Micki Sander is married to Robert Sander, her life and business partner she is an avid golfer, who now teaches her grandchildren about the game of golf.
Attended the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida and Berkeley College in New York.
She has been a free lance writer with articles in the New York Times, of Westchester Magazine, Travel Navigator, Florida Golf, Avid Golfer Magazine and past Travel Editor of both Avid Golfer and Women’s Golf Magazine, Texas. Former producer of The Golfspot Radio Show. Member of the Golf Travel Writer’s Association. Women’s Editor of the PGA Magazine Fore Texas.
Past Community affiliations include the Dallas Arboretum Board of Directors, Trinity River Commission, Cable Board of Dallas, North Dallas Chamber Board of Directors, Chairman of the Turtle Creek Parknership, member of Board of Directors of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Board of Executive Women Golf Association, Dallas Chapter, 2008-2009 President of SKAL (an international organization of the Hospitality Industry), past President of the Four Seasons Sports Club Women’s Golf Association
Received The City of Dallas Proclamation for creating ArtPicks, first majBoard of Executive Women Golf Association, Dallas Chapter, 2008 President of SKAL (an international organization of the Hospitality Industry), immediate past President of the Four Seasons Sports Club Women’s Golf Associationor art festival in Dallas, voted Woman of the Year for AMC Cancer Research Center and Hospital’s National Council of Auxiliaries in 1979, received the Crystal Award from Cable Access of Dallas in 1987 and 1988 and co-chaired the first annual Dallas Blooms at the Arboretum.
She is President of The Golfspot, a golf travel company owned and operated by Bob and Micki Sander.
Francis X. Kern “Buck” is Director of Operations for Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas and is responsible for leading the support operations for the company’s Flagship store, Corporate Executive offices, and the Company’s Buying and Planning Organization. He also serves as Vice President, Board of Directors for the Neiman Marcus Federal Credit Union.
Buck has more than 30 years of executive management experience with extensive experience in retail operations, Corporate Loss Prevention/Security, and remodel operations. He has worked for Neiman Marcus for the past 15 years. He has been Director of Operations in Dallas for the past 8 years, and prior to this assignment, he was Director of Loss Prevention for the Western Region and resided in Los Angeles. Prior to working for Neiman Marcus, Buck was employed by Bullock’s Department stores and Macy’s in Los Angeles, where he held store and corporate management positions in both Operations and Loss Prevention.
Career highlights include:In 2007, Buck was selected to receive Neiman Marcus’ most prestigious award, the “NM BEST” award. This honor is awarded to a very select few individuals nationwide who exemplify high standards and professional excellence.
While working for Bullock’s Department stores in Los Angeles, Buck was selected to manage the most aggressive and complex store remodel ever undertaken by the company. He completed the project in record time and was honored with the CEO’s “Profiles in Excellence” award for his achievement.
Current and past community affiliations include:
Buck is the son of Commander Francis X. Kern III (USN ret., served from 1942 to 1970). Cdr. Kern served as a Naval Intelligence officer for more that 25 years. Buck was privileged to witness the example of his father’s service to this great country, and to learn from the example he set.
Buck resides in Richardson, Texas with his wife Nina.
Gary Lawson received a J.D. from St. John's University School of Law in 1970 and an LL.M in Tax from New York University Law School in 1974 He is the father of two boys, ages 29 and 17.
Selected as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazines in 2007, Gary is the author of numerous legal articles and is a frequent speaker before such groups as the National League of Cities, Guns & Hoses and the State Bar of Texas. He has also served as an expert witness before the U.S. Congress on pension and health matters.
Gary's affiliations include Founding Board Member of Medisend International 1989 and today is a member of its Advisory Board, Going Home With America’s Huey 091- Board Member 2003-2005 and America's Huey 091 Foundation – Board Member 2007- present.
"There is no more important job any of us undertake than becoming a parent.
The men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation, risk their lives in service to our country and our country's allies, and those who are parents, knowingly and bravely place in jeopardy not only their own lives, but risk not being there to help their children grow, mature and enjoy that process.
Now I have been given the opportunity to serve on the Snowball Express board and to help it to provide a measure of love and appreciation, to help create new memories of honor and joy for the children of our fallen heroes, children who otherwise are too quickly forgotten. Please join us in providing all Americans a way to say ‘thanks’ to these children."
