Our Team & Board
Board Of Directors
Mary Cortani - President & Executive Director of Operations
Mary is a US Army veteran and a certified Army Master Instructor of Canine Education, as well as an American Kennel Club Certified Canine Good Citizen© Evaluator. Mary has owned businesses in both information technology and dog training. As both a veteran and a dog expert, she is uniquely qualified to evaluate and match dogs with the veterans who need them. She draws on her extensive experience as a trainer of dogs for military operations, search and rescue to help each client with his/her unique situation.
Mary has accepted over 500 clients and their families into the Operation Freedom Paws program and rescued over 418 dogs who needed jobs. Mary has trained sentry, patrol, narcotics, explosive detection, and search and rescue dogs. Mary has been training service dogs for almost 14 years, has over 46 years of dog training experience, continues as an American Kennel Club K9 Good Citizen evaluator, and has won numerous awards since 2010. She has been named a 2023 California Cal Vet Trailblazer and Morgan Hill “Woman of the Year”, 2022 District 17 State of California Woman of the Year, and a 2012 CNN Top 10 Hero. Mary has further been recognized for the impact of her work with the Red Cross Clara Barton award, Coretta Scott King award, congressional and senate honors as well as KSBW local and national Jefferson awards.
Under her leadership, Operation Freedom Paws has been named the 2021 Gilroy Nonprofit of the Year, the 2024 Morgan Hill Nonprofit of the Year, and received the Purina Visible Impact Awards in both 2022 and 2023.
Mary started with one veteran, which was the beginning of Operation Freedom Paws.
Diane Jimenez - Secretary
Diane is the proud daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran who served 2-tours in Vietnam.
As a child, Diane couldn’t fully grasp what her father was living with as a combat veteran. She just knew he was sad when the darkness came. Eventually, he would reemerge and be himself again—until the next time he withdrew.
As an adult, it became clear to Diane that there was some correlation between the trauma he endured in Vietnam; and what we now know as PTSD. Looking back, she knows her father could have benefited from the services OFP is providing to veterans today. Her commitment to Operation Freedom Paws is rooted in the hope of helping his fellow veterans find the peace they truly deserve.
In 2011, Diane joined OFP as a civilian customer/volunteer and has been a Board Member since 2012. With over 20 years of experience working in Business Operations in High Tech, Diane is very excited to use her work experience, love of dogs, and sincere desire to honor her father’s memory by doing all she can in support of OFP’s mission.
Nicole Martinez - Treasurer
As the daughter of a retired career Marine who served in Vietnam and many tours overseas throughout his 23 year military career, Nicole understands the demands of having a father in the military and the impact of that service on the family unit. Nicole has 25 years of experience in Business & Technology Management and works for a Bay Area Cybersecurity company. Nicole is a founding Board Member of Operation Freedom Paws, serving in many roles over the years.
John Mark Wilson - Director
Raised in rural North Carolina and Georgia, John Mark developed an interest in pursuing a career in the military at a young age. This interest took him to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. During his twenty-four-year career, John Mark served in various postings across the world, including five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His final military assignment was at the White House, where he served on the National Security Council.
Since retiring from the Army, John Mark has started a new career in tech, currently serving as the head of strategy and communications at Applied Intuition’s Washington, DC office. John Mark and his wife Mona, a social worker serving in the Washington VA Medical Center, live in Arlington, Virginia.
OFP Staff
Zion Briggs - Marketing Coordinator
Zion joined Operation Freedom Paws in April 2025 as a Marketing Coordinator. With a background in nonprofit work and digital media, Zion was drawn to OFP’s mission to empower veterans and individuals with disabilities to restore their freedom to live life. He is proud to support the team by helping share the organization’s story and expand its impact. Zion looks forward to using his skills to strengthen community connections and raise awareness for this life-changing work.
Steve Loy - Mentor Trainer
Steve is an eight-year Navy veteran who served in Vietnam. He was paired with his service dog Merlin on Dec 9, 2015 and was certified as a service team in 2016. Steve was invited to become and mentor trainer and has been volunteering in that capacity since 2016.
Jilliann Matteucci - Director of Development & Marketing
Jilliann Matteucci brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, and marketing to Operation Freedom Paws. As Director of Development, she leads all aspects of fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and relationship-building with community partners to help sustain OFP’s mission.
Before joining OFP, Jilliann worked with a range of nonprofits focused on animal welfare, education, and health, developing successful campaigns and building strong community partnerships. She is passionate about connecting supporters to OFP’s life-changing work, sharing the stories of veterans and service dogs, and growing resources to keep the program accessible to those who need it most.
Jilliann holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in pre-clinical preparation. A Gilroy native, she is proud to serve her local community through OFP’s mission of “empowering veterans and saving lives at both ends of the leash.”
Mario Moreno - Volunteer & Events Coordinator
As the Volunteer & Events Coordinator at Operation Freedom Paws, Mario Moreno has the privilege of bringing people together in support of a mission that means a great deal to him. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Mario rediscovered his sense of purpose by continuing to serve through Operation Freedom Paws, helping connect people to a mission that changes lives. He believes every volunteer, donor, sponsor, and supporter plays an important role in making that possible. Whether coordinating events, welcoming new volunteers, or building community partnerships, Mario strives to make every person feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. He believes in leading with service, treating people with respect, and creating opportunities for others to make a difference. It is an honor for him to support the incredible work of Operation Freedom Paws.
Ramon Reyes – Mentor Trainer
Ramon is an Army veteran, OIF/OEF veteran, Ramon served 18 years.
Ramon joined OFP in February of 2017 and graduated from the program in November of 2017. “My service dog Huey turned my life around”. After Ramon graduated, he became a volunteer part-time mentor trainer. It wasn’t until May of 2022 that he finally decided to take on the role full time. Ramon stated, “It brings joy to my life to help others who could benefit from the use of a service dog and see them succeed in life, just like my mentor trainers taught me.”
Jeff Wilson - Director Of Operations
Jeff Wilson served 10 years in the Army as a Brigade Master Gunner and Tank Commander. After leaving active duty, he became a restaurant manager for Texas Wings and joined the Army Reserves as a flight engineer on CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
In 2003, he deployed to Iraq, where he was injured and medically evacuated in November of that same year. By late 2010, he was struggling with severe PTS and was introduced to Mary Cortani and Operation Freedom Paws to train his first service dog, Lobo. He often says that OFP saved his life.
Grateful for everything Mary had given him, he wanted to pay that gift forward. In 2011, Mary asked him to become a mentor trainer, and he eagerly stepped into the role. In 2025, he was matched with his third service dog and invited to become Director of Operations.
His life’s mission is now rescuing four paws, partnering them with two feet, and making one team.