Our Board

A Veteran himself, Jim started his military career in 1993, serving in the United States Marine Corps as a heavy machine gunner in the infantry with 1st Battalion 4th Marines. He deployed with the 13th and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units Special Operations Capable, a Marine Air Ground Task Force based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. By the time Jim was 21, he had been to 29 countries, and even celebrated his 21st birthday in Somalia.

After an honorable discharge as a Sergeant E-5 in 1997, Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University through the Montgomery GI Bill and the Illinois Veteran Grant. Over the last decade and a half, Jim has held various roles in technology business development servicing the Fortune 500 and Federal Government. Jim is currently working for one of the largest Federal System Integrators

Jim’s passion for community extends beyond his work at Veterans R&R.

Jim’s vision for Veterans R&R is first to form a community so that the 50% of Veterans who do not actively seek help have a place to go where help finds them. Reducing the rates of suicide and homelessness among Veterans is the larger goal.

His academic credentials include a Master of Science Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Allstate Foundation Greater Good Nonprofit Leadership Program. Additionally, he has completed an extensive number of courses and seminars conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Pennsylvania State University, Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Josephson Institute of Ethics, Norfolk Constabulary and New Scotland Yard, England, Garda Siochana College, Templemore, Ireland, and many others.   

He has instructed for Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs and the University of Illinois Center for Public Safety and Justice teaching Procedural Justice and Community Policing throughout the United States as well as an Adjunct Faculty Professor at William Rainey Harper College teaching courses in Leadership and Ethics for Law Enforcement, Community Policing, Forensics and Investigations and he is a Subject Matter Expert for CNA Strategic Policing Innovations and Justice Reinvestment Initiatives. 

Mr. Johnson is a Co-Founder of the Lake County Opioid Initiative, Past Chair of the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force, serves on the Lake County Criminal Justice Community Council, Illinois Substance Use Disorder Advisory Council, and William Rainey Harper College and College of Lake County Human Services Advisory Committees. He initiated the Shop With A Cop Program in Lake County and is a life-member of the International and Illinois Associations of Chiefs of Police, served on the Executive Board of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and is a Past-President of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association. Mr. Johnson is Vice Chairman of the Lake County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, and he is the founder of the very successful Mano a Mano Family Resource Center where he also served as Board President. 

Mr. Johnson retired as a Chief Warrant Officer after more than 28 years of service in the United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve. Meritoriously promoted after boot camp while serving as a squad leader he reported to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center located in Twentynine Palms, California. 

After completing MOS training courses he reported to Marine Air Control Group-48, Marine Wing Communications Squadron-48 and spent one half of his Marine Corps career enlisted, promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant E-7 serving in many capacities and assignments to include Acting First Sergeant, Technical Control Chief, and Systems Control Chief. He was selected for both Master Sergeant E-8 and Warrant Officer WO-1 simultaneously. After completing the Warrant Officer Basic Course in Quantico, Virginia he was commissioned as a CWO2 (Chief Warrant Officer) in 1998. He was subsequently promoted to CWO3 and served as a Platoon Commander with Marine Air Control Group-48, Marine Wing Communications Squadron-48 and also as the Mobilization Training Unit Officer in Charge for the 9th Marine Corps Recruiting District, Western Recruiting Region, Marine Corps Recruiting Command before deploying to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011 with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force for 2 tours. He served as a Rule of Law Advisor to the National Directorate of Security, the national intelligence and security service of Afghanistan, and was the single point of contact for all provincial insurgent detention operations as well as investigations into allegations of detainee mishandling and abuse. CWO3 Johnson worked with British and Afghan justice system partners to develop lessons learned on Afghan evidentiary procedures leading to more successful investigations and the recovery and transfer of weapons, narcotics, explosives, and IED items resulting in the prosecutions, and convictions of many insurgents responsible for the attempted or actual killing and wounding of U.S. forces. Many investigations also included coordination with the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan and the seizure and destruction of mass quantities of opium, heroin, and hash. He also tracked prisoners to ensure they were not released prematurely back to the battlefield, a common practice. Additionally, he assembled and led a joint ISAF/Afghan investigation surrounding an insurgent’s attempted escape from a detention facility located in a highly kinetic and tense district which resulted in the deaths of a British Police Mentor, 2 Marines, and 3 Afghans. Responsible parties were imprisoned and as a result, U.S. and Afghan trust was restored. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Navy Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, as well as numerous Certificates of Commendation, and Letters of Appreciation.

