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Debbie ChildressDebbie Childress has had a passion for veterans for many years. As a former military spouse through four deployments in and around Iraq, she has seen firsthand the challenges that PTSD can cause for our veterans and their families.
Growing up in a police family has given her a great respect and appreciation for civil servants. She now serves as the President of the Smithville Area Fire Protection District in Smithville, MO, and is the first woman to ever serve on the district’s board. She has also been an Auxiliary with the Kansas City Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit, giving her an outlet for her love of horses and serving others, and is currently serving auxiliary time with the Property and Evidence unit of the Kansas City Police Department. In 2019, Debbie was inducted into the Winnetonka High School Alumni Hall of Fame. Debbie is very involved with church activities at North Star United Methodist Church and enjoys serving on a mission team in Guatemala. Debbie has two kids, Wyatt and Heather and lives in Smithville, MO. |
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Pat CoppingerReal Estate & Property Manager
Patrick Coppinger is the Senior Vice President of Colliers International, Kansas City. He became affiliated with the firm in 1998. He began his career in 1994 with the LaSala-Sonnenberg Commercial Realty Company where he specialized in office and retail leasing and sales. Pat now specializes in office brokerage and has been involved in over 450 lease and sale transactions, totaling over 4 million square feet of space, of which 1.4 million square feet have been medical office. Pat works with both buyers and sellers, and has also been involved in several land assemblage assignments for various redevelopment efforts.
Pat's Professional accomplishments include but are not limited to:
Pat graduated from the University of Iowa in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. During his time there, he was also a member of the football team that competed in the 1984 Freedom Bowl, 1986 Rose Bowl, and the 1986 Holiday Bowl. Pat is active and very involved with his community as a past President of the Rockhurst High School Alumni Board and a current member of the Rockhurst High School Alumni Board of Directors. He serves on the Seton Center Advisory Council and he's on the Fundraising Committee for Journey to New Life. We are delighted to have him lend his expertise and time as a Valor Ranch Board Member. |
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Georgia JohnsonTreasurer
Georgia Johnson has been an active volunteer with many organizations. She was a Girl Scout leader for over 10 years, spent approximately 18 years volunteering with PTA in 2 different school districts. She served in many board positions, including 2 years as PTA President. She was treasurer of the Lee’s Summit North Music Parents organization and treasurer of the LSN Project Grad for two different years.
She has always been active in her church including leading Bible Studies, teaching Sunday School, organizing women’s events, etc. Georgia has 10 years of banking experience, working in various departments. She also spent 6 years as office manager for a music ministry handling their money and travel arrangements and 7 years as Assistant to the Executive Director for the Missouri Peace Officers Association where she managed 5 different bank accounts. Georgia currently works for the Lee’s Summit School District where she handles billing and accounts for their Before and After School Services. She has been married to John, an Air Force veteran, for over 30 years and has two daughters, Stephanie and Hannah. |
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Dewayne KnottDirector, Veteran Resources
Lt. Col. Knott is a retired Air Force Public Health Officer having served in uniform for 37 years. He holds a BA in Industrial Technology from the University of Northern Iowa, a MS in Environmental Management from the University of Texas and post Masters work in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alabama.
He worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. He was nominated as a Whitehouse Fellow and served as Environmental Liaison for the State Department Embassy in Kuwait. He served as a consultant in Afghanistan for the establishment of the first dairy pasteurization plant in that country. Col. Knott served in Iraq, Kuwait, Guatemala, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Spain, England and throughout the United States. Col. Knott has lectured on PTSD and Veteran issues, and appeared on stage, in films, on radio and television. Col. Knott led a team of civilian scientists in Kuwait during the oil well fires, measuring air quality. He also assisted in the Public Health arena in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. He is past Commander of the 300 member strong Smithville American Legion and currently sits on the board of Valor Ranch, the Smithville Historical Society and the Smithville American Legion. He is married with one child. |
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Tom PecaBoard Member
Smithville, Clay County, Missouri
I worked in the fields of Engineering; Vacuum Packaging; and Twenty six years in the United States Air Force, retiring as an E8 Senior Master Sergeant. I really enjoyed my years in the military! Smithville American Legion Post #58:
Miscellaneous:
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Kay PecaSecretary
Smithville, Clay County, Missouri
I worked forty years in the fields of Accounting; Payroll; and Human Resources. I am a numbers person and enjoy the balancing act of numbers. Although I was never in the military, I had many relatives who did serve and I have always been very patriotic and my patriotism shows by the following! Smithville American Legion AUXILIARY Post #58:
Community Projects and misc:
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For more information or to be put on the email list, please contact
Debbie Childress | 816 769 9121 | [email protected]
Debbie Childress | 816 769 9121 | [email protected]
