Leadership
starts at the top
Founded and forged by Veterans who proudly served.
With a team made up of Veterans and former VA personnel, VBG’s executive team has the experience, integrity and innovative mindset to help Veterans like you receive the benefits you’ve so honorably earned.
Josh Smith
About Josh Smith
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Josh Smith is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and the Chief Executive Officer of Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
Josh served in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years, where he was a Lance Corporal (E-3) Cryptologic Arabic Linguist, deployed to Iraq in 2003.
Josh transitioned from active duty to civilian life in 2005, eventually going to work at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a Rating Veteran Service Representative, or Rater. During that time, he was trained on the VA’s Disability Compensation System and discovered inefficiencies in the way Veterans’ disability ratings were evaluated. Josh recognized the need to provide Veterans with a better option for processing their disability claims and set out to create a new process to help Veterans expedite them through the VA while also obtaining the full benefits that Veterans deserve.
After leaving the VA, Josh started VBG with his wife, Lauren, to fulfill the mission of expediting the claims process. Since its founding, Josh and his team have successfully guided over 35,000 Veterans to receive a combined increase of over $5.5 billion in lifetime benefits.
Outside of VBG, Josh loves spending time, especially outdoors, with his wife, Lauren, their three daughters and their German Shephard / Husky mix dog. He is also an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Lauren Smith
About Lauren Smith
Military Family
Lauren Smith is a Co-founder of Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and a proud member of a military Veteran family.
Lauren was the company’s Chief Operating Officer for eight years. In her current role, Lauren oversees all strategy related to employee performance; develops and implements strategy for personnel management; and leads the company’s efforts to create a culture that supports VBG’s purpose, mission, and values.
Before starting VBG with her husband Josh in 2015, Lauren held several project management and engineering positions in the construction industry, overseeing end-to-end project execution, including budgets, timelines, construction, quality control, and safety.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Excelsior University. Outside of VBG, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, and their three daughters. She also loves to travel, cook and read.
Donato Clay
About Donato Clay
U.S. Army Veteran
Donato Clay is a U.S. Army Veteran and the Chief Operating Officer for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, Donato oversees the company’s daily business operations and is responsible for driving sustainable growth across the organization.
Prior to joining VBG, Donato was the Director of Divisional Operations at Ethos Veterinary Health. In addition to his many years of experience in the private sector, Donato served in the U.S. Army as the lead Human Rights and Rule of Law attorney and military adviser based in Kandahar, Afghanistan and practiced as a senior trial defense attorney, Reservist Judge Advocate Major in the Army National Guard.
Donato holds an MBA from Yale University School of Management, a Master’s in Public Health from UCLA, a law degree from Southwestern Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from Whittier College.
Outside of VBG, Donato enjoys bowling and making mead – and spending time with his mini Goldendoodle, Waffles.
Lisa Girard
About Lisa Girard
Lisa Girard is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In her role, Lisa oversees the company’s investments, budgets, financial reporting, compliance and risk management, as well as profitability.
Lisa joined VBG from Bluberi Gaming, a gaming developer based in Las Vegas. As CFO, she oversaw the company's accounting and finance teams and skillfully managed its rapid turnaround. Prior to moving to Las Vegas, Lisa was the CFO of EIS Wire and Cable, a Massachusetts based manufacturer and supplier of custom wires and cables to the U.S. military. In her previous roles, Lisa expertly managed multi-million dollar defense contracts and navigated her employers through various investments and merger and acquisition transactions.
Lisa earned her Master's degree in Accounting from Western New England University and her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Outside of VBG, Lisa enjoys attending concerts and sporting events, traveling, doing yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.
Simon Jones
About Simon Jones
Simon Jones is the chief information officer for Veteran Benefits Guide.
In his role, Simon is responsible for supporting and accelerating VBG’s initiatives and strategy through the use of information technology resources.
Prior to joining VBG, Simon served in the same role at American Medical Technologies, a nationwide durable medical equipment (DME) provider, where he oversaw IT operations to support employees and implemented technology strategies to drive efficiency and growth. Simon has also previously served as vice president of health information technology at Blue Shield of California, where he worked on improving patient care and outcomes, and he also has more than a decade of experience in healthcare technology consulting.
Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
Outside of work, Simon enjoys surfing, scuba diving, and spending time with his family and dogs.
Lisa Kalkes
About Lisa Kalkes
U.S. Army Veteran
Lisa Kalkes is a U.S. Army Veteran and the Chief Marketing Officer for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In her role, Lisa oversees the planning, development and execution of VBG’s brand marketing, advertising and communications strategies, ensuring alignment with the company’s purpose-driven mission of supporting America’s military Veterans.
Prior to joining VBG, Lisa was the Senior Director of Marketing at Optum, where she was responsible for driving the organization’s marketing, public relations, sponsorships, community giving, and internal communications efforts.
In addition to her many years of experience in the private sector, Lisa served in the U.S. Army for four years, including a 15-month deployment in Iraq. During her time in the military, she served as an executive officer, platoon leader, and battalion adjutant.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from East Carolina University. She is also a member of the Forbes Communications Council, a community of senior-level public relations practitioners that promotes innovative solutions to complex communications problems.
Outside of VBG, Lisa loves spending time with her husband and two children. She also enjoys traveling and reading – and is a trained Reiki Master.
David Luther
About David Luther
U.S. Army Veteran
David Luther is a U.S. Army Veteran and the Chief People Operations Officer for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, David is responsible for managing VBG’s overall strategy for people operations and overseeing human resource financial, compliance, and hiring efforts.
