Board of Directors
Co-Founder & President
Chad Cartledge
Chad Cartledge has helped create the mission of Running 4 Heroes as a way to show support for his son, Zechariah, and the efforts Zechariah puts in to honoring our fallen heroes. While Chad is not a runner himself, he has experience in Theater and a degree from the University of Central Florida in Radio/Television/Communication. Chad uses his experience in his day-to-day duties for the Foundation. Some of his tasks include maintaining the Running 4 Heroes social media channels, emceeing the 1-mile tribute runs that Zechariah puts on for the fallen, and maintaining the day-to-day budgeting of Running 4 Heroes, just to name a few.
Secretary, Board of Directors
Tim Nazzaro
Tim Nazzaro comes to the Board of Directors with 24 years of law enforcement experience in the Central Florida area. His last 22 years have been with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando. He currently holds the rank of Sergeant and works on the Tourist Oriented Policing Squad in the Patrol division. Tim is a graduate of the State University of New York at Delhi, where he earned a degree in Architectural Technologies.
Tim is also a bagpiper who plays with the Central Florida 1st Responders Pipe and Drum Band, and has routinely helped honor fallen heroes during Zechariah’s runs with his piping.
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Libby Daniel
Libby Daniel served approximately 17 years with the
Daytona Beach Police Dept before taking an early retirement to pursue her
and Her husband's dream of opening an automotive repair facility in their
Community.
While serving in Daytona Beach, Libby served on Patrol, the
Bicycle Unit, Criminal Investigations and ended her career as a School Resource
Officer. Libby says working with the kids was the best part of her
career.
She was given 40 plus commendations , several Metal of
Merits, Unit Citations and Chiefs Awards over her career but her favorite and
most heart felt award was when she was nominated and won 2020 First Responder
of the year in the Daytona Beach Community awards. " It meant a lot to me
that a community read about me and chose me" she said.
Libby and her Husband opened Blue Line Automotive in March
of 2021 which is a family owned and operated business. They have been blessed
with wonderful community support and love giving back to the community as well.
In 2021 they learned about Running 4 Heroes and we are now connected for
life!
Board of Directors
Bernadene Loemker
Bernadene Loemker is from the “Show Me” State of Missouri and has resided in St. Louis upon graduating from the University of Missouri. She graduated from the Columbia, Missouri police academy in 1985, where she served as a Reserve Police Officer before leaving for St. Louis and attending the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Police Academy in 1986. Upon graduation, she worked at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport where achieved the rank of Sergeant. Her law enforcement career included Patrol, Evidence/Property, Supervisor of the Police Record Room (UCR), and Deputy Bureau Commander of the Bureau of Security Operations.
Although she left law enforcement several years ago, she continues to remain active and supportive when it comes to law enforcement and the community. She has volunteered her personal time to ALIVE (a domestic violence program) and the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation. Most recently, she and her daughter have taken the initiative to handcraft blue mosaic crosses for the family members of those law enforcement officers in the St. Louis area who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Bernadene has the passion and commitment to honoring first responders, which she believes is needed now more than ever. Once blue, always blue.
Board of Directors
Steve McDaniel
Investigator Steve McDaniel is employed by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. He received his Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia College. He is currently considering his Masters Degree in Wildlife Biology.
Investigator McDaniel retired from the Winter Park Police Department after almost 25 years as an officer in 2008. While at Winter Park, he was assigned to street patrol, traffic enforcement, school resource/DARE, Special investigations, community policing, bike patrol, sex offender and gang investigations.
He is a nationally published author on juvenile crime and truancy. He has been featured on television including Top Cops and in several published law enforcement articles. He was a member of the Florida Gang Investigators Association and the Seminole County Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTAF). He has lectured extensively on the subject of gangs and juvenile crime.
Investigator McDaniel was awarded many commendations and medals by the police department for his actions in the performance of his duties including the Medal of Valor, Lifesaving and Officer of the Year several times. Investigator Steve McDaniel has also been awarded many commendations from outside the police department including Officer of the Year on three occasions, and a Presidential Citation while on the Board of Directors of the Florida School Resource Officer Association.
Steve has been with the FWC since 2009. Currently he is assigned to Captive Wildlife- Statewide Investigations section.
As a uniformed FWC officer, he was assigned to Orange & Seminole County. He was promoted to Investigator in 2014. He was promoted to Senior Investigator in 2021. Currently he is assigned Seminole, Lake, Volusia & Flagler Counties as a Senior Investigator in Captive Wildlife. He is a court- certified expert on Captive wildlife and a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on reptiles. He has received several medals and numerous commendations including Officer of the year in 2012 and Investigator of the Year 2018 and 2023. Steve has participated in several long-term undercover operations involving the smuggling/illegal trade of wildlife all
over the world. Steve has also assisted other wildlife agencies in various states and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service.
Board of Directors
Paul D. Diaz, EA, MBA
Paul Diaz brings a wealth of experience in financial and tax
management to the Running 4 Heroes Board. As an IRS Enrolled Agent and the
owner of The Tax Cuttery, a Longwood, Florida-based national full-service tax
resolution, planning, and preparation firm, Paul has dedicated his career to
helping individuals and businesses navigate complex tax matters. He holds an
MBA in Accounting and is a recognized tax expert, often guiding clients on
various financial issues.
Paul is deeply committed to his community in and
around Central Florida and Winter Springs, where he actively participates in
various local initiatives and advocates for fiscal responsibility and
transparency in government. He is a member of the South Seminole Lodge of Free &
Accepted Masons in Casselberry, Florida, and serves as the President-Elect of
the Rotary Club of Winter Springs. His dedication to public service and
community well-being aligns perfectly with the mission of Running 4 Heroes.
In addition to his professional and community work,
Paul is passionate about supporting law enforcement and first responders. He
serves as the Campaign Treasurer for Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma’s
2024 re-election campaign and actively participates in the Winter Springs
Police Department Citizen’s Advisory Committee. These roles reflect his strong
commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of his community’s law
enforcement officers.
Paul looks forward to contributing his expertise in
financial management and community advocacy to further the organization’s
mission of honoring and supporting our fallen and injured heroes.