Our Team

Board Chair & Co-Founder

Todd L. Sherman

Todd is one of the three original founders of the Patriot Fund and acts as the visionary for the Fund. Patriotism runs deep with Todd and he actively shares his desire to give back to our Veterans in meaningful ways. Professionally, Todd is the Senior Partner of the SSG Executive Advisory Group at Raymond James, a boutique wealth advisory team focused on addressing the needs of successful families.

As a result of his work with clients, Todd identified an opportunity to match the philanthropic interests of the financially successful with the most-deserving and often underappreciated military Veterans and their families. He has and continues to be moved personally by the stories of valor, the pains of combat, and the heart-breaking loss often encountered as a result. Todd believes by striking on the patriotism of charitable families, he can, along with the Board, inspire them to give, share meaningful ways to give, and ultimately provide the due diligence identifying the best military Veteran organizations to support.

President

Michael Wilkinson

In 2024, Michael Wilkinson became The Patriot Fund’s President. Michael has strong ties to South Jersey and the Armed Forces. Growing up in Mount Laurel NJ, Michael joined the Army Infantry at a young age and was medically and honorably discharged after suffering an injury. While the injury prevented overseas deployment, Michael saw his battle buddies struggle to adapt in civilian life when they returned.

“Friends of mine sacrificed far more than I could have imagined. One Army buddy was 10 years discharged from service when he took his own life. While attending his funeral, I felt I need to find a way to help others before we get to this point.  The Patriot Fund is a way for me to help so many others like my friend, who are lost when returning to civilian life. My hope is we can do more than the minimum to make them feel welcomed, purpose driven, and safe. After all, THEY are the reason why we feel safe.” – Mike

Michael started his career as project manager for a Architectural firm, then as a partner in a boutique design/build firm, before launching M Wilkinson Construction Company in 2015. M Wilkinson Construction Company has grown to service both the private sector and the Federal government as a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. M Wilkinson Construction Company operates in all major industries within the commercial, industrial, and multifamily construction sectors.

Michael is very active in his community and has served on many other community initiatives. Currently, he is most active in his church, First Baptist of Haddonfield and will begin his term on the mission/finance boards in 2023.

Michael loves trying new restaurants with his wife, Christine or attending Philly sports events with his son, Nick.

Secretary, Executive Vice President & Event Chair

Pam Davis

Pam Davis became involved with The Patriot Fund in May of 2021, after attending a charity event in Naples, Florida in April. Her father, Jack, served in the US Army for 30 years and Pam grew up immersed in the military dependent way of life. Her desire to serve our American service men and women is based on the values she grew up with – family, America, patriotism, and giving back. Pam became a Board Member in May, 2023.

Although Pam did not serve in the Armed Forces, she had firsthand knowledge of the sacrifice service families endure with her father’s dedication to the US Army. She experienced life as an “Army brat” in various European countries, as well as across the United States throughout her childhood.

After a 25 year career in Operations, Strategic Planning, and Sales in the proprietary education arena, Pam has volunteered and served on many Boards with the intent of making a difference and improving outcomes and processes when possible. She was on the Make a Wish – Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana Board of Directors, the Career College Association Conference Planning committee, The Lucas Cup Foundation Board of Directors and is the President for the Audubon Country Club Board of Directors. Currently, Pam is the Executive Vice President/Secretary and oversees all fundraising events for The Patriot Fund.

Pam’s passion to help our Veterans grows daily as she becomes more involved with our Veterans, supporters and mission. She is dedicated to raising awareness and funding to ensure no Veteran suffers due to lack of resources. Her focus now is the new sacrifice that service members face as they transition into civilian life. She is fighting to ensure we do not forget that sacrifice and as a country we take care of our Veterans.

Treasurer & Finance Chair

Matthew Mullins

Matthew Mullins is a Tax Manager with Mercadien, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, and a member of the firm’s Business Services Group. He works closely with pass-through entities and corporations, overseeing tax planning and preparation from start to finish. He also supports the development of both entry-level and experienced staff while promoting a strong, team-first culture.

Matthew brings experience in the real estate industry, a deep understanding of pass-through entity tax structures, and a practical approach to helping clients navigate tax planning and compliance.

Before joining Mercadien, Matthew was a Tax Supervisor at WithumSmith+Brown, P.C. (Withum), where he specialized in real estate tax and provided services to a range of pass-through entities, not-for-profit organizations, and individual tax clients. He also played a role in firm innovation initiatives, led tax technical trainings, onboarded new team members into the real estate niche, and served as a mentor and career coach to entry-level staff.

