George Daly started giving back to the community at an early age. By the time he was a teenager, he became an EMT, volunteering for Millville Volunteer Rescue Squad. While there, he became certified in several categories that elevated his role as a rescue squad member, such as heavy extrication, bus evacuation, and many more.

Throughout his adult life, George volunteered for several organizations when they held events and took on his own initiative of cleaning trash from waterways and the outdoors. In 2012, he stumbled on a Facebook sponsored post about a non-profit structured towards the military called Heroes on the Water. After volunteering for the New Jersey chapter for a few years, George started another chapter (South Jersey) in 2017. Starting with his own (4) kayaks, his own landscape trailer, and borrowing the kayaks of friends, South Jersey now has (2) trailers, (24) single kayaks, (2) tandem kayaks, and enough fishing gear & tackle for (30)+ anglers.

Throughout the years of holding events as Coordinator of Heroes on the Water South Jersey, he listened to the Veterans, active duty, and their families and understood that there was a need to do more and to help with finding other activities and services that were available to our military, so he networked with other organizations, agencies, clubs, etc., and developed a relationship with them to offer more options to our Nation’s Heroes and their families.

During the pandemic of 2020, he felt a need to start another organization in addition to continuing his role with HOW South Jersey. After discussions with Emily Reid, a team member of HOW South Jersey, they formed Woods ~n~ Water with George taking the role of President.

George is Mental Health First Aid certified; ETS certified; ACA certified

Emily Reid has held the title of Mission BBQ’s Community Ambassador (CA) for over four (4) years. Through Mission BBQ’s mission of serving those who serve, Emily has been able to network, support, show gratitude, and form relationships with the community, especially our Nation’s Heroes.

While providing and serving Mission BBQ food at Heroes on the Water events, Emily developed an interest in their program and began volunteering at their kayak fishing events. After two (2) years of volunteering, she became more involved by becoming a part of the Heroes on the Water South Jersey Leadership team as their Community Outreach Coordinator.

During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Emily co-founded Woods ~n~ Water and holds the position of Co-Founder/Treasurer.

Emily’s desire to help our Nation’s Heroes more, motivated her to leave Mission BBQ to pursue a career with Catholic Charities as an Outreach Case Worker of their SSVF Veteran Services.

Emily is certified in Mental Health First Aid for Veterans and has previously volunteered for one (1) year for Lifepath Ministries, as well as one (1) year for Habitat for Humanity. Through her volunteerism, she developed a relationship with the other board members with the same interest of providing not only more therapeutic activities but much-needed support and services that our Heroes and their families need. She is currently enrolled in college to pursue her master’s in social work and plans to become a licensed Counselor to further her passion to serve our Nations’s Heroes.

Dave Mullen served in the military from January of 1981 until May of 2017. He started his military career as an active duty USAF Combat Controller. He also served in the New Jersey Air National Guard, the New Jersey Arm; National Guard, and the United States Arm; Reserve. He retired from the USAR in 2017 as an E-8 Master Sergeant.

Dave is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of New Jersey. After graduating from Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia College of Bible) in 1996, he worked for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as a Vocational Counselor at Veterans Haven South in Winslow Township. From 1997 to 2009 he worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at FCI Fort Dix (1997-2000 = Correctional Officer; 2000-2009 = Substance Abuse Counselor). In October of 2009 he started working for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Readjustment Counseling Therapist at the South Jersey Vet Center, and in 2017 he became the Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (VOPS) at the South Jersey Vet Center. As the s.NC VOPS, Dave works closely with both his VOPS colleagues from other Vet Centers as well as his Veteran Health Administration colleagues from the Wilmington Veterans Administration Medical Center which covers Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties in Southern New Jersey.

Dave Mullen is a Board Member of Woods n Water and the Counseling Services, Consultant.

Joseph B Phillips Sr Activated and deployed with 442 Field Service Company for Operation Desert Shield/Storm 1990/1991 Awarded The Soldier’s Medal In 1991 for Heroism while deployed. Had primary positions as company armorer, supply clerk, Army Reserve Command logistics NCO, Career Counselor, Battalion Supply Sergeant, Instructor

Civilian

• Past Patron Booker T Washington #36 Order of the Eastern Stars
• Past Master James Varick Lodge #31
• Member at Large NJ VFW
• Theta Delta Chi fraternity PSU
• Tournament Fisherman

Former licensed Practical Nurse

• Ancora State Psychiatric Hospital
• Vision Quest youth development center

Current certifications

• CPR/ AED/First aid
• Mental health first aid (Veterans)
• NJ Boaters Safety Certificate