OUR TEAM
CRISTIAN BOCANEGRA
President
Cristian served in the US Army and deployed as a Combat Medic to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. When he returned home, quickly found himself isolating and building unhealthy habits which in turn, took him a few years to get to the VA to ask for help with the mental and physical challeneges he was dealing with daily.
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Once there, he found his way to recreational therapy, which suprinsingly helped with his social anxiety and gave him something to look forward to each month. When he moved to Texas, he noticed the lack of services offered due to COVID and post COVID policies.
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"I started Strength Over Solitude because I wanted to help fellow Veterans who may be struggling like I was, I never want anyone to get to that dark of a place. Not everyone goes to the VA for help, so I want to be a resource within my community. Retreating into isolation is the easy way, but not the best way. I'm hoping to push, inspire, and help our Veteran community and their families to reintegrate into society, and restore connections with others versus retreating into seclusion."
Nate Hoech
Vice President
Nathan Hoech is an Air Force veteran who served as a Vehicle Operator, where he developed a strong sense of teamwork, discipline, and dedication to service. He was stationed at the Davis-Mothan AFB, in Tucson, Arizona. Also known as the “Bone Yard“.
After leaving the Air Force, Nathan moved back home to Houston, Texas. The company he works for, wanted to open an office in the central Texas area, and he moved out to San Antonio Texas.
There he and his wife Kirsten met Cris, the founder of Strength Over Solitude, playing video games. After meeting Cris, Nathan and his wife were inspired by his passion for supporting veterans and their families. Motivated by that shared vision, Nathan joined the organization’s board to help promote connection and community among those who have served.
As Vice President, Nathan brings his leadership experience and commitment to veteran well-being to every initiative, helping to ensure that Strength Over Solitude continues its mission of preventing self-isolation through meaningful events and physical activities.
JENNIFER BOCANEGRA
Secretary
Jennifer was a Firefighter/ Paramedic before switching to Army Wife life in 2009. With the constant need to serve and care for others, she was active with the Family Readiness Group (FRG), as well as, helped organize events within her community.
Once back home and out of the military lifestyle, went back to healthcare for 5 more years before moving to Texas and changing roles in to retail.
"I completely supported Cris when he came to me with the idea of Strength Over Solitude because I have seen what these events can do for the Veteran. It seems small and simple to someone like me: just getting together for an event. But until you see the instant commoderie, how people start shy and leave as friends or how people just instantly bond over previously serving, you won't understand. You'll need to attend to "get it". It's a beautiful thing to see. I can't wait to see how many people can benefit from SOS."
Kirsten Hoech
Treasurer
Kirsten Hoech proudly serves as the Treasurer of Strength Over Solitude, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and their families to prevent self-isolation through monthly events bringing people together.
In this role, she oversees all financial operations, ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the organization’s fiscal management. Kirsten brings financial expertise to the position with her Bachelor’s in Accounting from Lamar University and CPA in progress. She has over 20 years of experience in accounting and has been involved in the organization since 2023. She also has consulting experience with other non-profit organizations.
Beyond her financial stewardship, Kirsten is passionate about giving back to the veteran community. She and her Husband, Nathan Hoech (Airforce Veteran), enjoy playing video games and actively participate in helping the organization grow.
TIFFANY GILL
Board Member
Tiffany is a Career Real Estate agent in the Boerne and surrounding areas. She has also worked for the Kendall County Elections Department and as a Teaching Assistant for Boerne ISD. She is an extremely passionate community volunteer and enjoys supporting numerous Veteran Service organizations, particularly, The Purple Heart Project and Strength Over Solitude. She strongly supports local law enforcement, fire departments, and her community at large. When she is not helping residents of Kendall and Bexar County, she is very excited about fitness and running both for competition and for the fun of it. She is often more coomfortable outdoors enjoying the beauty of Texas and most importantly, the very proud mother of a son.