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 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.