About Us
1st H.O.O.A.H Minnesota is a chapter of H.O.O.A.H Inc. that was founded in 2011 to extend the mission and services of H.O.O.A.H Inc. to the state of Minnesota.
1st H.O.O.A.H Minnesota is an all-volunteer lead 501(c)(3); we are patriotic citizens committed to serving our veterans and their families by building relationships, identifying and supporting their immediate and longer term needs. We are dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by our Armed Forces.
Our Mission is to Support the morale and well-being of our Armed forces by providing comfort & resources to them and their families both while they are deployed and after their return, assisting our veterans during their transition to civilian life after military service.
Programs
Victory For 22
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. We hear a lot about it, but what is it and what can we do about it? By definition: A mental health condition triggered by or experiencing or seeing a terrifying event.
Latest News
Help a Hero – Christmas Edition
This Christmas, 1st HOOAH MN is extending a helping hand to Military Veteran families, ensuring… Read More
Purple Heart Day
I first learned about the Purple Heart medal from my father when I was a… Read More
Freedom Freefall Veteran Skydiving Event
4th HOOAH, Helping Out Our American Heroes, annual holds its Freedom Freefall Event. This event… Read More
1st HOOAH MN Sponsors
Meet The Board
Rocky Otte
Chapter President
Rocky Otte is the plant manager of a precision metal fabrication facility in the Minneapolis Metro area.
He served in the United States Army with the 1st Ranger Battalion 75th Infantry. After leaving the army he entered a technical college to become a foundry pattern maker and went to work for a leading pattern shop in Blaine, MN.
His love for the army motivated him to enlist in the Army Reserves and continue his service to country.
He continued to further his education and completed many vocational industrial trade schools. His vocational background in the industrial trades eventually earned him a top management position in his company. In this position he helped spearhead the planning and operational set-up of rapid prototyping an manufacturing facility’s in Detroit MI, London England and Cologne Germany.
Rocky enjoys giving of his free time to charitable organizations, he volunteered many years to assist a nonprofit called “Bikers for Make – A – Wish” and helped them raise over 1 Million dollars for very ill children. In the spring 2010, Rocky and two Army Ranger buddies co-founded a 501c3 nonprofit called H.O.O.A.H. Inc. (Helping Out Our American Hero’s) in Minneapolis, MN.
H.O.O.A.H. Inc. Is an all volunteer nonprofit whose standing orders are 100% of all proceeds raised goes back to our service men and women, our veterans and their families.
Rocky has helped grow H.O.O.A.H. Inc. to a National organization with chapters in Minnesota, Georgia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas, Hawaii and Michigan.
Rocky’s mantra and the value he holds dear is: May we continue to pay forward in kind all that has been given up for us in the name of freedom; it is never free…
Rocky currently resides in the Minneapolis MN vicinity with his loving family and wife of 38 years.
RLTW – SUA SPONTE!!!
Douglas Kotulski
Vice President
Douglas Kotulski has been a part of the HOOAH organization for many years. He is an IT professional who works with one of HOOAH’s largest sponsors, Canteen One. He works on the Bands for the Brave committee with other Canteen One associates along with key personnel from River Siren Brewing. If you are interested in learning more about Bands for the Brave please reach out to Doug.
Doug is a civilian that has a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for those who currently serve, or have previously served our country. He will always go out of his way to help others in need.
Cheryl Zimm
Secretary
Cheryl Zimm is an Air Force veteran having served from 88-92 stationed with SAC Headquarters at Offutt AFB.
Her passion is helping Veterans of all era’s and all branches as well as their families. Additionally, she has a deep desire and concern to help homeless Veterans as well due to a personal connection.
Being involved with organizations whose main goal is to help Veterans is important to give back; “to pay it forward”. Cheryl’s goal is to educate those who are unaware of the adversities veterans face daily and make sure that we help them succeed in healing and living the fullest life that they deserve.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family, friends and motorcycle riding as much as possible.
Remember those who are serving, those who have served and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom is never free.
Diane Otte
Treasurer
Diane Otte has been involved with H.O.O.A.H (Helping Out Our American Heroes) from the beginning of the organization in 2011. Diane has served with H.O.O.A.H as the State Secretary, National Secretary and in her most current position as State Treasurer. Diane’s day job is an Account Executive at NFP. Diane is married to Rocky Otte, co-founder and President of 1st H.O.O.A.H. She has three children and seven grandchildren. Being involved in H.O.O.A.H has given her and her family the opportunity to work with Veterans and their families in aiding them with the transition for active duty to civilian life.
Graham Neve
Director
Brooke Sonnen Johnson
Director of Operations
Brooke is a wife and mother of four young daughters, a mortgage professional, and an advocate for our veterans. She has several family members and close friends having served in the Air Force, Army National Guard, Navy, and Army. Witnessing first hand the difficulties our veterans face has fueled her passion and dedication to those who have served our great country.
Brooke strives to educate others of the difficulties our veterans encounter on a regular basis. Educating our younger generation is of immense importance to her which is why she involves her own children in many veteran and military events throughout the year. Her goal is to persistently raise awareness for HOOAH and our mission to help our veterans of all branches and eras. She has passionately advocated through various veteran events, held fundraisers, marched with those she cares deeply for and is looking forward to serving on the 1st HOOAH MN board of directors.
Karin Mingus
Director of Community Engagement
Karin is a wife, mother of 2 sons, small business owner, Veteran advocate and part of a Blue Star family. Karin’s husband of 25 years, Shawn, served our country in the Army National Guard for 11 years and currently works in the mortgage industry. Her eldest son serves as a Sergeant in the 75th Ranger Regiment and youngest son is a UNL college student studying Food Science.
With a family legacy, many Veteran friends and a true passion for military causes, Karin and her husband spend a lot of time supporting military non-profits. She previously served on the Board of Rapport Afghanistan, co-founded a community military support group called Skipper Salute and is involved in many local, grass roots military non-profits. Karin is looking forward to serving on the H.O.O.A.H.MN Board of Directors as she has volunteered for the last 7 years with them on committee work and fundraising. Karin is a strong believer that military non-profits should collaborate and support one another in order to reach and help more of our nation’s heroes.
Karin graduated from The University of Iowa with a BA in Communication Studies and spent 10 years in sales and marketing for Corporate America.
Committee Leaders
Brett Beaudette
CO-Founder,
Executive Vice Chair
Ron and Jen Lattery
Committee Directors,
1st HOOAH River Rats
Doug Kotulski and Chris Lilly
Committee Directors,
Bands For the Brave
Scotty Thom
Committee Director,
Scotty Run
Julie Mickel and Shannon Yant
Committee Director,
Jeff Dohrn Memorial Ride
Donate Today
Your donation will aid H.O.O.A.H in achieving its mission to lend support to forward deployed servicemen and women, their stateside families, and returning veterans. All gifts are 100% tax deductible.
Get In Touch
Phone Number
(612) 239-6011Address
5753 Hwy 85 N #1198,
Crestview, FL 32536
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