A current member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Tim Howe is a seasoned commercial litigator and member of the Chicago law firm Klevatt & Associates, LLC. He has represented hundreds of clients in various cases including pre-trial negotiations and settlements, mediation and arbitration, and bench and jury trials. Tim currently serves as Executive Vice President for the Illinois Creditors’ Bar Association working toward the advancement of creditors’ rights.

Tim graduated with honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. Before graduating from law school, he spent over 15 years working in radio and television, once hosting a top-rated morning radio program in Quincy, Illinois, and spending time at both WCKG-FM and WPWR-TV in Chicago. As a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Tim hosted and produced numerous “You and The Law” cable television segments and chaired both the Entertainment Law and Television committees for the CBA. Tim also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Quincy College and attended Chicago’s Marist High School.

Tim is very involved in Wauconda. He currently sits on the village Board of Trustees. He is Past President of the Wauconda Lions Club and is on the board of directors of the Harbour Club Condominium Association. His perfect Wauconda weekend includes breakfast on his patio, an afternoon on Bangs Lake, and then a night of great music with friends.

A native Chicagoan, Peter is currently living in the heart of Wisconsin. A Bear fan residing beyond the Cheddar Curtin…

Peter is an Eagle Scout and currently working as the Advancement Chair and Assistant Scout Master in his local troop. Following his Father’s advice through “always give back” and “pay it forward.” Veterans R&R provides the perfect opportunity to serve those who served and protected us. Peter’s background in senior leadership roles for 25 years in corporate America contributes leadership, organization and strategic thinking to the dynamic team of Veterans R&R.

Being a “backyard BBQ Pit-Master”, the perfect day is placing a nice hunk of meat on the smoker and letting it go low and slow till it dazzles the palate! Peter has even earned the love of his Packer Fan neighbors by treating them to tasty Q – he has become their adopted “Bear Fan.”

Maria and her husband Scott have been married for 20 years and have two daughters (from Maria's first marriage) Sarah (29) and Hannah (27). They also have two rescue pups, Lucy and Lily. 

Maria’s passion for raising suicide awareness, stems from her own loss of her first husband. Being a part of Veterans R&R and their outreach in suicide awareness really hits home and she's honored to serve with the organization.

Wayne was laid off during the tech bubble burst in 2006 and started his own company in web consulting when he also joined the McHenry Chamber. Wayne has held several leadership roles in the Chamber including 6 years on their board.

On the side, he is currently chairing committees for the Moose Lodge with organizing a weekly Cruise night fundraiser and the Chicago Alfa Romeo Owners Club with organizing track events and rally’s.

He is blessed with his dedicated life partner Donna, 2 daughters, and 5 grandchildren.

Dan and his family have owned a farm in West-Central Illinois since 1992.  He felt the need to find a way to serve those who have served our country and approached Veterans R&R about the potential to host veterans for a guided deer hunt at his family’s farm.  This became the inaugural Veterans R&R hunting event and helped launch the Outdoor Program which now also includes fishing events.

Dan, his wife Cindy and daughters Hayley, Hannah and Alexa, have been residents of Wauconda for over 19 years.  They have enjoyed boating on Bangs Lake for over 30 years and love taking advantage of all that Wauconda has to offer.

Dan has enjoyed a successful career selling enterprise software, representing and servicing Fortune 500 corporations in the Midwest.

In January of 2015, Patti approached Veterans R&R about creating a veteran program with horses. Patti is most well know for her success in the Dressage arena with her Mustang Stallion Padre’. He is the first and only wild horse to qualify, compete & win at Dressage at Devon, the most prestigious Dressage show in the United States. Since 2010, their success has been chronicled online throughout the world, in magazines including Dressage Today and Practical Horseman, in two books and on a Breyer model horse made in Padre’s likeness. She is an accomplished horsewoman of 35 years and is committed to improving the lives of our veterans & military families through their connection, growth and learning experiences with horses