From his days as a student at Texas A&M to embracing his entrepreneur spirit, Phillip Brooks held the first annual helicopter hog hunt in 2014 when he recognized the disconnect between today’s youth and military veterans in his community and decided to find a way to help bridge this gap.

As the founder of Bassco Services, Phillip started out with just a small four-man company in Dallas, Texas in 1997 and built Bassco into a national footprint in the aviation industry with locations across the United States serving the aviation/fuel support industry.

In addition to his position as Owner/President of Bassco Services, Phillip owns and operates Bv3 Merchandise and is a partner in the Periscope Music Group.

From his early years as an entrepreneur, Phillip has always had a “get it done” attitude and living by the motto that… “if it is not a win/win it’s not worth doing”.

Phillip possesses a big-picture outlook and is one who can envision the desired outcome and works hard to make the visions come to fruition.

In addition to being a successful businessman operating multiple companies, Phillip is the proud father of two children; Trey and Mackenzie  and a husband to his beautiful wife, Kim Brooks.

Samantha Butero is the National Sales Manager for Bassco Services & Allied Oil Equipment. Samantha is an accomplished and results-oriented sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in aviation that has included on-the-ground sales, business development and marketing in Aerospace, GSE and Avionics.
Samantha possesses creative problem-solving skills with demonstrated abilities in vision development, strategic planning, market analysis, team building, communications and customer relations.

In addition to her aviation industry knowledge, Samantha has also spent over a decade volunteering, fundraising and grant writing for various first responder and military nonprofit foundations.

Samantha was introduced to Helicopters for Heroes five years ago when she had the privilege to work with Phillip Brooks after starting a service center for a GSE manufacturing company she was representing at the time and she instantly was drawn in.

The story which brought the foundation to inception as well as the people it benefits were both instrumental in her desire to get involved. However, it wasn’t until she started working directly with Phillip and relocated to Texas her dream came true. “First responders and our military have always held a special place in my heart… so being able to be a part of a foundation that depicts the same passion was a match made in the stars.”

Samantha is a proud parent to three children; son Preston, and daughter-in-law Taylor, daughters Siena and Sophia. Her children are the foundation of her strength and her biggest cheerleaders as they always encourage her to follow her dreams.

In Samantha’s spare time, she enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring her new home state of Texas.

Chris is a Managing Partner and CFO for Uptown Capital Advisors RIA. He also is the Managing Partner for the Kelly’s Craft Tavern Group. Prior to Uptown, he was a Partner and Founder of the law firm Carrie, Cramer and Weatherbie LLC. He also served as General Counsel for a wholly-owned subsidiary of SKOPBank, Helsinki, Finland. Chris holds a JD from St. Mary’s University and a BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University.

Over the last 19 years, Jake Crownover has gained experience in multiple aspects of the music business, including band management, booking agent, tour management, record executive, production, merchandise, fan club management, and live show replication. Jake has worked with international bands including the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Matchbox Twenty, Beyonce and Kiss just to name a few on various facets of their business from management to fan clubs. Jake, started in management as a partner in 36D management where he helped managed Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland, and Mike McClure. Jake most recently left All Access Today, Inc. where he was director of artist relations, and responsible for growing AAT live recording and fan clubs into a multimillion-dollar company.

Jake is currently the managing partner of Periscope Music Group and his focus at Periscope is inventing new streams of revenue for his artists with outside the box methods and new technologies. Periscope Music Group also provides services in talent buying, online ticketing, show production and consulting. Jake’s current clients include Matchbox Twenty, Kyle Cook, Tim Montana and numerous influencers and venues.

Jim Salamenta was introduced to Helicopters for Heroes two years ago where he gained a full appreciation of how important this organization is in regards to honoring and supporting our veterans.  As Helicopters for Heroes newest Executive Director, Jim brings a career of high level event management experience to the organization.

Currently, Jim oversees PMG’s entertainment division to include:  promoting national events, talent buying, event management, venue consultation and business development.  Jim has over 27 years in the entertainment industry in managing concert facilities and promoting live events.  Jim has booked, promoted and coordinated over 7000 events combined, a great deal of those being major concerts in major venues including but not limited to:  Elton John, Beastie Boys, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen, Tim McGraw, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Bublé, Tool, KISS, Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift,  Cirque Du Soleil, etc.  Over his years of experience, the most recent roles Jim has had include being the GM of four major entertainment facilities where he oversaw all departments to include:  operations, marketing, event services, security, box office, sales and finance.  Jim was also the operational team leader selected by ASM (largest facility management company in the world) to open many of their major facilities ensuring that each initial grand opening concert went off without a hitch. Besides his principle responsibilities, Jim’s role in Periscope Music Group also includes:  merchandise, ticketing, touring and production.

Jayson Dunston is co-founder and COO of Cash Solutions Inc. A worldwide distributor of high end, high tech money handling equipment. He also is involved in a broad array of investment opportunities both in real estate and venture funds. Jayson has served on our board in various capacities over the past 5 years. He loves H4H and being able to give back to those that have given so much to us, as well as making sure his young children (3) know the sacrifices our military and first responders make. Jayson is an avid outdoorsman and serves on the board of Ferndale fishing club and in various roles at HP United Methodist. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he still greatly supports the maroon and white.

