Meet The Council Leadership

CMSC Board of Directors:

Carolyn Crissman,

Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board

After 35 years as an Army spouse and nonprofit professional, Carolyn Crissman uses the experience she gained while serving and leading multiple nonprofits, spouses’ organizations, and other military affiliated positions to lead the Council for Military Spouse Clubs (CMSC).  She is dedicated to assisting military spouse clubs around the world become more efficient and effective by sharing resources, providing support and advice, and connecting fellow change makers for better collaboration.

Bobbie Collins,

At-Large Director, Legal Advisor

Rhonda Fingal,

Chief Financial Officer

As an Air Force spouse for 30 years, Rhonda has experience in various military spouse club leadership roles and supporting spouses and families at the squadron and wing levels. She is passionate about the spouse club mission of giving back to the community and is excited to help provide military spouse clubs with the tools to more effectively and efficiently support their mission.

Teyaka Booker,

Chief People Officer

Teyaka Booker is an O-H I-O native (go Buckeyes)! She and her husband, Terrence, have 3 amazing kids and 2 lively dogs. She is the definition of "on the go." Mrs. Booker has 20 years of experience connecting people to resources in and around their community. She has 13 years of experience assisting military spouses, working with spouse clubs, and representing spouses in meetings with base leadership. When not at work or in a meeting, you can find her on the sidelines of the football field, in an audience at the theater, or on stage performing with a local halau (hula group). 

Karly Gadell,

Chief Community Officer

Karly is a seasoned Army Spouse of sixteen years and a mom of three. She has a passion for giving back to her military community and is an active advocate for military spouses' clubs everywhere. She is the current President of the Fort Leavenworth Spouses Club and the 2023 Armed Forces Military Spouse of the Year for Fort Irwin. 

Heather Lawrence,

Chief Operating Officer

Heather Lawrence began her life of service to others early by joining the United States Army shortly after she graduated from high school. After her time in the Army, she focused on being a wife and mother, raising three children, along with serving in many leadership roles at various locations as a military spouse. She is excited to use her experience in the service and as a military spouse to give back to others in anyway she can. She is hopeful her knowledge and experiences will help her in her role as COO of the Council for Military Spouses Clubs, as she works with her fellow Council Board members to help spouses clubs be successful and thrive.

Kelly Coker,

Chief Marketing Officer

Kelly Coker, is a New Hampshire native and met her husband, Alex, an active duty submarine officer when he was on his Junior Officer sea tour up at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Together they have two small children. Since marrying into the Navy life Kelly has maintained her own career as an Academic Advisor for Clinical Mental Health Counseling students at Southern New Hampshire University and has taken a very active role sitting on club executive boards and has helped with community engagement in the submarine community. 

Darlene Harris,

Director of Marketing & Training

Darlene Harris uses the 20+ years of experience she gained while serving and leading multiple nonprofits, spouses’ organizations and other military affiliated positions to benefit military spouses around the world and become more aware of the benefits available to them and improve the confidence of those spouses to lead others, wherever they may be.

The Council Advisory Board is comprised of previous CMSC Board Members who continue to share their expertise with the Council Board in an advisory capacity:  Candice McPhillips, Julie Taufa’asau, Tim Selby, Tracy Steele, Amy Trask, Jamie Schneider and Cynthia Giesecke.

CMSC Advisory Board: