Board of Directors
President — William Heinzelmann
William Heinzelmann, who goes by Bill, is a medical sales professional who takes pride in representing products that add value to patient lives, providers, and the health systems in which they belong. Bill grew up and attended college in Pennsylvania. While attending Susquehanna University, Bill completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Global Management and played football and lacrosse.
After college, Bill traded in his cleats for a pair of combat boots and joined the United States Marine Corps, serving as an Infantry Officer for nearly 10 years. Bill deployed to Iraq twice with 3/2 in support of OIF and once to Afghanistan with 2D Force Recon Company in support of OEF. He also served as an Inspector and Instructor with 1/24. Bill is married to Jackie, and they have two daughters, Lucie and Ruby.
Vice President — James Finnerty
James Finnerty attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with degrees in History and Anthropology. While attending university, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and served honorably from 2001 until 2007 in the infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
While serving in Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, he deployed to West Africa in 2003 and Al Anbar, Iraq in 2005, serving as a fire team leader and squad leader. After university and military service, James began working for Allegheny County criminal court in 2007.
In March 2016, James resigned from criminal court and began serving in the Peace Corps. He taught English outside Malang, East Java, Indonesia until completing his service as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in June 2018. The previous Stand Up For Me site listed James as working for the President Judge of the 5th Judicial District, Judge Jeffrey A. Manning. His personal motto, taken from service in both Corps, is “Semper Gumby” — always flexible.
Treasurer — Reshekia Fraley
Reshekia Fraley was born in Florence, Alabama and raised in Houston, Texas, where she enlisted in the United States Army in 1999 as a Multi-Channel Radio Operator/Maintainer.
Reshekia transitioned out of the military in 2003 to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Houston, graduating with a degree in Finance. She has had a lifelong passion for helping others and for video games. The previous Stand Up For Me site described her work as an area leader for the nonprofit veteran service organization Stack Up, using video games as an outlet to connect, communicate, and socialize with active-duty military personnel and veterans. It also noted her volunteer work with organizations in and around Orlando, Florida.
Secretary — John Mcaleese
Member — John Parks
In 2006, John Parks graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology. His graduation had been delayed by an active-duty deployment in which he served 11 months in Iraq as a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
John joined the Army National Guard in 1998 and served for a little over seven years as a Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer. After graduating college, John supported several Department of Defense projects as a software developer for 10 years. He later moved into clean-energy software projects through his company, Simple Syntax Software.
John has a passion for outdoor adventures including hiking, kayaking, sailing, and scuba diving. The previous site also described his interest in universal design and using software to better connect disabled veterans with the VA health care system.
Staff
Executive Director — Charlie Merritt
Charlie Merritt is an advocate and assistive-technology innovator focused on veterans with disabilities and people living with paralysis.
After graduating from Pennsylvania State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Charlie continued his United States Marine Corps service after serving as an enlisted Sergeant, earned his commission, and completed his service as a Material Readiness Officer and S-4A for the 10th Marine Regiment. He also served as an infantryman with 3d Battalion, 2d Marines and 3d Battalion, 25th Marines.
In 2014, seven years after his discharge, Charlie sustained a cervical spinal cord injury that left him a C3 complete quadriplegic without functional use of his arms and legs. He shifted his focus toward nonprofit and assistive-technology work so that other people and families facing life-changing injuries would have better access to practical information, technology, and support.
Charlie is a cofounder and the Executive Director of Stand Up For Me, Inc., an organization created to increase independence for people with mobility impairments and reduce unnecessary burden on their caregivers.