Learn about Wreaths Across America's Mission to Remember, Honor and Teach

Directors

Karen Worcester | Executive Director

Immediately upon the creation of Wreaths Across America in 2007, Karen Dow Worcester was chosen for the position of Executive Director by the Board of Directors. With over 35 years of experience in the administrative stewardship of the various Worcester family enterprises, Karen is well-known as a passionate champion and spokesperson. As a volunteer and co-founder of Wreaths Across America, Karen tenaciously works on ways the organization can best Remember the fallen; Honor those who serve; and Teach our children that our freedoms are purchased at a great cost.

Equally passionate about her family, Karen is a mother to six children and nine grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is participating in and preparing for equestrian events, as well as tending to the family farm.

Amber Caron | Director of Communications

Amber Caron joined national nonprofit Wreaths Across America as the Communications Director in March of 2018, after serving as the organization’s Public Relations consultant for nine years. In her current role, Amber is responsible for the development and execution of the organization’s internal and external messaging and brand management. This is a key leadership position responsible for developing organizational strategy, fostering associate development, effectively integrating with other departments and developing a positive, efficient and complementary team culture. Amber provides direction and leadership to her team of marketing and communication professionals as they work collaboratively to deliver creative and unique solutions, quality content, and overall communications strategy with the highest possible mission focus.

Prior to joining Wreaths Across America full time, Amber served as Public Relations Director for Portland, Maine-based award-winning advertising agency’s FUSEIDEAS, and Industrium (formerly Kemp Goldberg Partners) for 15 years. Her areas of expertise include the transportation and logistics industry, with a focus on B2B communication, and nonprofits and literary promotions. She has lead departments and mentored communications professionals for more than a decade and takes pride in identifying and surrounding herself with smart, talented, action-oriented team members.

Amber has served as a Board Member and past president of the Ad Club of Maine, and two terms on the Board of Directors for the Animal Welfare Society located in Kennebunk, Maine. She lives in South Portland, Maine, with her husband and two teenage step sons. An avid gardener and sports enthusiast, in the warmer months you can find her outdoors planting or cheering on the boys in some sporting event!

Charemon Davis, C.P.A. | Chief Financial Officer & Director of Information Systems

Charemon Davis, C.P.A., was born and raised in coastal, down east Maine, and comes from a family of Veterans, including her husband, who was an Army Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment. After graduating from the University of Maine, Machias magna cum laude, with a B.S. degree in Accounting - minor in Business Management, Charemon received her C.P.A. license.

She began her career at a local C.P.A. firm in Bangor where she spent 7 years. She then went on to become a partner at the age of twenty-nine. After 3 years she started her own practice. She has over 32 years in public practice specializing in governmental and non-profit auditing, system design and workflow, internal control consulting and federal /state compliance. She started with Wreaths Across America in 2013 as a consultant. She then made Wreaths Across America her home as she came to the organization full-time in 2018.

Charemon has always put service to community as a priority in her life and has served and volunteered at various organizations such as the local PTO as Treasurer, Boys Middle School Basketball Coach, served on the local Planning Board and Gateway Milbridge Board, as well as serving as the Milbridge Evergreen Cemetery Treasurer, Worthy Matron - Eastern Star, Preble Street Shelter volunteer, among others. She is an avid animal lover and resides in Cherryfield with her husband. She has two grown sons, one of whom is also a Director at Wreaths Across America, and the other is a Merchant Marine - Chief Engineer.

Courtney George | Director of Transportation and Industry Relations

Courtney George is the national nonprofit's Director of Transportation and Industry Relations.

With a solid 18-year track record in the transportation industry, Courtney has held leadership roles at Saia, Hub Group, and Evo Transportation. Her leadership is evident in her initiatives to create affinity groups promoting diversity and equality, and to increase the number of female Class A drivers in her previous companies. In her role at WAA, she leverages this experience to expand the mission within the trucking industry and support the logistics team with recruiting, dispatching, and carrier relations.

In 2018, Women in Trucking selected her as one of the "Females to Watch." Courtney is a North Carolina native who currently resides in Atlanta and graduated from the University of Alabama. She has been volunteering as a Co-Location Coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Long Island National Cemetery since 2018.