Russ Rowan, currently head of brand with Compass Equity and Velocity Outdoors overseeing large portfolio of outdoor / hunting brands. Previously Chief Brand Officer all companies at K&N Engineering in the auto industry. Before K&N Engineering Russ was Partner/CMO at Soldier Unlimited where he was brought in to further strengthen its competence in areas of business development and marketing communication. Described by many as one of those rare business types that understands how to build powerful brand initiatives that directly increase top and bottom line growth, Rowan leads strategy with strong financial acumen.

Russ has several years in the winter and outdoors world as SVP of Global Sales and Marketing for the globally recognized ski apparel brand Spyder Active. As SVP Sales & Global Marketing of Spyder Active Sports. Russ has vast experience working with CEO’s producing complete company restructures, new go to market communication platforms and a complete sales reorganization. With an exceeding growth plan for five consecutive years while at Spyder, Rowan drove new found revenue and bottom line profit to the business.

Russ also served at the senior and management level with O’Neil Surf based in Santa Cruz, Helly Hansen running the US Sales and Marketing, Burton Snowboards with various roles from sales rep to in-house management and International Sales. He has a unique depth of experience in brand building from both financial and marketing perspectives. His career includes senior level brand leadership over the last 20 years for a host of iconic premium-performance brands worldwide. Rowan had a seat on Soldier’s board of advisors and trusting relationship with founder and CEO for 15+ years while they first hit it off at Burton Snowboards where idea’s where fresh when snowboarding had that rebellious business attitude and Burton founder Jake Carpenter only hired true competitive, intense people that challenged everything they do in business and life 24/7.

Russ is known by many in the sports and outdoor industry as a fiercely passionate rainmaker and someone who knows how to forge great returns on his brand building investments — whether that be his time, ideas or resources. Russ truly understands and appreciates the holistic role of marketing as a comprehensive brand building plan and not just a bunch of disparate channel strategies arbitrarily coming together.”

We welcome Russ to the Helicopters for Heros 2020 Board of Directors.

There was high brush at the riversides and not a beam of sun in the sky, all you could hear was hogs squealing and grunting and the sound of someone struggling.  “Gabe! Gabe where are you man?! I can’t see you!” his buddy cried out.  Walking toward the sounds Johnny finally found Gabe struggling with an angry boar and only a knife to save his life.  The hog got a good slash of his leg and to this day he still wears those same pants that the hog ripped though.  Not because the self-made man cannot afford more but because he calls them his “lucky pants”, literally hanging by a thread you’ll see him wear them often and does not let his wife throw them away.

Born and raised in the small town of Grand Island, Nebraska.  At 18 years old, Gabriel Fraire packed up a small Dodge Dakota truck and headed to Dallas in 1999 with a tank full of gas, heart filled with hope, and a couple hundred dollars to his name.  “I’m not from Texas but I got here as soon as I could!” he likes to joke.  “My school counselor, Jim Jeffries taught me all I know about fishing and hunting.  I never thought at the time that I would turn a hobby into a career or even anything worth something.  I’m glad I can now give back to my community with what I love doing.  Jim saved my life, there was nothing to do in Grand Island but get in trouble.”

In 2017 Gabe’s friend, Jeff Roberts asked him he would like to donate for a good cause called Helicopters for Heroes. This will be Gabe’s fourth year and he has more than “donated.” He has provided the connections and the land where H4H is made possible.  Through his work Freedom Chevrolet in Dallas, Gabe provides brand new Chevrolet Suburbans for our Heroes to ride in to and from the airport and their hotel to the hunting grounds.

This upcoming 2021, we welcome Gabe Fraire to our Board of Directors.

I’m a Weiland and a U.S. Marine, 22 years of service. Grandfather was a first world war sailor, Dad served 27 years, six months and 3 days, as he used to say, and my son John served 10 years. With my grandfather in the U.S. Navy, I guess I’m the Son of a Son of a sailor man. Guess I just need the guitar and the rum.

I’ve never been a braggart and won’t start now. I’m a member of the few, the proud, the Marines. Graduating boot camp, qualifying as a flight engineer, my children and grandbaby are my success stories! I took on the responsibility of looking after my troops along time ago, that’s why I still look after them with the hunting, fishing, and outreach.

I truly enjoy hunting and fishing. It’s a chance to be close to the creator and listen to his voice. I love flying as well, something about the freedom and the throttle!

I work for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, as a Senior Instructor FOFA (flight line, final assembly). For 17 years I have been the ramp boss for the event called SkyBall. It’s volunteer and lots of work and fun. We raise money to help support the military and military support operations. I volunteer with Helicopters for Heroes-SOS (services, operations, and support). I can give back and that’s important.

Heroes: My Dad, Col Joe Weiland first and foremost (Korean War, Vietnam), CWO Felix McCool (WWII, Korea), Lt Col Ernie Defazio (WWII, Korea, Vietnam), Command SgtMaj Robert Patterson ( Vietnam, Persian Gulf War). Just a few of the great leaders this country has produced. These are the people who make a difference.

Personal Motto: Adapt and Overcome, it was Dad’s motto long before the movie and it’s been a way of life from the beginning of time. Always a way if you don’t give in!