Board of Directors

Bonnie Wardlaw is a Registered Nurse with 28 years in the specialty of Maternal/Fetal medicine, working at a Level 1 trauma center in Savannah, Georgia. She has also worked at Winn Army Community Hospital as a contract nurse during Operation Desert Shield and Storm. During this time, she saw first-hand the sacrifices made by our military and their families. From this experience, Bonnie gained a deep appreciation and gratitude for our men and women in uniform. Bonnie has a lifelong love of animals and their welfare. She is a consistent supporter of local animal non-profits. The opportunity to become involved with C4H is a great honor for her! In March of 2018, ‘bonnielou and Clifford’, began making dog leashes and bed covers to benefit C4H. Research and development is underway to start a pet care shampoo/grooming products brand that will also ‘give-back’. Preferring to be behind the scenes, Bonnie has volunteered her nursing skills at Union Mission in Savannah, Georgia., and JC Lewis health mission. Susan Komen race for the cure, Help the Hoo-Hahs, and Starfish Cafe-Gala committee are some past, favorite volunteer experiences. She is currently involved with ‘The Church adopts homeless camp number 1’ and will soon begin after school tutoring of children in her church neighborhood.

Relationship builder. Leader. Project manager. Volunteer. Theatre buff. Animal lover. Hard worker. That’s Suzanne in a nutshell. An avid people pleaser with a heart of Service. Since her return to the U.S in 2000 Suzanne has worked hard to provide exceptional service to her Customers by finding expert solutions for their current procurement requirements. With 20 years of experience, Suzanne works at the world's largest MRO supplier, WW Grainger, as a Military Account Manager. Her Job? To help our fine Service Men and Women at Ft. Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield, Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort, Beaufort Naval Hospital and MCRD PI, procure the items they need… both mission critical and at Garrison. Prior to working with Grainger, she held roles with Nike Belgium, and as an International Flight Attendant with American Airlines where she was able to experience living abroad and her love of travel. Her Volunteer activities include work with Community Theatre, Work as an American Red Cross Ambassador at Hunter AAF for Troupe deployments, Red Cross SE Disaster Recovery Team, Red Cross Sound the Alarm Program, and with local animal rescue groups. Suzanne resides in Savannah, Georgia with her Husband John, a 30 year Army and Air Force Veteran. They have 5 grown children and love big family Holiday gatherings! Suzanne holds a Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University. “I recognize the positive impact animals can have on our mental health. If I am sitting down, my lap is filled with our three rescues Brutis, Buckley and Bug. My Husband nicknamed me Dr. Dolittle because if there is a lost animal of any kind, they somehow find a way to our front door! It is my wish to help those in need of a companion, both the human and animal varieties, find one another and share a well deserved peace” .

Joseph Kauper is a Marine Corps veteran with 20 years of combined experience in military and law enforcement. After exiting the Marine Corps at the rank of Sergeant he worked as a communications contractor for the US Army in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. After returning to the United States he served as a uniformed protection officer for the US Department of State at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York City. He joined the Port Authority Police Department in 2008 and currently serves as a member of the Emergency Services Unit. In 2011 Joseph founded The Harbor Site Foundation which assists military veterans and families who have made the transition to law enforcement. He has one daughter Cassandra and currently resides with his wife Khristina in New Jersey.

MAJ Daniel Merritt is the co-owner of Nine Line Apparel, a Veteran-Owned and Operated company that employs over 160 Veterans and Patriotic Americans. Nine Line Apparel was #31 on the INC 5000 fastest growing companies in the United States. Major Merritt is also the Co-founder of the Nine Line Foundation, a 100% Non Profit (501c3) that builds homes for severely disabled combat veterans.

He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2008 - February 2009 and deployed May 2, 2011 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

MAJ Merritt’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terror Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, NATO Service Ribbon, the Parachutist’s Badge, and Combat Action Badge.

Ms. Laura Seban is co-owner of Reliant Insurance Group located on St. Simons Island, Georgia that offers insurance for high net worth individuals, small – large businesses and Medicare Health Options. Prior to her role at Reliant Insurance Group, Laura was a Senior Chemist with Rich’s Food Products where she led other chemists in the Research & Development of all Rich’s Food Products. Laura is a past Advisor and Mentor for the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce and a current board member for the United Way of Southeast Georgia.

Mr. Julio P. Gonzalez founded the Gonzalez Family Office and is the Chairman, CEO and Founder of Engineered Tax Services, Inc. (ETS). ETS is the country’s largest specialty tax engineering firm which specializes in the preservation of wealth and the United States’ job creation through IRS engineering-based services to include research and development manufacturing tax credit and grant studies, energy tax incentives studies, cost segregation depreciation studies for buildings, Opportunity Zone studies, real estate state and local incentive studies and alternative tax optimization studies. Mr. Gonzalez started ETS in 2001 to bring specialized engineering tax studies to mainstream America, which have historically have only been available to Fortune 500 and public companies through then the Big 8 National Accounting Firms. ETS has 26 offices nationally and is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. In addition to ETS, Mr. Gonzalez started several other family operational companies including his family office, Gonzalez Family Office (GFO), Calle Gato Ocho (CGO), Engineered Tax Exchange (ETE) and Engineered Family Office (EFO). Gonzalez Family Office manages the Gonzalez family capital by investing primarily in real estate, private equity, and venture capital. CGO owns and operates direct real estate investments in multi-family housing and office/mixed-use real estate for the Gonzalez family. Mr. Gonzalez works weekly in Washington D.C. to work with the administration, Congress and Senate to advise on tax reform and is the go-to tax expert representing many national organizations and associations. He is a regular public speaker on a national level regarding tax reform and tax sophistication for wealth preservation.