Logan Staples | Director of Customer Operations & Information Systems

Logan Staples is the Director of Customer Operations and Information Systems at Wreaths Across America. He joined the team back in 2014 as a volunteer in high school and has worked his way up to a key position in the organization. During this time, Logan has worked in the finance office, customer service, and the merchandise/shipping departments. Logan graduated from Narraguagus High School in Harrington, ME in June of 2017, and started college full-time at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, ME. In January of 2018, Logan accepted a full-time position as the Customer Service Manager and transferred to Southern New Hampshire University, where he is currently working to finish his B.S. in Business Administration, Non-Profit Management, minoring in Management Information Systems, Leadership and Accounting.

Logan has many veterans in his family and appreciates all of their service. He is an Ambassador for Mission 22, a 501-c3 non-profit that actively works to support our Veterans in the fight against suicide and helping them get the treatments and resources that they deserve. He also supports many other Veteran resource organizations. Logan currently resides in Cherryfield, Maine, and when not at work can be found out enjoying time with his friends and family.

Renee Worcester | Director of Development/Partnerships & Mobile Education Exhibit

Renee joined the mission well before the nonprofit was ever dreamed of and has played a significant role in its growth. Having married into the founding family, she volunteers her time as Director of Development and Partnerships for the organization, working with businesses of all sizes as they look for ways to engage with their stakeholders and communities through the mission. She is a graduate of Ellsworth High School and attended the University of Maine at Farmington and Eastern Maine Technical College. Out of the office, Renee is the lead chauffeur, statistician, encourager and coach for the numerous activities her two children participate in, from hockey games to horse shows, you can always find her on a field or rink cheering on the family!

Julie Bright | Director of Locations & Groups

Julie Bright was honored to join the Wreaths Across America team in 2009. Over the years, she has taken on many roles, varying from customer service to finance, and has been the Director of Locations and Groups since 2019. Julie’s impeccable attention to detail, uncanny ability to develop strong connections with others, and calming demeanor allow her to lead the Liaison Team with ease. In her current role, Julie has drastically increased the mission nationwide, with the support of the Liaison Team, growing the number of participating locations and groups. Her team works collaboratively to provide 1:1 volunteer support to coordinate every wreath-laying ceremony held across the nation, while helping volunteers invite, inspire, and unite their local communities to sponsor veteran wreaths to be places on the graves of our nation’s heroes on National Wreaths Across America Day each December.

Julie received her Associates Degree in Business Administration from Fayetteville Technical Community College and her Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management with a specialization in Logistics from Ashford University. Her expertise is in developing efficient processes that improve volunteer management and ease of coordination between departments. Julie loves a good spreadsheet, when presented with a challenge, takes it head on until she finds a solution that proactively resolves issues moving forward. She lives in Fayetteville, NC, with her husband who is currently serving in the U.S. Army, and their two daughters. Julie is a fanatic when it comes to supporting the Tarheel’s and, during her free time, is a volunteer usher at basketball games. Her one claim to fame is when she scored 1,000 career basketball points in high school!

Jeff Pierce | Director of Broadcast & Military Partnerships

Jeff Pierce is a leader, educator and strong advocate for our veterans. He has spent his entire professional career in leadership roles in broadcast media for companies like iHeart Media, Saga Communications, Beasley Broadcasting and various smaller companies.

In 2019, the Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB) recognized Jeff for his work with the Broadcast Achievement Award. It inducted him into the MAB Hall of Fame for his contributions to the industry and overall betterment of broadcasting in Maine.

Jeff has lent his expertise to many veteran organizations. He created the first-ever Veterans Count Radiothon, which has raised over a million dollars for veterans in New Hampshire in its 10-year history. He has served on the Veterans Count Board of Directors and the Veterans Forward Advisory Board and worked with the Maine Army National Guard to help them raise awareness and share the experiences of our citizen soldiers.

Jeff serves in the Maine Wing of the Civil Air Patrol as the Maine Wing Public Affairs officer, directing the marketing and outreach efforts of the Air Force Auxiliary in Maine.

He serves on the advisory board for the Communications Department at Southern Maine Community College, where is also an adjunct professor, teaching a podcasting class and a radio production internship class he created for the school.

Partnerships have been a common theme throughout his career. He constantly finds innovative ways for organizations to work together for a common purpose.

Sarah Worcester | Director of Transportation & Logistics

Sarah received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (cum laude) from Husson College. And is currently working on a Master's degree of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. She formerly owned and ran her own lobster fishing boat and is currently lobster fishing part-time. She is happily married with two children. She volunteers at the Women's Health Resource Library in Milbridge, Maine.