WHO WE ARE
A Combat Veteran's Hope is made up of volunteers who want to give back. Our Board of Directors and Staff are committed to make a positive impact in the lives of our brave Combat Veterans and their families.
ACVH Board of Directors
 CJ Cantu Board President / Chief of Operations CJ hails from Temple, Texas. During high school he enlisted into the US Marine Corps which brought him to California. A Combat Veteran of the Iraq War, CJ’s service awards include: two Navy Unit Commendations, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. A Certificate of Commendation was also bestowed upon him for serving on a Personal Security Detachment in addition to his duties as a Fire Direction Control Man. After his enlistment, CJ moved to Visalia to begin attending College of the Sequoias. While in school, he became a student worker in the Veteran’s Service Office and served as President of the COS Veterans Society for several semesters. He accepted a full-time staff position in the Admissions Office, where he met his wife Rosa, and has earned multiple degrees from the College.
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 Markus Hagglund Board Vice President Markus has had the opportunity to work alongside ACVH through his work in the front office of the Visalia Rawhide. In that position, he was able to witness just how important and altruistic that ACVH is. When the opportunity arrived in November of 2022 for Markus to join the board and help support the ACVH staff, he jumped at the chance. Markus serves as Assistant General Manager of the Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club - a team he has worked with since 2018. Prior to arriving in Visalia, Markus worked in professional baseball or high-level college athletics for 8 years with stops in Stockton, CA, Hickory, NC, Portland, ME, Davenport, IA, & Iowa City, IA. Markus majored in Sport & Recreation Management at the University of Iowa after graduating from a junior college with a degree in Pre-Law. Markus lives in Visalia with his adorable mutt, Kiva.
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 Regina Trevino Board Secretary
Regina has called the Central Valley her home her whole life. After graduating from Tulare Union, she attended Fresno Pacific University for her undergraduate degree. It was then that she began working full-time at College of the Sequoias while raising three children with her husband Phillip. Upon earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2018, she turned her attention towards helping others in the community. She began volunteering for ACVH in earnest, having a grandfather that served during the Second World War. She enjoyed volunteering with our Combat Veterans so much that we wanted to take a more active role in the organization. As a board member, Regina hopes to bring more awareness of our non-profit to the local population and make equitable strides to bridge the gap between our returning heroes and their community.
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 Casandra Ledesma Board member
Casandra was born and raised in the Central Valley, and attended Woodlake High School. During her high school junior to senior summer she joined the Army National Guard, while continuing to pursue her civilian public education. After 9/11, she was activated to serve stateside in efforts to guard state military bases. In 2005, her unit was activated and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. Casandra was kept home to serve as a Family Readiness Group Leader. She was assigned to supporting the families in the Visalia area while their loved ones were deployed. In doing this, Casandra discovered her passion for helping Service members and their families. Soon after earning her bachelors degree in Child and Adolescent Development at California State University San Francisco, she was hired at the College of the Sequoias (COS). Due to her experience in the military and work with military families, Casandra became the Veterans Coordinator at the community college. While working in Veteran Services, she worked with a team to increase services for Veterans and to get a Veterans Center opened at COS. This is where she met the founders of ACVH. She has since gone on to earn her Masters Degree in Education with an emphasis in School Counseling, from Fresno Pacific University, where she continues to teach part time today, as well as becoming a full time Instructor at COS, in the Counseling Services Department.
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ACVH Leadership
 Steve Martinez Executive Director/ Co-Founder Steve graduated from Redwood High School in Visalia, Ca. He proudly served U.S. Army and is a Combat Veteran of the Iraq War. After his active duty enlistment, Steve served in the California National Guard. Steven holds an Associates Degree in General Studies from the College of the Sequoias (COS). While attending COS he served as Vice President for the Veterans Society, a Veteran's club he helped establish. Steve also helped found a Softball Team made up of primarily Combat Veterans to provide a venue for them compete, while engaging with one another to foster healing through engagement. Steven has gained experience on providing various Veteran and family orientated functions in Visalia. Steve also serves as Executive Director for A Combat Veteran’s Hope.
