support Specialist
Bryan Bourbeau was born in Nashua, New Hampshire where he graduated high school in 1989. After graduating from high school, Brian joined the Air Force and worked his way to Crew Chief working on C141B Starlifter. It’s primary purpose was to be used as a long range strategic airlifter. He was stationed at Charleston Air Force Base South Carolina assigned to the 437 Air Mobility Wing.
After leaving the Air Force, Bryan started working in construction as a framer and finish carpenter; later becoming a job foreman and then a site supervisor. In 2018, Bryan accepted a Property Manager position and relocated to Osterville Massachusetts with his wife Josee and their dog Molly. Bryan and Josee have been married for 31 years, they have a daughter, Bryanna, and a daughter-in-law Shaylyn, and take great pride in their two beautiful grandchildren, Sutton, and Korah.
Peter Doonan
Outreach Coordinator
Peter Doonan
Outreach Coordinator
Peter Doonan was raised in a military family and has always had a deep respect for veterans. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to support American heroes. Originally from Falmouth, Massachusetts, Peter recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Political Science. Peter loves skiing, fishing, and working out!
Michael McGee, US Marine Corps Veteran
Case Manager
Michael McGee
Case Manager
Michael McGee is a dedicated advocate for veterans and mental health awareness, leveraging over five years of experience in supporting fellow veterans and their families. A proud military service member, Michael served in the United States Marine Corps from 2009 to 2013, where he developed strong leadership and problem-solving skills while upholding the values of honor, courage and commitment.
After transitioning from active duty, Michael has continued to serve the veteran community by working with various organizations aimed at improving access to mental health resources and support services. Michaels passion for helping others has led to the development of initiatives that address the unique challenges veterans face, with a focus on crisis intervention and mental well-being.
Through dedication and tireless efforts, Michael has established himself as a trusted resource for veterans navigating difficult times, striving to create a supportive environment where every individual feels valued and heard. With a strong belief in the power of community and collaboration, Michael remains committed to making a positive impact on the lives of veterans and their families.
LtCol Michael Dunford, USMC, (Retired)
President
LtCol Michael Dunford, USMC, (Retired)
President Lt Colonel Mike Dunford is a retired Marine Corps Reserve Officer, a combat veteran of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon, and a veteran of both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Mike is currently a Leadership and Human Resources Consultant and principal of the Dunford Consulting Group. He had previously served as the Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Covidien, an $11B global medical device company. In addition to his consultancy, Mike works as a veteran advocate with a focus on employment and homelessness. In 2017 Mike joined FourBlock (www.fourblock.org), a semester-based veteran career readiness program that provides the professional development, career exploration, and network access that today’s generation of veterans needs to be competitive for great careers. Mike serves as an advisor and member of several boards to include Bon Secours Mercy Health in Cincinnati, Edge4Vets (www.edge4vets.com) , the Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative (www.collaborate.vet) leading the employment work group; as the Co-Chair of the FourBlock National Leadership Council; as the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Boston College Veterans Alumni Network; as a member of the Red White & Blue Alliance at Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program for veterans (www.homebase.org); and as an event organizer for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Mike received his Bachelor of Science from Boston College, and his Masters of Science, in Human Resources Management from Lesley University and currently serves as the President of the Board for the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center.
Col Robert Kilmartin, USMC, (Retired)
Vice President
Robert Kilmartin
Vice President
Bob Kilmartin enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve at age 17 in 1976, and served in active duty or reserve billets for the next 34 years. Bob graduated from the University of Mass (Lowell) in 1980, and Villanova University Law School in 1983. He served in numerous active duty billets including trial counsel; chief defense counsel; military judge; and Director of Legal Assistance at MCB Camp Pendleton. He deployed to Iraq with the 15th MEU from 2004 – 2005 as liaison officer. Bob’s last active duty assignment was as Prosecution team chief at the Office of Military Commissions, responsible for prosecuting the terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He retired from the USMCR as a Colonel in 2010.
Bob’s civilian career included service as an Assistant Attorney General (MA) from 1987-1991; Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2002-2011; DOD department counsel and Administrative Judge at the DOD, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals from 2011 – 2019. Bob recently retired and relocated to Cape Cod with his wife. They have two grown children.