Earlier in his career, Matthew interned at Isdaner & Company, LLC, where he focused primarily on fiduciary tax preparation for high-net-worth clients.

Mike Francisco

Mike Francisco is the Lead Chair of the Annual Patriot Invitational. His patriotism is rooted in giving back to the individuals who sacrifice so much to protect our freedom. Mike believes philanthropy and patriotism go hand in hand. Often taken for granted, the service of our Veterans and their families should be celebrated as well as a priority.

“Supporting our servicemen and women through The Patriot Fund is a way for all of us to serve and lend a hand when it’s needed the most!”

Professionally, Mike is a Managing Partner of The SSG Executive Advisory Group at Raymond James, a boutique wealth advisory team focused on addressing the needs of successful families. His goal is to make a difference in people’s lives, and he applies his expertise in wealth management, financial planning, estate planning strategies, portfolio management, and business development to do just that.

Robert Curley, III

Robert Curley became a Board Member of The Patriot Fund in 2017 and an Executive Committee Member in July of 2021. Rob is passionate about helping our Veterans and their families in and around the Delaware Valley Region and is proud to be part of The Patriot Fund organization to do just that for our fellow heroes. His commitment to helping the local community and love of America is proven in his actions made within The Patriot Fund and in his daily life.

“I joined The Patriot Fund because I deeply appreciate what our military has done over many decades to protect our freedom and our democracy,” says Rob. “The Patriot Fund provides a vehicle for me to thank our men and woman in uniform for their sacrifices.”

Rob appreciates how The Patriot Fund makes thoughtful and targeted donations to Veteran-serving organizations that make direct impacts to improve the lives of Veterans with PTSD. He is proud of the passion and energy that The Patriot Fund brings to raise funds to help Veteran organizations that aren’t as visible or as well known. He says, “It feels good to know our efforts and dollars really make an impact.” The organization’s board members and executive committee are like-minded leaders who share the common goal to give back to those who have fought for our liberty, and Rob is proud to be part of this mission.

Rob has always been extremely active in the community and currently serves on several other boards including: The Board for New Jersey Bankers Association, the Board of the Southern New Jersey Development Council, the Board of Special Olympics New Jersey, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, CHOP Corporate Council, Ensemble Arts, and The Boys and Girls of Camden County.

Professionally, Rob is the Regional President of the Mid-Atlantic Metro. He is responsible for providing strategic direction, coordination, and leadership to TD’s local Retail, Small Business and Commercial Banking teams across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virgina, and the District of Columbia. He oversees all corporate and charitable giving throughout that footprint.

Philadelphia Business Journal selected Rob as one of Metro Philadelphia’s “40 Under 40” up-and-coming leaders in 2007. Since then, Rob has been awarded several awards for his involvement in the community including the SJ Biz Magazine “Power 50”, Rutgers/LEAP Community Leadership Award, March of Dimes Citizen of the Year Award, Philadelphia “Icon” in 2026, NJBIZ Finance Power List in 2026, the Vitae Discmus Award from the Archdiocese of Newark 2025, PAL Philadelphia Citizen of the Year 2024, the Greater Philadelphia YMCA Citizen of the Year in 2021, the South Jerseyan of the Year in 2021, and South Jersey Biz Magazine Power 50 Most Influential Business People from 2015-2025.

Strategic Planning Chair

Navy SEAL (Ret) Joe Crandall

Joe Crandall joined the board of The Patriot Fund in February 2021, driven by a lifelong commitment to serving veterans and their families.

Joe’s own military service began in 1989 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Technician. He later earned an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1996 with a degree in General Engineering and a commission as a Navy officer. After completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, Joe was assigned to SEAL Team 5, where he served until 2003.

Following his military career, Joe transitioned to the private sector, holding sales and leadership roles with Pfizer, GetWellNetwork, and GE. In 2012, he joined Greencastle Consulting as Director of Client Engagement. He became a partner in 2015 and, on October 1, 2019, acquired the company from founder Celwyn Evans, assuming the role of CEO and Managing Partner.

Under Joe’s leadership, Greencastle grew from a team of 21 veterans to more than 130 and established itself as the nation’s premier 100% veteran-owned and veteran-operated strategy execution firm. Today, Greencastle delivers strategy execution, operations consulting, and data and analytics solutions to Fortune 500 organizations while demonstrating the value veterans bring to the business world.

