Passionate about our Battle Buddies

Jo Anne Creed

Director/Founder

Jo Anne Creed is the Director and Founder of Battle Buddies along with her husband John Creed. Jo Anne is the proud mom of four children and one grandson. She received her Bachelor of Science from Georgian Court University. After working for several service dog organizations Jo Anne and her husband felt led to start Battle Buddies to focus on veterans suffering with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

John Creed

Founder

John Creed founded Battle Buddies with his wife Jo Anne Creed in 2012. John is a Marine Corp Veteran serving in the Air Wing. His passion for Veterans and love of dogs led to the creation of Battle Buddies.

He is proud dad of four children and one grandson.

Jeanna Smith

Clemson Club Director

Jeanna is a current senior at Clemson University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communications. Her journey with Battle Buddies began during her freshman year when her love for animals and helping others intersected. Since joining the team, she has raised three Battle Buddies pups: Lucy, Poppy, and Ryland. Her passion extends beyond raising puppies, as she also enjoys recruiting the dedicated puppy raisers, sitters, and club volunteers who are the heart of the organization. Jeanna plans to continue making a positive impact on the lives of veterans by expanding the Clemson club and raising awareness across campus.

Michael Huppmann

Chairman

Mike, raised in Syracuse, NY, has dedicated his life to fire and emergency management. In 2018, Mike and his wife, Susan, relocated to South Carolina where they reside today. He is a proud father of three children and 2 granddaughters. Mike’s family has a strong military history, with his father and uncles being veterans themselves. His youngest son, Justin, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps., even has his own Battle Buddies service dog named “Chai”. Inspired by his family’s military background, Mike is committed to supporting those who have served and sacrificed so much for our country through the Battle Buddies organization.

Bridget Mueller

Secretary

Bridget was introduced to Battle Buddies by her daughters who worked together to raise a now graduated Battle Buddies pup. The family’s passion for animals, volunteering, and giving back to the community make Battle Buddies a perfect fit. Bridget has worked as a Speech-Language pathologist specializing in traumatic brain injuries as her passion. Bringing these parts of her life together has brought her here and she is honored to help those who have served. Additionally, she is humbled and proud to be a part of an organization that makes such a difference in the lives of Veterans. Bridget lives in Hanahan, SC with her husband and rescue husky. She is a proud mother of 3.

Marilize Cornwell

Social Media Coordinator

Marilize is a recent graduate of Clemson University with Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Science. In her free time she enjoys digital design, reading books, playing tennis, spending time with friends and family, as well as working with her service dog, Aurora.

John Adams

Board Member

In the year 2004, John created Hawthorne Holding group (HHG). HHG operates eight full-service restaurants, and develops and manages a number of real estate within the Charlotte, NC region. Prior to HHG, he was a trained mental health counselor for the State of North Carolina. During his tenure as a counselor, he had the privilege of working with a number of patients on the mental health spectrum. John is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo, where he majored in psychology. He currently lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife, Jaimee and their son, Finn Patrick.

Candice Matelski-Brady

Board Member

Candice Matelski-Brady is a retired Air Force Veteran, living in Asheville with her husband and their four sons. She has been partnered with her Battle Buddies service dog, Justice, for five years. She is an Executive Assistant for the Department of Veteran Affairs. With Justice’s support, Candice can increase her physical mobility and reduce her reliance on prosthetic devices as well as medications. Candice is dedicated to the improvement of the lives of Veterans like herself. As Justice’s handler, she advocates for workplace reasonable accommodations that support the successful employment of veterans with service animals. Candice has a BA in Anthropology from East Carolina University and an MA in Psychology from the University of Arizona Global Campus.

Luke Baunack

Board Member

Luke served 6 years in the US Air Force before he was medically retired due to wounds sustained on a deployment. He received Katie Mae, a Battle Buddies service dog, and his life changed for the better. He attributes a large amount of his healing and peace to Katie Mae, and his passion for the organization’s mission stems from his own transformative experience. Beyond his service, Luke finds joy in woodworking, gardening, restoring vintage tractors, and inspiring those around him.

Jacob H. Dippold

Vice Chairman

Jacob H. Dippold (“Jake”) is a business attorney dedicated to providing strategic legal guidance and advocating for his clients’ success. Originally from Syracuse, NY, he earned his undergraduate degree from Wofford College in 2021, where he excelled both academically and athletically as a Division One Baseball player and team captain. He went on to earn his law degree from Elon University in 2023, where he was a Dean Scholar and Leadership Fellow. During law school, he served as President of the Military Law Society, Secretary of the First-Generation Lawyer Society, and a member of the Moot Court Board, all while coaching baseball and mentoring aspiring athletes. Now licensed in South Carolina, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, Jake focuses on Business Law, assisting non-profits, handling commercial real estate closings, and representing clients in business litigation.

Beyond his legal career, Jake is deeply involved in his community. He serves as the 3rd Circuit Representative for the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, a board member of Sumter Young Professionals, and an Advisory Council member for the Sumter Museum. He was named one of Sumter’s Top 10 Under 40 Professionals in 2024 and is part of the Leadership Sumter 2025 class. He also referees SCISA basketball games, and is the Sumter Honorary Commander for the 20th Security Forces Squadron at Shaw AFB. A dedicated member of Alice Drive Baptist Church, he serves as a Deacon, co-leads a Men’s Ministry, and leads a Bible study at Thomas Sumter Academy. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, hunting, jiu-jitsu, and cheering for the Yankees, Duke Basketball, and Gamecocks Football. In April 2024, he published Mentally Tough Christians and will release his second book, Sincerely, Hank, in 2025.