MEET THE TEAM
Darcella K. Craven, Counselor: Darcella has over 15 years of experience in corporate, government, non profit and military organizations. She has worked with several non-profit organizations specializing in program implementation, change management and creating group training programs. Her career has taken her to several corporations and positions including corporate communications and project management to non profit executive director. Darcella is a requested speaker on family education, life management, human capital and non profit management in Missouri and Illinois. She has worked with several veterans organizations to assist veterans develop soft skills and life skills in order to transition from military to civilian life successfully. Darcella instructs business courses at a local college and is involved in many civic organizations. Recently named in the Who’s Who of Black St. Louis as a community leader, she has been featured and recognized in numerous articles for her transition from the welfare to an accomplished business woman. An Army veteran, she holds a Bachelors and Masters of Arts in Management from Webster University and is the proud mother of two children. Darcella was in the U.S. Army from 1988-96.
Patrick T. Heavey, Executive Director: Pat is an experienced financial manager, entrepreneur and small business operator. With over thirty years of experience as an advocate for Veterans, he has developed extensive contacts and expertise throughout the local and National Veterans community, with government and corporate entities and across the political spectrum. He was chosen as the U.S. Small Business Administrations National Veterans Advocate/Champion in 1983 and again in 2005. Pat served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1972.
Roger D. Horn, Operations Director: Roger has a masters degree from Webster University in Saint Louis, MO, and worked in the education field for over fourteen years. Roger has an extensive background in teaching and specializes in assisting in writing business plans and teaching seminars and classes for the center. His primary duties include scheduling clients, arranging classes and maintaining the web. He was in the military for many years and worked in areas of administration, personnel and aircraft controller career fields. Roger was in the U.S. Air Force from 1971-2004.
Jerry J. Meesey, SCORE Counselor: Jerry is a former special education teacher and college professor turned entrepreneur. His formal academic training is as a speech pathologist and clinical audiologist where he earned his Ph.D and has taught at the University of Illinois and University of Missouri. In 1982, Jerry formed his own business, Health Conservation Programs, Inc., a company whose purpose is to work with industry health professionals to help get their firms into compliance with some of the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) employee on-the-job health and safety rules. HCPI provides employee testing and training in hearing conservation and respiratory protection. Jerry sold his company in 2001 to his employees but remains in the company as a paid consultant. Jerry has served as past Chair of SCORE St. Louis Chapter 21. Jerry was in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1962
Sam L. Simler, SCORE Counselor: Sam has over 35 years in retailing. Sam was a buyer for Lee Wards, a division of General Mills, as a Craft merchandiser and responsible for buying and merchandising for all stores. He also managed stores for Lee wards in Kansas City, New New York and Saint Louis. Sam was a Regional Manager for Bowering Brothers Ltd, a gift company out of London England for the Mid West USA. In 1980 Sam bought his first store at Plaza Frontenac and continued in the gift business with an additional units, as well as a distribution company and a Marketing enterprise for wholesale to retail through the gift industry. Sam also had a Missouri real estate and Insurance license for the state of Missouri. Sam is a member of SCORE (service corps of retired executives) and is Director of educational seminar and workshops for St. Louis and surrounding areas. Sam has a B.S. in Marketing from Western Illinois University. Sam was in the U.S. Army from 1960-1962.