Leadership
starts at the top
Founded and forged by Veterans who proudly served.
With a team made up of Veterans and former VA personnel, VBG’s executive team has the experience, integrity and innovative mindset to help Veterans like you receive the benefits you’ve so honorably earned.
Josh Smith
About Josh Smith
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Josh Smith is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and the Chief Executive Officer of Veteran Benefits Guide.
Josh served in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years, where he served as a Cryptologic Arabic Linguist. He deployed to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Josh transitioned from active duty to civilian life in 2005, eventually working at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Rating Veteran Service Representative, or Rater. During that time, he was trained on the VA’s Disability Compensation System and discovered inefficiencies in how disability ratings were evaluated. Josh recognized the need to provide a better option for processing disability claims and sought to create a new process to help Veterans expedite them while also obtaining their full benefits.
After leaving the VA, Josh started VBG with his wife, Lauren, to fulfill the mission of better serving Veterans with the disability claims process. Since its founding, VBG has served over 45,000 Veterans.
Outside of VBG, Josh loves spending time, especially outdoors, with his wife, Lauren, their three daughters and their German Shephard / Husky mix. He is also an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Vegas Golden Knights.
Lauren Smith
About Lauren Smith
Military Family
Lauren Smith is a co-founder and chief people officer of Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and a proud member of a military Veteran family.
Lauren was the company’s chief operating officer for eight years. In her current role, Lauren oversees all strategy related to employee performance; develops and implements strategy for personnel management; and leads the company’s efforts to create a culture that supports VBG’s purpose, mission, and values.
Before starting VBG with her husband Josh in 2015, Lauren held several project management and engineering positions in the construction industry, overseeing end-to-end project execution, including budgets, timelines, construction, quality control, and safety.
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Excelsior University. Outside of VBG, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, and their three daughters. She also loves to travel, cook and read.
About Lisa Kalkes
U.S. Army Veteran
Lisa Kalkes is a U.S. Army Veteran and the Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Public Affairs for Veteran Benefits Guide.
In her role, Lisa oversees the planning, development and execution of VBG’s brand marketing, advertising, communications, and public affairs strategies, ensuring alignment with the company’s purpose-driven mission of supporting America’s military Veterans.
Before joining VBG, Lisa was the senior director of marketing at Optum, where she was responsible for driving the organization’s marketing, public relations, sponsorships, community giving, and internal communications efforts.
In addition to her many years of experience in the private sector, Lisa served in the U.S. Army for four years, including a 15-month deployment in Iraq. During her time in the military, she served as an executive officer, platoon leader, and battalion adjutant.
Lisa is active in professional and community circles. She is a member of the Forbes Communications Council, a group of senior-level public relations practitioners that promotes innovative solutions to complex communications problems.
Lisa serves on the board of directors of Straight From the Streets, a community service organization that furnishes food, water, clothing, shelter, and transportation for homeless individuals in Las Vegas.
Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from East Carolina University.
Outside of VBG and her many community service activities, Lisa loves spending time with her husband and two children. She also enjoys traveling and reading and is a trained Reiki Master.
Whitney Ogden
About Whitney Ogden
Whitney Ogden is the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for Veteran Benefits Guide.
In her role, Whitney oversees all legal and compliance operations across the organization, including privacy, litigation and regulatory affairs.
Prior to becoming CLO and CCO, Whitney served as Compliance Counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where she advised FBI executive leadership on compliance matters within the agency. Before joining the FBI, she held several roles at the Social Security Administration, most recently serving as senior attorney advisor in the Office of Appellate Operations.
Whitney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California, Irvine and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School.
A Southern California transplant, Whitney lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and children. Outside of VBG, Whitney is a tennis hack with a penchant for chocolate cupcakes and Taco Bell burritos.
David Bergstraesser
About David Bergstraesser
David Bergstraesser is the senior director of finance for VBG.
He oversees budgeting and long-range planning, guiding the organization’s overall financial strategy.
Before joining VBG, Bergstraesser served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at GenuBank in Las Vegas, where he led the bank’s accounting operations and planning efforts. He brings more than 15 years of experience in banking, accounting and organizational leadership.
David holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration and management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A Las Vegas resident, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. When he’s not braving the cold to watch his sons play ice hockey, he takes road trips to national parks for hiking and sightseeing.
Freddie De Yong
About Freddie De Yong
Military Family
Freddie De Yong is the Senior Director of Business Intelligence and Process for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and a proud member of a military Veteran family.
In his role, Freddie helps VBG set its goals, develop strategic plans, and manage production and business analytics. Previously, he served VBG as Director of Operations.
Prior to joining VBG, Freddie was a Mobile Technician/Genius at Apple and held several sales and marketing positions.
Outside of VBG, Freddie enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He also loves off-roading, outdoor activities and basketball.
