Honoring America’s Veterans establishes new Veterans Advisory Council

HAV Veterans Advisory Council L-R, Tom Callinan, HAV Board Member Ricardo Carlo, Council, Benjamin Jeffrey, Council, Bill Pedene, HAV Board, John Scott, Guest, Nick Capaz, Council; Patrick Fitzhugh, Council; Terry Ouellette, Council, Dale Villani, President of the Board and Paula Pedene HAV Executive Director — HAV Veterans Advisory Council’s first meeting was held at the Arizona Republic. L-R, Tom Callinan, HAV Board Member Ricardo Carlo, Council, Benjamin Jeffrey, Council, Bill Pedene, HAV Board, John Scott, Guest, Nick Capaz, Council; Patrick Fitzhugh, Council; Terry Ouellette, Council, Dale Villani, President of the Board and Paula Pedene HAV Executive Director

Honoring Americas Veterans is pleased to introduce our newly- formed advisory council.

“We are fortunate to welcome this group of talented and connected people to our organization,” said Paula Pedene, Executive Director of Honoring America’s Veterans.

“They will help us in programs to reach and recognize veterans and their families.”

Two board members will chair subcommittees to increase the visibility of HAV.

Paul Smiley, U.S. Air Force Veteran and President of Sonoran Technology will chair the Philanthropy subcommittee.

“Veterans bring a wealth of talent, skills, leadership experience, and citizenship to the communities where they live,” Smiley said. “As a retired Air Force combat veteran and small business owner who employs a lot of veterans, I am committed to supporting those who have served, including their spouses, and the men and women currently protecting our nation.”

Terri Ouellette, President of Terri O Inc. and ABC 15 Sonoran Living co-host, will chair the marketing subcommittee.

Terri has been in the community for over 30 years and is the mother of an Army Combat Veteran.

“I understand the sacrifice our veterans and current military members and their families make, and it is my passion to help bring those who served and are serving to the forefront of our community,” Terri said. Never forget that without our military members, the freedoms we enjoy today are because of them.”

Also, on the advisory board:

Nick Capaz, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Manager, Talent Acquisition at USA Today/Gannett and HR Manager, Arizona Republic. He is also the lead of The Military Forward Employee group.
Ricardo Carlo U.S. Air Force Veteran, President, Association of Minority Contractors of Arizona
Patrick Fitzhugh, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Regional Site Director, USAA. He is Vice Chair of the Phoenix Business Workforce Development Board and a past Veteran Employee Resource Group chair.
Benjamin Jeffrey, U.S. Navy Veteran, Business Development Manager, and Veterans Liaison Aliya Health Care. e is the program director for the Tanner Thomas Village for Veterans: “Solving homelessness – one intrinsically valuable veteran at a time.”
Scott Ford, U.S. Army Veteran, Owner, SF Precision LLC.

Since 2011, Honoring America’s Veterans (HAV), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has hosted honor and recognition events, including the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, the Heroes Veterans Grand Marshals competition, a High School Essay program, a Pearl Harbor Commemoration Ceremony, and a Veterans Forum.

Learn more online at honoringamericasveterans.org