Executive Director
Alberto Lopez
A native of Elgin, Illinois, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1999, earning the MOS 0341 Mortarman. His assigned duty stations and deployments were both with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit/SOC while assigned to 3rd Battalion/5th Marines & 1st Battalion/5th Marines, respectively. Upon honorable discharge, as a Sergeant, from the Marine Corps in April of 2007, Alberto Lopez entered the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History. Alberto Lopez has worked with multiple non-profits, having the honor of serving the active duty military, veteran and first responder communities, including their families. He is supported by his wife and two daughters.
A native of Elgin, Illinois, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1999, earning the MOS 0341 Mortarman. His assigned duty stations and deployments were both with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit/SOC while assigned to 3rd Battalion/5th Marines & 1st Battalion/5th Marines, respectively. Upon honorable discharge, as a Sergeant, from the Marine Corps in April of 2007, Alberto Lopez entered the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History. Alberto Lopez has worked with multiple non-profits, having the honor of serving the active duty military, veteran and first responder communities, including their families. He is supported by his wife and two daughters.
Board of Directors
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Christine Lopez
As a Marine Corps spouse, Christine understands the struggles posed by transition from military service to civilian life. This experience led her to welcome an opportunity to serve as President of the Board of Directors for Phenix Legacy. Christine is a Principle Solution Engineer at Salesforce and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology from DePaul University. Raising two daughters, Christine and her husband actively instill in them a sense of duty and service to their community.
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Ramon L. Vega Jr.
Ramon, the board's Vice President, currently serves the community as a Firefighter/Paramedic in Crystal Lake, IL. Before joining Crystal Lake's Fire Department, Ramon dedicated years of service as both an EMT and Paramedic, having earned his license at Loyola University. Ramon has two children with his wife, an ER nurse.
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Ana Berrun
Ana, the board's Secretary, operates and manages multiple Marriott Hotels in New Mexico. Ana has dedicated years to working with local and national nonprofits both in Illinois and in New Mexico. Ana has a daughter who volunteers with her mom.
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Board of Directors
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Miriam Vega
Miriam , the board's treasurer, is an Environmental Health Practitioner at McHenry County Department of Health. Miriam earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Northern Illinois University and a License in Practical Nursing from Elgin Community College. She enjoys volunteering in her spare time. She has volunteered with Kane County Medical Reserve Corp, Wounded Warrior Project, and more recently with Phenix Legacy
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Kevin Houcek
Kevin has served the veteran and first responder communities for many years. Currently, he works as a Veterans Outreach Program Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Previously, he worked for the Wounded Warrior Project as a Project Odyssey Coordinator, as an Armorer/Trainer at CheyTac USA, and as a Police Officer with Park Forest Police Department.
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Board of Directors
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Keisha Sweeney
Keisha Sweeney is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Currently, Keisha is President of a Fighting Chance Florida, a nonprofit organization focusing on educational advocacy and is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, she serves her local community by fighting for children with suspected or diagnosed learning disorders. Keisha is an active community volunteer with various organizations and was selected for the very first cohort of The Mission Continues Women's Veterans Leadership Program.
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Advisors
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Dr. John Mundt
Dr. Mundt is a Clinical Psychologist whose professional focus for 25 years has been on trauma, including how it impacts people in high-stress roles, such as military veterans and first responders. He has been a VA psychologist since 1992, with a professional focus on crisis-focused treatment of PTSD. He has testified in numerous civil and criminal cases where psychological trauma is a factor. Dr. Mundt is a nationally known speaker and trainer who has presented in more than 60 cities on mental health issues germane to veterans as well as other groups. Audiences have included the Alaska Bar Association, the Rocky Mountain Hostage Negotiators, the National Tactical Officers Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Texas A&M University, and the American Psychological Association. He has been an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago since 1994. In his VA role, he has supervised and trained psychiatry residents, medical students and psychology interns in psychotherapy, diagnostic interviewing, and active case management. Dr. Mundt holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Jenny Sitzer
Jenny has lead a life of service to our country and others. She is currently the Team Lead at the Jesse Brown VA Women's Health Department. Before joining the VA Jenny worked with Thresholds and the CIA.
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