Leadership

Helping Hands for Freedom has assembled a rare combination of passion, experience, creativity and leadership to serve its mission. Expertise in program deliver comes from those who serve our country and understand what needs to be done in the military community. Management comes from passion and experience and a willingness to sacrifice and lead others. Leadership and direction comes from business leaders in the community who have built and managed private sector businesses and understand what needs to be done to achieve success at a local and national level.

Eric Snelz

CEO/Executive Director

Eric has decades of experience in marketing and sales. He has worked both in corporate America with a Fortune 500 company as well as his most recent ventures as an entrepreneur. As the CEO of Helping Hands for Freedom he brings his expertise in marketing and the digital arena in order to increase awareness of our mission to serve the families of the fallen, wounded, and deployed.

Eric was born in Peoria, Illinois and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. He fled the harsh winters to Tucson, Arizona and is an alumnus of the University of Arizona.

He joined the board in 2012. His interest in Helping Hands for Freedom was fueled by his son’s experience as a United States Marine who served two tours in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. His son returned with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD which exposed Eric to the difficulties and challenges experienced by returning veterans and their families. His service as a board member connected him with Gold Star families who had experienced the loss of a loved one as a result of combat or post service suicide.

Eric became CEO in January of 2017. Eric is the recipient of the Mark Ashby Civilian Service Award for service to the military and veteran community. He has also received an award from MOPH, Military Order of the Purple Heart for Exemplary Service to Veterans.

esnelz@helpinghandsforfreedom.org

Rodney Smith

President/Secretary
Director

Rod attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he starred as a wide receiver and punt returner. His senior year he led the nation in punt returns for touchdowns. Playing for the legendary Nebraska coach, Tom Osborne, and in the NFL under coaches, Mike Shanahan and Marty Schottenheimer, Rod learned the discipline, dedication, and structure necessary to succeed.

A passionate leader with integrity and a strong work ethic, Rod's over 26 years of experience in the non-profit industry and the financial field allows for Rod to best serve clients' charitable interests. His years of experience working with donors, corporate giving, family foundations, and charitable divisions position him to best serve clients wishing to leave a legacy and protect their estate. He holds Series 7 & Series 65 Securities Licenses, life, and health insurance licenses.

His lifetime of leadership in the non-profit environment has allowed the organizations he founded to serve more than 140,000 at-risk children including over 3,500 military children and families of the fallen, wounded, and deployed. As a consultant, Rod shares with clients his extensive knowledge in charitable giving as it relates to 501c3 non-profit organizations, private foundations, and donor advisory funds.

Rod resides in San Diego, California.

rsmith@helpinghandsforfreedom.org

SSG Patrick Shannon

Vice President/Director

SSG Shannon is a United States Marine Corps veteran with a distinguished service record including “Operation Restore Hope” in Somalia. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his wounds and heroism at Al Hyria Station in the city of Ramadi, in the deadly province of Al Anbar. He received the Sam Walton Hero Award from Wal-Mart, and is a national spokesperson for the wounded.

Shannon spent six months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he spent time talking to other wounded soldiers. This experience was very eye-opening for him. He soon realized that none of the families of the fallen or the wounded were being helped, so he got the idea of starting his own 501(c)(3) organization to fill that need. That organization is Helping Hands for Freedom.

pshannon@helpinghandsforfreedom.org

Michelle Caraballo

Treasurer/Director

Michelle Caraballo Shannon is the Chief Human Resources Officer for HMR Veteran Services. HMR Veteran Services has an unwavering commitment to serving the amazing veterans who have selflessly served our country.

She is a former combat veteran who served the United States Army as a Maintenance Control Officer and Company Executive Officer. Her military background has instilled in her a deep understanding and appreciation for the unique challenges faced by veterans. Michelle's passion for supporting those who have served is evident in her commitment to this industry.

Prior to joining HMR, Michelle held a prominent role at Akkodis, where she successfully oversaw all aspects of Human Resources for North America. Her experience with industry giants such as Amazon and Walmart in HR, Operations, Public Affairs, and Government Relations further enriches her skill set and enables her to bring a holistic perspective to HMR and Helping Hands for Freedom.

