Jim Lytner
Email: jlytner@vtrc.us
RJ Dough
Email: rjdough@vtrc.us

Jim Lytner and RJ Dough are co-founders of Veterans Transition Resource Center, a 501(c )(3) non-profit organization, and the Veterans Talk/The Forgotten Promise Radio show. Listen Saturdays from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. (Pacific Time), KXNT AM 840, and stream on Facebook.

Email: ericlunda@vtrc.us

(Bio Under Construction)

Email: chefjb@vtrc.us

Chef James L. Brown, A.A.C. is an award winning World renowned chef known by all of his friends and colleagues as “J.B.”. He started his culinary career 50 years ago in Portland, Oregon. Since he has traveled and worked extensively building a repertoire of over 200 different styles of cooking. In 1989 he relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada to assist the culinary team at the Famous Excalibur Hotel and Casino, which fed over 32,000 meals daily. He then opened the Sands Expo and Convention Center as its Executive Chef. While there, he served 3 Comdex’s (the largest convention in the world), with over 250,000 delegates and meals in a 5 day period of time. In 1993 J.B. founded Catering By the Chefs Inc. which he sold in 2000.

J.B. ‘S forte is large amounts of meals in multiple locations. J.B. also helped in the inaugural opening of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Winston Cup Race with over 130,000 meals served. He is currently President and CEO of The Chef’s Catering.

He has been Instrumental in helping start the 501C3 Chef for Kids in Las Vegas (non-Profit) in 1993. He has served over 35 years and held many positions in the Chef’s of Las Vegas AC. He currently sits on an accreditation team doing site visits at culinary schools for the ACFEF (American Culinary Federation Education Foundation) in the Western Region. His passion is cooking, the ACF and Las Vegas.

Following is some of his accolades and positions he has held and been awarded.

First Apprentice for On The Job Training for Chefs G.I. Bill 1973

Hotel & Motel Association of Oklahoma Chef of the Year 1984

Hosted and Chaired the first Chef and Child Gourmet Auction 1991

Nation Little Oscar Award 1992

Western Regional Director of Chef and Child 1992-1994

Western Regional Chair of By Laws & Resolutions 1998-2000

National Presidential Medallion for Service 1998

American Academy of Chefs Inductee, Chicago 1999

Past President and Chairman of the Board, Fraternity of Executive Chefs of Las Vegas, A.C.F.

Master Grad Repoire Leadership International, 2002

Celebrity Chef “Bar Rescue”, 2013

ACF Chefs of Las Vegas,”Chef for Kids”, Special Award for “Founders Award” 2022

American Academy of Chefs “National Service Award” 2022

Inducted to ACF Chefs of Las Vegas “Hall Of Fame” 2023

Chef JB now works with a lot of military groups, such as the Nevada National Guard, US Army Reserve, Disabled American Veterans Group, and Sits on the Board of Directors for Veterans Transition Resource Center. These groups are especially close to Chef JB’s heart because he’s a 100% disabled American veteran and Chef JB supports and gives back to our men and women in uniform.

Email: d.davis@vtrc.us

My name is D’Nese Davis and I am the daughter of a WWII Navy Veteran and the wife of a U.S. Navy Veteran, Dan Davis. I was born in Oceanside, California in 1962. I am a mother and a grandmother and I couldn’t be more proud of my beautiful family.

I was raised in Southern California and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1989. I studied at CCSN and UNLV in secondary education and business administration. I am an artist and small business owner where I’ve been fortunate to travel all across this great country, as well as different parts of the world, painting and teaching art techniques.

I have been a veterans advocate for the past 31 years and have much experience in helping our veterans obtain their VA benefits. My father introduced me to the “veteran world” at a very young age. Whether we were marching in the Veteran’s Day Parade or collecting goods for our troops to send overseas, he educated me on patriotism and respect for our active duty and veteran community. I got hooked! I consider it an honor and a privilege to give back to those who sacrifice so much for our freedom.

