EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/FOUNDER
LTC Brian N Johnson
(US Army Retired)
Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from McNeese State University and a Master’s of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College in Washington DC. A retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, Brian served in numerous staff and leadership positions in the US, Germany, Belgium and an operational tour in Afghanistan. After retirement from active military service, Brian accepted a position as a security management professional in the Middle East. Brian is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of several conservation organizations. His love for Africa, it’s cultures and wildlife has taken him to South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Somaliland. Brian is married to the former Kitty Stephens of Lake Charles, Louisiana and they share their home with numerous rescue cats and a dog named Milo.
SECRETARY/FOUNDER
Kitty Stephens Johnson
Kitty Johnson attended Louisiana State University. Brian and Kitty married in 1992 and embarked on a 21-year journey as a military couple that took them across the United States and around the world. During her time as a military spouse, Kitty was actively involved in military family readiness issues and animal welfare causes. After Brian’s retirement from the military, she remained actively involved in animal welfare by assisting with rescuing, fostering and rehoming cats and dogs in Saudi Arabia and supporting projects to ensure the survival of cheetahs, her favorite big cat. She was instrumental in the planning, support and execution of two charity fundraising climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya to raise funds for elephant conservation and research. Kitty loves Kenya and planned and led a safari in 2019 that visited the Samburu National Reserve, Meru National Park and the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
TREASURER/FINANCIAL OFFICER
Jerry Stephens
Jerry is a graduate of McNeese State University in Lake Charles. Originally from Cabot, Arkansas, Jerry joined the US Army and served with the Army Security Agency in Germany. Jerry began his insurance career with Fidelity Union Life. He then joined the American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) and was instrumental in pioneering their insurance business in Southwest Louisiana. His achievements earned him the respect of his peers and was elected President of the Southwest Louisiana Association of Life Underwriters. A community leader, Jerry served as Treasurer for the McNeese State University Cowboy Club, the primary athletic booster club for the university. Jerry and his wife enjoy supporting their beloved McNeese State University Cowboys and traveling across the country in their motor home.
BOARD MEMBER
LTC Steven Schiavoni
(US Army Retired)
Steve is currently the Deputy Director of Training for a major defense services company in the Middle East. He served for 21 years as an Army officer retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has held command and staff positions from tactical to operational level headquarters. Mr. Schiavoni holds a Masters of Military Science from the Command and General Staff College and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Steve earned the US Army Ranger Tab, the US Army Special Forces Tab, US Army Airborne Wings and qualified as a US Army Jumpmaster. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS/SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICER
Kiran Kumar Thallapaka
Kiran Kumar Thallapaka brings a wealth of administrative, operational process management and Information Technology experience to the organization. Kiran was born in Kadapa District in Andhra Pradesh India. He graduated from SV University in India with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering (Microsoft Certified). Kiran has 12 years of professional experience working in organizational administration, security and access control systems, personnel management and property control in the Middle East. Kiran possesses the gift of languages speaking English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Telugu. Kiran is married to Sujana Kannapu from Andhra Pradesh in India and they have one daughter. An animal person, Kiran adopted a cat in the Middle East named Bella and is a big fan of dogs.
BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Farhan Rana
Farhan Rana is a Director of Contracts for a defense service company in the Middle East with decades of experience supporting businesses across continents and cultures by promoting solutions, mitigating risks, negotiating win-win strategies and managing numerous military and commercial contracts valued in the billions of dollars. Farhan has been fortunate to have been able to travel the world with his work and ardently believes in Mark Twain’s saying that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness […]” and wishes that more people were afforded that same opportunity to see and appreciate different peoples, cultures and environments. In addition to managing contracts, he works within his community donating time and resources to individuals and local charities. He is an honorably discharged US Marine who continues to believe that your service to country does not end when you leave the military but evolves to serving the greater good – that each of us has a responsibility to our neighbors, community and planet. Farhan holds a BA in Political Science from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada and is enjoying being a first time father before going back his MBA.