Officers and Board Members

My name is Kari ST Hilaire I am the Secretary/ Operations Director of Service Peace Warriors. I'm married with 5 kids and live on 4 acres in Eltopia, WA. I met Mary Mattox through 4-H when my kids joined her club and learned to show goats. Since I had some bookkeeping knowledge, I started helping with bookkeeping at Service Peace Warriors. As the organization grew so did my role as secretary. I then began over seeing the day to day operations while continuing my bookkeeping work and filling in wherever is needed. Since I became involved in this organization in 2017, I have seen and heard the difference these dogs are making and the lives they have saved. I had no idea what I was getting into but I’m sure glad to be a part of such a lifechanging organization. 

Hi my name is Diona Schilling, I became a Board Member in 2015, when Mary decided to start Service Peace Warriors. I am married with two grown children and one grandson; my daughter and I raise goats on the 5 acres where we live. My husband and I own Dependable Janitor, LLC in Kennewick where I do the bookkeeping.  I am a member/volunteer with the Benton Franklin Market Stock Committee. When Mary asked me to be on her board with Service Peace Warriors, I was excited to help. I had no idea how big and successful this organization would be and what an impact it would make. I thoroughly enjoy the dogs, people and meeting the Veterans and seeing the how these dogs have changed their lives.

Hello my name is Clifford J. Crawford I am a Board Member, and I am married with two wonderful children. I am a disabled combat veteran who served 6 years in the Army National Guard and reached the rank of E-5. I served one deployment in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. During my civilian career I was employed by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.  I started as a painter helper and worked hard to graduate their apprenticeship program and entered management, where I managed multiple crews and completed many complex projects.  After 10 years of federal employment my disabilities became too severe for me to continue serving my country. During this time, I decided to turn in an application for a service animal through Service Peace Warriors. I received SPW Freedom in August 2018 and began volunteering shortly after.

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Sandy and I am on the Board of Directors for Service Peace Warriors. I began puppy raising for the organization in 2016 through 4-H, and have had the opportunity to raise many dogs for deserving veterans since then. I am currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Biology to gain entrance to a veterinary program and acquire my doctorate in veterinary medicine. A Service Peace Warriors dog always attends classes with me at Columbia Basin College; college is a great environment to socialize these dogs in. I look forward to continuing to work with Service Peace Warriors to help achieve the goal of saving veterans lives.