Team Members
Meet the Team, and Read their Why
National Director
Account Executive
Content Marketing Specialist
Account Executive
Hero Success Representative
Content Marketing Specialist
VP of Marketing and Business Intelligence
Account Manager
Business Analyst
BI Analyst
Account Executive
Front End Developer
Hero Rewards Coordinator
Director of Affiliate Sales
Hero Success Representative
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Account Manager
Hero Outreach Coordinator
Technical Architect
Director of Hero Success
Accounting Manager
AR/AP Specialist
VP of Technology
Director, Legal & Foundation
Senior Manager Content Strategy
Marketing Specialist
Account Executive
Content Manager
Account Manager
Owner / Human Resources
Hero Rewards Coordinator
Paid Media Specialist
Account Manager
CFO
Senior Project Manager
CEO/President
Lead Developer
Account Executive
Hero Success Representative
Emerging Media Manager
Front End Developer
Contract Specialist
Assistant National Director
National Director
Abby Waltz
I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the first responders that saved my life in a horrific car accident as a teenager. Now, it is my mission to be a strong positive force in the world. To inspire others to live life to the fullest by helping them realize their true purpose (their WHY) and full potential. I fulfill that mission through my commitment to saying Thank You to every hero for their selflessness, compassion and courage they display and inspiring others to do the same. I would not have the opportunity to live the life I live without our heroes continued commitment to serve and better our communities each and every day and for that I am incredibly grateful. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to each and every hero, for all you do.
Account Executive
Amber Rivero
Finally working for a company that provides a deeper purpose and meaning to a lot of lives would be my “why” I feel truly blessed to be part of the Homes for Heroes family and greatly enjoy being a part of the mission!!
Content Marketing Specialist
Angela Harren
Growing up the daughter, granddaughter and niece of nurses, and the niece of teachers, I witnessed the sacrifices and selflessness of the healthcare and education fields firsthand. My Grandfathers served in the Korean War, one of them receiving the Purple Heart, so from a very early age I was also very prideful of our service members.
Now as an adult- being friends with, having a personal connection with and truly loving each and every one of our hero groups, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to finally give back to them. At Homes For Heroes I am able to work for a company that places their values in the same place that mine have been my entire life.
Account Executive
Annie Guerrero
My dad served in the Unites States Marine Corps. I grew up learning all about his service and the crazy different things he did while serving. He raised a little mini-marine soldier 😊! He continued to live a life of service and gave back well after he was out of the service. He was a bridge; he intently listened to peoples needs and would do whatever he could to connect or help that person. I am here at Homes For Heroes to honor my dad (and all those who served) and live out what he taught me by example and pay it forward. God bless America!
Hero Success Representative
Audrey Sykowski-Brisiel
My husband served in the Army and I am proud to be a veteran’s spouse. I have always wanted to find a company that helps serve our heroes. It is a true blessing to become part of a company that is doing positive things for Heroes.
Content Marketing Specialist
Bob Filipczak
My father met my mother in Italy during World War II. He was a navigator for the Army Air Corps, and she was a volunteer for the Red Cross. You could say my existence is the result of people who understood the importance of service to their country. Many of my nieces and nephews are teachers or healthcare workers, so helping the next generation of heroic people resonates with me. My volunteer work with Quiet Oaks Hospice gives me the opportunity to cook meals for patients, their families and the nursing staff. Hospice nurses have a special place in my heart. I would do anything for them, and now I can.
VP of Marketing and Business Intelligence
Bob Stanke
All my life, I have been surrounded by educators. My dad has been a school administrator for 40 years, so growing up I always heard stories at the dinner table about the importance of teachers and the hard work involved in educating our children. I have been married to a teacher for the last 18 years, and see first hand the difference my wife and her co-workers make through their hard work and sacrifices to make sure every child gets the time and attention they need to be successful. Joining Homes for Heroes was my small way to give back to not only teachers, but all of those community heroes around us who help make the United States of America the best country in the world.
Account Manager
Breanne Martin
My background in lending, advertising and real estate seemed to align perfectly with the Account Manager position at HFH. As much as I loved being an agent, I was craving more of a consistent, sales support role with a company I can be proud of and grow with.
Business Analyst
Charlie Carruth
I am so grateful for the heroic men and women in our armed forces, police departments, fire departments, healthcare systems, and education systems. These heroes are the very necessary backbone of our country and without them we could not function, yet it is all too common that these everyday heroes are taken for granted. At Homes for Heroes, I feel like I am making a difference by helping these people through the work that we do.