Prior to joining VBG, David was the Director of Human Resources at Service by Medallion. He also ran his own consulting firm, Luther & Associates, providing human resources and organizational change expert counsel and support to small- and medium-sized businesses in the areas of HR function creation, recruiting and retention, labor and employee relations, and organizational effectiveness.
In addition to his many years of experience in the private sector, David served in the U.S. Army.
David holds a Master’s degree in organization behavior studies from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Bachelor of Arts in English/Language Arts from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Whitney Ogden
About Whitney Ogden
Whitney Ogden is the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In her role, Whitney oversees all legal and compliance operations across the organization, ensuring VBG is positioned to help more Veterans secure the benefits they have earned.
Prior to becoming CLO, Whitney served as Compliance Counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where she advised FBI executive leadership on compliance matters within the agency. Before joining the FBI, she held several roles at the Social Security Administration, most recently serving as Senior Attorney Advisor in the Office of Appellate Operations.
Whitney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California, Irvine and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School.
A Southern California transplant, Whitney lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and children. Outside of VBG, Whitney is a tennis hack with a penchant for chocolate cupcakes and Taco Bell burritos.
Mike Brea
About Mike Brea
U.S. Army Veteran
Mike Brea is a U.S. Army Veteran and the director of quality for Veteran Benefits Guide.
In this role, Mike oversees a team dedicated to enhancing the quality of services provided to VBG’s Veteran clients.
Mike Brea joins VBG with extensive experience in project management, medical operations, health care administration, and quality assurance. During his 20-year career in health care, Mike has led teams focusing on quality assurance, training, patient safety, and process improvement.
Mike holds advanced degrees in health care innovation from the University of Pennsylvania, patient safety and health care quality from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Mike lives in Las Vegas and enjoys golf, movies, and cheering for the Miami Dolphins.
Freddie DeYong
About Freddie DeYong
Military Family
Freddie DeYong is the Director of Business Operations for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and a proud member of a military Veteran family.
In his role, Freddie helps VBG set its goals, develop strategic plans, and manage production and business analytics. Previously, he served VBG as Director of Operations.
Prior to joining VBG, Freddie was a Mobile Technician/Genius at Apple and held several sales and marketing positions.
Outside of VBG, Freddie enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He also loves off-roading, outdoor activities and basketball.
Patrick Holmes
About Patrick Holmes
Patrick Holmes is the director of marketing and communications for Veteran Benefits Guide.
In this role, Patrick oversees marketing, employee communications, public and media relations and VBG’s strategic communication initiatives to enhance its reputation and brand.
Prior to joining VBG, Patrick served as the executive director of communications and marketing at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, Patrick led the effort to evolve and protect the university's brand, managed comprehensive internal communications strategies, and oversaw digital and social media initiatives.
Before Berkeley, Patrick worked at Oregon Health &Science University for over 10 years, including five years directing internal communications. OHSU is Oregon’s only academic health center and the largest employer in Portland.
Patrick earned a bachelor's degree in social science at Portland State University, with an emphasis in communications.
Outside of VBG, Patrick enjoys traveling, snowboarding and live music.
Juan Molina
About Juan Molina
Military Family
Juan Molina is the Director of Operations for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and a proud member of a military Veteran family.
In his role, Juan is responsible for managing VBG's core operations, helping to ensure that VBG continues to meet and exceed its goals.
Prior to joining VBG, Juan was the Operations Support Manager at National Veterinary Associates (Ethos) and has nearly a decade of experience in healthcare and operations.
Juan holds a Master’s degree in health administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Saint Louis University.
Outside of VBG, Juan enjoys hiking and camping.
Nick Parises
About Nick Parises
Nick Parises is the Controller for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, Nick oversees the accounting operations of VBG and guides strategic financial decisions to support the organization’s mission of assisting Veterans.
Prior to joining VBG, Nick was the Senior Internal Auditor for Station Casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. With his years of experience as a CPA and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Azusa Pacific University, Nick brings valuable expertise to his role at VBG.
Outside of VBG, Nick enjoys spending time with his spouse and their two children and engaging in activities such as playing video games and watching movies. He is also an avid supporter of the San Francisco 49ers and Vegas Golden Knights.
Preston Ramirez
About Preston Ramirez
Preston Ramirez is the Director of Information Technology for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, Preston oversees the information technology of the organization, managing IT resources and improving processes to increase efficiencies for the company. Previously, he served VBG as Product Manager.
Prior to joining VBG, Preston was Founder and Managing Director of Ambitious Digital, LLC, a consulting firm focused on digital marketing for small businesses. He also served as a Support Engineer at ExtraHop Networks.
Preston holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Gonzaga University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in engineering management from Duke University.
Outside of VBG, Preston loves to play hockey, read non-fiction and travel. He is also an avid fan of Gonzaga basketball and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Ryan Scalmanini
About Ryan Scalmanini
U.S. Coast Guard Veteran
Ryan Scalmanini is a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and the Director of VA Disability Compliance and Analytics for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, Ryan manages the training and development for VBG’s VA disability claims manager team to ensure they are equipped with the information and resources they need to successfully support the company’s Veteran clients. He is also responsible for end-to-end quality control of the claims support process.
Prior to joining VBG, Ryan was a Rating Veteran Service Representative, or Rater at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where he became an expert on the VA’s Disability Compensation System.
Ryan also served in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years, where he was an engineer and rescue swimmer while attached to a law enforcement and rescue unit.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Phoenix.
Outside of VBG, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, playing beach volleyball and assisting Veterans/first responders in finding their path of healing and purpose.