Board Members

Andres “Chico” Gonzalez Jr. is a decorated, retired New Orleans Police Officer whose work is deeply inspired by his own life-altering experiences. In 2006, Chico was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty during what began as a “routine” traffic stop while serving with the NOPD.

Chico began his law enforcement career with the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office, where he was assigned to Court Security and later served with the Marine Division. From 1999 to 2004, he was a member of Search and Rescue, operating as a rescue swimmer.

In 2004, Chico joined the New Orleans Police Department, initially serving in the 2nd District. Following Hurricane Katrina, he was assigned to the Anti-Looting Task Force and later served in the 4th District until he was critically injured and paralyzed in the line of duty.

Paying it forward, Andres Gonzalez created Help for Heroes, Inc., in 2011 as an ongoing fundraising effort to assist fallen and wounded first responders and their families in the greater New Orleans area. 

Fr. Andres Gonzalez, Sr., an Anglican priest, is our treasurer and chaplain.  He has served law enforcement agencies since 1996 as a police officer, mental health technician and presently as chaplain with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

Myron Gaudet is a veteran police officer, with 28 years of service in many dimensions of law enforcement. He has served in the patrol division, detective bureau, street crimes unit, training academy instructor, field training officer, & patrol Sergeant. Myron also served in the United States Civpol Program, which sends American police officers abroad to represent the United States in war torn areas, in an effort to help rebuild infrastructure and first responder capabilities. Civpol personnel are trainers, mentors, advisors, as well as law enforcement officers. Myron is still actively serving as a patrol Sergeant in metro New Orleans area law enforcement. He holds numerous law enforcement instructor certifications.

In the martial arts, Myron has 40 years of training and teaching experience. He has trained in numerous martial arts, including Kickboxing, Wrestling, Boxing, Brazilian and Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Sambo, and San Shou. Myron holds a 5th degree black belt in Minami Ryu Jiu Jitsu.

In addition to training and teaching, Myron is one of Louisiana's most senior state licensed MMA referees. he has refereed at all levels of the sport up to and including major events such as the UFC, Bellator, Legacy Fighting Alliance, & Fury.

Billy Ceravolo brings over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, public safety, and organizational risk management to the Board of Help for Heroes, Inc. He currently serves as Director of Loss Prevention at the Sheraton New Orleans, where he oversees safety, security operations, and crisis response for a large, high-profile hospitality property.

Prior to this role, Mr. Ceravolo spent more than two decades with the New Orleans Police Department, retiring as a Captain. His career included leadership positions as Captain, Platoon Lieutenant, and Sergeant, along with specialized assignments in drug interdiction, persons and narcotics investigations, and task force operations. These roles provided extensive experience working with professionals exposed to repeated trauma and high-risk situations.

Mr. Ceravolo’s background aligns directly with the mission of Help for Heroes, giving him firsthand insight into the mental health and substance-use challenges faced by military personnel, veterans, first responders, and other frontline professionals. He holds an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Delgado Community College and has completed multiple law enforcement leadership training programs.

Amanda Klein began her career in emergency medical services in 2009 as a volunteer EMT with the City of New Orleans. In 2010, she became a Nationally Registered Paramedic and has since served communities throughout Jefferson Parish with LCMC Health.

Amanda has held the role of Assistant Field Supervisor since 2020, providing leadership and operational oversight in the field. Her dedication and excellence in patient care have earned her multiple honors, including Paramedic of the Year and Healthcare Hero.

In addition to her field work, Amanda is an instructor for BLS, ACLS, and PALS, helping train the next generation of providers. She also serves as the EMS Coordinator for the Medical Institutional Evacuation Plan in Region One. Amanda has been a committed member of Help for Heroes since joining the organization in 2013.

Dustin Hymel is a board member of help for heroes with strong ties to the Belle Chase community and a long-standing commitment to service. A graduate of brother Martin high school, he earned his bachelor of music education degree from Loyola University, New Orleans in 2007. He began his teaching career as director of bands at Belle Chase Middle School it has served as Director of Bands at Belle Chase High School since 2008. In addition to his work and education, Dustin joined the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy in 2017, it was promoted to Sergeant in 2023.