Board Members

Allan Ayers

Allan is the board member responsible for the “Swinging for the Vets” Golf outing. Allan is also the editor of the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) Newsletter with a monthly circulation of 6,000. He also volunteers to support veterans and their families with employment and estate planning support for the VAC. He is a Vietnam Veteran, having served in the Marine Corps from 1960-1967. 

Allan has volunteered as a mentor to young adults, has provided extensive volunteer support to his professional association and serves on fundraising committees for several non-for-profit organizations. Additionally, Allan conducts volunteer walking tours of Chicago as a member of Chicago Greeters, an NFP unit of the city’s Choose Chicago. 

Prior to his retirement, Allan worked for a software company implementing their software in large, high-tech companies at home and abroad. Just because he isn;t busy enough, Allan was also a competitive sailor for 20 years on Lake Michigan and travels extensively having visited all 7 continents.

Andrew Tangen

Andrew Tangen has led the VACLC since May 17, 2017, when he was elected by the full Commission. Prior to his election, he served in the US Navy, where he deployed eight times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander during his service.

He is a graduate of The Citadel, with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Military Affairs; Henley-Putnam University, with a Master’s of Science degree in National Security Studies, specializing in Terrorism and Counterterrorism; Rutgers University, with a Master’s in Business Administration; and, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law with a Juris Doctor. He is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois.

Brian Lynch

Brian is a staffing/talent acquisition executive with more than 17 years of experience in the field. He had more than 9 years of leadership experience leading teams as large as 30+ and managing annual budgets in excess of $170 million. 

 During his time in the staffing industry Brian has worked closely with his employer’s military outreach and staffing programs. During his employment with Adecco Group the organization was recognized by the military community as Military Friendly® Spouse Employer, Military Friendly® Diversity Program Designee and Military Friendly® Brands Designers. 

 Brian takes a great deal of pride in the efforts of his employer and himself in finding career opportunities for military veterans and their spouses.

Bruce A. Peterson

After growing up as a kid from the Southside of Chicago, Bruce has had lots of “fun and travel” while serving over thirty years in the US Army, active and Reserve, including two combat assignments. When he retired, he and a partner became real estate entrepreneurs.

In 2012 Bruce was invited to be the third member of the Lynch Foundation board and served as the VP for three years. He is ready and willing to do whatever needs to be done for this Foundation supporting our mission to assist other organizations as they help our veterans with specific challenges to succeed in their lives. In addition, Bruce has been active with the 1st Cav Division Association including serving as the Sheridan’s Cavalry chapter President for several years. As part of his role, he headed up hosting the National Renoin of the 1st Cav in 2014.

Jana Schwan

Jana Schwan is a driven business leader with 17+ years of proven results and growth into progressively more senior general management and functional leadership positions. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for a mid-sized publicly-traded company.

Jaa has a proven track record of doing what it takes across disciplines to deliver results in small.mid-sized companies. Her Industry expertise includes retail and commercial packaging, extruded film, small appliances, consumer products, novelty balloons and gift/celebration department items.

Jana also serves as the Chairperson and event coordinator for the Allen J. Lynch Foundation Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser 2016-present.

Jeff Metheny

Jeff has been a board member of the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation since 2016. He served in the US Army from 1985-1993 and reenlisted after the attacks of 9/11/01 serving from 2005-2012 when he was retired due to injuries sustained in Afghanistan.

Given his personal sense of responsibility, he has continued caring for his fellow warriors through volunteerism with several different service organizations. He has served in different capacities including Peer Support and Veteran Service Officer with the Winnebago County Veterans Assistance Commission.

While deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009, Jeff created a unique hobby for himself that continues to this day. It started with painting the patches for units that came through his area. Since there was no paint thinner available, and not wanting to waste brushes, Jeff discovered that a chewed down toothpick works like a burhs and there were plenty of toothpicks. Jeff completed over 150 murals that still adorn walls in Afghanistan. Jeff continues to paint this way to honor his fellow service members past, present, and future.

John H. Schwan

Secretary/treasurer, and Founder

After Jeff received his bachelor’’s degree, he enlisted in the Army, much to the surprise of his wife, Beverly. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and shortly thereafter was en route to a posting as a platoon leader wit the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam.

When he returned to civilian life, he focused on the business world, bur never forgot the veterans who had not been quite so fortunate. John is dedicated to spending time working with and advocating for his fellow veterans. He is involved in many veterans’ organizations; he always spent time and treasure helping veterans. His military awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and “V” for valor device, and the Air Medal, John and Beverly have three children and three grandchildren.

