About ALA National President | Past ALA National Presidents
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 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: The Ward family is a proud American Legion Family that shares a passion for engaging in activities that support the mission of the Legion Family. Trish's husband, Steve, is currently National Executive Committeeman for the Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Kansas. Together, Trish and Steve bring children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to The American Legion Family experience.
Trish recently retired from Lumen, a global multinational technology and IT company where she served as a Sr. Lead Project Manager. Since retiring, she now focuses on volunteering for The American Legion Family and spending time on her hobbies which include studying parliamentary law and Robert's Rules of Order. Trish possesses bachelor’s degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Kansas. She is also a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians.
When commenting on her time with The American Legion Family, Trish cites her favorite quote: "Follow your passion. It will lead to your purpose." She continues, "Serving our nation's heroes is my life's work, passion, and purpose."
The American Legion Auxiliary has seen in recent years that small-town rural environments are struggling, leadership capacity is dwindling, membership is aging and churning, and infrastructure is weakening.
These reasons related to our membership have led Ward to an ALA national focus on helping reinvigorate our organization through membership — from the ground up. Ward is visiting ALA departments (states) during her term as national president to share a content enablement experience to help departments help their units succeed.
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PAM RAY
Department of Illinois: Urbana Unit 71
Eligibility: Through late father, Clay Lofton, who served during the Korean War and WWII.
Offices Held: Served numerous unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairmanships. National: Chair of ALA Girls Nation, Junior Activities, National Security, Membership, Constitution & Bylaws, Children & Youth, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation committees. Served on the National Executive Committee and ALA Strategic Planning Committee; served as staff assistant, nurse, and committee member for ALA Girls Nation; she also served as vice chair for the Public Relations and Junior Activities committees.
Professional/personal background:Pam has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1957 and holds a Paid Up For Life (PUFL) membership. She is married to Harl “Butch” Ray, and they have been happily married for 45 years with two daughters, one son-in-law, one granddaughter, and one grandson. All members of her family belong to The American Legion Family — her sister is ALA Past National President Sharon Conatser (2015-2016), and her brother-in-law, Marty, is a Past National Commander of The American Legion. Pam has been a registered nurse for 47 years, and she is a member of Deacon and Elder Westminster Presbyterian Church.
ROSEMARIE W. HAUCK
Department of Missouri: Florissant Valley Memorial Unit 444
Eligibility: Through husband, Joel M. Hauck, who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
Professional/personal background: Rosemarie has worked in Design and Development Instrumentation Engineering for 40 years. She attended Harris Teachers College and Webster University.
LAUREN LLOYD
Department of District of Columbia: George Washington Unit 1
Eligibility: Through father, Vietnam War veteran Thomas “Toby” Markham, U.S. Army; and her husband, Eugene “Gene” Lloyd, U.S. Air Force.
Professional/personal background: Lauren has been married to her husband, Gene, for 27 years. They serve together in their communities and across the globe helping people find their purpose and discover their strengths. Lauren has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree for science in human services, both from Wayland Baptist University. She is also a candidate for Doctor of Public Health at Walden University. Lauren is an ordained minister, and she is a member of the Apostolic Network of Global Awakening (ANGA), as well as a member of the American Public Health Association.
DEBRA ALBERS
Department of Nebraska: Davenport Unit 335
Eligibility: Through father, Paul Straube Sr., who served during WWII.
Professional/personal background: Debra is married to Tregan Albers, an Ohiowa Sons of The American Legion member. They have two sons (Tregan II and Trenton), one granddaughter (Eleanor), and three grandsons (Jonah, Marshall, and Ethan). Tregan II, Trenton, Jonah, Marshall, and Ethan are all members of the Sons of The American Legion in Papillion.
Debra graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor of science degree in home economics, family and consumer sciences with endorsements in health and physical education. She was a teacher at Bruning-Davenport USD, Davenport Community, and Bladen Public Schools in Nebraska. Debra sponsored FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) Chapters and coached high school and junior high volleyball and track. After teaching for 38 years, Debra retired in 2014. Debra served as Chapeau Departmental de Nebraska of the 8 & 40 in 2022. She is also a member of the Order of Eastern Star Serving as Worthy Matron for 21 years. As a member of Christs Lutheran Church, she served on the Church Council, taught Sunday school for 26 years, and is the chair of the Altar Guild.
CHERYL SHINE
Department of Virginia: Colonial Heights Unit 284
Eligibility: Through husband, Joseph Shine, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Also adds military service of her father, U.S. Army veteran Thomas Algerio, who served during WWII; her mother, Claire Algerio, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War; and her grandfather, U.S. Navy veteran Richard Meyer, who served during WWII.
Professional/personal background:Cheryl is a 24-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She has been married to her husband Joseph for 48 years, and they have six children, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Cheryl was a licensed realtor and has provided a licensed and contracted State Therapeutic Foster Home for numerous children. She served 10 years on the King & Queen County Board of Social Services and is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts.
BEVERLY EADS
Department of Alaska: Robert G. Blair Unit 17
Eligibility: Through husband, Vietnam War veteran Ronald Eads.
Professional/personal background:Beverly is a former hairdresser of over 40 years and bartended for The American Legion Post 17 for 30 years.
DARAANNE OLIVER
Department of Florida: Unit 219
Eligibility: Through father, David E. Bulterman Sr., who served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
Professional/personal background:DaraAnne is a female business owner. She has an AAS degree in advertising, and design and production, and a certificate in photography.
MONIQUE BATISTE
Department of Louisiana: Unit 505
Eligibility: Through grandfather, WWII veteran Clinton Richard Johnson.
Professional/personal background:Monique has two daughters, Autumn Claire and Asia Rae, and she is the proud Nonna of Ava Elizabeth, Khade Drew, Savannah Faith, Ace Carter, and Ana Sophia. Her grandmother is Past Department President Hattie B. Johnson — the first African American department president in Louisiana. Monique attended Southern University Baton Rouge, Maric College, and the University of Phoenix. She is a community outreach coordinator, member of Baton Rouge Junior League, and member of Junior League of Baton Rouge Hollydays Steering Committee. Monique is a board member of Fathers On a Mission (FOAM) and community development member of FOAM. She also enjoys being a Sunday school teacher.
"I remember going down to the Legion post with my grandfather [World War II U.S. Army veteran Howard Schlitter], and hearing him say things like, “You’ve got to take care of the veterans. You’ve got to be there for them and help them out.” None of that really resonated with me until after he was gone. Then, I realized I have to be his voice."
- Mike Monserud, ALA member of Auxiliary Unit 37 in Ames, Iowa