BI Analyst
Chase Schaffter
I am very honored to be working for a company that cares so much about our nation’s heroes. I have several members of my family that have served in the military and I am very grateful to each service member. Also, I am very thankful to all of the heroic first responders, healthcare workers, and everyone dedicated to the education systems.
Since college I have worked in IT, Business Intelligence, and Data Analytics.
I plan to use my technical experience and skills to further Homes for Heroes company’s mission.
Together as a team, we will thank every hero in the nation!
Account Executive
Debbie Rainforth
My WHY is personal. When my son was 4 he lost his dad. Many days when he was a baby, I had him in a stroller walking him around the hospital. The nurses and doctors became our family and the support I received was truly amazing. I grew up in a family of military men. We were taught, throughout my family, to give back. Once again when my dad was sick in the hospital the nurses and doctors became my family. The countless hours they spent with me crying and their compassion was quite comforting. My dad passed away on Flag Day last September, it was truly so fitting because my dad was in the army and flew his flag with pride.
Front End Developer
Emily Hoang
In 1975 when South Vietnam fell into communist hands, being that my father served in the South Vietnamese army, our family was rounded up and sent to reeducation camps. These were essentially forced labor camps in desolate areas. Some were detained without a trial for up to decades. After being released, our family faced significant oppression from the communist government. My father served in the South Vietnamese army along with American troops – we consider him a hero in the front lines fighting for the freedom. As a consequence, getting treated unfairly afterwards was heartbreaking. Coming from that experience growing up, it is an honor for me to work at Homes For Heroes. Our main value is to serve our heroes, who have sacrificed so much to give us the freedoms we have today. Something that my father fought so hard to have. My father passed away a couple years ago, but I know he would very proud of me for doing what I do everyday to serve our heroes. They deserve the best from society for the service they have given unconditionally.
Hero Rewards Coordinator
Emmy Young
My mom was in the healthcare field, and she gave her life in the line of duty. Inspired by her, a great deal of my adult life was dedicated to medicine. One thing I learned from my own experiences and from my family in military, education, first responders, and law enforcement- the ones that serve us rarely see themselves as heroes. Thinking back to my time in the hospital, I don’t remember feeling like a hero. I remember the exhaustion, the sadness for those suffering, and the fear that I would not be good enough, smart enough, or fast enough to help. When my life situation changed and I could no longer practice medicine, I still felt the drive to make the world around me a better place. My job as the Hero Reward Coordinator at Homes for Heroes allows me the privilege of thanking our heroes. In a small way, I hope to support their efforts and to brighten their day, if even for a moment.
Director of Affiliate Sales
Erik Cossalter
Whether it’s a veteran who fought for our freedom, a doctor that saved your leg or your life, a special teacher that you will remember forever, or the police officer that took the time to help you find your lost dog; we all have heroes in our lives. What could we ever do to show our appreciation for them? Showing these local community heroes how much they do for us on a daily basis is a passion of mine…That’s why I chose Homes For Heroes.
I have numerous family members that have served in the U.S. military. Watching their journey and what they have sacrificed has taught me to give all heroes the utmost respect. All my life, I have stopped to thank the person walking by wearing the “Vietnam Veteran” hat, or the person climbing into their car wearing scrubs during a pandemic. You can say thank you as much as you want, but that doesn’t help them achieve their dream of owning their first home or paying off their debt. Actions speak louder than words…That’s why I chose Homes For Heroes.
Being a father of three young boys, my wife and I are raising them to have the same values that were instilled in us. At the core of those values comes respect. What better way to teach them than to show them? When they watch us stop to thank those heroes, they no longer ask us why, they just understand. They understand because we have explained that every hero from yesterday to today help to make this the greatest country in the world. More importantly, how we can continue to honor them…THAT’S WHY I CHOSE HOMES FOR HEROES!
Hero Success Representative
Genna Sallack
My father, Navy, and my husband, Army, both served their time diligently with our armed forces during active war. along with my training in the medical field as a Paramedic. The deep appreciation I have for our armed forces and other heroic professions led me to this company. A company that listens to the needs of others, makes our heroes a priority, and gives back to the community is what makes this a fulfilling career. Giving back and serving others is a strong value, rooted deep within and I am thankful to be a part of something that does just that. For all those who sacrifice, I am grateful to serve.