William Blaisdell, US Army Veteran
Treasurer
William Blaisdell, US Army Veteran
Treasurer
Mr. Blaisdell is a semi-retired telecommunications executive with domestic and international business experience. A resident of Mashpee, he was a long-standing member of the New Seabury Board of Managers, retiring from that role in 2020 after 12 years of service. He is currently a member of the Mashpee Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and serves as the board’s Vice Chair.
Mr. Blaisdell is a veteran of the United States Army and served as a Combat Medic and Operating Room Specialist in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. He has been a member of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC) since 2015, and currently serves on the Executive Board as its Treasurer. In that role, he is committed to preserving the financial integrity of the organization so that we can accomplish our mission of providing the necessary services to our veterans and their families, today and in the years to come.
Lt Col Dwayne Turmelle, USAF, (Retired)
Secretary
Lt Col Dwayne Turmelle, USAF, (Retired)
Secretary
Lt Colonel Dwayne Turmelle received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1983. He served on active duty from 1983-2004 in various capacities, most notably as the Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, Titan II and Peacekeeper Nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Combat Crew Commander, Chief, ICBM Operational Test and Evaluation, and Commander, Detachment 475, at the University of New Hampshire. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Additionally, in 1996 he earned an MA in Human Resource Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and he is matriculating towards an MPA from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Members at Large
Brig Gen Jimmy Dishner, USAF, (Retired)
Brig Gen Jimmy Dishner, USAF, (Retired)
B/General, USAF, retired in 2003 after serving 41 years in the active, reserve and senior executive service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Installations in the United States Air Force. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Presidential Meritorious Executive Service Award. He is a graduate of the Citadel, and Texas A&M, and holds an Honorary Doctor of Public Administration from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He serves as a director of the Lower Cape Outreach Council, and the Cape Cod Council of Churches, and has given four years of service to the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center as a member-at-large on its Board of Directors. For decades following his retirement, and continuing to the present, General Dishner has given unselfishly of his time in support of veterans, and is passionately committed to continuing his service to veterans of all generations.
Col Don Lynde, USA, (Retired)
Col Don Lynde, USA, (Retired)
Don is a retired Colonel of the Judge Adjutant General Corp and the US Army. His military and reserve career spans 39 years, and has included both enlisted and officer status. His legal career includes admittance to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1974, admittance to practice law in US District Court in 1975, admittance to practice law in the US Tax Court in 1987, admittance to practice law in the US Court of Military Appeals in 1991, and finally admittance to practice law in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Court in 2011.
Don also serves on multiple community committees, and was elected as one of our Board of Directors in April, 2016.
LTC William Burke, USA, (Retired)
LTC William Burke, USA, (Retired)
LTC Burke was commissioned a 2nd LT, Corps of Engineers, in June 1969 after graduating from Boston College. During a 21 year career he had numerous assignments culminating as the Engineer for the Berlin Command, Berlin, West Germany. Awards included Legion of Merit. He completed an MBA from Babson College and a Master in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute during his career. Following retirement from the Army in 1990, he was selected as the Public Works Director for the Town of Marshfield MA, where he managed the organization from 1990 to 1995. In 1995 he was selected by the quasi-public agency, Mass Development, to be part of the 200 million dollar project to redevelop the former Fort Devens, where he was promoted to Executive VP for the redevelopment project. As Executive VP for Devens Operations he was responsible for all municipal functions, engineering design and planning for all infrastructure construction and local public relations for the redevelopment. While managing the operation the redevelopment successfully brought 80 new businesses and over 4000 jobs to Devens, culminating with Bristol Myers Squibb Constructing a new drug manufacturing plant after defeating a bid by North Carolina for the plant. Retired in 2008, he now pursues photography, golf and volunteering for many non-profit organizations. He is an active and dedicated Board Member, assisting the staff in a wide variety of ways.
Maj Joseph Taylor, USMC Veteran
Maj Joseph Taylor, USMC, (Retired)
Joe Taylor took on the role of Executive Director in July of 2020 after serving on the Board of Directors. A former Marketing Executive for a National Mortgage Company, he is a graduate of Saint Anselm College Class of 1982 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC the same year.
