BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Popella
President
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Mike Popella
President
Mike is a graduate of Clarion University of PA with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. For over 30 years, he has held various sales and leadership roles in the Food Service Industry.
Since 2014, Mike has been with Distribution Market Advantage (DMA), a Chicago-based company serving as Vice President of Business and Membership Development. Mike is proud to assist his Distribution Members in developing innovative supply chain solutions for national restaurant chains by utilizing his distribution and food service expertise. Mike and his wife, Crystal, reside in Grove City and enjoy playing golf in their spare time. Mike has served on several non-profit boards over the years. When he met Major Dan Rooney in early 2016, he immediately knew that Folds of Honor was going to be an organization that he and Crystal would align with. Later that year, Major Dan was invited to speak at DMA’s fall conference to give the keynote address to the attendees. In late 2018, they decided to embark on starting a chapter in Western PA. A year later, with the assistance of a great team of Board of Directors, our Western PA Chapter has become real. Mike feels that it is our duty as citizens to serve those that have served and sacrificed for our country.
Rick Dayton
Vice President
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Rick Dayton
Vice President
Derek Zynn
Treasurer
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Derek Zynn
Treasurer
Derek was born and raised in Pittsburgh and graduated from Purdue University, majoring in Accounting and Management. He is a licensed CPA in Pennsylvania. He has spent the first two years of his professional career with Cohen & Company, an accounting firm based in Cleveland with an office in downtown Pittsburgh. Outside of work, Derek enjoys running, golfing, and traveling. He has attended several Folds of Honor events prior to joining the board and is excited to support the organization on a deeper level.
Bob Beisner
Director
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Bob Beisner
Director
FUHRER EAGLE SALES & SERVICE
Bob was born and raised in South Western Pennsylvania. He was the General Sales Manager at Fuhrer Eagle Sales & Service with experience in budgeting, sales, pricing, supplier compliance standards, acquisitions, and recruiting for 24 years. He is now retired and enjoys traveling with his family, golf, outdoors, home projects and staying active.
Having had the opportunity to hear Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney speak was a moving experience and the motivation behind my involvement in Folds of Honor. The passion for his cause, clear purpose and dedication to help military families is unquestioned.
Lt Col Edward W. Jackson
Director
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Lt Col Edward W. Jackson
Director
Lt Col Jackson joined the Savannah Air National Guard in 1995 as an Undergraduate Pilot Training Candidate to fly the mighty C-130 Hercules. Lt Col Jackson graduated from C-130 co-pilot school in 1997 and immediately headed over to Europe to fly combat missions in support of the NATO stabilization forces (SFOR) in Bosnia/Herzegovina and Kosovo. In 2000, Lt Col Jackson accepted a full-time position with the 758th Airlift Squadron, United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR) in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, continuing to fly missions in support of SFOR and serving as the Chief of Training for the pilots in 758 AS and a C-130 Instructor Pilot. After the terror attacks on 9/11/2001, Lt Col Jackson was activated to Active Duty combat in support of US Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq from the end of 2003 until the end of 2005 and returned back to the Middle East in 2010 and 2015, massing up just about 1000 hours of Combat Flying in the C-130.
Over his 26 ½ year career with the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, Lt Col Jackson was awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, 4 Air Medals for Combat, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, 5 Meritorious Unit Awards, 4 Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, 12 Combat Readiness Medals, 2 National Defense Service Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, 3 Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbons with Gold Border, 6 Air Force Longevity Service Medals, 3 Armed Forces Reserve Medals with 7 “M” Devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol), AF Training Ribbon and NATO Medal.
In 2011 Lt Col Jackson left his full-time position with the Air Force Reserve to work as an Aviation Safety Inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where today he is the Principal Operations Inspector (POI) for Piedmont Airlines. Lt Col Jackson’s greatest accomplishment was convincing his wife Amber to marry him in 2007, and they have two terrific sons, Colton (12) and Ryder (11). After flying the C-130 for 23 years, the Jackson Family all traveled to Altus Air Force Base and lived in Altus, Oklahoma, from September 2018 to March 2019, where Lt Col Jackson learned to fly the C-17 and is set to retire from the Air Force Reserve on 12 February 2021.
Steve Parolini
Director
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Steve Parolini
Director
Suzanne Franus
Director
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Suzanne Franus
Director
Suzanne's journey began in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she was born into a military family that instilled in her a strong sense of dedication and service. Growing up, she experienced the transient lifestyle common to military families, moving 10 times before the age of 10. Suzanne's father, a retired Coast Guard Captain, had a profound impact on her values, always supporting military families and actively giving back to the community.
Starting her career in Northern Virginia with AOL Time Warner and Worldcom, Suzanne quickly found her niche in the dynamic world of sales and marketing. In 2007, she relocated to Pittsburgh, where she ventured into the advertising industry before embarking on her broadcast career as a digital sales director with CBS Radio. Her journey continued with iHeart Radio, where she excelled in roles such as digital sales director and general manager for 96.1 Kiss and 94.5 3WS.