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Greg Cecchettini
My family includes two daughters who are teachers and my wife who is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse with the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis. My extended family covers virtually all the hero groups we serve. The Homes for Heroes program makes a difference in the lives of those who have chosen a career to serve the needs of both our country and their local community. Often that means sacrifice in order to make a difference in the lives of others. The Homes for Heroes organization gives me the opportunity to honor and say thank you to our nation’s heroes. I am proud and fortunate to be part of with this organization. Now as the Director of Strategic Partnerships, I get the chance to grow awareness within hero organizations across the country and give back to those who give every day!
Account Manager
Heather Campbell
I couldn’t be prouder to work for Homes for Heroes! Being able to give back and serve others is not only something I strongly value but I actually get to do every day through my career, for that I am truly blessed. I have many family members who are my heroes; everyone from my mother being a special education teacher for over 35 years, my sister a pediatric speech pathologist, my brother a school district psychologist, to my beautiful daughter being a military child. It’s incredible how much they give! I know many of us can say this, the service members in my life have done so much for me personally and they deserve to be thanked every day for what they do, who they are and what they represent.
Hero Outreach Coordinator
Jay Flynn
James “Jay” Flynn, Chief of the Denver Fire Department, started his fire service career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter at the Ore Bank-Pumpkin Center Fire Department. In 2003, he transitioned to the career fire service with Denver Fire Department in Denver, North Carolina. Jay has spent the last 16 years serving the Denver community as a firefighter, captain, and fire chief.
Chief Flynn has an associate’s degree in Fire Protection Management from the Cleveland Community College. He also has completed the Fire & Rescue Management Institute and Public Management Academy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has attended many courses at the National Fire Academy and through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission.
Chief Flynn is well respected among the firefighters, Lincoln County government and the region for his professionalism and his ability to build strong relationships. During his time as Fire Chief, Chief Flynn has served as the President of the Lincoln County Fire-Rescue Association, as a member of Lincoln County Emergency Planning Committee and the Lincoln County Emergency Services Committee. Additionally, Chief Flynn is a member of several professional organizations including the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs as well as the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Technical Architect
Jeff Bullert
I am proud to work at Homes for Heroes because it lets me give back to those who have helped me and my family. Without our local police, EMS and healthcare workers my mom wouldn’t be here today. She has lived with some serious medical conditions since she was a kid and wasn’t supposed to make it past 20 years old and she is now in her mid 60’s. This is why I choose to give back and Thank those who are out there every day saving someone’s family member.
Director of Hero Success
Jesse Salomon
I have always felt a very deep appreciation for the men and women who serve others. I have members of my family that have served in various capacities. This has given me the healthy respect for what these folks do. I am honored to be able to do my part to thank these individuals.
Accounting Manager
Jessie Henry
Finance has always been my passion when it comes to the type of work I enjoy. The problem with working in this area of business is that is hard to feel as if you are really contributing. At Homes for Heroes I have the opportunity to work with the best group of individuals, doing what I love, all while supporting Heroes in communities around America get rewarded for their service.
AR/AP Specialist
Kathy Yang
The opportunity to work at Homes for Heroes allows me to serve and impact the lives of heroes. I would not be able to enjoy the life I live, if it wasn’t for the heroes. When I was born, I weighed only 2lbs and was hospitalized for 4 months. Everyday, I am reminded to be THANKFUL because there is a hero out there serving, saving lives and keeping our country safe.
VP of Technology
Kym Clark
I have close family members that have served in various branches of the military and participated in WWII, Vietnam, and Korea. I have an uncle that served in all three wars. Working for Homes For Heroes allows me to honor them and give back to all like them!
Since college, I have been focused on application development and technical leadership. Applying the skills and experiences I have gained throughout my career to make a difference in the lives of our Heroes is one of the most rewarding ventures of my professional life.
Together as a team, we will thank every hero in the nation!
Director, Legal & Foundation
Lisa Welsh
I love working at Homes for Heroes because I’m driven by the cause. My original hero was my mother. She taught troubled youth and later became a psychiatric nurse before passing away from cancer (many thanks to the health care heroes who supported our family through that difficult journey). My other hero is my husband. We met when he took over my classroom at a school for juvenile offenders, when I was leaving teaching for law school. He now works as a supervisor of education in the federal prison system, to give inmates an opportunity for successful reintegration with a GED or vocational skills. As Maya Angelou said, “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” For all the heroes inspiring and serving me and my family every day, working at Homes for Heroes allows me to serve them in turn.
