Meet Our Board & Officers
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
At Ohio Western Reserve Ladies, our Board and Officers are the heart of our mission—to ensure that no veteran is ever buried alone. Comprised of dedicated community members, veterans, family members, and supporters, our leadership team brings passion, integrity, and a deep respect for service to every aspect of our work. Together, they guide our nonprofit's vision, uphold our values, and coordinate meaningful tributes at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Learn more about the individuals who help carry out this sacred promise.
Meet The Team
Kat Johnson
Co-Founder/ Executive Board Member- Kat Johnson is a founding member and Executive Board Member of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies. She is the proud daughter of a Navy submariner and granddaughter of two World War II veterans—one a POW. With a family legacy deeply rooted in military service, Kat brings both reverence and resolve to her role. Her commitment to OWRNC is grounded in a powerful sense of duty—to honor the lives of those who served and to ensure their sacrifices are remembered. Through OWRL, Kat continues her family’s tradition of service, ensuring no veteran is ever laid to rest without recognition or respect.
Jean Hedrick
Executive Board Member- Jean Hedrick is a founding member of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies and serves as an Executive Board Member. A longtime community volunteer with Scouting America since 2006, Jean has a heart for service. She is the daughter of a veteran and has been married for 37 years to a Marine Corps Veteran. Both of her parents are interred at OWRNC, and from her first visit, she knew it was the right resting place—peaceful, beautiful, and dignified. For Jean, the “No Veteran Buried Alone” mission is personal. She is honored to represent the families who cannot be present, ensuring every veteran is remembered with respect.
Megan Tetlak
Executive Board Member- Megan Tetlak is a founding member of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies and serves as an Executive Board Member. She is a proud daughter of SP4 Perry B. Crandall, U.S. Army, a Vietnam Veteran who is interred at OWRNC. Megan also comes from a deeply rooted military family—she is the granddaughter of James F. McMahon, U.S. Army, and the niece and cousin of United States Marines. Megan finds strength and purpose in honoring those who have served. The cemetery brings her peace and inspiration, and she is deeply committed to OWRL’s mission to ensure no veteran is ever laid to rest without the honor and recognition they deserve.
megan@ohiowesternreserveladies.org
Sarah Cottom
Executive Board Member- Sarah Cottom is a dedicated founding member of the Ohio Western Reserve Ladies who currently serves as an Executive Board Member. Sarah’s connection to OWRNC is deeply personal—she is the proud daughter of Sgt. Richard C. Faecking, US Army, a Vietnam Veteran who is laid to rest at OWRNC. Her father bravely served our nation and lost his battle with brain cancer in 2013, a battle linked to the effects of Agent Orange.
Sarah’s passion for service and remembrance is rooted in the values her parents instilled in her—a commitment she now passes on to her own children. For Sarah, the grounds of OWRNC offer a place of peace and reflection, a space where she finds comfort and inspiration. Through her involvement with OWRL, Sarah continues to champion the mission of “No Veteran Buried Alone,” ensuring that every veteran receives the honor, respect, and support they so rightly deserve.
Sarah’s dedication echoes the powerful words of Abraham Lincoln: we must “care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.” Her ongoing efforts remind us all of the importance of honoring those who have sacrificed for our country.
Becky Clark
Co-Founder/President- Becky Clark is a founding member and current President of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies. A Nurse Manager in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Akron Children’s Hospital and adjunct faculty at Northern Kentucky University’s College of Nursing, Becky has dedicated her life to service and care. A retired Major in the Ohio Army National Guard, wife, mother, and small farm owner, she brings discipline, compassion, and leadership to OWRL. For Becky, OWRNC is a place where her service continues—supporting veterans and their families and building a legacy of remembrance across Northeast Ohio.
Bonnie Gardner
Vice President/ Committee Chair- Bonnie Gardner serves as Vice President of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies and is the matriarch of a deeply rooted military family built on a legacy of service. She is the wife of an Army Veteran laid to rest at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, a connection that continues to fuel her dedication to honoring those who served. Bonnie has led the organization’s Asset Committee for multiple consecutive years, bringing consistency, strength, and vision to its growth. In every space she enters, she is not only a leader, but an asset in the truest sense.
Nancy Robinson
Secretary
Renee Kosik
Treasurer- Renee Lynn Kosik is a founding member of Ohio Western Reserve Ladies and proudly serves as the organization’s Secretary and Treasurer. Her commitment to OWRNC is deeply personal—her father, James R. Ave (U.S. Army); her brother, Scott R. Ave (U.S. Navy); and her father-in-law, Paul F. Kosik (U.S. Army) are all interred in Section 14, laid to rest within three years of one another.
After placing her third loved one at the cemetery, Renee knew she needed to do more—to honor not only her family, but every veteran who rests there. The moment she learned about OWRL’s mission of “No Veteran Buried Alone,” she didn’t hesitate to join.
Volunteering alongside a powerful group of women has given Renee a renewed sense of appreciation for all who served. OWRNC is a place of peace and purpose for her—a place where she feels connected to both her family and a broader mission of national gratitude. She is deeply committed to her family, her church, and her community, and finds fulfillment in every act of service that honors our veterans.
God bless America, and God bless our veterans.
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Ohio Western Reserve Ladies (OWRL) holds officer and board member elections biannually during the fall meeting. All active paid members in good standing are eligible to vote. Nominations are submitted in advance or may be made from the floor, and voting is conducted by a simple majority of those present. This democratic process ensures continued leadership aligned with our mission and values. New terms begin the next calendar year.