Her ability to foster a positive company culture and her talent for cultivating strong relationships will undoubtedly prove invaluable to HHFF. Michelle's dedication to our mission and her passion for serving veterans align perfectly with our organization's core values.

Michelle is married to Patrick Shannon, a former combat veteran with multiple deployments and is a dual recipient of the Purple Heart. Patrick currently runs a foundation called Helping Hands for Freedom which underscores their shared commitment to supporting our military community. They are proud parents to a young daughter named Caia Luisa.

Hugo E. Salazar

Board Member
Program and Outreach Committee Chair

Hugo E. Salazar is a retired military veteran with 30 years of commissioned service in the U.S. Army. He retired as a Major General (two star general) after a career laden with leadership responsibilities in a wide range of duties and assignments. With over thirty awards and decorations, his awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star.

When asked to identify his greatest success or achievement in the military, he cites his involvement in creating The Arizona Coalition for Military Families and The Total Force Team which both were developed to take care of and assist military members and their families. His primary reason for becoming a board member of Helping Hands for Freedom was to continue his commitment to serve and assist military families.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, General Salazar is an avid golfer who was introduced to the game at a young age when he started caddying. As a result of caddying, he ultimately earned a scholarship from the Chick Evans Foundation and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Indiana University. He remains an avid golfer and currently lives with his blended family in Arizona.

James Baker

Director

James is currently the Director of Relationship Marketing for Indiana Grand Racing Casino in Indianapolis Indiana. James is a senior leader with over 20 years of management, marketing and sales experience. He has worked in the gaming industry for a majority of that time with experience overseeing all aspects of marketing.

Although James currently resides in Indiana, he was actually born and raised California where some of his family still lives. He spent time in Nevada, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana working in the marketing field.

James has a passion for helping people and incredible respect for the men and women who have served our country. This is why he was so interested in joining the Helping Hands For Freedom team. He also has several friends and family that have served in the military including his father who was in the Marine Corp.

JBaker3@caesars.com

Christine Forakis Cracchiolo

Director
Legal Advisor

Christine Forakis Cracchiolo, a fourth generation Arizona native, is one of the foremost estate planning attorneys in Arizona, representing some of the state's most notable families. Christine's family has a long history in Arizona. Her great-grandfather, Dr. F.G. Angeny, founded the Deaconess Hospital, which later became Good Samaritan Hospital. Her grandfather, J. Melvin Goodson, served as speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Arizona, ran for governor of the state, and retired as Chairman of the Board of Arizona Refining Company. Her father, John F. Goodson, was a preeminent estate planning attorney, author and public speaker and helped lay the foundation for Christine's ethical family-style practice today.

Christine blends more than 25 years of experience in estate planning with a warm, accessible personality—making her a highly sought-after expert resource. Her clientele includes doctors, dentists, athletes, politicians, farmers, business owners, and non-profit corporations. Her firm specializes in preventive law—a highly proactive approach to estate planning, and offers a full spectrum of complementary, integrated practice areas including business law, asset protection, probate, succession planning, non-profits, guardianship, tax planning, elder law and special needs planning.

Christine was selected for the 2011 Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, which is exclusive to women lawyers who have achieved the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. She currently has an AV rating, the highest possible rating, from the Martindale Hubbell Bar Register.

Christine attended Arizona State University for Undergraduate work and graduated Cum Laude from the Honors Program. She received her Juris Doctor degree in May 1992 from the University of Miami School of Law. During law school, she was elected to offices on two Law Reviews. She was Research and Writing Editor of Entertainment and Sports Law Review and Articles of Comments Editor of Business Law Journal. Christine has a black belt in Shotokan Karate. She has competed internationally/nationally, earning numerous accolades including Western State's Champion and National Champion in Kata. She is also a trained ballet dancer and has danced in Ballet West's Nutcracker. She loves tennis, practices yoga, hiking, and playing poker. She resides in central Phoenix with her husband Mike Cracchiolo.