Tony co-founded Comfort for Courage with Andrew Davis in 2004. He is a student at the University of Minnesota Curtis L. Carlson School of Management, studying accounting and marketing. His professional career includes experience at Deloitte Tax Solutions and New School Communications, a St. Paul, Minn., public relations firm.
Tony believes Comfort for Courage allows members of his generation to transcend partisanship through their support of deployed U.S. service members. He feels they deserve our unquestioned respect and gratitude for their willingness to protect our liberties.
Tony also serves Comfort for Courage on its board of directors. He is a personal care assistant for developmentally disabled boys and plays for the university's rugby team.
With strong military values and a desire to stay connected to fellow soldiers, Andy co-founded Comfort for Courage with Tony Richter in 2004. A native of St. Peter, Minn., he is studying political science and geography at the University of Minnesota and is a subject matter expert for military applications at Minnesota Defense.
A Veteran of two combat tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq with the U.S. Army 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, Staff Sergeant Davis was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for actions in Iraq and four army commendation medals for military service. He also holds two Armed Service Expeditionary Medals, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Combat Parachutist's Badge.
Andy has six years of military and defense industry experience. After basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, his military education included Advanced Mortar Weapons Training, Airborne School, Ranger Regimental Indoctrination Program, Pre-Ranger Course, Ranger School, Land Rover Off-road Driving School, Primary Leadership Development Course, Advanced Scout Swimmer, and SERE-C. Andy served as a rifleman, assistant gunner, gunner, squad leader, mortar section leader, and fire direction chief before being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 2004.
Andy also serves Comfort for Courage as chairman of its board of directors. He is a member of the National Eagle Scout Association and the Association of the United States Army and plans on attending law school and pursuing a practice in environmental law.
Tyler joined Comfort for Courage at its inception in 2004. He works for a strategic marketing firm in Minneapolis and possesses a keen level of experience in media relations, production and management. Tyler has six years of experience in the world of politics - including U.S. Senate and Presidential campaigns - and his grassroots organizing abilities, political network and logistical creativity make him a key member of the Comfort for Courage team.
Tyler has received multiple Emmy awards as a producer and photographer and is a member of the National Television Academy and the Society of Professional Journalists. He is also a charter member of the National World War II Memorial Society and serves as a counselor to the American Legion Minnesota Boys State program.
Tyler is a proud product of the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Jodie has nearly 10 years of public affairs and media experience in both the public and private sector. In addition to serving Comfort for Courage, she works in marketing, advertising and public relations for a healthcare technology company in Eden Prairie, Minn. Previously, Jodie served as deputy press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Education and as a public affairs liaison for the U.S. Army.
Jodie holds B.A. in mass communications from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Charlie is University of Minnesota student studying political science with a concentration in law. Outside of the classroom, Charlie is involved in Young Life, a youth ministries organization, and is an intramural hockey champion. He participates in Comfort for Courage because he feels supporting men and women who protect his daily freedoms is a top priority and often overlooked by many in our society.
Please contact Comfort for Courage with your comments or questions.
General comments & information:
tony@comfortforcourage.org
Media requests:
jodie@comfortforcourage.org
or call 651-492-3474
Questions about your contribution
or in-kind donations:
tony@comfortforcourage.org
Web site questions/comments:
drewgeraets@runningdesign.com
Veterans Transition Center
at the University of Minnesota
a project of Comfort for Courage
15 Eddy Hall
192 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455