About
Heroes Benefit Concert (DBA) is a registered 501c3 (Heroes Honky Tonk Benefit Concert) with the purpose of raising funds for nonprofit organizations that give back to Veterans, Gold Star Families and 1st Responders. We will host a HBC every year in the month of September during suicide prevention month to raise funds for these nonprofits through the concert. This is a 100% volunteer organization built to serve those who serve others.
Meet your HBC Founders and Staff!
Carl Whalen - Co Founder/President
Carl is an U.S. Army Combat Veteran, "We founded this to promote mental and physical wellness for veterans, military service members, and first responders." Supporting various nonprofits, Carl lives by the ethos "It takes a village" and "Never Leave a Fallen Comrade." He strives to ensure that every hero is honored and supported while also living a life worthy of their sacrifices.
Carl is an U.S. Army Combat Veteran, "We founded this to promote mental and physical wellness for veterans, military service members, and first responders." Supporting various nonprofits, Carl lives by the ethos "It takes a village" and "Never Leave a Fallen Comrade." He strives to ensure that every hero is honored and supported while also living a life worthy of their sacrifices.
Nick Rahn- Co Founder/Secretary
Nick is an Air Force Security Forces veteran with 4 deployments over seas in OIF/OEF. He has been operating in the veteran non-profit world since 2019 helping veterans overcome PTSD through recreational therapy. "I'm honored to be a part of this to bring support to these non-profits doing good things that may not get the funding they deserve. We're going to change that by putting on a great show in honor of our veterans/first responders and their families and raising funds for 10 non-profits each year."
Nick is an Air Force Security Forces veteran with 4 deployments over seas in OIF/OEF. He has been operating in the veteran non-profit world since 2019 helping veterans overcome PTSD through recreational therapy. "I'm honored to be a part of this to bring support to these non-profits doing good things that may not get the funding they deserve. We're going to change that by putting on a great show in honor of our veterans/first responders and their families and raising funds for 10 non-profits each year."
Robert Peters - Treasurer
Robert is a United States Air Force veteran and lifelong public servant dedicating his life and service to seeing others succeed. He is a father of five and resides in Cincinnati.
Robert is a United States Air Force veteran and lifelong public servant dedicating his life and service to seeing others succeed. He is a father of five and resides in Cincinnati.
Cody Cross - Talent Coordinator
Cody Cross is the Founder and Executive Director of the Fallen Hero Network based in Salt
Lake City, UT. A United States Air Force Veteran, serving as a Law Enforcement/Security
Forces Officer. He also owns and operates HVMC Transportation, also based out of Salt Lake
City, UT. Cody has spent his life both as a business owner and as a first responder also having
been a Vol. Fire Fighter both in Colorado and Montana. A Father of three sons, Tyler, US Army
Veteran, Noah, US Army Active Duty, Charlie, US Air Force Active Duty, and his 5-year-old
daughter Hailey. He is family focused in his personal time and is a passionate supporter of our
nation’s first responders and military personnel, sponsoring or spearheading numerous events
locally and nationally.
Cody Cross is the Founder and Executive Director of the Fallen Hero Network based in Salt
Lake City, UT. A United States Air Force Veteran, serving as a Law Enforcement/Security
Forces Officer. He also owns and operates HVMC Transportation, also based out of Salt Lake
City, UT. Cody has spent his life both as a business owner and as a first responder also having
been a Vol. Fire Fighter both in Colorado and Montana. A Father of three sons, Tyler, US Army
Veteran, Noah, US Army Active Duty, Charlie, US Air Force Active Duty, and his 5-year-old
daughter Hailey. He is family focused in his personal time and is a passionate supporter of our
nation’s first responders and military personnel, sponsoring or spearheading numerous events
locally and nationally.
Rocco Besednjak - Board Member
Rocco is a medically retired Navy veteran, after becoming disabled and nondeployable, while serving. Rocco then went on to become a police officer, and after over seven years on the force, was intentionally dragged and ran over by a wanted felon, during a traffic stop, resulting in his medical retirement as an officer. Not wanting to stop serving, Rocco realized the lack of mental health support for first responders, when he needed it, so he started the nonprofit Camp Hero. Camp Hero provides mental health support for veterans and first responders, while using the outdoors as the nexus to do so.
Rocco is a medically retired Navy veteran, after becoming disabled and nondeployable, while serving. Rocco then went on to become a police officer, and after over seven years on the force, was intentionally dragged and ran over by a wanted felon, during a traffic stop, resulting in his medical retirement as an officer. Not wanting to stop serving, Rocco realized the lack of mental health support for first responders, when he needed it, so he started the nonprofit Camp Hero. Camp Hero provides mental health support for veterans and first responders, while using the outdoors as the nexus to do so.
Jessie Grabert - Board Member
Hard working, devoted mother who is dedicated to leaving the fire service better than it was when she found it by working with the FACE team to spread awareness about firefighter cancer risks, and educating firefighters on the best practices to prevent, protect, detect and respond to cancer and the other health risks associated with the occupation.
Hard working, devoted mother who is dedicated to leaving the fire service better than it was when she found it by working with the FACE team to spread awareness about firefighter cancer risks, and educating firefighters on the best practices to prevent, protect, detect and respond to cancer and the other health risks associated with the occupation.
Kristina Markiewicz - Financial Advisor to the Board