Kathleen is retired from the USDA-ARS after 17 years working as a Program Support Assistant for the Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research unit in Pullman, Washington. During her time with the USDA, she was part of the “Pumping Up the Math and Science Pipeline – Grade School Through College,” which involved taking research scientists and professors to rural schools to work with students in a hands-on science environment. Mentoring students is her passion. Her wish is for young people to succeed and become our future leaders. Kathleen’s passion and desire for young people to succeed is one of the reasons she serves on W.H.E.A.T.’s Board. Through her leadership role on W.H.E.A.T., Kathleen can further her passion by providing an exemplary role model and engaging our youth in military-oriented volunteer activities.
Grant Traynor
Executive Director
Grant Traynor
Executive Director
Grant Traynor is passionate about helping deployed troops receive the support and supplies they need. He has several family members who have served, and he greatly appreciates their hard work and sacrifice. Grant graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Environmental Studies – Biology in 2019. He has accumulated a wide variety of experience across many different professional fields, including olive milling and teaching English. He joined WHEAT in the spring of 2020 to provide the board logistical and technical support. He loves animals, exploring the outdoors, and travelling.
Blizzard (aka “Blizz”)
Office Manager
Blizzard (aka “Blizz”)
Office Manager
Blizz is a four-year old yellow Labrador who absolutely lives for “paw-dicures.” He’s most content when a human volunteer massages his front paws. Blizz makes an adorable “snoring” sound when all is right with the world and his paws are being massaged. Blizz’s efforts to keep his Office Co-Manager in line are often fruitless, but he tries. As Milo’s partner in all dog toy and treat testing, Blizz is the “final say” on whether an item is purchased and sent abroad to his K-9 brother and sister soldiers overseas.
Milo
Office Manager
Milo
Office Manager
Milo, a two-year old black Labrador, has many loves in life, such as belly rubs, chasing his favorite orange ball, tormenting “Blizz,” and frolicking with the chickens. When he’s not writing to our troops overseas, Milo enjoys testing dog chew toys and treats before we send them to his K-9 brother and sister soldiers overseas. If the toys and treats meet his approval, then W.H.E.A.T.’s human volunteers procure new items to send abroad.
Lana Myers
Co-Founder/Executive Assistant
Lana Myers
Co-Founder/Executive Assistant
Lana, whose father is retired Army, appreciates the sacrifices that our military personnel (veterans and active duty members) make for our country. As a retired special education attorney who represented individuals with disabilities in education-related matters in Washington, Oregon, and California, she understands the importance of confidentiality, strict internal controls and maintaining a secure, efficient operation. Lana strives to engage area youth, individuals with learning differences, families, and individuals from 1 to 95+ years-old in W.H.E.A.T.’s all-volunteer organization.
Roger Myers
Co-Founder & Board President
Roger Myers
Co-Founder & Board President
Roger is a U.S. Navy veteran who served on the USS Belleauwood LHA-3 and the USS Enterprise CVN-65 from 1981-89. In the Navy, Roger did three Westpac tours. He became a shellback in 1984. During his deployments, Roger remembers the announcement, “Mail Call! Mail Call!” He recalls that, “just to receive a bit of home was the highlight of my day or week.” After leaving the Navy, Roger joined the Carpenter’s Union, Local 131, where he had the privilege of helping build parts of downtown Seattle, including Metropolitan Park, the Cosmopolitan Tower, and the Seattle Library.
Upon retiring from carpentry in 2018, he and Lana began sending frequent, customized care packages to our military troops deployed overseas year-round. Every package included a handwritten, personalized letter (and still does). Through W.H.E.A.T., Roger tries to bring a “bit of home” to our troops deployed abroad, to remind them that we appreciate and support them 100%, 365 days/year.