Building on Greencastle’s success, Joe founded Red Leviathan, a veteran-focused business ecosystem built around a simple idea: Many Companies, One Mission – Veteran Excellence. Red Leviathan brings together veteran-led businesses and shared capabilities to create opportunities for veterans, develop exceptional leaders, and build companies capable of competing and winning in the commercial marketplace. Through Red Leviathan, Joe is working to extend the impact of veteran entrepreneurship beyond any single company and create an enduring platform for veteran-owned and veteran-led businesses.

That same philosophy drives Joe’s work with The Patriot Fund. He believes veteran support is most effective when strong organizations work together, put mission ahead of ego, and focus on measurable impact for veterans and their families.

As Joe puts it: “I love The Patriot Fund because it is led by people who help veterans without ego, it strengthens the role of Veteran Service Officers in our region, and it makes a real impact on veterans and their families.”

His goal as a board member is to help expand that impact, ensuring more veterans receive the assistance, benefits, opportunities, and sense of community they have earned.

Beyond his business and philanthropic work, Joe is devoted to his family and enjoys escaping to the mountains and spending time outdoors.

Elaine Damm

Elaine Damm became a Board Member of The Patriot Fund on January 5^th, 2022. She has always been passionate about helping our Veteran community considering her son, Michael Connor Sweeney, and her father, Edward J. Damm, served in the US Navy.

“Being able to assist our Veterans in any way I can and provide them with the help and support they need is something that I am extremely proud of and it continuously motivates me to do more.”

Elaine feels that The Patriot Fund is an important fundraising vehicle for our Veterans and their families who desperately need the support – both financially and mentally – when they return from war. These brave individuals fight selflessly for our country and in turn, for each and every one of us as Americans. Because of this, Elaine is motivated to make a lasting impact on our Veteran community through the Board’s efforts.

Elaine Damm is the CEO of ACCU Staffing Services, Owner of 911 Staffing, and Partner of Corporate Planned Staffing. She is a results-driven leader with over 35 years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry. ACCU Staffing Services is consistently ranked by NJ Biz and Philadelphia Business Journal as Top Women-Owned Business, Top Family-Owned Business, Top Staffing Firm, and Top Executives Search Firm, as well as being voted America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firm by Forbes Magazine in 2020.

Elaine is also an active member in the community, being a Trustee on the Virtua Health System Board, a Trustee for Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes, an Advisory Board Member of 1^st Colonial National Bank, Cherry Hill NJ, and received the title of 2018 Executive of the Year in South Jersey Biz.

Patrick Fisher

Patrick Fisher is Executive Vice President and Director Commercial Banking at Fulton Bank, where he leads high-performing commercial banking teams throughout the Greater Philadelphia, N.J., and Delaware Market.  His focus is on delivering strategic financial solutions and exceptional client service. An accomplished banking executive, Patrick has built a distinguished career in financial services spanning more than 25 years, guided by the leadership principles and discipline he developed during his service in the United States Marine Corps.

Widely respected by colleagues, clients, and peers, Patrick is recognized for his ability to navigate an evolving banking landscape with integrity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. Throughout his career, he has successfully coached and developed commercial banking professionals, led high-performing portfolio management teams, and consistently driven loan growth and revenue generation. His expertise includes commercial lending, portfolio management, risk management, business relationship management, and commercial real estate finance.

Patrick began his professional journey by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1997. As an Intelligence Analyst, he was stationed overseas in several Southwest Asia locations and spent a year in Okinawa, Japan. His military experience instilled the values that continue to guide his leadership today: loyalty, accountability, discipline, and a strong work ethic. Patrick often credits the Marine Corps with preparing him to excel under pressure, adapt to challenging environments, and build meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.

During his military service, Patrick was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and received numerous Letters of Achievement in recognition of his performance and dedication. In 2018, he was honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a Veteran of Influence, recognizing both his professional accomplishments and his commitment to serving the community.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Patrick is deeply engaged in civic and nonprofit organizations throughout the region. He is a member of the Union League of Philadelphia and the Marine Corps League. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and as Treasurer of the Kingsway Junior Wrestling Association. Through these roles, Patrick remains committed to supporting youth development, community engagement, and leadership initiatives that create lasting impact.

Due Diligence Chair

David Ingram

Dave Ingram became a board member of The Patriot Fund in February of 2021. He is passionate about remembering, honoring, and assisting those military Veterans who selflessly served this country and their families that supported them. Dave’s patriotism and passion for helping the Veteran community make him a great asset to The Patriot Fund. He is proud to serve our Veterans and their families in the Delaware Valley region and beyond.

