Heroes' Heart - Board of Directors
Richard (Rick) Painter
Rick Painter is a retired U.S. Air Force Lt Colonel. He owns and operates two businesses – Advisors & Consultants with Military Experience (ACME) Group LLC – a consulting firm focused on helping small businesses pursue and win DoD / Federal business. Rick’s other business is Launch Pad Golf Club – an indoor facility located in Rockledge FL with Trackman golf simulator, putting green, large screen TVs, and various other amenities. Rick established this as a “membership” club – open to anyone to join – for fellow golfers or golfer wanna-bes. Members enjoy the ability to play, practice, and socialize indoors 24x7. Rick is also on the board of directors for the Camaraderie Foundation, a veteran-focused charity providing counseling for veterans and their families; and on the board of directors for P3I Inc, a small woman-owned veteran-owned business in Hopkinton MA.
Rick graduated in 1984 from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering. (BSCE). He entered active duty for the USAF in Oct 1984, first duty assignment being the Range Program Office at Eglin AFB. In 1989, he also obtained an MBA from the University of West Florida. Rick lives in Viera, FL with his wife and 11 rescue cats.
Neftali (Nef) Rodriguez
Nef has more than 30 years of experience as a senior executive in program planning and management, financial planning, risk management and leadership in diverse industries including civilian (non-profit, retail, education) and military (operations, training, logistics) that span national and global markets.
Nef served as an Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer and then Armor Officer at various levels of responsibility, in the U.S. Army and retired in 2005. He commanded a tank company with the 3rd Armored Division in Operation Desert Storm, where he received the Bronze Star for combat operations. From 2007 until 2014, he served in Afghanistan with MPRI, L3 and DynCorp International with responsibility for building and training the Afghan National Army.
Earning a Bachelor of Science degree at Louisiana State University, Nef is also a Licensed 6-12 educator in Florida and Mississippi. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, he moved to Florida in 2014. He currently resides in Kissimmee with his wife, Debi. They have four sons, one daughter and eleven grandchildren.
