As we prepare to celebrate Women Veterans Day in Texas, we have invited women veteran leaders from our region and across the nation to share how they are connecting, collaborating and celebrating women veterans.
We invite you to join the conversation with Krystle Matthews, Ed.D., HRD, Women Veterans Program Manager, Texas Veterans Commission; Melissa A. Washington, CEO/Founder, Women Veterans Alliance; VR Small, Founder/CEO, Veteran Women's Enterprise Center; Anna Baker, Manager, Veteran Entrepreneur Program, Texas Veterans Commission; and Dr. LaShondra C. Jones, Ph.D., Legislative Advocate.
Come prepared to share your experiences and expectations for engagement as we continue to build our sisterhood of connected and supportive women veterans.
This is your personal invitation to join the conversation.
MEET THE PANELIST:
Dr. Krystle Matthews, Ed.D., HRD
Dr. Krystle Matthews (U.S. Army Veteran) currently serves as the Women Veterans Program Manager at Texas Veterans Commission. Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is the state appointed advocate for Texas veterans, their families, and survivors.
Dr. Matthews educates women veterans on the benefits and services they’ve earned through their military service; assist women veterans with accessing those benefits and services; and collaborates with federal, state, and local partners to provide existing services and create new services to meet unmet needs. Previously, Dr. Matthews worked in TVC’s Veterans Employment Services where she served as a Veterans Career Advisor, Gulf Coast District Outreach Coordinator, and State Women Veterans Employment Coordinator.
As a Veterans Career Advisor, Dr. Matthews worked one-on-one with veterans to help them overcome barriers to obtaining suitable and long-term employment. As the Gulf Coast District Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Matthews provided support services to internal staff and external partners. She created and cultivated relationships that essentially provided wraparound services for veterans seeking employment as well as other assistance (i.e., clothing, financial, housing, etc.). As the State Women Veterans Employment Coordinator, Dr. Matthews advocated on behalf of women veterans in employment and training opportunities. She worked to educate employers on the benefits of hiring women veterans to fill open positions as well as the benefits available to employers for hiring Texas veterans. She also educated women veterans on the benefits and services available to them through employer programs.
Dr. Matthews holds a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management, a master’s degree in Human Resource Development, and a doctorate in Education. She is active in several veteran service organizations and empowers college students to lead and succeed by serving as an advisor for a nationally recognized leadership honor society. When Dr. Matthews has free time, she spends it with her family and volunteering in local communities. She is very passionate about helping others and advocating on behalf of veterans.
Melissa A. Washington, United States Navy
Melissa A. Washington is a Navy Veteran is the CEO and Founder of Women Veterans Alliance. She is a disabled veteran small business owner, speaker, author, and award winner who is connecting women veterans across the nation.
VR Small, United States Navy
After returning home to Dallas, VR immediately put her business skills to use supporting women via SCORE and WINGS. She continually focuses her energy on developing innovative programs for women, veterans and small business owners—turning visions into realities as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC), a national initiative launched in southern Dallas as the first of many VWECs projected for Texas and our Nation.
VR testified for the original House Bill to make June 12, Women Veterans Day in Texas and has consistently assisted in coordinating efforts every year to educate, validate and commemorate women who have and are serving in our military. To this end, she was honored as a 2019 Woman of Distinction by Altrusa International of Southwest Dallas County. She serves on the Advisory Committee for TWU’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs and is a fellow of SMU’s Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity— Inclusive Economy, Dallas Public Voices, the Bush Institute Stand-to-Veteran Leadership Program and recently featured in Dallas Innovates: The Future 50.
Actively involved in veteran support, VR was selected as the SBA’s DFW District 2020 Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year. VR serves on the 30th Congressional District Veteran Advisory Committee and State Representative Victoria Neave's Sexual Violence Task Force. She also developed and served as the 2018 Chair of the Veteran Business Subcommittee for the City of Dallas, Office of Business Diversity and as the 2017 VP for Veteran Affairs with SCORE Dallas. Most importantly, VR is a U.S. Navy Veteran, proud stepdaughter, and sister to U.S. Army Retired Vietnam & Iraq Veterans, respectively.
Anna Baker, United States Air Force
I was raised in a small Texas town and joined the Air Force after high school because I wanted to travel. My high school English teacher had been a WAVE and she encouraged me, as did my father who had served in the Army during the Vietnam War.
I took my first plane trip to Monterey, CA where I attended the Defense Language Institute (DLI) learning the Korean language. I was then assigned to Osan Air Base, Korea. It was dark when I disembarked from the plane in Seoul and got on the one-hour bus ride to Osan. I felt very alone that first night. I caught up with my Air Force buddies the next day and the next year was an amazing adventure!
When I returned to the states I transitioned to become a Spanish linguist. I had a temporary duty assignment in Panama and while there, a group of us were off base when a civil riot broke out. It was exciting, but we did get into a little bit of trouble when the base went into lock-down and the company commander had to be called before we could be allowed back on base.
After completing my 4-year contract, I left the Air Force and moved to Germany where for 4 years I worked for a government contractor in Kaiserslautern. I became homesick for my family and returned to Texas. I had a family and I got an education, a BA in Accounting and an MBA. I worked for Dell, Inc. for 16 years before joining the Texas Veterans Commission in 2016 as the Women Veterans Program Manager.
I’m proud of my service, though for many years I did not identify as a veteran. My experience as the Women Veterans Program Manager has been the most rewarding of my career. I’ve learned so much from other women who have served and honoring them is the most important thing I do.
Dr. LaShondra Jones, United States Marines
Dr. LaShondra Jones served on active duty in the Marine Corps as a radio operator from 1994-1998. While completing her doctoral research on veterans in the justice system and the challenges faced post-combat, she began serving as a Policy Associate during the 84th Texas Legislative Session. After session ended, she continued her advocacy by testifying on legislative bills for Texas women veterans. Her proudest moment is her advocacy work on House Bill 867, which created the Texas Women Veterans Program, in addition to her advocacy efforts for Senate Bill 805, creating Texas Women Veterans Day.
She served as Vice-Chairman of the board for Texas Veteran Commission (TVC) Funds for Veteran Assistance, which funds non-profit organizations across the state of Texas. She also accepted an appointment to State Rep. Victoria Neave's Sexual Violence Task Force focusing on sexual trauma issues that women veterans face during military service.
LaShondra continues to work with elected officials on issues dealing with women veterans and homeless veterans in the community. She also works tirelessly each election to ensure that veterans are registered vote and coordinates transportation to ensure that they get to the polls. Currently, she serves as Vice-Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee of the Houston NAACP chapter and is a member of the Women Marines Association. She facilitates a weekly women veterans group under the WOVEN Program in the local Houston area.