With South Jersey being his hometown, he is ecstatic to be part of the help for his local Veteran community. Dave’s professional career in sales and marketing is twenty-plus years strong and he currently works at Invesco as the company’s Market Leader in New England and the Mid-Atlantic States. He has been a featured guest speaker numerous times discussing sales and marketing techniques across the country and in different continents as well as being featured on various episodes of the Human-centric Investing Podcast presented by Hartford Funds.

Outside of his professional career and philanthropic ties to The Patriot Fund, Dave is in the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame for his outstanding high school career and also played collegiately. He has an undergraduate degree in Marketing and received his MBA in Business Management from Rutgers University. Dave also enjoys spending time with his wife and his three sons as well as running and watching mixed martial arts in his spare time.

Resource Dev South Chair

Michael O’Neill

Michael O’Neill is a seasoned leader whose career spans project management, law, military service, and talent recruitment.

A U.S. Army attorney with over 16 years on active duty and in the Reserves, Michael brings a disciplined, solutions-oriented mindset to every endeavor.

He has advised executives, managed complex legal cases, and led teams in both the public and private sectors with a focus on clarity, compliance, and execution.

Michael is a Project Manager at Manhattan Construction Company.

John Vanderslice

John Vanderslice is a business executive, leadership advisor, and owner of Strategic Solutions Group. With more than 25 years of experience, he has helped leaders at every level, from Fortune 100 executives to mid-market entrepreneurs, unlock their full potential and build organizations that endure.

Earlier in his career, John held senior leadership roles at Evonik Industries, a global specialty chemical company, where he built international sales and channel strategies. He has also advised Fortune 100 companies including DuPont, Dow, and ExxonMobil, bringing a practical, real-world perspective to leadership and performance challenges. John also helped scale his family’s multinational business, started by his father, with operations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. That experience gave him firsthand insight into the demands of entrepreneurial growth and cross-border leadership.

What sets John apart is his ability to unlock potential at every level of an organization, helping CEOs navigate strategic inflection points and mid-level leaders grow into confident, accountable contributors. His approach blends behavioral insight, strategic clarity, and execution discipline to drive measurable results.

In addition to his advisory and entrepreneurial work, John has contributed to the success of privately held companies and served on nonprofit boards. He is also an active member of the Union League of Philadelphia and a strong supporter of veteran-focused causes such as The Patriot Fund. He is known for building award-winning teams and cultivating top-tier talent.

John studied Liberal Arts at DePaul University and completed executive education programs at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. His depth of experience and balanced perspective make him a trusted coach for leaders who want to grow with purpose, confidence, and impact.

Marketing & Communications Chair

Will Gruccio

William Gruccio is the Founder and President of Renati Solutions, a strategic consulting firm specializing in public relations, government affairs, business development, and community engagement. He advises organizations nationwide across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, energy, infrastructure, nonprofit organizations, municipal utilities, construction, and economic development. In addition to leading Renati Solutions, William is a principal at Eastern Pacific Development and FoundersPay.

A dedicated business and community leader, William serves in numerous governance and leadership positions throughout the region. His current service includes roles with the Southern New Jersey Development Council, Southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, First Harvest Federal Credit Union, Inspira Health Network Foundation, Vineland Education Foundation, The CEO Group, and the Atlantic County Economic Alliance. He is an active member of Saint Padre Pio Parish in Vineland, New Jersey, and is a member of the Welcoming Committee of the Union League of Philadelphia.

Throughout his career, William has been deeply involved in public service and economic development. His previous appointments include service on the Vineland Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Cumberland County College Board of Trustees, to which he was appointed by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Known for his ability to bridge the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, William is dedicated to fostering strategic partnerships, advancing economic growth, strengthening communities, and creating lasting opportunities for organizations and the people they serve.

Co-Founder

Major General (Ret) Steven Hashem

Major General (Ret) Steven J. Hashem is one of the founders of The Patriot Fund and plays a key role in the due diligence process of our beneficiary organizations. Steve is passionate about Veterans, servicemen and women along with their families, and is involved in several endeavors that benefit the military. He and his family understand firsthand the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make to defend our freedoms and the American way of life.

As a West Point graduate and soldier for life, his guiding principle is, “Duty, Honor, Country.” General Hashem served for 41 years in the United States Army primarily in Special Operations assignments to include multiple deployments to overseas combat zones. He was a General Officer for 10 years and his two final duty assignments were at the United States Special Operations Command and the United States Central Command where he served on the staffs of Generals Doug Brown, David Petraeus, James Mattis, and Admiral Eric Olson.

