Executive Director
Jason Turner
Army veteran who has been deployed a number of times during his 12-year military career. Turner was awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, Army Commendation Medal(2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Ribbon,Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 3 campaign stars, NATO ISAF Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M Device, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge w/ Driver - Wheeled Vehicle Clasp. He has held a number of professional roles, most recently as a sales representative for Bio-Vet. He is also the owner of Combat Vet Customs and Vice President of the US Military Vets MC WI-2.
Board Members
Jim Erskine
President
Originally from New Jersey, Jim Erskine joined the Navy right out of college. He spent 13 years as a Naval Aviator, flying everything from the S-3 Viking to the F-14 Tomcat. Jim has completed multiple cruises on board the USS Carl Vinson, and played an important role in the mine sweeping efforts in the Persian Gulf during Operation Ernest Will.
Jim moved to Rosendale, Wisconsin in 2012 and is currently a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5278, the American Legion Post 75 and the Legion Riders.
Jim is very passionate about helping his fellow veterans and looks forward to growing Salute the Troops into a preeminent veteran’s resource organization in Wisconsin and beyond.
Vicky Melius
Vice President
Originally from Texas, Vicky joined the US Navy right out of high school and served as a machinist at the Naval Submarine Support Facility in New London Ct. She has been a resident of Fond du Lac for 23 years and with Salute the Troops since its founding in April 2012. She has served as a co-race director and General Board Member and now serves as Vice President. As a US Navy veteran and a military brat, she knows the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families in service to our nation.
Richard Feustel
Vice President
Richard is a retired Lieutenant Commander having served 16 years in the US Navy as a nuclear submarine officer and 7 years in the Marine Corps. He currently serves as the Director of the Salute the Troops' Warrior House, Adjutant for the Fond du Lac Marine Corps League, member of the Fond du Lac Navy Club and District Boy Scout Leader. He initiated, developed, and led the energy departments for Mercury Marine and for Briggs & Stratton. He was recognized as the 2011 International Energy Manager of the Year and the 2013 Renewable Energy Innovator for the Midwest by the Association of Energy Engineers. He now works as a Senior Energy Advisor for Leidos Engineering supporting Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program.
Katie Kahlhamer
Secretary
Katie is a native to North Fond du Lac and enjoys volunteering to help many local non-profits. Both of Katie's grandfathers were veterans and her father in law is a purple heart recipient, so it was only natural that she would join the Salute the Troops family.
Katie is married to Matt Kahlhamer and they are proud parents of two fur babies Hadley and Ellie. She is currently a beautician and receptionist and she occasionally bartends at Joe's Fox Hut.
Katie also proudly accepted the 2016 Volunteer of the Year award from the Downtown Fond du Lac partnership.
Kristine Kiesow
Co-Race Director
Kristine Kiesow is the Senior Human Resources Coordinator at Fives - Giddings and Lewis in Fond du Lac.Kris began her career with Giddings and Lewis on May 18, 1981. Kris and her husband Dan reside in Brandon, WI and have two children (Nathan and Lindsay) and one grandchild (Isaac). Kris has been a part of Salute the Troops from the beginning and has gladly taken on the challenge of planning and coordinating events in conjunction with the run to ensure an amazing day for all participants.Kris enjoys spending time with her family, boating and singing Karaoke in her spare time.
Ed Wenzel
Board Member
Ed Wenzel served in the United States Army as an Infantryman for 4 years and the Wisconsin Army National Guard for an additional 17 years as a Military Police Officer. He retired a Sergeant First Class in 2010 with deployments to Panama, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, and two deployments to Baghdad, Iraq. Ed Wenzel has been a member of the Fond du Lac Police Department for 20 years and is a Lieutenant of Patrol there. In addition to serving as a board member for Salute the Troops, Ed serves the board of the FDL County Historical Society and is Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 701. His most meaningful experience is with the Police Department Honor Guard. Ed enjoys hunting, fishing, and bicycling -- and recently blacksmithing.
Tracy Qualmann
Board Member
Tracy Qualmann is a life-long resident of Fond du Lac. Mom to two grown boys, she enjoys spending time with them, traveling, cooking, and employs the attitude of “try anything once (at least)”. Tracy's background includes marketing, communications, teaching, mentoring, and non-profit board development. Although not a veteran herself, Tracy works to better the veteran community through relationship building, advocacy, and awareness.