Senior Manager Content Strategy
Luke Feldbrugge
Back in 2012 I was laid off. During this time I realized I was chasing the wrong things professionally, so I chose to only pursue work where I could positively impact the lives of others. No exceptions. Looking back it made sense. When I was 3, I wanted to be a fireman. When I was 17, I planned to serve in the Army (but I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes). My first declared college major was education and I wanted to be a teacher/coach. Serving others was clearly important to me, but how could I do it professionally? Enter Homes for Heroes. I realized I will spend 125,000 hours working in my lifetime. If I live to 75, that’s 20% of my life. At Homes for Heroes, my work helps to positively impact the lives of people who chose to serve the rest of us.
Marketing Specialist
Mackenzie Bintner
Helping others is in my nature and it is a part of who I am. Working at Homes for Heroes provides me an opportunity to make a difference in someones life everyday. Serving those who serve our community is rewarding and it continues to open my heart and mind to how I can learn, grow and improve everyday.
Account Executive
Margo Follbaum
I am proud to say I come from a family of heroes. My fiancé a Marine, my dad in the Army, my mother a preschool teacher, and my brother a police officer. I was raised to have respect for those that serve us. Instead of just being the person who says “thank you your service” I wanted to truly help give back. Homes For Heroes has given me the opportunity to use my knowledge in real estate to help the families who sacrifice the most. I am grateful to be a part of this team!
Content Manager
Maggie Looker
I have several family members who are heroes, including my dad who was a teacher. I am lucky enough to know these heroes and the unique challenges they face daily. Being able to help those who least expect it, but certainly deserve it, makes me proud to be a part of this team and thank every hero in the nation. It is the least we can do to thank them for everything they have done for us. As part of the marketing team, I not only get to do a job that I love, but I also get to spread the word about Homes for Heroes so that every hero has a chance to achieve their dream of homeownership.
Account Manager
MaryAnn Sala
As a daughter and sister to veterans, I’m happy to have found a company that not only aligns with my professional development goals but allows me to contribute meaningfully to serving our heroes.
Owner / Human Resources
Kacy Mlenar
I’ve been blessed, yet spoiled to be born on U.S. soil. It wasn’t until I got older and traveled abroad did I come to the realization that not everyone had the opportunities and the freedom that I had. It gave me a profound appreciation for those that fight for our freedom and opportunity that I unknowingly had taken for granted. Then after seeing the events of 911, my family and I started the Homes for Heroes program to say “thank you” to all who serve our nation and its communities. Creating this program made me feel like I was part of the recovery efforts by coming together and strengthening our communities.
Hero Rewards Coordinator
Melissa Miller
A passion of mine is to serve and help others. It’s important to me to do my part to help make the world a better place. When I heard about Homes for Heroes being a caring community dedicated to honoring heroes, I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it. Every one of these hero groups gives more than many ever know, and I was drawn to HFH because of what they stand for. I am blessed to work for such an amazing company whose mission matches my own personal interests and values. It’s very rewarding to try and make people’s lives better and leave a positive impression with those we serve. Every day feels exciting, to know I am part of an organization that values the community and our heroes as much as I do! It’s an honor to put heroes at the center of all we do.
Paid Media Specialist
Michael Rivalsky
Account Manager
Rachel Hoover
I’m from Birmingham, AL and am a wife and mother to 2 boys. I have a background in finance and real estate and I am so excited to be joining a team that chooses to serve our heroes. My family makes up most of the heroes and the mission behind Homes for Heroes spoke to me. It was because of the foundation that Homes for Heroes was founded on that I chose to work for this company. I am thrilled to work for a company that has a passion for people and a desire to serve those that make sacrifices for us every day.
CFO
Robert J. Specht
Bob has had the pleasure of advising HFH since the early formation years and continues to provide financial expertise to the HFH team, drawing from an extensive career in varied financial leadership positions. He currently is the VP Finance for AWireless, a billion retailer of wireless services. He has leadership experience in the retail, software and hospitality industries, with both public and private companies, including high growth start-up ventures and private-equity backed investments. He enjoys the entrepreneurial environment and what the HFH team has accomplished thus far.
