Jan Miller
Chief Executive Officer and President
Hailing from wild and wonderful West Virginia, Jan Miller is currently serving as the NALES CEO and President. She lives with her LEO husband Derek and two beautiful children in the Mountain State.
Jan has a passion for educating children and their parents in fun ways through Usborne Books & More as an Independent Consultant. She is spreading love and literacy and engaging families in learning. Additionally, she works as an Assistant for Appalachian Signals & Products, a family-owned security systems business in West Virginia. With tireless energy, Jan is also involved with her church family, and believes in service to others through volunteer organizations. Jan is an awesome event planner too and she coordinated the first WBTB National Conference in her home state of WV in 2015, starting an annual tradition.
Sara Ditwiler
Vice President
Sara has been a member of NALES since 2012 and first appeared on the Board of Directors in 2015. She is married to a city police officer in Phoenix, Arizona where they reside with their children. She currently works for a national grocery chain and is dedicated to NALES in her spare time. Along with her duties as Secretary, Sara is currently involved in Girl Scouts of the United States of America and is a devoted animal lover. Her passion for supporting law enforcement families shows in her dedication to the law enforcement community. Sara believes that giving back to the community and volunteering benefits not only her community, but her children.
Velvet Descourouez
Chief Financial Officer
Velvet joined the organization in 2011 as a Wives Behind the Badge Forum Member and became a volunteer with the organization in 2012 when the North Carolina Auxiliary was established. She has served the organization in various capacities over the years but she currently serves NALES as Chief Financial Officer and as the Director for the North Carolina Chapter. Born and raised in the mountains of East Tennessee she married her LEO husband in 2004 and they currently reside in Western North Carolina with their spoiled rotten fur-babies.
In addition to her volunteer work with the organization. Velvet has spent 13+ years of her career in finance and works as a full-time Business and Treasury Analyst. When she is not working or volunteering Velvet enjoys riding on their Harley, traveling, TN football, camping and relaxing at home with her husband and fur-babies. She has an overwhelming passion for the organization and a deep desire to support Law Enforcement Officers and their families, she believes it is her honor and privilege to serve them.
Krystal Paylor
Secretary
Krystal joined our organization as a volunteer in 2013 with the North Carolina Auxiliary. She served as the NC Secretary for two years, before becoming the Assistant Director in 2015 as well as serving as the National Secretary. Born and raised in the south on sweet tea and fatback she married her LEO Tony in 2014 and they currently reside in central North Carolina with her son and their four furry children; two Rottweilers, a dorkie and a poodle.
Krystal has several years of management experience as well as a banking background. Most recently she has spent the last seven years of her career doing administrative and clerical work for a world-renowned academic medical center. When she has free time, she enjoys baking, going to the gun range, spoiling her dogs and spending time with her family and friends.
Krystal is committed to our mission and has a passion for telling others about it. She is proud to be police wife and she takes pride in serving those who serve us.
Sarah Stephenson
Director of Public Relations
Sarah joined our organization as a volunteer in 2014 with our North Carolina Auxiliary. She served as both the North Carolina KARE Liaison and Assistant KARE Director, before becoming the National KARE Director in 2016 and Director of Public Relations in 2017. Growing up as a military brat, Sarah enjoyed calling many different states her home. She married her LEO husband in 2013 and currently resides in Central North Carolina.
In addition to her volunteer work, Sarah has several years of experience in Public Relations and work with non-profits. She also has her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. When she is not working or volunteering, Sarah enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and spending time with her husband, son, and fur-babies. Sarah has a passion for non profits and feels honored to be apart of such an amazing organization.
Deb Deel
Director of Volunteers
Ensuring the safety of troopers, , road personnel, and patrons on a daily basis is Deb’s role as a Dispatch Supervisor for the Illinois Tollway. So it is a natural progression for her to ensure the safety of our NALES members too! As the Volunteer Manager of our national programs, she vets our member applications to make sure all applicants support law enforcement and will serve as a positive voice. In addition, Deb assumed the role of Director of Volunteers in August 2015, and facilitates membership training.
Now married for 14 years to retired Illinois State Police Sergeant, Bob Deel, they live in a suburb south west of Chicago with their two adorable dogs, Sophie and Maxell. Deb is completing an internship writing dispatch training materials that ensure the compliance with state police and tollway policies, maintenance, and emergency personnel. Additionally, she am the treasurer at my church, and family and law enforcement are also very important to me.
Mendi Keatts
Chaplain
Mendi Keatts has been a member of Wives Behind the Badge since 2007 when only the support forums for LEO spouses existed. She joined the forums staff in 2008, and has been acting as our Member Liaison and Chaplain since 2009. She joined our board of directors in 2012 and also started the Virginia Auxiliary as the director in 2012. She most enjoys her role as a confidential one-on-one supporter for her peers, helping to find counselors in local areas and “sitting” with those who need support in some of their most difficult times.
In addition to all the time she donates to the organization, Mendi works as an addictions and mental health counselor as her full time job. She has a Master’s in mental health counseling, and is a certified substance abuse counselor and a trained PTSD therapist. She also serves as the Director of Youth at her church. She is pursuing a license as a professional counselor with hopes of starting an independent practice. She is also doing further graduate work toward a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.