Ron Demonet
Managing Director
Ron Demonet has worn a lot of hats. Husband. Father. Engineer. Businessman. Veteran. It is that final hat that led Ron Demonet to start Veterans Scholarships Forever in 2013. An Alabama native and graduate of Georgia Tech, Ron served in the Army during the Vietnam War.
“I know what it is like for our veterans transitioning back to civilian life,” he said.
His goal is to establish endowed scholarships at accredited colleges to help veterans gain the skills needed to find rewarding jobs with growth potential.
Board of Directors
Veteran Scholarships Forever (VSF) is overseen by a Board of Directors, whose primary functions are to: 1) steer VSF towards its Mission, and 2) determine which colleges and programs will be funded by VSF scholarships.
Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson has always been active in the non-profit community during his 40+ years as a banking executive in South Carolina. His background and expertise will help VSF achieve the goal of helping Veterans get the education they need. Craig is currently Senior Vice President, Upstate Market President, and Small Business Executive for Certus Bank in Greenville. In prior years, he was a senior executive for Pinnacle and First Citizens Banks, along with 30+ years with Bank of America. Craig earned his Marketing Degree at the University of South Carolina, and is a graduate of the Banking School of the South at LSU.
Jan R. Howard
Jan R. Howard has been active in the non-profit sector since 1986, and wants to make a positive impact on the lives and future of our Veterans. Jan is currently the development Director of the Pleasant Valley Connection, a non-profit organization in Greenville, South Carolina, that offers affordable programs that help residents ages 3 to 93. She brings leadership and skills across multiple domains, including agency development and outreach, board development, volunteer recruitment, fundraising and special events. In prior years, Jan was a professional Administrative Assistant to senior executives at Michelin Tire, Dunlop Sports, and The Spinx Company.
Princella Lee-Bridges
Princella Lee-Bridges is a Desert Storm Veteran who served 13 years in the Air Force as an Aeromedical Evacuation Nurse and Medical Crew Director. Princella is Founder and Executive Director of Bridges from Augusta, a non-profit organization serving burn survivors in the Upstate of South Carolina. She is a commissioner of the Housing Authority of the City of Greenville, on the Memorial Community Advisory Council of the Greenville Hospital System, and an active volunteer with United Way of Greenville. She has nursing degrees from Greenville Technical College and Graceland University, along with her Masters in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Bert Strange
Dr. Bert Strange served 24 years in the U.S. Army (the last 20 as a chaplain), retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has taught at five colleges and universities, including Furman and Greenville Technical College, where he is currently an adjunct instructor in religion. Since retiring from the Army, he has been active in the community, including serving as the President of the Greenville Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, and President of the Rotary Club of Greenville. Bert is a graduate of Furman, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Duke University, and the University of Exeter (England) where he received his Ph.D.