After a lengthy career with a major airline holding positions as In-Flight Service Manager, Flight Attendant Instructor and Corporate Speaker, Trisha is now a Residential Real Estate specialist with Coldwell Banker a in Orange County. She is deeply committed to community involvement as an Ambassador to the Newport Chamber of Commerce, Speaker for Olive Crest Homes and Services for Abused/Abandoned children, and most recently, Community Service Director for the Newport-Irvine Rotary.
Trisha’s father served in World War II with the Marine Corp; her brother served with the Corp in Viet Nam and is currently a grief counselor for Viet Nam veterans on the East Coast.
Snowball Express is especially meaningful to Trisha, as she and her six siblings lost their mom at a young age and she knows first-hand the impact and challenge of having only one parent for support, love and guidance.
"Last year it was my honor, along with thousands of volunteers and fellow Rotarians across the Nation, to help provide this opportunity of healing for these deserving families of our fallen heroes. The experience of feeling the joy and the cathartic bonding of child with child, widow with widow throughout the weekend is something that is etched on my heart and soul and is truly life-changing."
"Together we CAN make a difference not only for a weekend but for a lifetime. Last year, it rained for a bit at Oakley and it was heard that the spouses saw this not as an annoyance but "as the tears of joy" being shed by their loved ones in heaven in appreciation that there were people on earth who cared to show so much love.""I am honored to join the Board of this incredible organization, and I encourage you to come on board and join our Snowball Family as a contributor, volunteer or sponsor."
Jim earned his bachelors degree and received a Regular Army Commission in 1984 as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC Program at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was selected for follow-on training as an Aviation Intelligence Officer and subsequently transitioned into the RU-21H and OV-1D Reconnaissance aircraft. Jim left active duty in January 1990 to pursue a career as a pilot with American Airlines. With the exception of a recall to active duty in 1991 in support of Operation Dessert Shield / Storm, Jim served in the US Army Reserves until 1995 flying UH-1H Huey Helicopters.
In 2002, Jim and a group of volunteers flew a Vietnam Era Huey Helicopter 65-10091 in support of the documentary film "In the Shadow of the Blade", and in 2004, they delivered and donated Huey 091 to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History where it is the largest artifact in a major 30 year exhibit, "The Price of Freedom, Americans at War". Jim serves on the Board of the Huey 091 Foundation whose purpose is to educate future generations about the Price of Freedom and to provide resources to those that have paid that price.
In 2007, Jim was named Director of Veterans Initiatives at American Airlines and also flies as a Captain on the McDonald Douglas MD-80 Aircraft. Jim and his wife, Patricia, reside in Grapevine, Texas with their daughter Lauren. Their son, Josh, is a lieutenant in the Army, currently stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama attending flight school.
In September 2007 Jim brought Snowball Express to the attention of American Airlines CEO, Mr. Gerard Arpey and with Mr Arpey's approval, Jim was able to obtain three chartered aircraft that brought nearly 500 children and spouses to the 2007 event. He joined the BOD in January 2007.
Dan Ronan is the Media/Corporate Communications Manager for the American Automobile Association of Texas/New Mexico based in Irving, Texas.
He joined AAA in May 2008 after a more than 20-year career in network and major market television at CNN, CBS News, WAGA/Fox in Atlanta and WFAA/ABC in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Prior to that, Dan was a freelance correspondent for CBS News in the Dallas/Fort Worth "Newspath" bureau covering, among other stories, Hillary Clinton's win in the Texas Presidential Primary and the decision by Texas authorities to remove more than 400 children from a Polygamist compound.
During Dan's career he was honored by his colleagues with eight Emmys and two Edward R. Murrow awards for journalism excellence, most notably for his coverage of the Space Shuttle explosion. His first National Emmy came at CNN for his work as a news writer during the first hours of coverage after the Oklahoma City Bombing. His most recent Emmy came in October, 2007 for his reporting and writing about north Texas soldiers and volunteers who served in Iraq.
