Board of Directors Contact Registration Form

**Warning: not edited for grammar and spelling errors**

Board of Director Registry

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

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Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

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This is your area to write in - whatever you wish :) Thanks for joining the board and for your willingness to continue to both serve and lead. Now let's go inspire the next generation and show the world how to stop veteran suicide!

Board Position Elected To?

Team - Since July 22, 2012 Operation Vet Fit has existed with only a two person board and an all volunteer force. I know I need not tell you all what we have been able to collectively do in that capacity. You already know. But what I can only imagine now is how much we will be able to achieve with a seven member board. Thank you all for trusting me as the Board President, I look forward to serving with each of you in the continued service of our combat veterans and in the fight to end veterans suicide.

2021 Has provided us with some amazing blessings already. A $23,000 grant from the State of SC and an influx of needed revenue provided via an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan for $23,000. Also of great importance to note, we now have an accountant, bookkeeper and compliance officer, Ms. Janet Holt, who has generously offered to volunteer her time to ensure our accounting and operational compliance according to GAAP and the IRS. Her time is worth $ thousands and I am eternally grateful for her willingness to serve.

Her guidance, the impetus to our forming this new seven member board as well as obtaining a Directors and Officers Insurance policy to protect all of us, several other bylaw policy additions, and the realignment of our accounting to match 990 reporting lines. Her work thus far produced our 2020 990’s, and balance sheet which I have ready for you all.

Her capacity along with that of our new Treasurer and CFO, Sgt. Major (Ret) Brandon Eckardt, MBA, who has been with us since day one, currently works as an auditor in the financial services industry in Iowa, will create the kinds of oversight and controls that will place Operation Vet Fit second to none in the categories of transparency and compliance. Brandon, I really can’t begin to thank you enough.

HM3 Christina Colla, JD. Has taken up the position of Secretary: Another early member of Operation Vet Fit. Since earning her law degree, Attorney Colla has been available, when able, to assist our veterans with maters that required legal representation or legal assistance. In each matter she has proven instrumental, effective and efficient. She has also never sent us or one of our veterans a bill! Thank you, Christina!

Our Vice President, Sgt. Danny Mack Welch: 0311, Force Recon, US Marine, three Purple Hearts, a NAM and a Bronze Star, both with V. He served from 1968-1970, and was additionally awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, the Vietnam service medal with 6*’s, He fought in multiple combat operations including Operation Persuit, Tampa, Worth, Ballard Valley, Mameluke Thrust and Allan Brook. Dan currently serves as Board President for another non profit dedicated to assisting our nations First Responders.

Bradly Noone, BA: - Stepping up to serve as Assistance officer. Bradley Noone enlisted in the US Army in 2005 as an Infantryman. Was honorably discharged after 8 years of service, primarily with the 1-102 INF (MTN) of the CT Army National Guard. Leaving the military, Bradley takes with him a number of awards to include; The Combat Infantryman's Badge, and a pair of Army Commendation Medals. A 2014 graduate of SOLO Wilderness Medicine School with certifications as a Wilderness EMT. Bradley is also a published author of a chap book of poetry about his time in Afghanistan and the military. Being active in the outdoors, Bradley has discovered the healing power that nature holds when dealing with combat and reintegration related stress. He is active with a number of organizations which build strong communities using our nation's public lands and hopes to bring this same mantra to Operation Vet Fit. His life's mission is to help other veterans find healthy coping mechanisms to dealing with their military and reintegration issues via the great outdoors. Welcome to the team Bradly!

Matt Ruskin - second Assistant Officer: Waiting on you Matthew…..

Erin Gaita, BA: will take up the final position for our third Assistant Officer As the only non-combat member of our board, Erin is my wife. So you already know what she is living with. However, she is also a dedicated mother of three and a full time High School teachers-aid working within the exceptional education department, low incidence, autism class. Erin has personal experience and compassion for the real effects combat has on our veterans, and she has proven her commitment to being a true advocate.

Most recently, has been instrumental in editing content, while assisting the agency in acquiring prize and item donations utilized for various fund-raising events. She has also taken over insurance billing since we obtained our clinical licensure back in September 2020. Without her insurance billing knowledge and capability, we’d never see an insurance reimbursement for our services. Thank you, Erin!