THE History
Navy veteran Mark Field founded National Veterans Magazine in 2014 to honor and support the deserving community of active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement and first-responders. National Veterans Magazine was the recipient of a Media of the Year award and two proclamations from the Arizona Legislature and was named Veteran Champion of Small Business by the U.S. of Small Business Administration. Mark was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2017.
Army veteran and former U.S. Congressman Frank D. Riggs acquired the publication in 2022 after Field’s unexpected passing. Frank sought counsel from the owners of InMaricopa, who were so excited about the opportunity to serve the veteran community they partnered with Frank to help bring his vision to life. The new team reinvented the dormant National Veterans Magazine, which became Arizona Veterans Magazine and is set to publish its inaugural issue in early 2024.
Sadly, Frank passed away in late 2023. AVM is excited to produce a publication in which all Arizona veterans will find value, and of which Mark and Frank will be proud.
Board of Directors
Scott Bartle
President
Bio
[email protected]
tel: (480) 980-6800
Scott’s appreciation of veterans and experience in publishing created this unique opportunity to impact American veterans and those who love and support them. Prior to his 20-plus years in news and publishing, Scott was a sports marketer for ATP Tour events and Super Bowl XXX. He is a former school board president and a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Scott has lived in the Phoenix area since 1977 and is a graduate of Indiana University, Valley Leadership, Arizona Center for Rural Leadership and the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy.
Vincent Manfredi
Vice President
Bio
[email protected]
tel: (602) 373-9996
Vincent brings AVM a diverse business background in both private and public sectors including as owner of InMaricopa, a hyperlocal multimedia company serving Maricopa, Ariz. Vincent has served the city of Maricopa as mayor, vice mayor or councilmember since 2014. He is an eager supporter of local charities, donating both time and “treasure” to food banks, little leagues, schools and the like. Vincent moved to Arizona from New Jersey in 2002.
Jeff Bartle
Secretary & Treasurer
Bio
[email protected]
tel: (602) 228-0762
A graduate of Nurnberg American High School, Jeff Bartle grew up in the Army. His dad, Francis C. Bartle, served in World War II, then had a stint in the Army National Guard prior to being reactivated for the Korean War. He served in Alaska and commanded the Army ROTC program at Indiana University before being transferred to Korea. He was Inspector General for the Army units based in the state of Utah prior to being sent to Wurzburg and then Bamberg, Germany, where he served as Post Commander.
Jeff’s dad’s 30-year career in the Army is one of many in the family who made the military a career. Jeff’s uncle, Edsel D. Bartle, served 30 years in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force, including 3.5 years as a Japanese POW during WWII. Jeff’s cousin, Monsignor Francis L. Sampson, was a highly decorated airborne hero of both World War II and the Korean War. Twice a POW, the Distinguished Service Cross recipient served as Chief of Chaplains and president of the USO after retiring from the Army. The film Saving Private Ryan is based on one of Sampson’s missions. Jeff’s son Andy, a Naval Academy graduate, was a Navy TOP GUN F-14 RIO, and his brother Bill flew Cobra helicopters in the Army.
An ROTC student at Indiana University, Jeff attended graduate school prior to being assigned to the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command in Detroit, Michigan, where he worked in the logistics area for critical items, primarily for use in Viet Nam. While at TACOM, he had the additional duty serving as a Survivor Assistance Officer, which he says “impacted my entire life.”
Patrick Fitzhugh
Director
Bio
Patrick (Fitz) Fitzhugh is the Regional Site Director for USAA, where he supports the development and execution of regional strategies, and supports over 4,000 Phoenix employees, while building collaborative partnerships and connections with the local community. His broad responsibilities include community relations, public relations, grant management, employee experience, employee engagement and crisis management.
Patrick’s leadership abilities are deeply rooted in his military background in the United States Air Force. During his time in the USAF, he excelled as a Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist from 2003 to 2007. He then worked as a civilian contractor for the Department of Defense, Department of the Army and Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, becoming a subject matter expert in rescuing aircrew and soldiers in perilous situations.
Patrick’s family has resided in Arizona since its time as a territory of the United States, and he is proud of his Southwestern heritage. He and his wife Dawn have two children.
Hal DeKeyser
Director
Bio
For more than 25 years, Hal DeKeyser led news organizations in Arizona, Nevada and California as a reporter, photographer, editor, Opinion Page editor, columnist and publisher. He has earned individual awards for reporting, column writing, opinion and advertising innovation, including the Society of Professional Journalists Phoenix Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was a Navy photographer and a Vietnam veteran, which is what led him to journalism, chief of staff for a Phoenix City Councilman, and the speechwriter for Arizona’s governor. Hal authored several books ranging from how-to real estate tomes to hosting international visitors in the hospitality industry. And he has created content-heavy websites about writing well, local news, gratitude and personal growth.
Community involvement has included stints as chairman of WESTMARC, Scottsdale Education Foundation, Chandler Tomorrow Conference, West Valley Arts Council plus campaign or director volunteer roles with Sun Health, Westside Food Bank, various chambers of commerce and economic development entities.
Stan Goligoski
Director
Bio
Stan graduated from Prescott High School in 1992, earned his Eagle Scout from Troop 1 and was raised in Prescott until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1993. In 1996, he was awarded the Green to Gold scholarship by the U.S. Army to attend Northern Arizona University.
Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Infantry Officer and later was branch-detailed into Military Intelligence. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star medal for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he earned the Combat Action Badge, Airborne, and Air Assault tabs. His assignments included serving as Company Commander both in garrison and in a combat zone, instructing at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and serving as Aide de Camp to the 101st Airborne Division Commanding General.
Since his retirement from active duty in 2013, he served nine years as the Executive Director for the Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools and is now a Production Manager for the Mi/Milgard Windows and Doors production plant in Prescott Valley. He Stan serves on the Prescott Unified School District Governing Board, the Prescott Unified School District Education Foundation and is a former board member of the Prescott Planning and Zoning Commission, Mayor’s Commission on Veterans Initiatives, Yavapai County Sherriff’s Coalition on Justice and Mental Health, Prescott Kiwanis, Prescott YMCA, Yavapai Region First Things First.
Stan and his wife Janelle have four children and enjoy having them grow up in the same community where they were raised.
Staff
Patty Demers
Executive Director
Bio
[email protected]
(602) 367-2299
Patty has spent over 30 years championing veterans through outreach, coalition-building and advocacy. Inspired by her family’s military service and a personal bond with “Patty’s Soldiers,” she honors fallen heroes and shares their stories to keep their legacy alive.
Prior to becoming American Veterans’ first executive director, Parry held the same role with the Sonoran Arts League and United Way of Yavapai County. She also served as campaign manager for a Gold Star Family congressional candidate for Congress in 2022.
Patty graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Arizona Christian University. She and her husband Donald raised seven children (including two sets of twins) and are blessed with thirteen grandchildren.
Elias Weiss
Editor
Bio
Elias is the grandson of a late Army veteran who served in Korea. Since earning a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas, he has worked at daily newspapers in the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest as an investigative reporter and editor covering veterans’ issues since 2018. He has broken several blockbuster investigations about stolen valor and G.I. Bill scams in Phoenix New Times and InMaricopa Magazine.
Michael McDaniel
Reporter
Bio
Michael McDaniel is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan as a forward adviser for the Afghan army. Michael was awarded a bronze star for his service. He graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in investigative journalism. Michael had bylines in the Phoenix Business Journal and The Arizona Republic before joining the American Veterans Magazine team in March 2025. He is passionate about protecting the First Amendment and all things civil liberties.