Our Team
Board of Directors
President / CEO
Joseph Holmes - Chief Executive Officer
Joseph Holmes is a community leader and nonprofit champion. As a seasoned business professional, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies as well as mid-sized businesses. The opportunity to improve the quality of life for our nation’s heroes presented itself to Joe as a founding member of Heal the Hero Foundation in 2015. He discovered that his background in operations, financial management, sales and marketing management, and his work with a variety of nonprofit boards and executive boards, gave him the tools needed to help create Heal the Hero Foundation. Joe earned a degree in business management from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Boise State University. He is currently a member of adjunct faculty at The University of Dubuque, Tempe, AZ as an instructor in their MBA program. Despite the great satisfaction Joe derives from his work with Heal the Hero Foundation, he considers his family to be his greatest accomplishment and source of joy.
Treasurer
Tonia Schwartz - Treasurer
Tonia Schwartz has always served her community; she would say it is in her DNA. It was part of her life from a young age with her parents. As she began her own family she served in various capacities in their schools and activities and today she serves as Treasure of the Heal the Hero Board of Directors and Chair of the TSG Board of Directors.
Professionally she earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of IL and earned her postgraduate degree from TSG in Ageless Wisdom Teachings. She spent most of her career as a technician in Naturopathic Clinics and then became interested in the potential of the human spirit and potential and began working and volunteering for TSG Foundation.
As the widow of our founder and past CEO Lou Schwartz. She is highly invested in helping his vision become a reality.
Staff
Director of Community
Relationships & Solutions
Alicia Holmes - Director of Community Relationships & Solutions
Many people have told me I have had an interesting life path, and they’re probably right. I grew up in what most would call an unconventional way moving from state to state in a converted school bus following weather patterns so my Dad could work in the construction trades without working in extreme weather. We were snowbirds well before the acceptable age of snowbirds.
My childhood taught me many lessons that have made me who I am today. I make friends easily. I love seeing new things and meeting new people. I do well with uncertainty and change. In fact, I would say I thrive in change. My siblings and I are masters of rolling with the punches and making the best of any situation.
My parents taught us many valuable lessons whether they knew they were teaching us or not. First, serve those around you. You can never go wrong helping someone in need. And second, love your family unconditionally and always. Because of these lessons I have always found myself in careers where service to others is the primary focus. I have transitioned into the nonprofit world and after close to a decade I still feel at home. I have four areas of interest: childhood literacy; aging out foster youth; senior homelessness; and serving our nations heroes. I am now blessed to be working with an organization that supports mental wellness and improved quality of life for our first responders, veterans, and women survivors of domestic violence. I couldn’t be more thrilled! I have found my home.
Onboarding
Specialist
Karen Dial - Onboarding Specialist
Mahatma Ghandi said it best. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. These are words I have lived by my entire life and have instilled them in my children as well. Before this position I was an elementary school teacher for twenty years and then a principal for ten (always in Title 1 schools). When I retired, I quickly realized I needed something more to continue my work of helping others and giving back to the community. I was lucky enough to be connected with Heal the Hero Foundation and to an amazing group of like-minded people. My history of serving the community (and my personal connections to law enforcement) have made for a perfect fit. I truly enjoy the work I do and the people that I have the opportunity to serve.
Onboarding
Specialist
Jeanette Macon - Onboarding Specialist
For as long as I can remember, I have always had a desire to serve and help improve people’s lives. Working with Heal the Hero Foundation, I get to do just that. As an onboarding specialist, I have the pleasure of working with first responders by providing a life changing program that I also benefited from. I have experience in the medical field and criminal justice field, and I get to combine these two passions of mine in one. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family.
Onboarding
Specialist
Diane Silvia - Onboarding Specialist
My life revolves around faith, family, personal growth, and service. Prior to joining Heal the Hero, I dedicated myself to a career in education. Given my family ties to law enforcement and deep patriotism, this organization seemed like the perfect fit for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a program that assists and supports true heroes. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling with my husband of 33 years, treasuring time with my 5 grandchildren, delving into books, and nurturing my creative pursuits.
Director of Finance
Scot Neville - Finance
Scot Neville is a semi-retired business executive with over 40 years of experience leading the finance function of several companies in IT, Aerospace/Defense, Real Estate Development, Distribution, and Public Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and earned an Accounting Degree and Master of Taxation Degree from Arizona State University. At this stage of his career, Scot desires to “give back” and is thrilled to be associated with a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to improve the lives of first responders and veterans. Scot enjoys his grandchildren, serving in his Church, flying light-sport aircraft, and wake surfing.
Advisors
Consultant
–
Melissa M. DeLaney
For nearly 20 years, Melissa DeLaney has worked in communications and public affairs in Washington, D.C. and Arizona, working as a spokesperson and to develop messages and media strategy for high profile, international and controversial issues, public officials, organizations and brands.
DeLaney previously worked as communications director for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s winning campaign in 2014. She has also worked in Arizona’s business and economic development community at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, where she spearheaded media campaigns highlighting the region’s business landscape, assets and quality of life and worked to advance public policy initiatives to drive further investments in the state.
Her broad-based experience includes: working as a spokesperson for various public officials, including members of Congress, White House Cabinet members, and statewide officials and candidates; working with local, national and international reporters and media outlets; managing crises; writing speeches and op-eds; media training high-level officials; coalition building; and using the media for strategic management of a legislative agenda or public policy issue.
DeLaney is also an established writer, whose work has been featured in TODAY Parents, All The Moms, The Daily Caller, East Valley Tribune, Blessed Is She, and Smart Girl Nation. She has also developed and placed op-eds in publications like The New York Times, Huffington Post, Washington Times, Washington Post, Roll Call, and Christian Science Monitor, among others.
National Service / Military
Advisor
Jerry Holmes, Major General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) - National Service / Military Advisor
General Holmes’ distinguished career has included commanding the U.S. AWACS Air Control Wing, being Chief of Staff of a European Allied Air Force, induction into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame, and serving 13 years as Chairman of U.S. Sen. James Inhofe’s Veteran Task Force. Oklahoma University’s The Jerry Holmes Leadership program for Engineers and Scientists was launched in 2015 in his honor.
Founder
In Memoriam
Lou was a compassionate spirit and had the ability to listen with empathy. After discovering the tragic statistics of veteran suicides, sitting down with people that had PTSD and learning of the millions that don’t get or seek help; he knew he had to do something. Lou had the remarkable ability to to see the best in other and wanted to help heal those that were impacted.
He used his passion and skills to found one of his greatest professional projects
– Heal the Hero Foundation.
Lou’s hard work and legacy will continue on and help others as the foundation he founded continues to expand and improve the lives of our veterans, first responders, victims of abuse and trauma and so many more.