Helping Veterans Regain Their Independence
ONGOING VETERANS' PROGRAMS
Ashley House Transition Home
For Female Veterans
Help us reach our goal to provide a Lake County transition home for female veterans.
Thank you to our retiring Military Liason
Colonel Stephanie (Retired)
Welcome to our new Military Liason
Corporal Keith Totten (Retired)
Marie Bogdonoff
Founder and President
Marie Bogdonoff retired to The Villages in April 2013 with her husband Rob from Long Island, NY. Marie has successfully combined her 37 years of business experience with the concept, the vision, and the passion for Villagers For Veterans to make it the formidable organization that it is today.
Having found a new passion in her position with Villagers For Veterans, she works tirelessly to help severely injured veterans receive the tools and services that are so needed in their healing journey. Having her own mobility issues, she has great empathy for our severely injured veterans and for the new challenges they face.
Marie’s vast business experience helps to keep the organization on track with its mission and assures that transparency will always be an important key to the organization’s growth. As an automotive Controller that oversaw the operations of five dealerships and over 100 employees, she believes that you are only as successful as the people you surround yourself with. She has worked diligently to put together an experienced Board of Directors and Advisory Board that are passionate, hard working, and experienced as her.
LCDR Kathryn A. Wilgus, NC Navy, Retired
Vice President
MS, RN, PGCE, CNOR-E
Kathryn Wilgus began her military career in 1987 as part of the United States Army Reserve Delayed Entry Program (DEP); she enlisted as an operating room technician. As a civilian, she was employed as a perioperative nurse within Florida Hospital Health System in Orlando, achieving highest level of Clinical Nurse IV on personal professional development ladder and became operating room manager in Altamonte Springs, Florida. She also worked as a hospice nurse, psychiatric ward at Lake Correctional Institution and as a licensed practical nurse instructor in her civilian occupations. In 2004, Kathryn was commissioned a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) in the Navy Nurse Corps Reserves. In 2016, she retired with 20 years combined military service.
Her key assignments include a one-year deployment to Landstuhl, Germany in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF); deployment on the United States Naval Ship (USNS) Comfort for their Continuing Promise Mission to Antigua, Columbia and Panama; deployments to Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan as a Medical Embedded Training Team (METT) member and Female Engagement Team (FET) member and Kandahar, Afghanistan as an operating room nurse.
Kathryn earned a Master’s of Science degree in Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems Management and completed her post certificate in Education, nursing focus, from Regis University, Denver, Colorado. She also earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida.
Currently, Kathryn is a Life Member of the National Organization of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) and past Executive Officer and Quartermaster of 20-4 Chapter. She is also a Life Member of American Legion, and serves as the State Certified Food Manager. Kathryn is excited for the next chapter in the Villagers for Veterans. She has promised to be their “force of nature” to move mountains and achieve great things in the weeks, months and years to come for veterans in the Villages as well as the Central Florida and greater Orlando area.
Her military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award Medal, Army Reserves Achievement Medal (2OLC), National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2BSS), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal (BSS), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” and “2” device, and silver hourglass, NATO Non-Article 5 service Medal (BSS), USN Rifle Marksman with “E” device, USN Pistol Marksman with “E” device.
Paul Immordino
Treasurer
HTCS (EXW)
Paul entered the United States Navy Reserves as a Petty Officer Third Class (E-4) in 1990 as a Hull Technician and retired in 2014 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) Expeditionary Warfare Specialist. His key assignments include a Combat Tour to Iraq overseeing vital security of Iraq assets and personnel, security support in United Arab Emirates (UAE), and assisted in seaward security in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2012, Paul retired after working 20 years as a Boilermaker/Welder on Power Plants all over the East Coast in the United States; a member of Local 13 out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is also a Master Mason, within good standing, with Masonic Lodge 368 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Immordino was also named American Legionnaire of the Year Post 35 in 2020.