Patrick Holmes
About Patrick Holmes
Patrick Holmes is the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Veteran Benefits Guide.
In this role, Patrick oversees marketing, employee communications, public and media relations and VBG’s strategic communication initiatives to enhance its reputation and brand.
Prior to joining VBG, Patrick served as the executive director of communications and marketing at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, Patrick led the effort to evolve and protect the university's brand, managed comprehensive internal communications strategies, and oversaw digital and social media initiatives.
Before Berkeley, Patrick worked at Oregon Health &Science University for over 10 years, including five years directing internal communications. OHSU is Oregon’s only academic health center and the largest employer in Portland.
Patrick earned a bachelor's degree in social science at Portland State University, with an emphasis in communications.
Outside of VBG, Patrick enjoys traveling, snowboarding and live music.
Thomas McDaniel
About Thomas McDaniel
Thomas McDaniel is the senior director of information technology at Veteran Benefits Guide.
In this role, Thom leads enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation and product management initiatives that drive operational efficiency and business growth. He brings more than 30 years of IT leadership experience across the high-tech and hospitality sectors.
Prior to joining VBG, Thom led complex, global IT programs integrating cybersecurity, cloud platform CRM systems and data-driven-decision-making, delivering business process improvements and operational gains. His ability to translate business needs into practical technology solutions has made him a visionary leader in enterprise transformation.
Thom earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.
He lives in Highland, Utah, with his wife, Cori, and their three children: Courtney, Dylan and Jackson.
As a Northern California native, he is a lifelong 49ers fan, a passion he shares with his sons. Outside of VBG, Thom enjoys outdoor activities including golfing, cycling, hiking and boating.
Juan Molina
About Juan Molina
Military Family
Juan Molina is the Director of Operations for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG) and a proud member of a military Veteran family.
In his role, Juan is responsible for managing VBG's core operations, helping to ensure that VBG continues to meet and exceed its goals.
Prior to joining VBG, Juan was the Operations Support Manager at National Veterinary Associates (Ethos) and has nearly a decade of experience in healthcare and operations.
Juan holds a Master’s degree in health administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Saint Louis University.
Outside of VBG, Juan enjoys hiking and camping.
Osiris Morel
About Osiris Morel
Osiris Morel is the director of government affairs at Veteran Benefits Guide, where she oversees public policy efforts that advance VBG’s mission and strengthen its presence nationwide.
Before joining VBG, Osiris was senior manager of government affairs at Mark Anthony Brands, Inc. (MABI), where she led federal and 50-state lobbying efforts, managed complex legislative and regulatory issues and supported the company’s strategy across key frontier markets. She began her political career at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, one of the nation’s leading lobbying and law firms, where she served as a lead Hispanic lobbyist and worked across the firm’s federal and 50-state lobbying practices, representing clients across a wide range of policy areas in emerging industries.
Osiris has played integral roles in bipartisan, high-profile legislative campaigns and brings a pragmatic, human-centered approach to relationship-building and policy negotiation. Her grounded intuition led to her recognition as one of Washington, D.C.’s Top 100 Lobbyists by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics in 2025. Osiris also serves as vice president of the Hispanic Lobbying Association, where she is committed to elevating the next generation of Hispanic and Latino government affairs leaders.
Osiris holds a bachelor’s degree in International and Middle East/North African Studies from Hope College. Originally from Boston, she now lives in New Jersey with her fiancé.
Nick Parises
About Nick Parises
Nick Parises is the Director of Accounting for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, Nick oversees the accounting operations of VBG and guides strategic financial decisions to support the organization’s mission of assisting Veterans.
Prior to joining VBG, Nick was the Senior Internal Auditor for Station Casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. With his years of experience as a CPA and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Azusa Pacific University, Nick brings valuable expertise to his role at VBG.
Outside of VBG, Nick enjoys spending time with his spouse and their two children and engaging in activities such as playing video games and watching movies. He is also an avid supporter of the San Francisco 49ers and Vegas Golden Knights.
Ryan Scalmanini
About Ryan Scalmanini
U.S. Coast Guard Veteran
Ryan Scalmanini is a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and the Director of VA Disability Compliance and Analytics for Veteran Benefits Guide (VBG).
In his role, Ryan manages the training and development for VBG’s VA disability claims manager team to ensure they are equipped with the information and resources they need to successfully support the company’s Veteran clients. He is also responsible for end-to-end quality control of the claims support process.
Prior to joining VBG, Ryan was a Rating Veteran Service Representative, or Rater at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where he became an expert on the VA’s Disability Compensation System.
Ryan also served in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years, where he was an engineer and rescue swimmer while attached to a law enforcement and rescue unit.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Phoenix.
Outside of VBG, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, playing beach volleyball and assisting Veterans/first responders in finding their path of healing and purpose.