BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Izzy Abbass
Izzy Abbass is an Army Desert Storm Veteran and is the CEO of Eleven Bravo Telecommunications with a 30-year career in telecom. He serves as the President and a National Director of the Mountain States Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. In 2017 he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS connected to his military service. He has been very active in Colorado’s Veteran community. In 2011 he created the concept and was responsible for launching the text help line for the VA Crisis Venter to reduce suicides for which he was named Colorado Veteran of the Year in 2012 by the United Veterans Committee of Colorado. He lives in Denver, married with two grown sons.
Vice President – Eric Allen
Eric is an Army Desert Storm Veteran. He spent more than 30 years in the gas and oil industry. Eric started with a shovel and worked his way up to Regional Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis cut his career short. He misses traveling the country for work but is incredibly grateful for the things MS has taught him, foremost of which is compassion. Over the years he has volunteered for Easter Seals, Colorado Discover Ability, Sunlight Ski Team, Park County Search and Rescue, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans Administration. He was a ski instructor for 14 years and cherishes the many years he was able to instruct at the VA’s annual Miracle on the Mountain, now he plans to attend as a participant. Eric lives in Conifer, Colorado with his wife of 30 years Stephanie surrounded by their children and grandchildren. He is a Colorado native, indigenous to the Rocky Mountain Region with some Irish pioneer stock intertwined.
Secretary – Lisa Veres
It is a pleasure to serve as the current Secretary of the Board of Directors of MSCPVA, and the New Mexico Representative for the MSCPVA. I have been happily married to A. Peter Veres for 22 years, and we have one son, Erikh. We reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I proudly served as a Navy Corpsman and then as a Naval Nurse Corps Officer who deployed to the Gulf War on the USNS Comfort. I was medically retired in 1992, and am now a 100% Service-Connected Disabled Veteran. As a registered nurse, I worked in all specialties in the Operating Room in various hospitals in Texas, California and New Mexico. I was licensed and ordained as a Senior Crisis Chaplain through the International Fellowship of Chaplains. I served as Secretary for the Board of the Albuquerque Regional Chaplain Corps. Some notable deployments were to Haiti after the earthquake during the cholera epidemic, and the Emcore shooting in Albuquerque. I also served as a chaplain with BGEA, as a volunteer chaplain at the Raymond G. Murphy Veteran’s Hospital, and as an RN and chaplain with the DMAT 1 (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) in New Mexico. I am very involved with our non-denominational Christian church as a chaplain and biblical counselor. For many years I co-led a Peacemaker Ministry with my husband to help the Body of Christ resolve conflicts in their marriages, businesses, churches and with neighbors. We are trained in biblical mediation, facilitation, and arbitration. Although I am an incomplete quadriplegic, I currently keep busy as a bookkeeper for our real estate businesses, and serve as often as possible when called as a chaplain and biblical counselor. I love taking part in adaptive sports such as scuba diving, swimming, recumbent cycling, sit-skiing, boccia ball, and power soccer. I always have my service dog, Hedy Lamarr, at my side. She is a beautiful black English Lab who always makes my heart smile.
Treasurer – Darron Dunson
Director – Richard Guerrero
I am married to my wife, Arliss, of 45 years and a 26 year retired Air Force Veteran. My career started as an Airman and I retired as Deputy Base Commander. I am a Life Member of the Mountain States Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America and currently serving on the Board of Directors at Large. I have served on the Board of Directors as Secretary for one term. I am wheelchair bound because of Spinal Cord Injury I received while serving in Korea. I am a Past Exalted Ruler of the Aurora Colorado Elks Lodge and am currently serving as Lodge Treasurer.
Director – Andrew Lewis
Andy is a native Coloradan, born and raised in areas of Grand and Larimer Counties, and currently living in Fountain. He proudly served in the US Navy as an FA-18 fighter aircraft mechanic on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and has served 3 West-Pacific cruises ranging from the Desert Storm campaigns and 2 Iraq & Afghanistan tour deployments. During his last deployment overseas, Andy was recognized for Andy was received Sailor of the week and was later meritoriously promoted to Petty Officer Third Class for his commitment to excellence and leadership in the aircraft maintenance unit. After his military service, Andy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Administration from Middle Tennessee State University. Andy has completed a year-long leadership fellowship with a the non-profit Backbones.com team, serving the paralyzed community with a mind for connecting individuals with like minded interests and advocating for individuals living with disabilities. Andy also serves as a volunteer to promote peer wellness with the VA, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and Craig Hospital. Andy has served the MSCPVA as a Board of Director since 2020.
Director and Western Colorado Regional Rep – Erin Cavit
Director Sonny DeGuzman
My name is Cayetano S. deGuzman better known as Sonny. I’ve been married twice. I was drafted in the Army in 1969. I was stationed at Ft. Louis Washington. I was injured their in 1969 and received a medical discharge rated 100%.
I have been a member of PVA since approximately 1996. I served as sport’s director for many years and have been a board member for many years. I have served on various committees, and for several years I attended Kids Camp that PVA helped sponsor and instructed archery to the kids.
I have also played sports such as wheelchair softball, sled hockey and various other sports while attending the VA games. I feel very honored to be a member of MSCPVA , and to serve on the board.
Director Dan Spots
Daniel John Spotts is a 74 year old medically retired U.S.Army Warrant Officer. He is a Vietnam war veteran with two Bronze Stars. He has been a member of MSCPVA since the early 1980’s. Dan co-founded the Pikes Peak Sub-Chapter and was President or Vice President for some 30 years. He has been on the MSCPVA Board Of Directors for most of the past 40 years. Dan has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and uses these skills to help govern the Mountain States Chapter. Dan would like to see more outdoor activities within the chapter, including fishing and picnics.
