A Synergistic Group
Our fantastic team of volunteers has members from a wide range of diverse backgrounds: veterans and non-veterans, blog writers, designers, consultants, strategists, and passionate individuals interested in giving back to veterans and protecting the environment.
Board of Directors
Ryan Timmermans
Army Veteran
Ryan served in the United States Army as an Intel Analyst and Psychological Operations specialist. He has completed multiple tours to Afghanistan, both as a soldier and contractor. After suffering from PTSD with little help from the VA, he founded Veterans Off-Grid in 2017 to help veterans in need successfully reintegrate into society while helping the earth through creating sustainable eco-communities.
Scott YONKERS
Air Force Veteran
Scott Yonkers served in the United States Air Force from 1997-2014. He completed multiple tours to Afghanistan and Iraq and was stationed overseas for over 5 years. Scott was an Aircraft Fuel Systems specialist for five years before cross training into civil engineering as a Structural Craftsman responsible for the construction and maintenance of buildings and airfields. He also worked for the Department of Defense from 2014 to 2021. He attended the Earthship Biotecture Academy in 2019 and moved to Taos in early 2021 to start building an off grid earthship.
Terry Timmermans
Army Veteran
Terry is the proud father of Ryan Timmermans. Terry is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the 101st Airborne Division from 1968 to 1969. Upon returning home from the war, he worked 34-years with IBM until retiring. When Terry isn't enjoying retirement, he supports our non-profit by advising, collaborating with other board members regarding executive decisions, and establishing input processing procedures and documents to be used for our residents. Furthermore, Terry is a member of the Eastern Carolina Homeless Organization (ECHO).
Our Staff
Jennifer Ammann
Case Management for Housing Stability Program Supervisor & Together with Veterans Taos Facilitator
Jennifer is a writer, yogini, Reiki energy worker, and mother of three boys. She first became involved with Veterans Off-Grid in the Fall of 2017 when she wrote a story about Ryan Timmermans and his mission to help veterans in Taos, New Mexico's blog magazine, LiveTaos.com. Since then she came on board to promote Fundraising and Community Outreach. As a Yoga teacher and Reiki energy adept she is deeply connected with holistic approaches to healing trauma and making a difference for a better world through community, awareness, and sustainability.
Richard Kalenka
Housing Stability Case Manager
Richard’s formal education in psychology and business marketing led to a successful internet marketing business in San Diego for a number of years. After marrying an Army veteran in 2017, his passions changed and he moved to Taos, New Mexico, returned to graduate school to earn a masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and began working at homeless shelters for youth, women, and families. In 2022, Richard began working at Veterans Off-Grid as Housing Stability Case Manager. When he’s not helping our veterans, Richard enjoys golf, basketball, growing microgreens and most recently blacksmithing and knife-making.
Valentina Livingston
Together with Veterans Taos Coordinator
Important Volunteers
Julia Henzerling
Julia has worked in visual communication for both public and private sector organizations since 1986 and is a proud mom of two teenage daughters. Hailing from the Arizona desert, she has explored working as a graphic designer in Boston and Chicago, founded three design businesses in Prague, and relished working as a managing art director at The New York Times. In New Mexico, she continued graphic design practice, learned to farm and produced for markets, and earned an online MBA. One evening she ran into Jennifer, who introduced her to Ryan and was immediately impressed and motivated by the mission of Veterans Off-Grid. She hopes to use her skills to promote this mission clearly and effectively, so that more veterans, as well as other individuals in need, can participate.
Kerri Sizemore
Kerri is an elementary educator living in North Carolina. She met Ryan Timmermans at Appalachian State University. Her uncle was an Air Force Colonel and has two veteran brothers of both the Army and Navy. She is exceptionally passionate about connecting church groups with Veterans Off-Grid in support of bridging partnerships between volunteers and this company. Kerri wishes every veteran to know they are appreciated, valued, and not forgotten.
Gloria Cannon
Glo and Ryan met in the Fall of 2017 while she was visiting her second home in Taos and was inspired by his story and personal mission to form Veterans Off-Grid. As an employee of Salesforce their culture is to give back, and support organizations that are important to their employees. Since then Glo has been providing pro-bono project management and consultative support to Ryan and his board, and 1 year later (Fall 2018) Glo organized a group of Salesforce employees to participate in an on-site volunteer activity in Carson. Glo and her colleagues shared their moving experience with other colleagues at Salesforce, and has organized a second group more than doubled in size to do the same in Fall 2019.