KEY PEOPLE
Committed to the Cause
Margaret "Peg" Steele
John Steele
Dennis Townsend
John is a veteran of the United States Navy serving 22 years and retiring at the rank of Chief.
John was a jet mechanic when he served in the Navy. He works for Strategic Management Partners as a maintenance supervisor after his retirement from the Navy. He volunteered throughout his time as a baseball coach to kids on and off base. Received SMP's 2019 Humanitarian Award for the extra work he does with the Seniors on the property that he works at and his work with our Veterans and First Responders.
John is a co-founder of Trek for Hero Causes, Inc. and is married to Margaret Steele, also a co founder of the organization.Together they run a farm business called Steele Away Acres providing quality in home dog boarding and offering the Equine Experience to our Heroes which is a opportunity to come to the farm free of charge to spend time with the horse.
John and Peg together have two small children, Angela, age 3 and Levi, age 4.
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Managing Director & Messenger
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Director of Logistics
Dennis Townsend is originally from Mendham New Jersey. He has been a Project Manager / Estimator in Atlanta Ga for 25 years.
He is currently a Senior Estimator for Tiernan & Patrylo in Marietta Ga. He has successfully managed and estimated construction projects of all shapes, sizes and dollar amounts.
Dennis Townsend has a Bachelors Of Science degree from Clemson University in Construction Science and Management. He currently resides in Woodstock, Georgia with his wife Christina and him son Liam and daughter Ana Cristina.
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Nick Starr
Director of Horse Health & Safety
Nick is not only a Skilled Farrier but he is a horseman having grown up on a dude ranch in Cody Wyoming. Nick entered the Farrier
Science Program at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and earned an associates degree.
From there he completed two apprenticeships
and then settled in Georgia. He then had the opportunity to complete two more apprenticeships. Nick completed his Certified Journeyman Farrier Certification which is the highest certification in the United States in 2013.
Nick met his wife Alexsis in 2012 and was married in 2013. They have two beautiful daughters ages 5 and 1 years old.
Nick was specifically selected as our Farrier because he was not just a guy who decided to become a Farrier; he was first a horseman and that was all important to us.
Nicks life long experience and training made him ideal to oversee our horses hoof health for our organization. Nick sits on the board of Trek for Hero Causes, Inc. as the Director of Horse Health & Safety.
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Walter Marques
Eden Nastal
Director Military & Non-Profit Relations
Walter Marques is originally from Providence, Rhode Island. He served over 20 years in the United States Marine Corps before retiring in 2019. Walter Marques deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and 2009. He has a passion for leadership and serving people.
Walter is a key leader with the Shepherd’s Men, a non-profit organization raising funds and awareness for the SHARE Military Initiative program at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Walter Marques has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from American Military University and a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. He
currently resides in Canton, Georgia with his wife, Sandy and their three children.
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
Eden Nastal is Co-founder and President of Real Hero Report, a print and digital monthly magazine publication providing informative and relevant reader-driven content, targeted to Metro Atlanta's active and reservist military, veterans and first responders.
Eden's background includes Government Relations and Community Development (Honorary Commanders Association and Cobb Executive Women) at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Marketing and Event Planning with priceline.com, Keep Cobb Beautiful Program Director with Cobb County Government, and Superior Court Administration with the State of Georgia.
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Not only does she serve Trek for Hero Causes, Inc. as a director but she is an active volunteer in the business and nonprofit community. Eden served as the President of the Northeast Cobb Business Association for two years, was appointed to the Cobb County Neighborhood Safety Commission and has worked with numerous organizations including MUST Ministries, The American Heart Association, The American Cancer Society, and Cobb Diaper Day and the Air Force Association, Dobbins Chapter 331.