 Ashley Martinez Family Support Manager Ashley is a Southern California transplant. She was raised in Imperial Beach, California as part of a large military family. Her grandfather retired from the Navy in 1995 as Fleet Master Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Her dad and several uncles also served in the Army and Navy. It was her close connection to the military that sparked her interest in working with Veterans. Ashley moved to Visalia in 2006 and began attending Fresno State where she earned a BS. She then went on to earn her Masters Degree in 2013 where she focused her Master’s project on veterans in higher education. She was also hired in 2013 as the Veterans Coordinator at College of the Sequoias. At COS she coordinates all the services provided in the Veterans Resource Center and has strong connections with other Veteran Service Organizations in the area. She also has a deep understanding of the transitional struggles that affect veterans and their families as she is the spouse of a veteran, Justin, who is an active member of ACVH; together they have one daughter. Ashley hopes to use her knowledge of Veterans Programs and benefits to continue to support veterans and their families as the Family Support Manager.
 Shawna Aldridge Female Warfighter Coordinator Shawna Aldridge is a Combat Veteran who was born and raised in the wonderful state of Oregon. After graduating high school, Shawna decided to answer the call and serve her country and enlisting in the United States Army. After Basic Training she was went to her first duty station in Fort Hood, Texas where she served as a Military Police Officer in 2006. Shawna continued to serve her country as a Military Police Officer in her first deployment to Iraq in the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom campaign where she received various awards for meritorious service.
After Shawna’s enlistment she decided to move to California to pursue her education in the Science of Business. Through Shawna’s hard work and determination, she graduated from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science of Business in 2015. She plans to use her degree and her skills in helping other Combat Veterans and show them, they can succeed too. Shawna is also married to her husband Gary with whom they have two sons. Shawna is now the Female Warfighter Coordinator for ACVH. Shawna hopes to empower, support, and encourage her fellow Female Warfighters where she loves to remind us: “NOT EVERY G.I. IS A JOE”  Christopher Peichoto Outdoor Program/ Outreach Team Christopher is a product of the Valley, being born and raised in Fresno County. After graduating from Riverdale High School, Chris enlisted into the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman. He worked his way to eventually becoming a section leader within his company. During his years of service, Chris was deployed to two tours of combat, both in Iraq. During his service, he was awarded multiple accommodations to include 2 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals with Combat "V" for Valor, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Chris is a member of the Riverdale Rodeo Association and is very active with the Portuguese Community throughout the Central Valley. In addition to his current position as the Kings County Outreach Coordinator, Chris is also pioneering our new ACVH Outdoor Program to engage our Warfighters in various outdoor activities from hiking and archery, to hunting and fishing.
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 Randy Bennett Volunteer Manager Randy Bennett comes to us from Danville, Illinois. While in High School, Randy decided to answer the call to serve our nation and in 2001 he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. After successfully completing his basic training at Marine Corps joined 2nd Battalion 5TH Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division as a Motor Vehicle Operator/License Instructor. A Combat Veteran of the Iraqi Freedom / Enduring Freedom War, he was awarded various medals and certificated for his meritorious service.
After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corp in 2006, he decided to stay in California and moved to Exeter in 2015 with his wife and 2 children. There Randy decided to continue his education and enrolled at College of the Sequoias (COS) in 2018 to pursue his degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from COS where he earned two Associate’s Degrees, one in Sociology and the other in Administration of Justice. Randy currently is continuing his education at Fresno Pacific University where he expects to gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work by December 2021. Randy looks forward to what the future brings and hopes to use this degree and his experiences to continue serving veterans in the community.  James Atkinson
Tulare County Outreach Coordinator
James graduated from Camden High School in South Carolina. There he joined the US Marine Corps and served as a Machine Gunner in the Infantry Unit in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After his 4 years of service to the Marine Corp, he joined the US Army and enlisted as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist where he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Throughout his military service, he has completed 3 tours to Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation Enduring Freedom, and is a well honored serviceman with many military achievements awards, military service ribbons, and medals. After his military career, James attended Santa Barbara Business College where he earned his degree in Health & Wellness. He has also worked as Program Specialist for the Bakersfield Veteran Service Office. James now lives in Porterville with his wife, a fellow Combat Veteran and 3 children where he hopes to work with ACVH and use his experience and education as good tools to help other Combat Veterans in the Porterville and surrounding areas.