I am very active in organizing fundraisers that benefit very specific 501c3 foundations. While most of my advocacy is for our veterans, I also help organize and participate in events for children with cancer and other life threatening diseases. The foundations and veterans groups that I am proud to be active in are:

* The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
* Veterans Care Foundation
* The Veterans Transition Resource Center
* Nevada Veterans Foundation (Benefitting the Fisher House)
* One Hero at a Time
* Bridging the Gap

While I have sat on many different Board of Directors in various 501c3 organizations, I am currently on the Executive Board of Directors of the Veterans Transition Resource Center and Board of Directors of Bridging the Gap. My veteran advocacy includes helping veterans get their benefits, navigating the VA/VBA, SSDI claims, and suicide prevention.

I was also the Northwest Regional Director of 2 Million Bikers, a conservative, faith based patriot group who supports God, Country, our military and all of our first responders. We at 2 Million Bikers believe in God, Country, our constitution and our Bill of Rights as written by our founding fathers. I ride a Harley, pack a gun and I am in love with my country.

 

Email: martyhagans@vtrc.us

Martin “Marty” is a US Coast Guard Veteran having served honorably from 1977 through 1981. After completing his enlistment he entered the criminal justice program at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia California, receiving his Peace Officers Standard of Training certificate. He began his career in Porterville CA as a Patrolman, then joining the Farmersville CA Police Department. He then applied and was accepted to the California State Police, Los Angeles field office. Marty held the positions of Patrolman, Field Training Officer, Assistant Range Officer, Application Background Investigator, Detective, and Case Filing Officer with the LA County District Attorney’s Office. He was certified as an Expert Witness in LA County Superior Court. Marty was then selected to apply and test for the Governor’s protective service detail. He was assigned to the detail and performed such services as Threat assessment not only to the Governor, but to other State Constitutional Officers who resided in the Southern California region. Marty was the secondary agent to the State Controller and Insurance Commissioner. He also participated with the internal rotation of assignment with the US Secret Service. In October of 1991 while on assignment with Governor’s Detail, Marty was involved in a vehicle accident which ended his career.
After approximately two years of convalescence, Marty was hired at Staples Center in Los Angeles and ultimately achieved the position of Security Director. His first position in title was the opening of the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas Nevada. An opportunity presented itself and Marty left the arena industry and was named Security Director to the International Market Center located in downtown Las Vegas. His duties included investigation of construction cost overrides, design of the security infrastructure for a proposed 12.2 million square foot campus, and internal HR investigations (certificate of training from George Washington University). Marty was then contacted by Staples Center in Los Angeles, with an opportunity that he couldn’t turn down. So after almost ten years at International Market Centers, Marty was hired as the Security Director of Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. He fulfilled his contractual obligations ahead of schedule and, not wanting to endure a third East Coast winter, retired for a second time and returned to Las Vegas.
Marty was a director of the Kline Veterans fund in Las Vegas, NV. He resigned that position after serving nine years, due to relocation to Northern Nevada. Marty ran for the State Assembly 2014, but was not elected. His hobbies include fly fishing, fly tying, sailing, hunting and scuba diving, and is a certified scuba stress and rescue swimmer.

Email: ash@vtrc.us

Ash is a disabled mom that spends her time with family, volunteer opportunities, and the occasional hobby. She is the granddaughter of a WWII Navy Veteran, the stepdaughter to a US Navy Veteran, and daughter to a US Senate candidate.

Ash has had a diverse career, previously working as an artist, in a government position specializing in tech services, lived in a constant state of adrenaline as a stuntwoman, worked as a model (print and tv), piano teacher, tattoo artist, and sales/marketing. She is also a certified early childhood educator, specializing in the renowned Montessori method. She previously was an educator and an assistant art teacher in Idaho, two titles she wears proudly behind mom, wife, and daughter.

Ash’s dedication to making a positive impact extends beyond her professional life. She has actively volunteered alongside her mother, D’Nese, with various foundations. She began volunteering in kindergarten, baking for local firehouses and assisting her mother with an in-house preschool. She has also coached various youth sports for numerous years.

One of Ash’s standout qualities is her ability to adapt to any situation with ease. She is patient, friendly, and always ready to lend a helping hand. Whether it’s managing events or handling website tasks, Ash’s versatility shines through. Currently, Ash serves as the Secretary of the Board and coordinates events in Northern Nevada.

 

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