After leaving active duty Joe joined the Reserves and was stationed at NAS South Weymouth. As a member of MWSS-473, the Squadron was activated in support of the Desert Storm and Desert Shield Operations.
Upon leaving the Marines as a Major, he was very active in the Corporate Relocation industry and still is today to a far lesser degree.
As a veteran and resident of Wellfleet Joe is laser focused on accomplishing the mission of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center and achieving our vision of ending chronic veteran homelessness in our community.
Dr. Robert Tankard,
Ed. D., US Army Veteran
Dr. Robert Tankard, Ed. D., US Army Veteran
Hailing from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts USA, Dr. Robert Tankard has spent the past fifty plus years of his life as a strong advocate for people, attempting to improve the quality of life for the underprivileged and disadvantaged. As an educator and administrator, Dr. Tankard has developed many programs that have improved the quality of education for both students and educators that have worked under his guidance. Dr. Tankard has directed several television programs pertaining to community issues as well as programs designed to give high school and college students a voice or forum to discuss issues that affect them. In the past two years he has been working as the Martha’s Vineyard Veterans Outreach Advocate providing veterans with their needs and other issues.
LCDR Christina Schultz, USCG, (Retired)
LCDR Christina Schultz, USCG, (Retired)
Tina grew up in Port St. Lucie, FL and enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard in 1988. In 1998, she applied and was accepted to attend Officer Candidate School. She had numerous operational and administrative assignments and promoted to Lieutenant Commander before retiring in 2010 after 21 years of honorable service.
She holds a BS in Business Administration. Her final two assignments on active duty were as Chief of the Personnel Division at Integrated Support Command St. Louis, MO and as Chief of the Administration and Personnel Division at Coast Guard Sector New York, NY. During these assignments she was responsible for the management and implementation of the Coast Guard’s administrative polices relating to military justice, separations, medical readiness, housing, personnel evaluations, pay, educational services, and awards for active duty, reserve and civilian personnel within the commands. Following retirement, Tina worked in an administrative position at a military medical clinic. Her military and civilian positions have helped her develop a keen understanding of the issues and challenges facing our veterans today.
She is a Gold Star daughter. Her father, an Army Platoon Sargent with Bravo Company 5th Bn, 7th Cavalry, was killed in action in 1970. Her mother served as an Army nurse and inspired her to join the service. Tina is also a proud military spouse, whose husband is currently serving with the U. S. Coast Guard.
Matthew Young, US Air Force Veteran
Matthew Young, US Air Force Veteran
Matthew Young is a Construction Project Manager with over 30 years of building experience. As a young man, he started out helping his father on job sites of their family-owned construction company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was instilled in him from a young age that the highest standards of quality must be upheld. That attention to detail and strong work ethic is part of what makes him an excellent Construction Executive. Matt was both active duty and a reservist in the United States Air Force, in support of Operation Desert Storm.
LTC Paula Smith, USA, (Retired)
Dr. Paula Smith, LTC (USA, Ret.) is a Cape Cod native and is honored to have served our great Nation as a Soldier and a medical provider during her twenty-year military career. Previously the Health Director for the Soldier for Life Program under the Army Chief of Staff, Dr. Smith connected government and private sector programs and enabled collaborative health ventures among 42,000 Veteran Service Organizations (VSO’s). While on active duty, Dr. Smith served in key clinical and administrative positions at Fort Riley (Kansas), Seoul (South Korea), Fort Campbell (Kentucky), Fort Jackson (South Carolina), Fort Stewart (Georgia), Northern Iraq (1st Cavalry Division) and at the Pentagon. In each of her assignments, she spearheaded the design and implementation of health and medical programs that significantly improved the healthcare afforded to our Veterans and their families. Dr. Smith was recognized by the Army Surgeon General for leadership and occupational proficiency and by the Army Medical Specialist Corps for outstanding leadership and mentorship. A life-long learner, she earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in Physical Therapy, her undergraduate degree in Communications and professional certificates in process improvement, project management and non-profit executive management. Dr. Smith has successfully transitioned to civilian life and is proud to continue to serve this community as a member of the CIVOC Board of Directors. She values the CIVOC mission and has witnessed the CIVOC’s initiatives positively and effectively impact our Cape Veteran population every day.