Currently, Steve is the CEO and founder of Peak 74 International, a company that specializes in leadership development, tailored coaching, facilitated strategic planning and keynote addresses. He also worked for GE, Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin for 27 years in a variety of operations, management and executive positions.

Co-Founder & Advisory Chair

Joseph Caruso

Joseph Caruso joined The Patriot Fund from its early stages and is one of the three Co-Founders and is Vice President of the organization. His connection to the military and a deeper understanding of America developed from his dad’s passion who served in the Navy for 27 years and living first hand in the struggles of a military family led him to grow his patriotic sensitivity for the Veteran community and their families. Joe is fully committed and grateful for the opportunity to honor our military families and Veterans, knowing full well that these efforts can have lasting impacts and life changing solutions bringing comfort to our heroes’ lives.

“The Patriot Fund has never deviated from its Day One commitment to be a team of volunteers doing the right things for the right reasons for our American Heroes. We continue to build our model each day from scratch in order to engage more and more citizens in a personal way about how they too can join us as patriots to express their gratitude for the peace and way of life we all enjoy and all too often take for granted” – Joe Caruso.

Professionally, Joe is the Founder of The Omnifirst Group, a respected merchant banking and business strategy organization that is engaged in various businesses and investments ranging from Minor League Baseball to Healthcare IP to 5G Technology. Joe was also selected as the Outstanding Alumni 2012 for the Bisk School of Business at Florida Institute of Technology.

Erik Osland

Corporate leader turned serial entrepreneur, Erik Osland is a renowned CEO, leading one of America’s fastest growing healthcare companies and helms a team of passionate leaders at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Responsible for setting strategy, executive enablement, and evangelizing an award-winning brand, Erik is best known for developing high performing teams, driving business development, and elevating integrated behavioral health through thought leadership.

His background includes founding and exiting healthcare and lifestyle ventures, leading national accounts at several large healthcare companies, and raising nearly $50M in capital.

Community-minded and a passionate patriot, Erik serves as a board member for The Patriot Fund and is a member of the Scottsdale Charros supporting children and families in Arizona. An avid golfer, Erik successfully turned his frequent hobby into America’s largest philanthropic golf society, The Stake Club, in early 2018.

When he is not leading a Goldman Sachs backed company or being featured in Becker’s Healthcare, you can find him with his wife Brooke and two children, Perry and March, at their home in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Erik is a proud alumnus of University of Arizona where he holds a B.A. in Communications.

Tim Irons

Tim Irons attended Elon College in 1981 and disembarked shortly after and started the TC Irons Agency in 1983. TC Irons Agency is a licensed general commercial and personal retail insurance agency with two offices in Burlington County serving clients in approximately 48 states. In 1989, TC Irons merged with Haines and Haines and Tim became partners with Robert S. Haines. Sadly in 2017, Robert passed and Tim is solely at the helm.

Tim has always believed in supporting his community and has a love for Veterans and the military. His grandfather served in WWI and his father served in the Pacific Campaign in WWII and earned the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and was promoted to Captain by the age of 23. Tim’s strong core value of patriotism was bred in him. Tim’s partner, Robert Haines, was a Naval Academy graduate Class of 1957 and served as Lieutenant Commander for the United States Navy.

Tim has been a member of over 20 nonprofit boards during his tenure and currently sits on several boards. His hobbies include offshore fishing, hunting, and golfing.

Jeffrey O’Hara

Jeffrey O’Hara joined The Patriot Fund Board in 2019. His patriotism stems from appreciating the service & sacrifices by his loved ones. His father served in the US Army as a Paratrooper – 82nd Airborne Division and his cousin, whom he & his wife raised, served two combat tours with the US Army in Iraq. Jeff firmly believes that enjoying the privilege of citizenship in the United States creates a perpetual duty to support those who have sacrificed so much serving us: “Thank you for your service is not enough. We owe a life-long debt to all Veterans that have selflessly stepped up to protect our way of life. We should take time every day to find a way to give back to those who have given so much.”  Professionally, Jeff is a Partner with Tanenbaum Keale LLP.

Designated by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney since 1999, his practice focuses primarily on the defense of catastrophic loss casualty events. Having tried approaching 70 civil jury trials to verdict, he is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and has attained the elevated rank of Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Beyond his private practice, Jeff is a Co-Founder and currently serves as President of Project One Vet @ A Time Inc. (POVAT), a 501(c)(3) entity providing legal and medical support at no cost to select veterans pursuing Compensation and Pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. During free time, Jeff enjoys spending quality beach or mountain time with his wife – Lisa, their two sons – Patrick & Brendan, and their golden retriever – Shellby.

