Helping Hands for Freedom is a 501c3 dedicated to supporting the families of the fallen, wounded and deployed.

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 of Helping Hands for Freedom
Eric Snelz
  • CEO/Executive Director

Eric has forty plus years 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.

esnelz@helpinghandsforfreedom.org

Rodney Smith, President/Secretary Helping Hands for Freedom
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 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
  • Treasurer/Director

Michelle Caraballo Shannon currently is VP, HR for Akkodis NAM (The Adecco Group).  Previously, Michelle served as Senior Human Resource Business Partner, for Amazon Web Services (AWS) responsible for Professional Services within the US, Canada and Latin America. She also served as Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations for Walmart Stores Inc responsible for the state legislative and public policy matters for the Illinois and Missouri region. In her career with Walmart, Michelle has held other various leadership positions starting as a store manager, leading supercenters in both Florida and Illinois with businesses totaling over $175 million. She went on to Walmart International where she worked in China with the Global Business Process Team focusing on the operational efficiencies of the stores in market. In addition, Michelle was the Director, Global Leadership Development focusing on the accelerated development of high potential leaders within the business. Michelle is a board member of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) and the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) in Chicago. Michelle is the recipient of the Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever (HACR) and Experto Award (HACE) awards.

Prior to joining the corporate world, Michelle served on Active Duty with the US Army as an Ordnance officer in the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, KS where she was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq with the 4IBCT as part of the "surge" operation. Under her leadership, the B Co 610th BSB maintenance operation was awarded the prestigious Department of Defense Maintenance Excellence Award and the Army's Award for Maintenance Excellence Award (AAME).

She has an MBA from Capella University and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed all coursework for a MA in International Relations from American University in Washington, DC before pivoting to focus on her family. Michelle is the wife of founder Patrick Shannon and together they have a daughter Caia Luisa.

Hugo E. Salazar, board member Helping Hands for Freedom
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
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
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.