The Military Community Support Project works toward a future where our nation’s citizens, companies, and organizations join and support our nation’s military community.
The Military Community Support Project supports and promotes the very best work being done in service of our veterans and the military community. Our focus is on local needs, especially non-profit organizations making an outsized impact on our community.
The Pentagon represents all branches of the military and the foundation of our military personnel. The North Star Polaris represents true north, truth to self. Historically, when Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines were returning home, they looked for the north star for direction. The flag draped across the pentagon symbolizes our volunteer military and we depend on each other.
Less than one-percent of Americans serve in the United States Armed Forces, and few Americans have any connection to the military. Our Community Connection events bring service members and veterans together with the larger community to network and connect, closing the civilian-military divide.
We support qualified service dog programs. Qualified programs match veterans with dogs and puts them in intensive training for 24 months to bond and forge new lives together. Dog and veteran are paired according to the veteran's needs, mobility, and personality, and the dog's capabilities and temperament. We cover the costs of the dog and training.
Dramatic inflation in food cost is placing stress on our military families, whether Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard. Our support of food banks provides free meals to those who need them through partnerships with local military units and installations.
We accomplish this by supporting our local veteran farmers.
Lisa Rawa has more than 30 years’ experience in management, marketing, PR, events, and contract negotiations. She is currently President/Owner of Diaval Management Consultants where she manages the needs of medical practices. Before starting Diaval, Lisa worked for many non-profit engineering, scientific and technical organizations. Most recently rising to Vice President, Marketing and Logistics with Printing Industries of America. This is where she refined her skills as a leader, mentor, organizer, presenter, and marketing expert.
Lisa has always enjoyed working for non-profit organizations not only because of the good they do but also because she can learn about the many different industries those organizations serve. Her love of non-profit work has spilled over into her personal life helping many organizations such as Going Home Greyhounds; J and J Animal Farm Sanctuary; and Golden Treasure Retrieve Rescue to name a few. She served on the Board of Directors as well as President of the Pittsburgh Society of Association Executives.
Lisa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Edinboro University of PA. Originally from Erie, PA, Lisa considers herself a Pittsburgher since she has lived here since 1994 with her husband Randy. Lisa and Randy have one son, Braeden, who attends Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is a talented performer, composer, and musician. In her free time, Lisa loves spending time with her husband, son, and dogs. She also loves to work out at the gym, travel and see the world.
Daniel Steighner is a financial professional with a privately-owned wealth management firm, Lifetime Financial Growth. He has developed a collaboration with other professionals to better serve his clients in order to help them achieve their highest potential, while reaching their objectives they truly care about. Dan earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from Gannon University.
Dan began working with the military community when his oldest daughter decided to attend the United States Air Force Academy. Any misgivings he had about his daughter joining he military vanished when he saw how she seemed to grow in stature by embracing the Air Force mission and being embraced by the military community’s brotherhood and sisterhood. Dan revived the United States Air Force Academy’s parent group and shepherded its growth over several years. He’s also gotten involved with the Mars Exploration Celebration, an organization that is collaborating with NASA to build a regional STEAM center in Mars, Pennsylvania.
These experiences have convinced Dan that collaborations across our community—donors, advocates, and the public-at-large—are crucial to meet the growing needs of our military families, as well as those who have served our great county.
With more than 25 years of PBM leadership experience, Dave Skomo has a well-earned reputation for maximizing quality, satisfaction and efficiency to deliver exceptional results. As Chief Operating Officer, he focuses on performance and efficiency as he leads the day-to-day operations at WellDyne. In this role, he is responsible for pharmacy distribution, clinical oversight, customer experience, benefit design, Medicare compliance, and delivering client solutions. With decades of industry experience, Dave understands business challenges and provides strategic solutions to the challenges in pharmacy.
Prior to joining WellDyne, Dave spent nearly two years at Diplomat's CastiaRx division, first as SVP, PBM Operations and later as COO. From 2013-18, Dave was with UnitedHealth Group as SVP, Chief Pharmacy Officer for OptumRx pharmacy operations, with operational leadership responsibility for the BriovaRx pharmacy locations across the United States. Earlier in his career, Dave was instrumental in building the Thrift Drug and Eckerd specialty pharmacy, which became part of CVS/PharmaCare in 2004. Within the CVS/PharmaCare organization, Dave became Director of Operations and managed 14 pharmacies in ten states and Puerto Rico.
Dave earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Duquesne University and is a licensed pharmacist in Pennsylvania. In addition to being a founding board member and secretary to the Military Community Support Project, Dave currently volunteers for Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia; is a board member and treasurer of the Duquesne University Pharmacy Alumni Association; and previously served as a board member for the Adams Township Parks & Recreation Board for over 3 years.
Todd DePastino is founding director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to sharing veterans’ stories with the public. Over 30,000 different people have participated in the Veterans Breakfast Club’s programs and activities over the past eleven years. Todd is the author of the award winning BILL MAULDIN: A LIFE UP FRONT (W.W. Norton) and six other books. He has a Ph.D. in American History from Yale University and has taught at several places, including Waynesburg University where he won the Lucas-Hathaway Award for Teaching Excellence.
A Pittsburgh Pennsylvania native, Monica Orluk, a founding member of OTA, serves as CEO and Executive Director, having moved into that position upon the retirement of Founder, Kristen Holloway. Until that time Monica served as President & COO after serving for 6 years as the organization’s Vice President. OTA provides support to our military, past and present through its Active Duty “Wish-List” program and veteran “Welcome Home” programs. She works to promote Operation Troop Appreciation, secure corporate sponsorship and grant funding, organize and coordinate fund raising events; and as a media spokesperson. She also oversees all activities at OTA operational headquarters, including inventory management, shipping, and donation procurement.
Monica is currently employed as a Senior Business Systems Analyst for Fiserv. Monica also serves on the Housing Policy Council’s Sub-Committee for Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and is a USA Cares certified Military Housing Assistance Specialist. She feels that her career experience provides the perfect skill set to apply to her OTA work and enjoys the best of both worlds – a profession she loves and a cause she is passionate about. To quote Monica, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”
Monica holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, having graduated with honors, and was selected as a 2010 University of Phoenix Volunteer LEAD Award Honoree, an award given by HandsOn Network and the University of Phoenix to 10 outstanding volunteer leaders in the nation. This award is truly an honor as it recognizes leaders who motivate others and are catalysts for change in their communities. Recognition has never been her intent, but it is very rewarding to have others consider her volunteer work important. Monica is proud to be a volunteer. Her work with OTA has provided an opportunity to place her time and energy into a cause she believes in passionately. In her free time, Monica enjoys travel, golf, biking, karaoke and spending time with her family.
Enter to win a bag of silver! Drawing to be held December 15th.