The National Home is thrilled to introduce five new team members: Brennan Lally, Brian Daniels, Corley Sibold, Katie Darling, and Clara Smith!
Brennan comes to us from the finance industry, where he worked as a banker at Huntington National Bank. A United States Army veteran of almost a decade, Brennan will be our new Grant and Major Gift Officer.
Brennan and his wife have two amazing daughters, aged six and two, and a dog and a cat. He enjoys spending time at home with his family, tending to the yard, playing water games, and jumping on the trampoline.
Brian Daniels may be a familiar name. His family faced hardships when he was in 5th grade, and they lived at the VFW National Home for three years. After high school, Brian joined the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq in 2005. Sadly, he was the sole survivor of a vehicle that struck an IED.
After returning from Iraq, Brian studied at Lansing Community College and the American Academy of Personal Training. In 2018, he followed his passion and opened his boxing gym, emPOWer Lansing. In 2022, Brian served as the First Ward Representative on the Lansing City Council. Although emPOWer later closed, Brian continues to help veterans and their families as the Community Development and Alumni Engagement Manager at the National Home.
Brian now lives in Lansing with his wife and son. He is also a dedicated VFW Post #3293 member in Grand Ledge, MI, and a life member of the VFW.
Corley Sibold is one of our new Case Managers, working directly with our families on campus to offer support and empowerment as they work toward their goals. Corley began working at the National Home as a social work intern with Michigan State University in August of 2022. She has also served as an intern in both the outpatient and inpatient mental health clinics at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. Corley has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Columbus State University, and she recently graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from Michigan State University, where she also completed a Combat Veteran Certificate.
Corley has been married to Andrew for ten years. Andrew is a retired Army veteran. They have four children, and she really enjoys spending time with them outside of work.
Katie Darling is our Administrative Support Coordinator. She supports our administrative staff in various ways, from working in the Welcome Center to giving tours of our community. Katie has a strong background in customer service and sales. Previously, she served as an engineering firm’s administration and scheduling coordinator for ten years.
In her personal life, Katie values spending time with family and volunteering with her church’s youth group. Her brother, Eric, served as a Marine, which influenced her passion for her work at the National Home. Katie and her husband, Aaron, have been married since 2016 and have two boys. Aaron works for the Department of Education.
Clara Smith is our newest addition to the Case Management team. Clara grew up in Wixom, MI, and graduated from Michigan State University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Before joining the National Home team, she worked in the foster care system.
Clara’s father is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. He retired in 2012 as a Commander in the Navy and has served overseas in Japan and South Korea.
Clara has immense respect for all the veterans who have served our country. She is grateful and honored to have the opportunity to work with veterans, active military personnel, and their families here at the VFW National Home. Clara loves working with families because she can witness people grow into the best versions of themselves.
Clara is a huge animal lover. She has two dogs, Olli and Willie. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and cooking.
We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these new additions to the National Home family. Their expertise and experience will benefit the National Home as we move into our second century of service next year!