Maj Gregory Quilty, USMC, (Retired)
Dr. Jim Roach, US Army Veteran
Jim Roach, MD is currently the Principal/Manager of J Roach BioPharma Consulting LLC, founded in the Spring of 2021 following his retirement from a 30-year career overseeing clinical research and development programs in Biotechnology/Pharma. Jim had the pleasure of serving in the Army Medical Corps on Active Duty for over 10 years (1985-1995), training in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care disease at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and serving as a General Internist at Cutler Army Hospital at Fort Devens and as a Staff Pulmonologist/Research Physiologist at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick. Jim also held an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School for close to 25 years and has also been an Associate Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and member of the BWH Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division since 1993. Jim was born and raised in Brockton, and received his B.A. in Biology and Philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross and his M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine. Jim is very appreciative of both his own and others military service and is looking forward to contributing to the exciting and important work ahead at CIVOC!
Honorary Members
Timothy Williams, US Army Veteran
Timothy Williams, US Army Veteran
The Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center would like to welcome its newest honorary member of our Board of Directors, Mr. Tim Williams.
Tim’s background is construction. Growing up in a construction family and having participated in the building of tower apartments, shopping centers, retail and commercial buildings, as well as historic preservation, Tim has an exceptional amount of experience and construction community contacts to resource and execute complex building projects.
Tim attended St. Lawrence University with an Army ROTC scholarship and was graduated in 1989 with honors. He then served 4 years active duty overseas as a Regular Army officer. After completing active service, he attended law school and graduated in 1996. Tim was admitted into the New Hampshire Bar in the fall of 1996.
Mr. Williams is currently the owner of the Village Marketplace in Hyannis, the new location of CIVOC offices, and was instrumental in CIVOC’s relocation here with the intent of being closer the VA’s Community-Based Outpatient Clinic so that the veteran community would have easier access to both organizations’ services. We are honored to have this distinguished veteran on our team.
Ed Smith
USMC (Retired)
Ed Smith
Honorary Board Member
Ed is a retired CPA and audit partner with KPMG (formerly Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co). After retiring, he functioned as an adjunct professor teaching Auditing Problems and Professional Ethics at St. John’s University (NY) and Boston College. He is a retired Major in US Marine Corps and a Vietnam War Veteran having served as a communication officer with both active and reserve duty. He is a graduate of St John’s University (NY), holds an MBA from Pace University (NY), and he brings his nearly 40 years of experience in financial services and corporate governance as an audit partner to his role with the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center.
Ed also served as a Board member for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation; the Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children in Newark, NJ; St John’s Bread & Life in Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn, NY; The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in New York City and the Cardinal’s Committee for Charity of the Archdiocese of New York.
He and his wife, Mary, reside in Falmouth, having moved to the Cape full-time in May of 2022. They have three married children and two granddaughters living in the Boston, MA area.
Gwen Errhalt
Gwen Errhalt
Gwen Errhalt is the Director of Communications at Willowbend Country Club (Mashpee). For the previous 10 years she was employed as the Membership Manager at The Golf Club of Cape Cod (TGC at Sacconnesset). Gwen sat on the Board of Directors for The Community Leadership Institute of Cape Cod for 3 years. For 7 years Gwen was the chairman for a charity golf tournament (TGC for The Troops). The tournament raises funds for The TGC Fund, a donor advised fund through the Cape Cod Foundation. The TGC Fund considers grants to organizations who provide assistance specifically to Cape Cod Veterans, Military as well as their families. The TGC Fund also provides college scholarships to children of veterans. Over the course of those 7 years the fund raised over $365,000 dollars. It was during those 7 years Gwen became interested and invested in the needs of the local veteran population. Once engaged in the veteran community she was instrumental in the creation of the annual Free Golf Clinic for active military and veterans, the now state wide Operation Backpack, The creation of a special fund at St. Vincent De Paul Society reserved to assist veterans and military and the Easter Egg hunt on Joint Base Cape Cod. Her proudest accomplishment for the local veteran community was working 4 other passionate individuals to create The Cape Cod Military, Veteran and Family Collaborative. Gwen’s husband is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and is the Director of Golf at TGC of Sacconnesset. Gwen and her husband are the proud parents of 2 young men (1 of which just completed 6 years of service in the USN Reserve).