 Joseph Nichter
SOAR Program Coordinator
Joe is a Combat Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who proudly served in both the Oregon National Guard and U.S. Army active duty. After his enlistment, he relocated to Visalia where he has served as a Minority Faith Chaplain for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as well as one of the Religious Program Instructors for the California Department of Mental Health. Joe holds an Associates Degree in Religion from Jerry Falwell's Baptist Seminary; a Bachelors Degree in Pyschology, specializing in Military Resilience; a Masters Degree in Counseling, specializing in Crisis Intervention and Trauma from Liberty University; and has been a guest lecturer at Fresno State University for the past ten years. Joseph has served as a Peer Mentor with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a Peer Counselor with Veterati; and currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the SOAR peer support program, where he facilitated group PTSD support meetings and now offers private one-on-one peer counseling and support.
 Ysabel Cardona
Admin Support
Ysabel grew up in Visalia, Ca and graduated from Redwood High School. She proudly served in the U.S. Navy for 7 years. Ysabel is a Combat Veteran that deployed with USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to conduct operations in the Central and Western Pacific. USS Nimitz supported the Global War on Terrorism with Joint and combined operations. She worked at TACTICAL TRAINING GROUP as Tactical Data Link Operator that contributed with an extraordinary complex TADIL architecture linking ten ships and 5 shore commands. Ysabel’s notable awards include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy “E” Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Medal. Two Letters of Commendation from USN Admiral and Vice Admiral Pacific Fleet. After her enlistment, Ysabel moved to Visalia to begin attending College of the Sequoias where she helped grow COS Veterans Society Club as President and Vice President. After graduating with an AA in Communications she worked with two top Law Firms in San Diego, Ca doing administration. Ysabel now lives in Visalia with her daughter while her son is away at College. Ysabel has more than 20 years of Administrative experience behind her and communication skills. She hopes to work with ACVH and use all her experience to help staff. She also wants to help all Veterans and Combat Veterans while with ACVH.
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ACVH Ambassadors & Interns
 Macie Rhinehart ACVH Intern
Born and raised in Visalia, Ca. Macie Rhinehart graduated from Mt. Whitney in 1996. Macie is now an A Combat Veteran’s Hope intern and uses her spare time to volunteer while she continues her education. She is currently enrolled at College of the Sequoias where she is pursuing her degree in Social Work, where she thinks she will be best suited to help Veterans. She has been through various classes and seminars revolving around Veteran Issues and needs. She has taken a Vet Ally training, 4 PTSD trainings, Trauma and the Brain seminars as well as multiple suicide prevention related seminars. She has also been through information seminars about how trauma affects everyday lives. Macie also works part time at the veteran sponsored Patriot Pub where the patrons enjoy having her there. Macie plans to use her education as well as her experiences to continue to help the Veteran community.
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 Rosa Romo Media Consultant Rosa has lived in the Central Valley for the past 23 years. After graduating from Redwood High School, she proceeded to enroll at College of the Sequoias (COS) where she earned an Associate’s Degree. It was while working on her Bachelor’s Degree at Fresno State, that she was able to attain a job at COS and has been working there for the past 13 years in the Financial Aid Department. Through that role, Rosa has been able to assist people not only in an office setting but also by coordinating outreach presentations throughout the area. It was at COS that she also met her husband, CJ Cantu, the ACVH Chief of Operations. His enthusiasm toward the program interested Rosa into becoming a more active member. She is passionate about assisting our combat veterans, and hopes to make a positive impact in this capacity.
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