Suzanne's expertise and passion for the media industry became even more evident during her six-year tenure at KDKA-TV, where she served as both digital sales manager and local sales manager.
Outside of work, Suzanne is a mother of two. She actively supports her children's pursuits, particularly their involvement in AAA ice hockey for the Pittsburgh Vengeance and Pittsburgh Pens Elite.
Jody Steinberger
Director
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Jody Steinberger
Director
Jody was born and raised in Uniontown, PA. Immediately following high school, he joined the U.S. Navy. After serving in the first Gulf War with the Navy, Jody then joined the U.S. Army. While serving as an Intelligence Analyst with both branches, he traveled the globe experiencing many cultures. Jody is 100% disabled and was medically retired from the Army in 2019.
After volunteering at several successful events at Topgolf for FoH, and then coordinating the annual Citadel Golf event in full support of FoH, Jody decided that FoH was going to get his full attention and efforts. He is married with two daughters and his service dog Nick.
Chris Ann Phillips
Director
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Chris Ann Phillips
Director
Chris Phillips is a highly recognized advocate through her extensive work with our veterans and their families. She stood up the military recruiting program at PNC Bank, created a sustainable model in the Military Advisory Council, helped establish military employee groups across corporate industries and when she retired from PNC Bank in 2021 she was the Military Affairs Liaison for the enterprise.
She stands out as a true champion for our nations’ heroes through her extensive work with organizations dedicated to making a difference in the veteran community. As a Marine Corps veteran herself, she brings skills, duty and a true love of country to everything she does. She is a strong advocate for the medical service dog industry, a huge supporter of the use of horses for therapy and believes these highly trained animals are a solution to end the suffering of our veterans nationwide. Her work has raised in excess of 2 million dollars for service dogs for veterans in danger of suicide.
Her work for our veterans doesn’t stop there. Chris was recently named to the Board of Directors for Gunny’s Ridge and a member of the Board of Directors for Folds of Honor Western Pennsylvania.
She has worked extensively with USA Hockey’s Warrior program on the board of Pittsburgh Warrior Hockey since July 2018 as the Director of Development and was the driving officer in the organizational development. She is a force that has earned the respect of the players, stakeholders and funders to further the mission of Warrior Hockey and has already contributed to raising double budget year over year. She works diligently to ensure combat wounded veterans have the camaraderie and sport of hockey to create a culture of healing and success, both on and off the ice. She rolled off the board in Pennsylvania and she hopes to bring that same passion to the North Carolina Warriors program. She also volunteers with Team Foster and The Lemieux Foundation at their yearly veteran focused events.
She has been nationally recognized by the US Chamber of Commerce for her work with transitioning veterans and is a two-time finalist for the Col. Endres Individual Excellence in Veteran Employment Award. She is the recipient of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Patriot Award and continues to be sought out for her candid and real-life approach to the issues facing our veterans. She conducts workshops for hundreds of veterans through GI Jobs, Military Officer Job Opportunities, LinkedIn and other veteran and disability focused organizations. She has mentored veterans and military spouses alike. She was named the 2023 Pittsburgh Veteran of the Year by the Military Friendly Brand through public vote… the most prestigious award given to a veteran in the region.
This year, she will complete her doctorate studies in Rhetoric and Communication at Duquesne University where she is has been an Adjunct faculty member for the past three years. She teaches Business and Professional Communication to undergrads and has prepared over 150 students for the challenges and opportunities they will face as they enter into the work force.
She lives in Davidson, NC has two dogs and cat, loves living on the lake most of all, loves being the mother of two beautiful grown daughters and ‘Chucka’ to her amazing granddaughters.
Gallop Strenth Finders top five.
Futuristic | Positivity | Intellection | Developer | Input
MILITARY COMMITTEE
1st Lt NG ANG 171 MSG/MSC Mike Boyd
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1st Lt NG ANG 171 MSG/MSC Mike Boyd
Mike is a member of the Folds of Honor Military Committee and is a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, currently serving at the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Coraopolis, PA. In the past, he has served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the 171st Base Honor Guard, participating in parades, funerals, and other events around Western PA. A graduate of both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University, he worked in several different operational roles in the private sector. He now functions as the Base Contracting Officer for the 171st. A third-generation military veteran on both sides of his family, Mike has long been involved in the military community and feels privileged to be a part of the Folds of Honor mission.
VOLUNTEER LEAD
Crystal Popella
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Crystal Popella
Starting as the “Supporting Wife” role of Folds of Honor, Western PA Chapter Founder and President in 2019 quickly pivoted to a fully engaged, active role and board member. My current responsibilities within our chapter include but not limited to Topgolf Event coordinator, volunteer coordinator, merchandise manager, board secretary, and other duties as assigned. With a background as a nurse and healthcare consultant, always striving to do and be better while building relationships keeps our team growing and driving to outperform past events.