Jim Burke
US Air Force Veteran
Jim Burke
Honorary Board Member
Jim Burke served in the military with the US Air Force from 1973-1977, assigned as a communications specialist stationed in Plattsburg NY and at Howard Air Force Base in Panama. Following his service in the military, he studied at UMass Amherst and graduated with a BS degree in Resource Planning.
After his postgraduate work was behind him, Jim worked in the Communications/Technology sector at NYNEX, AT&T, Lucent Technologies, and Avaya for 37 years. During that tenure, his career included working in Sales, Headquarters Support Roles, Management of Implementation and Services Teams and as a National Services Manager for top 10 Corporate Enterprise customers such as GE.
Today Jim lives in Eastham with his wife Diane, and in his spare time he enjoys spending time with his grandsons, playing golf, traveling, taking long walks on the Outer Cape, and reading.
Col Steve Carter
US Army (Retired)
Steve Carter
Honorary Board Member
Steve Carter is a senior leader with demonstrated success and breadth of experience at several Fortune 100 companies, a large private equity-backed firm, a minority-owned small business, and the U.S. Army. He has successfully led major strategic transformations and driven detailed operational results across a broad range of organizations. Steve currently serves as a Senior Business Strategist for Generational Consulting Group, helping small to medium-size businesses grow revenue and profits.
Steve’s leadership experience includes senior supply chain leadership roles at Wal-Mart, Target, Reebok, Honeywell International, Case New Holland, and a private equity-backed pet retail chain named Pet Retail Brands. His most recent role prior to his current consulting position was Chief Operating Officer at a $20M minority-owned student transportation services company based in Minneapolis.
Steve retired from the Army as a Colonel after a combined 23 years of active duty and reserve component service, and currently serves as an Army Reserve Ambassador. Steve is a graduate of the Wharton School (MBA), University of Pennsylvania (Master of Systems Engineering), and the United States Military Academy at West Point (BS in Engineering). He has served in leadership roles on multiple non-profit boards of directors and professional industry associations. In his free time, Steve enjoys golf, travel, exercise, serving his church and spending time with family and friends. He lives in Dennis, MA with his wife, and they have two grown children.
John Dillon
John Dillon
Honorary Board Member
John Dillon has been involved in the construction industry since he was a young teenager. Today, he owns and operates Dillon Public Adjusters, Inc. A local firm that represents home and business owners that have suffered some type of catastrophic property loss. Throughout his career Dillon has worked throughout the continental United States for a number of Fortune 500 companies in various capacities.
Mr. Dillon is a veteran of the US Navy Seabees where he served as an EO1(SCW) – Equipment Operator First Class – Seabee Combat Warfare qualified. Dillon served both on active duty for five years and as a reservist for twelve years.
Coleman Nee
US Marine Corps Veteran
Coleman Nee
Honorary Board Member
Coleman Nee is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the Gulf War. He is life member of DAV of Chapter 3 in the Department of Massachusetts. Nee currently holds the position of National Sr Vice Commander. He has served on the National Line of Officers for 4 years and is a former member of the DAV Board of Directors and Interim Legislative Committee.
Until recently, Nee has led Triangle, Inc. which provides support to the disability community youth and adults with innovative career, leadership, and safety skills they need to live more independent, dignified lives. Prior to this, he served as Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services from 2011 to 2015.
A Boston native and graduate of American University in Washington D.C., Nee has close to 30 years of veterans advocacy, governmental, not-for-profit and private-sector management experience. Nee is committed to human services and civic engagement for the Veterans community. He lives in Cape Cod, MA with his wife Karyn.
Eric Barber
US Army Veteran
Eric Barber
Honorary Board Member
Eric Barber began his professional journey in financial services, where he cultivated strong, empathetic relationships and focused on achieving success for his clients. After transitioning into solar sales, he spent the last decade supporting his community by offering industry expertise and financial guidance. His career is enriched by diverse experiences that he brings to every conversation.
Enlisting in the Army after high school, Eric served in Field Artillery, with assignments in Oklahoma, Seattle, and South Korea. Due to family emergencies, he received a hardship discharge, but the leadership and resilience learned during his service have had a lasting impact on his sales career. Outside of work, Eric has been a devoted husband for 27 years and is a proud father of two college students.