Chair

A Minnesota native with two sons (Remington and Caspian) and a talented bride (Lisa) from New Orleans, Dan Kuecker (Kee’ker) enjoys balancing life as an entrepreneur with that of a retired active-duty Army officer continuing to serve in other ways.  While his 20+ year military career includes over two years deployed to the Middle East; over a decade serving as an embedded attorney-advisor to special operations, intelligence, and conventional Army organizations; and multiple years as a top leader within a Patriot missile organization, Dan’s background also includes the ownership and sale of four successful Anytime Fitness franchises; ownership, chief financial officer, and general counsel of top-rated consulting firm Studio Grow; Co-CEO of defense contracting firm Cathan; and Head Coach of the Covenant Eagle middle school football team.

Vice Chair

Stanley Thomas is a veteran of the Navy, serving 4 years of active duty. Upon an honorable discharge, he served 11 years with a Navy & Marine unit in Washington, DC. The Military forced him to work closely with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and opinions. Experience is the best teacher and the Military provides that first and foremost. He is affiliated with The Veterans Committee of Central Virginia, whose mission is to educate the public about the historically segregated fighting units of the United States Military. Their victories on the battlefield and the struggles at home make these units unique. Stanley grew up in Washington D.C., but spent his summers in Cobham, VA with his grandmother. He relocated to Charlottesville decades later and loves it.

Executive Director

Elizabeth Rankin MPA, her husband LTC Jess (Ret), and two sons have called Charlottesville their home for 7 years. After 13 military moves and 22 years of active-duty Army service, Elizabeth and her family are happy to have now created permanent roots in Charlottesville. In true miltary spouse style, Elizabeth has had many careers, starting as a Political Fundraiser and Event Planner, a Program Manager, a Research Analyst and Project Manager for the State of Ohio, and a Workforce Development Specialist for the Federal Government. Currently she serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor for University of Maryland Global Campus, which has a rich history of serving the military community since the 1940’s. Elizabeth comes from a long line of military servicemen: her grandfather served in WWII as a PBY Catalina pilot for the Navy, her father served in the Army National Guard, and her brother-in-law served for 20 years as a C-130 pilot. Elizabeth also married into a military family, with her father-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law all serving as Air Force JAG officers. Elizabeth is still very active in the Charlottesville military community as a retired Army spouse and is excited to continue her work and dedication to the military community as part of her important role with ParadeRest.

Co-Founder and Assistant Secretary

Gregory Saathoff MD is a co-founder of ParadeRest and Professor of Emergency Medicine and Public Health Sciences at the UVA School of Medicine. A forensic psychiatrist, he has served as a standing committee member of the National Academy of Sciences and since 1996 as psychiatric consultant to the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, University of Missouri and trained in residency at UVA. As a Major in the US Army Reserve Medical Corps, Dr. Saathoff was activated during the First Gulf War, where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Dr. Saathoff’s father served in WWII and both grandfathers served in WWI.

Co-Founder and Treasurer

Elsie Thompson, an attorney, UVA Law Class of ‘75, is a co-founder of ParadeRest Virginia. She currently serves on the boards of Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Virginia, of which she was also a founding Board member, Piedmont Virginia Community College Foundation, Virginia Chamber Music Foundation and Foundation of the State Arboretum. She also serves on the advisory boards of United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Ron Brown Scholar Program, Fralin Museum of Art, Charlottesville Ballet, Oratorio Society, and Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. She served multiple terms on the board of The Paramount Theater of Charlottesville and the Governing Council of UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. While attending UVA Law she co-coached the UVA women’s crew in its first two racing seasons, and for many years she volunteered in the Boys & Girls Clubs’ summer tennis program.

Secretary

Rich retired from the U.S. Army in 2013, after 20 years of service as both a Military Intelligence Officer and a Judge Advocate. He served in a wide variety of operational assignments around the world, including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, and Haiti. Rich is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and has also earned a J.D from the University of Virginia School of Law, an M.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and an LL.M. in Military Law. Rich currently practices law at Virginia Wills, Trusts & Estates, PLC in Charlottesville and resides with his wife Margaret. They have one son. Rich is involved in several local non-profits, and enjoys hiking, fitness activities, and traveling.

Board Member

Jeffrey Boecker is a retired attorney. During his career he practiced law in Washington, D.C., Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, before joining Marriott Corporation’s Law Department. His practice was in the areas of corporate civil litigation, construction claims and government contracts. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky (B.A.) and Harvard Law School (J.D.). During his years in Charlottesville he has served as a volunteer for several nonprofits, including the Shelter For Help In Emergency. As the proud son of a World War II veteran, he has served as a board member of various veteran organizations, including the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial. He has recorded numerous interviews with veterans for ParadeRest’s Nickel For Your Story history program. Those interviews are preserved in the United States Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project.

Board Member

Anita Jones is a retired University Professor of computer science. She did research and taught courses in software systems and computer security at both the University of Virginia and Carnegie Mellon University. She served as the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, responsible for the management of the science and technology program in the U.S. Department of Defense. She served on the National Science Board which governs the U.S. National Science Foundation and the governing Executive Committee for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has worked in a number of capacities in the area of science and technology policy, addressing how the development of technology can aid in solving national and societal challenges.