Len Belpedio

Len is an active member of the Aurora Sportsman’s Club. He also chaired the annual “Shoot for the Vets” in support of the Lynch Foundation for the past several years.

As President of LDB Corp., Len has been an accomplished business owner and entrepreneur since 1998. Since he has an interest in shooting, he is a life member of ISRA Illinois STate Rifle Association-an organization dedicated to Education, Safety, Training and Support of Illinois Firearm Owners-and a Life Benefactor Member of the NRA.

He currently resides in Stillman Valley, IL and has been happily married to Vera for 30 years and counting(where did the time go?)! He is also a proud father of two and grandfather of five.

Lesley Durkan

CEO and Principal Palm Trail Industries, Inc.

Lesley Durkan is a highly accomplished and respected senior living industry sales and operations leader celebrating 25 years of developing innovative industry programs, impacting sales and revenue results in competitive markets, and positioning organizations for current and future growth. She has led national portfolios of private pay senior housing assets spanning capital raise, asset development, asset management, large scale M&A projects, and challenged community turn-around initiatives. Lesley has had leadership roles in some of the industry’s most successful publicly traded, privately held, and management model senior housing organizations including 10 years with Sunrise Senior Living.

Through her personal consulting firm, she has focused on new company formations and program rollouts in the YS and internationally across several industries including dementia care programming, technology, fractional executive contract services, and third world transportation solutions.

A native of the western suburbs of Chicago, Lesley’s career has led her through several years of work in South Africa as well as multiple US markets. She is an avid runner, a professionally trained vocal musician, and volunteers time as a resume writer and interview coach supporting those in need of assistance re-entering the workforce. She is a busy golf mom to her teenage daughter who holds multiple team and individual Illinois State and PGA Junior titles and proudly volunteers for a number of veterans groups and Illinois Special Olympics.

John Murray

John Murray is a native of Long Island, New York and has served at the Veterans Assistance Commission since September 2018.
He served on active duty in the US Navy for just over 20 years, beginning in 1994, eventually serving at six different duty stations around the world.
His most recent tours include: Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor at the Naval Special Operations Medical Institute, the Senior Medical Department Representative of C Company, and the leading Chief Petty Officer in D Company,1st Marine Special Operations Battalion. He served in multiple roles while at 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion as Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman (SARC). He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Fallujah, Iraq and twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Master Chief Murray’s military awards include the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation (three awards, one with valor), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Awards (eight awards), Combat Action (two awards) and many others. He is triple warfare qualified as a Fleet Marine Force, Surface and Aviation Warfare Specialist. He was also a Navy Deep Sea Diving Medical Technician, US Marine Corps Combat Diver, MK-25 Dive Supervisor, and Naval Parachutist.
Murray earned an Associate in General Studies, graduated from the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and many other military organizational leadership schools. He has finished two marathons and multiple endurance races.

Clay Novak

Clay Novak is a retired US Army Infantry officer with extensive time in combat.  He served on active duty for twenty-four years, assigned at various times to 1st Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, and 2nd Infantry Division, but spending the bulk of his career assigned to the vaunted 82nd Airborne Division.  Clay served three combat tours in Afghanistan, two combat tours in Iraq, and an overseas tour stationed in South Korea.  His combat roles included serving as an Infantry Company Commander, Brigade Plans Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, Aide de Camp, and Advisor to the Afghan National Army.  Clay is a Master Parachutist, graduate of the United States Army Ranger School, and has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal three times for his service in combat.  His other decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, British Parachutist Badge, and German Parachutist Badge.

Clay is the author of the novel Keep Moving, Keep Shooting as well as the co-host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak, a political commentator, blogger, and military consultant.  Clay served as the military advisor on the Amazon series “Reacher” Season 3 and is currently the captain of the Pro-Staff for G-Code Tactical.   

Eric Lynch

Eric Lynch is a proven strategist and people leader with more than 25 years in the pharmaceutical and healthcare marketplace.  Over the course of his career he has had experience in market access and payer management, product lifecycle management, and program development.  Currently serving as the Director of Patient Service Strategy, Eric works to provide education and support to patients facing chronic immunological conditions.

Eric is the Treasurer of the Allen J Lynch Medal of Honor Foundation and takes great pride in how the Foundation partners with other Veteran’s organizations to help Veteran’s in need.  Eric is an avid volunteer and also serves on the board of Willow House, a Chicago-land charity that supports families, schools, and communities who are grieving the loss of a parent or child.

Eric is graduate of the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management where he earned his MBA in Strategy and Marketing.  He earned his Bachelors in Finance at Northern Illinois University.