WHEN ARE ALA NATIONAL OFFICERS ELECTED?
These national officer positions serve one-year terms and are elected at National Convention, serving until adjournment of the following National Convention. In addition to these candidates, any member in good standing may be nominated for any of these national offices from the floor at National Convention. ALA national division vice presidents are nominated in their respective division caucuses and are elected by convention delegates. Information presented on this page was provided by the candidates.
LISA WILLIAMSON
Department of Alaska: C. Russell Huber Unit 57
Eligibility: Through son, Kyle, who serves in the Alaska Air Guard. Also adds military service of her adoptive father, Keith LaChance.
Offices Held: Served/serving several unit-level positions and multiple department-level offices and chairmanships. National: served as chair of the Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Children & Youth, Education, Legislative, Constitution & Bylaws, Public Relations, and Junior Activities committees, and as 100th Anniversary Committee member, National Executive Committee member, ALA Centennial Strategic Plan strategy co-captain, and American Legion Auxiliary national vice president.
Professional/personal background: Lisa’s family is her pride and joy — husband Darrel, daughter Danielle, and son Kyle — and that pride is reflected in their commitment to The American Legion Family. All served in leadership roles at local, state, and national levels in The American Legion Family. Kyle is also one of her unit’s first male ALA members, and Danielle has blessed Lisa with two grandsons: Dawson, 9, and Micah, 6. All are Legion Family members.
TRISH WARD
Department of Kansas: John P. Hand Unit 250
Eligibility: Through father, John M. Brusati, U.S. Army, World War II; and grandfather, Edmund S. Lindberg, U.S. Navy, WWII.
Offices Held: Served in several unit-, district-, and department-level positions. National: Chair of Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Children & Youth, Constitution & Bylaws, Leadership, Legislative, ALA Girls Nation, Public Relations, Membership, and Auxiliary Emergency Fund committees; served as Central Division National Vice President; National Executive Committee member; American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Board of Directors member; and served on the ALA Centennial Strategic Plan Team.
Professional/personal background: Trish is employed as a Senior Lead Project Manager at Lumen, a global multinational technology and IT company. Trish’s hobby is studying parliamentary law, and she is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. She holds bachelor degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Kansas. She and her husband Steve bring children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to The American Legion Family experience.
CAROL T. ROBINSON
Department of Ohio: Unit 776 in Riverside
Eligibility: Through late brother, William A. Hawkins, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Professional/personal background: Carol is retired from Defense Logistics Agency and Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services as a contract specialist. She has a bachelor of arts degree in management and human development from the McGregor School Antioch University, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Carol has master certifications in government contracting and project management from the Business School of George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Other organizations she’s part of include the VFW, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, First Baptist Church, National Association of Professional Women, and Order of Eastern Star. Her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter are all members of the ALA.
DEBRA TIERNAN
Department of Vermont: Ballard-Hobart Unit 36
Eligibility: Through father, Harold “Zeke” St. John, U.S. Navy veteran, WWII.
Professional/personal background: Debra has been an American Legion Auxiliary member since 1999 as a Paid Up For Life member. She is married to Dan Tiernan, and they share three children and eight grandchildren. Debra was a licensed nursing assistant for 27 years, and a ski lift operator for 11 years. She is a proud member of Veterans of Foreign Affairs Auxiliary, Loyal Order of the Moose, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Cavendish Green Mountain Snow Fleas. Debra loves all things outdoors.
KAREN SUSAG
Department of Montana: Broadwater Unit 42
Eligibility: Through husband, Vietnam veteran Michael G. Susag, U.S. Air Force; and father, Oscar Webster, WWI. Also adds military service of brother, Harold Webster, U.S. Army; brother, Alfred Webster, U.S. Navy; and son, Christopher Susag, U.S. Navy.
Professional/personal background: Karen has been an American Legion Auxiliary member since 1970, and a Paid Up For Life member. She has served on many different chairmanships and offices held at unit, district, and department levels. Karen is a newspaper reporter, Blood Drive chairman, Youth Leader volunteer, and involved in food service at university.
CHRISTINE TRAHAN
Department of Texas: Beaumont Unit 33
Eligibility: Through father, Charles Wheeler, U.S. Navy; brother, Chuck Wheeler, U.S. Marine Corps; spouse, Michael Trahan, U.S. Marine Corps; and sons, Michael Trahan, U.S. Air Force and Dusty Trahan, U.S. Marine Corps.
Professional/personal background: Christine has been an Auxiliary member since 1993. She’s been married for 43 years and has two sons and one granddaughter, all who are members of The American Legion Family. Christine retired after 36 years as an administrative assistant. She spends her time volunteering as an advocate for PTSD and utilizes a majority of her time volunteering for her Auxiliary unit and the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Texas.
JEANETTE (JAN) CUSHING
Department of Arizona: Earl E. Mitchell Unit 29
Eligibility: Through husband, George, U.S. Air Force veteran, Vietnam War.
Professional/personal background: Jan is very involved in the American Legion Auxiliary at all levels and has held many different leadership positions in the last 20 years. She and her husband George have four children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren together. She is retired and worked for United Technology in East Hartford, Conn.
DONNA THURMAN
Department of Kentucky: Hardin Unit 113
Eligibility: Through father, Kenneth A. Johnson, U.S. Army sergeant. Also adds military service of late husband, Col. J.W. Thurman
Professional/personal background: Donna has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1996 and holds a PUFL membership. Donna grew up as an Army “brat” which made her a strong supporter of our military. Donna’s father taught her to always respect soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and her husband further instilled that sense of responsibility in her. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in foreign language from Eastern Kentucky University, and a master’s degree in secondary counselling from Western Kentucky University. Donna taught French and German for 14 years.
YVONNE BRUNNER
Department of New York: Unit 144
Eligibility: Through father, Korean War veteran Armand Quiles Serrano, U.S. Air Force; and husband, Joseph A. Brunner Jr., U.S. Navy.
Professional/personal background: Yvonne has been a member of the Auxiliary since 2011. She and her husband Joseph have two daughters and one grandson. Yvonne is a graduate from Molloy College where she earned a degree in Health Information Management. She also holds a secondary degree in Sonography, specializing in breast cancer and Neonatology. Yvonne is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. She is also very active in her church activities.
BRENDA COLLINS
Department of South Carolina: Unit 0003
Eligibility: Through husband, U.S. Air Force veteran John F. Collins, Vietnam
Professional/personal background: Brenda is a Paid Up For Life member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She and John have been married since 1964, and have two sons and four grandchildren — all members of The American Legion Family. Brenda owned a business for 19 years before retiring to serve as administrative assistant to the pastor of her church for 17 years and is now retired.
BRISTER THOMAS
Department of Hawaii: Unit 56
Eligibility: Through husband, Mark, U.S. Navy veteran. Also adds military service of father, U.S. Marine Corps pilot in Vietnam; and grandfather, U.S. Navy, WWII
Professional/personal background: Brister comes from a military family with a deep American history and has family members who have served in every U.S. conflict. She married her hero, Mark, and they have three daughters together. Brister is a retired police chaplain and youth minister, and she also retired from a successful career as an advertising executive. She currently works for DOL (Department of Labor) TAPS (Transition Assistance Program) serving transitioning military.
