Our Team

John Guinn - Founder & President

John Guinn is a Veteran of the US Army and was born into a military family. John's Grandfather William V. Guinn is a World War II Veteran, seeing action in both the Battle of the Bulge and Normandy, was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in action. John's father Vernon (David) Guinn served in the US Army during the Viet Nam era. John has several uncles and cousins who have also served in the US Armed Forces. However, John's primary inspiration for the Thank You Foundation came from his mom, Juanita.

Juanita Guinn worked endlessly for the Am Vets Organization and served as President of the Ladies Auxiliary, Post 24, in Dayton Ohio. Juanita believed that gratitude and appreciation for Soldiers and Veterans should always be a priority and that without exception our support and respect should be presented publicly. Juanita passed away of cancer in March of 2002. The Thank You Foundation is a fitting tribute to the work she did.

John is available for presentations and ceremonies and is a member of American Legion Ralph P. Snook Post 186 in Lebanon, an Associate Member of the Blue Star Mothers Miami Valley Chapter #3 in Dayton Ohio, and a member of the Association of the United States Army - Major Samuel Woodfill Cincinnati Chapter.

Terry Johnson - Vice President

Native Californian who moved to the Greater Cincinnati area in 1991, is the husband of Suzanne and father to their daughter Meredith. Professionally, Terry is the consummate "utility player" Executive with an entrepreneurial bend, having had careers in the livestock industry, technology consulting, sports marketing, non-profit foundation management and most recently as a divisional vice president with a leadership and sales training organization. Terry has extensive experience in the areas of sales and marketing, advertising, operations, IT and client relationship management with companies including the LMA, Data Processing Sciences, Whittman-Hart, Maximum Impact Group and The Duncan Group. He was the President and co-founder of Playlikethepros, a charity and events management company providing turnkey services primarily to professional athletes and existing nonprofits. He is an active member at Florence Baptist Church and has served his community as a board member of various local economic development organizations.

Terry graduated with a BS in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University

Rick Smith - Secretary & Treasurer

Rick Smith has had careers in both the public and private arenas. After graduating from Princeton University, he volunteered for the North Carolina Democratic Party and a Congressional campaign, then served as a Congressional aide in Washington, D.C. In 2006, Mr. Smith waged his own strong, but unsuccessful, campaign for the Ohio State Senate.

In the 22 years between his public service efforts, Mr. Smith earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and moved to Cincinnati. He has held a variety of positions in both large and small companies, including the marketing research firm The BASES Group, Cincinnati Bell Telephone, a small scientific instrument maker Intracellular Imaging Inc., and the internet consulting firm Whittman-Hart. Mr. Smith is currently starting his own independent internet strategy and measurement consulting practice.

Matt Konkler

In December 2001, Matt Konkler was appointed as an aide in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at The Pentagon, Washington, DC. Since that time he has served as an aide to the honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld and the honorable Robert M. Gates. Konkler has traveled to more than 100 countries in support of the U.S. armed services, including numerous visits to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In December 2006, Konkler was awarded the Secretary of Defense Public Service Award and Medal for Outstanding Service for his work during the global war on terror, the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka and 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. Prior to his appointment to the US Defense Department, Konkler was employed at the corporate headquarters of the U.S. Airways group in Arlington, Virginia and in the Office of the Mayor, Washington, DC.

Konkler is a board member at the Children's House of Olde Town Montessori School, a member of the American Diabetes Association and has received numerous civic honors. Matt Konkler is a 1995 graduate of Oakland City University, where he served as Student Body President and representative to the board of trustees. Konkler earned a Masters degree in business from ORU in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matt and his wife, Leslie, have two children.

Jon Hilbert

Jon Hilbert is the founder of Heroes Speakers Network which was started in 2004 to help companies with their speaking and appearance needs. HSN has become a prominent company for securing not only active and former professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, NBA, PGA Golfers, NASCAR and MLB but comedians and other entertainers from "Pop", Rock and Country Music. After consulting and working with many speakers, athletes and coaches, Heroes Speakers Network was started to help companies in the area of events, endorsements and sponsorships with athletes, coaches and former players.

Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Jon went to the University of Louisville on a football scholarship. After short stints around the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears, he was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys for the 2001 season, where he tied for the team lead in scoring. After a year in Dallas, Jon signed with the Carolina Panthers. In 2003 he went to the NFL Europe and played on the World Bowl Championship team, the Frankfurt Galaxy.

Currently, Jon and his wife Angela and son Carson reside in Louisville.

The Thank You Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions made to the organization are deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code.