During Bob’s 12-year tenure at Gander Mountain Company he was an integral part of the leadership team that grew this IPO-company to over $1.3 billion in sales with profitability. Bob began his career in public accounting and enjoyed 6 years in public accounting with D&T and PWC.
He is a certified public accountant and holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota.
Senior Project Manager
Rovshan Safarov
I joined the Homes for Heroes team in 2021 to be a part of this incredible initiative helping those who are on the front line to make our lives safe. Having IT project management background enables me to participate in great programs supporting Heroes in our communities across the country.
CEO/President
Ruth Johnson
Our family started the Homes for Heroes program to say “thank you” to all who serve our nation and its communities. Those who show up, every day, to help make our communities better and safer places to live. The strength of our nation depends on the strength of our communities. The strength of our communities often falls on the backs of those who serve. Our WHY centers around the tragic events of 9/11/2001 and the many heroes involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.Those whose service often goes unnoticed until we need them. Our ‘rally cry’ is: Together a team, we will thank every hero in the nation. It is so rewarding to know that we are making progress on our goal and a difference in the lives of the heroes we serve.
Lead Developer
Sai Yang
I would have probably been one of those faces you see on the news. I was born in a refugee camp. I have heard the sad stories that war produces. However, today there’s breath in lungs and a beat in my heart. Today, I have the opportunity to give back and say, “Thank you. I am here because you gave. God bless you!”
Account Executive
Sandra Kramer
I have been in a sales role most of my life and I was attracted to Homes for Heroers to provide more meaning to what I do. I not only get to consult with real estate agents and lenders who are considering our program, I know that by bringing in the right people more heroes will be honored and rewarded. I am especially grateful this program includes teachers. It was my 9th grade teacher who pulled me aside one day because he noticed I was not myself. His interest in me changed my life and helped me to get through a tough time in my family. I will never forget his kindness and concern. I love that this program exists to heroes everywhere.
Hero Success Representative
Sarah Love
I grew up in a family with many heroes. One grandfather served in WWII and the other one served in Korea. I have many uncles and cousins who served with every branch of the military. Also within my family are EMT’s and teachers which means I grew up with and am surrounded by many heroes in my life. My personal background is in Real Estate so working with Homes for Heroes allows me to use my knowledge and experience to help serve and connect amazing heroes with the necessary resources to make home ownership a reality.
Emerging Media Manager
Seth Jeska
My career at Homes for Heroes happened through a very indirect and unexpected path. While pursuing my degree in entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas, I discovered my passion for business analysis and consulting. My professional goal was to carve out a successful career in management consulting. That professional goal changed after a summer with Homes for Heroes. After working with this company for three short months, my perspective on what defines my success changed. I realized that I could have a far more successful career by applying my skills and knowledge to help grow a national program and make sure every hero that serves their community receives the recognition they deserve. Equally as important, my career at Homes for Heroes is my way of honoring the work my mother dedicated to her community as a teacher, and my grandfather’s service to this country as a WWII Navy veteran.
Front End Developer
Steve Simonson
As a mental health professional, hearing stories of Veterans struggling with mental health issues upon returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11, I wanted to figure out how I could apply myself personally and professionally to a solution. This lead me to a position at The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center on a grant from the VA to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans, working to get veterans off the street while removing barriers to secure permanent housing. It was in this role that I first learned of the Homes For Heroes Foundation.
From there, I moved to the position of Coordinated Entry Planner, managing the distribution of homeless housing resources for the 5-county Twin Cities suburban metro area. In that role, I drafted and advocated for policy changes to improve representation of veterans through the homeless housing system.
After making a career change into software development, I wanted to continue working for that greater purpose. Working for Homes For Heroes, I can continue to apply myself toward Hero advocacy and support those in achieving their housing goals!
Contract Specialist
Taylor J. Kerkela
In addition to providing me enough skills, lessons, and experiences to last a lifetime, the United States Air Force also revealed to me the enormous sacrifices made by our nation’s service members and their families. After separating from the service, my desire to serve has stuck with me as I continue onto new chapters in my life. Homes for Heroes has given me an opportunity to help repay those who sacrifice the most by joining a team that is committed to providing extraordinary savings to our nation’s finest and their families.
Assistant National Director
Vicki Czech
I work at Homes for Heroes so I can be a part of something impactful and hopefully help make a difference in someone’s life. Heroes are a big part of my family and being given the opportunity to honor them and what they do is rewarding everyday!