Currently, Paul serves as the Financial Officer, and Life Member, for his Local Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Chapter 20-4; a National Organization and 501(c)19. He is also on the Executive Board at his Local American Legion Post 35 a 501(c)3; and the Financial Officer of Until They Ride, another 501(c)19. Paul continues to serve veterans in the best way he knows how; with integrity and efficiency. He looks forward to the future with Villagers to Veterans and being a part of an organization that is making a difference in their community as well as others outside of the Villages.
His military awards and decorations include the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 Stars), Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global war on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Silver Hour Glass, and Expeditionary Warfare Device.
Keith Totten
Corporal, US Army Retired
Military Liaison
Schooling:
Eustis H.S. Graduate 94’
Central Texas Community College BS Graduate 98’ Criminal Justice/Criminology
Lake Technical College Graduate:
Corrections Officer (COBRA) 05’ Honors
Welding Technology-Advanced 09’ Honors
Automotive Collision, Paint & Repair 13’ Honors
Careers:
United States Army 94’-03’ Corporal, Mortarmen (11C), Medical Retirement
Land Planning Group (LPG) Environmental: Senior Field Technician 03’-05’
Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Detention Deputy, Honor Guard 05’-09’
United States Postal Service: Rural Carrier 10’-12’
Organizations:
One Team One Fight 4 PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress) Founder/President
Vet Fest Lake County: Co-Founder
Code H.O.R.S.E. Inc.: Veteran Liaison
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Life Member
AmVets: Life Member
American Legion: Member 12 yrs.
Military:
Ft. Benning, Ga.: (Alpha Company 2 nd Battalion 54 th Infantry Regiment 198 th Infantry Brigade Basic
Infantry Training & Advanced Infantry Training)
Ft. Benning, Ga.: (Airborne School)
Ft. Bragg, N.C.: (HHC 1 st Battalion 504 th Airborne Infantry Regiment 1 st Brigade Combat Team 82 nd
Airborne Division)
Ft. Hood, Texas: (HHC 1 ST Battalion 9 th Calvary Regiment 3 rd Brigade Combat Team 1 st Team Division)
Camp Casey, South Korea: (HHC 1 st Battalion (Airborne) 503 rd Infantry Regiment 2 nd Brigade Combat
Team 2 nd Infantry Division)
Camp Casey, South Korea: (Air Assault Course)
Camp Casey, South Korea: (Expert Infantry Badge Course)
Ft. Hood, Texas: HHC 3 rd Battalion 8 th Calvary Regiment 3 rd Brigade Combat Team 1 st Team Division)
Ft. Hood, Texas: US Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development (NCOPD) - Primary
Leadership Development Course (PLDC)
Operation Desert Strike (Dhi Qar Province/ Nasiriyah, Iraq) HHC 1 ST Battalion 9 TH Calvary Regiment
3 RD Brigade Combat Team 1 ST Calvary Division (1996)
Sonya Kurfiss
Secretary
My name is Sonya A. Kurfiss I am currently a Critical Care Registered Nurse in The Emergency Room. I have over 44 years of nursing experience working at all levels as a nurse, from bedside to management. In the past nine years I added nursing faculty to my experience.
My current goal is to finish my Doctoral of Nursing Degree and teach online from home
A quirky fact about myself….I have 6 Italian Greyhounds and an African Grey Parrot.
My greatest accomplishment was raising my son. As a single parent, I joined the United States Air Force. I was an LPN at the time. I was in the 37th AEG (Aero Medical Evacuation Group), stationed out of Wright Patterson Air Force Base. While enlisted, I received several awards, however, my second greatest accomplishment was receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service for running the Immunization Clinic.
I hold a Master of Nursing (MN)and a Master of Nursing with an Educational Component (MSNeD) from the University of Phoenix. I reside in Ocala with my 6 Italian Greyhounds and African Grey Parrot.
I look forward to being a part of the Villager’s for Veterans as their Secretary.