Meet our Help for Heroes team, dedicated and committed to raising funds and promoting awareness for the counseling and mentoring needs of our local first responders.
Christian Scott
President/CEO/Founder
Rick Medlin
Sr. Vice President
Rick Medlin Sr. is a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. After High School, Rick served in the United States Marine Corps and is a retired Police Detective with thirty-two years of law enforcement experience serving communities in Los Angeles and Burbank. Rick has worked on several assignments throughout his career gaining expertise in each of them. As a uniformed Police Officer; Field Training Officer, Gangs, K-9, Special Enforcement Detail, Air Support, SWAT, Mounted Unit, and Defensive Tactics Instructor. As a Detective; Narcotics, Juvenile, Burglary, Homicide, Background Investigations, and FBI Task Force member assigned to Criminal Intelligence Organized Crime. Rick saw firsthand the mental and physical toll that is taken by our First Responders, and lost colleagues with whom he worked with that had taken their own lives. Rick understood that many of our first responders and military heroes are apprehensive to seek help out of fear of losing their careers. Enter Help For Heroes. Rick immediately recognized the benefit of having a third-party organization available to intervene and provide potentially life-saving resources.
Rick remains active in his community currently serving on the Board of Directors of Help For Heroes and the Air Force Association (AFA). In addition, Rick manages his son's entertainment business, Rat Pack Ricky Entertainment. In his spare time, Rick enjoys family activities and golf.
Cynthia Knutson-Rericha
Secretary
SMS Bookkeeping
Treasurer
David Smith
Director
Darwin Cook
Director
Gary Booker
Director
Jose Lainez
Director
Jose Lainez is a remarkable individual who has served his country and community with distinction. He spent 6 years in the army, serving his country with honor and dedication, before joining the sheriff's department. As a deputy sheriff for 9 years, he has worked tirelessly to serve and protect his community, always putting the safety and well-being of others first. Jose is a man of integrity, and his unwavering commitment to helping others is truly inspiring. Above all, he is devoted to his family and takes great pride in being a husband and father.
Million Heir Williams
Director
Million Heir-Williams, born in Glen Cove, New York, moved to Los Angeles at twenty and worked in management at Kaiser Hospital for twenty-six years. She later served as Onslow County Commissioner and Vice President of the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce in North Carolina. Heir-Williams, a certified Life Growth and Mental Health Coach, is the President/CEO of Effectual Life Coaching Enterprises.
With a background in Business Management and Psychology, Million Heir-Williams is actively involved in her community and affiliated with numerous organizations. She is an acclaimed author of several books on mental health and self-care, and the Chief Principal Officer of Seven Times Anointed Ministries International, a non-profit dedicated to empowering women and families.
Paul Vitale
Director
Amber Scott
Director
Amber Scott has worked at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for more than 10 years. Her husband Christian Scott is a Sgt at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station and is the founder of Help For Heroes. She says, “First Responders need the support from their community just as as much as they support us. Help for Heroes has strong values and is something that First Responders really need today.” She feels privileged and honored to help and be a part of the organization that is acting as pioneers, targeting real issues in the First Responder Community. Amber understands what it is like to be the "spouse" of a First Responder. Like many other First Responders families, she understands what it's like to worry about their loved ones as they are out serving the community. Amber serves Help For Heroes in many ways, currently serving as a Director on the board.
Dr. Latha Madhavan, MD
Head Medical Director of Programs
Dr. Latha Madhavan, MD, a graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville TN, completed her residency at UCLA/San Fernando based at the Sepulveda VA Hospital. Currently working as an emergency room psychiatrist within the UCLA Medical center. She is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Latha says, “She is honored to be part of Help for Heroes, together we will help many!”
Rick Norris
Advisory
Volunteers
Open To Anyone. Contact us today to become a Help for Heroes volunteer!
