Aura Home Women Vets is proud to include four (4) women Veterans on our Board of Directors!  

Board Chair

Alyce Knaflich

Veteran, US Army, retired

Alyce Knaflich served in the US Army for 19.5 years. Five years after her military discharge she lost her job and was diagnosed with PTSD. At age 41 the VA Medical Center declared her unfit to work. Without income Alyce became destitute and remained homeless for nearly 10 years while struggling with her health concerns. Alyce finally saw light at the end of the tunnel when she reached 100% service connected disability and received alternative health care. Today Alyce volunteers with numerous Veteran related organizations and advocates for Veterans at Charles George VAMC. She received two National awards for her work with Veterans, NAC VAVS Female Volunteer of the Year 2014 and AMVETS Volunteer of the Year 2015.  Alyce’s passion for the past nine years is assisting homeless Women Veterans and founded Aura Home Women Vets, to assist women Veterans who are at risk of homelessness, and the Felicia Reeves Home, a shelter under renovations in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Vice Chair

Wanda Schwerer

Veteran, USAF, E4

Wanda,a native of Houston, Texas, served in the US Air Force (1971-1975), then earned a BS in Business from University of Nebraska Omaha. She worked for Arthur Andersen for 19 years, first as an information systems consultant, then as the Manager of the Office Systems department in the Chicago Headquarters. She and her husband (Ron) moved to Florida in 1998, where Wanda worked in a couple of internet start-ups, retiring in 2011 after working for 10 years for Sykes Enterprises, as a Senior Business Systems Analyst.

Following retirement, Wanda volunteered at the Bay Pines VA Health Care Systems Medical Center in Seminole, Fl, for 10 years. She currently is a member of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Quilts of Valor. Her interest in Veterans drew her to the Aura Home Women Vets, to continue serving fellow Veterans. Wanda is also Chair of Veteran Outreadh for the Abraham Kuykendall chapter of The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Treasurer & Property Director

Alec Burkle

Alec Burkle grew up as a Navy dependent up and down the east coast providing him exposure to the service and sacrifice of our military members and their families.   Alec is a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina and employed as an engineering manager at Eaton Corporation.  After volunteering at a few events sponsored by Aura Homes, he was driven to become more involved with the team after seeing the passion and commitment of its members.

Director

Fran Pittaway

Veteran, US Navy, Chief, Retired

Retired U.S. Navy Chief. There’s a desperate need to help stop homeless  female Veterans.  One is too many.  Frustrated that not enough is being done and Aura Home is the perfect place to volunteer and to help my sister Veterans succeed in life after the military.

Director

Susan (Kim) Nelson

Kim Nelson was born in Easton, PA (in 1950) and attended Boston's Museum School of Fine Art, and where her only child, Karl, was born. She then got her Bachelor's in English from SUNY New Paltz (State Univ of NY) and took a Master's in Education from Rutgers University. She has had dual careers in both college level teaching (25 years at Seminole State College of Florida) and as a non-profit arts administrator, running the Museum of Seminole County History and several other arts groups in central Florida. Upon retirement she and her husband Bob, a professional artist, relocated to western NC. Kim's hobbies are horseback riding her horse partner, Rocky, and performing at the Flat Rock Playhouse where you can see her in the 2024 Christmas show. 

Besides serving on the AAUW board, she also is a board member of the Aura Home for Women Veterans.

Director

Jennifer Behar

Veteran, US Marine Corps

Jennifer Behar is a dedicated Peer Specialist at the Charles George VA Medical Center (VAMC) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) at Crossroads Treatment Center PRN. She also conducts contract assessments for First Contact Addiction Ministries as a CADC. At the Charles George VAMC, Jennifer works in the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) program, providing peer support to veterans and offering social interaction, daily living skills assistance, transportation, and motivation.

A passionate advocate for women veterans, Jennifer leads 1:1 peer mentoring, the Veteran Hope (Veteran X model), Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), and Honest Open and Proud (HOP) programs. She also serves on the Early Psychosis Intervention Committee (EPIC), ensuring veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) remain connected to treatment.

Jennifer is the first female veteran graduate of the Veterans Treatment Court in North Carolina and has been in recovery for 5 years. During her recovery, she experienced homelessness, receiving vital assistance from the Aura Home Women Vets until she secured permanent housing. She now serves as a Board Member of the organization, continuing her commitment to helping women veterans.

Jennifer’s leadership extends to her role on the Peer Specialist Hiring Board, mentoring for the Veterans Treatment Court, and volunteering with Blue Ridge Honor Flight. She is also working toward her Master’s degree in Social Work to further her impact. In recognition of her contributions, she was named the Charles George VAMC Peer of the Year for 2024.