Meet Our Staff

Marcy BerryCommunity Outreach and Benefits Coordinator

A lifelong Kentucky resident, Marcy graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Paralegal Science. As a Certified Kentucky Paralegal, she worked for years with attorneys who primarily handled cases involving municipalities. Marcy obtained Level I – Achievement in City Governance and Level II – Excellence in City Governance through the Kentucky League of Cities.

After working indirectly with the City of London, Kentucky, for ten years, she was recruited to become the London City Clerk. During her time there, the City of London suffered the loss of two police officers in the line of duty from unrelated causes in the same year.

As the City Clerk and a top assistant to the Mayor, she helped police and City leaders navigate the sensitive issues and difficult decisions that follow a line-of-duty death. In the wake of each tragedy, she also worked closely with Supporting Heroes. She saw firsthand the importance of what the organization does and the support it provides – not just to families, but to agencies and communities.

Months later, she joined the Supporting Heroes team as our Community Outreach and Benefits Coordinator.

Jennie HirtzelCommunications Manager

Jennie joined Supporting Heroes in June 2022, bringing 30 years of marketing and communications experience to the team. She has worked for newspaper, senior care, professional association, industrial cleaning and financial services companies.

She is no stranger to the world of first responders. Her husband, Carey, has served as a firefighter, captain and deputy chief with Pewee Valley (KY) Fire Protection District since 1982; as a police officer and pilot with Louisville Metro Police Department from 1994-2017; and as a pilot with Air Evac Lifeteam since 2017.

Jennie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with a concentration in language studies from Indiana University.

Eric W. JohnsonExecutive Director &Trustee

Eric retired after serving 15 years with the Louisville Division of Police/Louisville Metro Police Department on July 31, 2004, as a Police Sergeant. He previously served nine years with the City of Louisville Emergency Medical Services where he held the rank of Lieutenant.

He is a member of the founding Board of Directors of the Kentucky Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and served as the Chapter Director from the time of its formation in 2000 through June 2005. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Kentucky EMS Memorial Foundation, and as Coordinator of the Indiana and Kentucky Local Assistance State Teams (“L.A.S.T”) of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. He previously served for over 10 years on the Board of Directors of the National EMS Memorial Service and continues to serve as a volunteer.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Justice Administration at University of Louisville and graduate hours in Non-Profit Management from Capella University. He also holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Executive Leadership and another in Current Affairs Fundraising: Crisis Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

As the principal founder, he serves as a Trustee as well as the Executive Director.

Trina JohnsonOffice Administrator

Trina earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has experience in retail management and served as Office Administrator at two local churches. She worked in health insurance auditing before joining the staff of SUPPORTING HEROES in June 2012.

Brian ZinanniSurvivor Outreach Coordinator and State Director -- Missouri

Brian has been a member of the Fire/EMS service for 31 years – starting in his hometown of Rock Falls, Illinois. He currently serves as a Lieutenant/Medical Officer with the Clayton Fire Department in Missouri. Brian is the founder and State Coordinator of the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Response Team which also serves as the Local Assistance State Team (L.A.S.T.) for Missouri of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. He also serves as an advisor to the Missouri EMS Funeral Assistance Team and the Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team. Brian is a Board Member of the Firefighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri and Regional Director of the National Honor Guard Commanders Association.