Executive Director

Matthew Ellison

Matthew (Matt) Ellison joined The Patriot Fund in 2024 as Executive Director. With over 15 years of executive and director expertise, Matt continually strives for professional improvement and is an eager leader who is dedicated to motivating his team on an everyday basis.  He intuitively recognizes threads of opportunity that wind through The Patriot Fund, brings them together as a whole and helps others to extend their thinking. His pursuit of betterment enhances the strategic growth of The Patriot Fund and the team around him.

Previously, Matt was a Director of Rehabilitation at a large nonprofit health system for twelve years where he successfully assured positive outcomes but remained equally cognizant to operate profitably to better support the community. While concurrently leading large teams across multiple sites, Matt honed his leadership skills through strategic growth, project management tools, quality assurance and more.

Matt is proud to be a part of the mission and everyday work of The Patriot Fund in the Executive Director role, as he feels a deep commitment to giving back to those Veterans who gave so much for others.

“Having worked with the elderly portion of our community for the last sixteen years, I can assuredly state that the subset of our military veterans and their families have been my favorite population to work with.  I’ve found that their grit, determination, loyalty, and selfless sacrifice embody the spirit of my family, with Army and Navy Veterans on both sides of my family. There is a sense of devotion, pride, and love that I feel whenever I’m able to help our Military Veterans and their families on an impactful level.”

Director of Operations

Jeanne Erra

Jeanne Erra became involved with The Patriot Fund in November 2021, when she volunteered at the inaugural Veterans Honor Invitational in Naples, Florida. After seeing firsthand the vital role The Patriot Fund plays in supporting veterans in need, Jeanne was inspired to become more deeply involved. She assumed increasing responsibility for the Naples event in the years that followed before taking on her current volunteer role as Director of Operations.

Jeanne oversees The Patriot Fund’s day-to-day administrative and operational functions, including its donor management systems, fundraising platforms, reporting, and internal processes. She works closely with event leadership to coordinate fundraising events, manage sponsorships and donor activity, and ensure the organization operates smoothly, efficiently, and effectively.

Jeanne’s commitment to veterans is deeply personal. Her father enlisted in the United States Navy at age 18 and served for four years during World War II. His ship was tasked with transporting Army soldiers to Normandy, an experience whose horrors remained with him throughout his life. Following his discharge, he earned his GED, married, and raised three daughters. While supporting his family, he attended college at night for 10 years, ultimately earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering.

He went on to lead engineering teams at Grumman Aerospace, contributing to both the F-14 Tomcat and Lunar Module programs. In his free time, he remained devoted to the veteran community, serving as Treasurer and later Commander of VFW Post 1469 in Huntington, New York. He also served as President of the Military Order of the Cootie and was a member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus.

During her 38-year career with ADP, Jeanne held senior leadership positions in Client Services, Implementation, and Learning and Performance. Her extensive experience in operations, organizational leadership, and team development now supports The Patriot Fund’s continued growth and mission.

Serving as Director of Operations has given Jeanne a renewed sense of purpose and the opportunity to give back in her father’s honor. Through her work, she is proud to continue his legacy of service, helping to improve the lives of veterans and their families.

Marketing Manager

Aishleen Tobolski

Aishleen brings 10+ years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations to her role on the Marketing Team for The Patriot Fund, She has special expertise in traditional and digital marketing, public relations, lead generation, campaign development and event planning. Having spent her entire career in the professional services industry, Aishleen understands how to engage meaningfully in the industry through new and traditional marketing approaches.

Administrative Assistant

Laurie Simko

Laurie Simko joined The Patriot Fund in early 2026, having retired after a lengthy career in administration.  Her passion for supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference made it the perfect opportunity.  In her administrative role, Laurie helps ensure the day-to-day operations of The Patriot Fund run smoothly, allowing the organization to focus on its mission, together with operating partners, to provide vital services and support to America’s veterans.

For Laurie, the work is personal.  As the daughter and granddaughter of US Army veterans, she understands the importance of honoring those who have served our country and is proud to contribute to an organization dedicated to improving the lives of veterans and their families.  Knowing that her work helps connect veterans with the resources they need is what she finds most rewarding.

Outside of the office, Laurie enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, exploring the outdoors through hiking, bowling, cooking and baking, and making the most of every opportunity to create lasting memories with family and friends!