Our People
Key Staff
Bill Nelson – Executive Director Bill is a native of North Carolina where he attended high school and college. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prior to being commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1972. Nelson served on active duty for 20 years, retiring from the Navy in the rank of Commander in 1992. During this time he served on a variety of ships from destroyers and frigates to aircraft carriers. His service included combat action in Vietnam, Libya, and Beirut for which he received the Combat Action Ribbon, numerous meritorious achievement awards, and expeditionary medals. He also was assigned to the Pentagon and the staff of the Secretary of the Navy where he worked as a Strategic Planner and later as an instructor at the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
Following active naval service, Nelson acquired several securities licenses and worked in the financial sevices industry as a financial planner. He was the National District Manager of the Year in 2002 and remained in sales management for a number of years in both New England and Kentucky. He culminated over 15 years in the securities field when he accepted the position of Executive Director for USA Cares, a Kentucky-based non-profit whose purpose is to aid military families in need. He has held this position for 2 years during which time he has raised millions from individual donors and large foundations.
Mr. Nelson earned his Master’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and has been married for 33 years. He is active in a variety of community endeavors including Boy Scouts (he and his son are both Eagles). His two children and grandchildren reside in Kentucky.
John Miller – Director of Management Following a 25-year career in retail management, John moved to nonprofit administration about 10 years ago. He had previously been general manager of a retail chain, overseeing 110 units (movie theatres, video stores, cafes) before moving to a small nonprofit agency that built and/or relocated homes that were then sold to low-income, first-time homebuyers. Mr. Miller has extensive experience in human resources, financial management, information technology management, construction management, purchasing and marketing. He has 4 grown children and an extensive record of volunteerism in the community.
Bob Belknap – Director of Fund Development Bob is the Director of Development for USA Cares. He is married to Miriam is his wife of 26 years; he has two sons, Chris, 22 and Michael, 18.
Bob is an “Army Brat”, born at Fort Hood Texas. His father retired at Fort Knox Kentucky. Bob attended Western Kentucky University, and was commissioned a 2Lt in 1983. His first duty assignment was at Fort Knox as a Quartermaster Officer. Other assignments include: Fort Lee, Geoppingen Germany, Fort Monroe, and New Mexico Military Institute. He served as a petroleum platoon, leader, Battalion S4, 1st Infantry Division Property Book Officer, Company Commander, Recruiting Operations Officer, and Senior ROTC Instructor. After 11 years, Bob left the Army and moved to Elizabethtown KY, where he worked as the Director of Operations for Burger King for 9 years. After Burger King, he worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters where he was the Branch Director for six years.
Jennifer Robinson – Director of Assistance Jennifer has been employed at USA Cares since 2007. An “Army Brat” who attended 13 schools—Jennifer is a graduate of The Ohio State University and she has a Masters of Public Administration from Troy University.
Jennifer has worked in the non-profit world for ten years in planning, fund development and programs. In her work at USA Cares, Jennifer manages the day-to-day operations of the Assistance Division, overseeing the development and implementation of programs related to the needs of Service Members and their families; this includes the call center which handles all of the incoming requests for assistance.