Other career highlights include being one of the first journalists selected by the Pentagon to be "embedded" with U.S. Soldiers to Kuwait and Iraq, in the weeks just before hostilities started. He filed more than a dozen stories from the Iraq/Kuwait border while living with troops from Fort Stewart, Georgia. One of his most vivid memories is spending Thanksgiving with soldiers at Camp New York, Kuwait. While never serving in the military, his time with the soldiers proved to be a life-changing experience. After the war started, he was selected to "embed" with the Navy aboard the air craft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy - CVS 67 - as it deployed to Afghanistan.
Dan holds a commercial pilot's license with multi-engine and instrument ratings and he's been trained as an airplane crash investigator at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona. He graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In addition to his work with Snowball Express, he is the Chairman of the Communications Department media/industry advisory committee at Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Dan married his college sweetheart, Lori, and they have four children. They live in suburban Dallas. Dan joined the BOD in June 2008.
Neil became a third generation Army Aviator when he graduated pilot training as the Distinguished Honor Graduate in 1991. He has served on active duty as an Aeroscout helicopter pilot with the Second and Fourth U.S. Cavalry Regiments as well as being selected to receive the CIA’s 1997 Intelligence Asset of the Year Award while assigned to the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion as an RC-12 Reconnaissance Pilot. In 1999 he began his career as a pilot with American Airlines where he currently flies the MD-80 while serving as a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association.
Neil has been a volunteer charter pilot for Snowball Express since 2007 and has served as the Airlift Coordinator since 2008. He and his wife Shannon call Ft. Worth, Texas home along with their two teenage children. He holds a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an Airline Transport Pilot rating, and both Senior Army Aviator and Naval Aviator designations. He continues to serve our nation as a C-9 pilot in the Naval Reserves with the “Eagles” of VR-46.
“I have volunteered for many organizations throughout my life, but never as passionately as I do for the Snowball Express Foundation. Having the privilege of seeing first-hand the strength and dignity of the families we serve has made me a tireless advocate for our nation’s fallen heroes. I am eternally grateful to the families I have come to know through Snowball Express for teaching me the true meaning of grace.”
Thomas Lee is Director Business Development for Monogram Systems, an aerospace company, part of Zodiac Aerospace. Tom develops new technologies for the commercial airline industry including galley equipment and inflight entertainment systems. Tom holds numerous U.S. and international patents and accepted the "President's Award" for the development of the most innovative new equipment for commercial aircraft inflight operations during 1994.
Tom flew on the inaugural flights of the two largest commercial aircraft in history including the Pan Am B747 flight from New York to London in January 1970 and the Singapore Airlines A380 from Singapore to Sydney in October 2007.
Tom is a partner at Morale Entertainment that brings the "Best of America" overseas to build troop morale. During May 2008, five NCAA Head Football Coaches visited five bases in the Middle East. Tom and the coaches were greeted in the Oval Office by President Bush after their return to Andrews Air Force Base on Memorial Day 2008 (see picture). During 2009, Tom will be escorting seven Head Coaches to visit the troops in Afghanistan.
Tom serves on the Board of Alumni Affairs of Tulane University. He is a member of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), the World Airline Entertainment Association and International Flight Catering Association.
Mike Rubin is a pilot for American Airlines and a U.S. Navy (Viet Nam Era) veteran where he served an aircraft mechanic and flight crew engineer. Mike has a son that separated from the U.S. Navy recently as a Lt. and served two tours in the gulf, one on an Aegis Cruiser and the other on an Amphibious Assault Carrier. Mikes dad was a WWII veteran where he was a hospital corpsman attached to the second marine division and saw action on Tarawa and Saipan in the Western Pacific.
After his military duty Mike returned to Dallas, attended college and worked for Henry S. Miller Company where he worked in the property management division. He returned to Amarillo, his place of birth, and worked in a family oil and gas business,real estate business and managed property for other clients in Amarillo. Mike was a police officer and reserve deputy in Amarillo also during this time.Mike is Vice President and COO of Moore County Gas Partners, an oil and gas operating company.
Mike is the Operations Coordinator for American Airlines Veterans Initiatives and involved in numerous Volunteer projects for Veterans. Mike is married to Marianne, a Flight Attendant and volunteer for Snowball express. Mikes son David is also a volunteer in many Veteran Initiatives and projects
Bill Essex and his wife Nancy, have lived in Southlake, Texas since 2005, when the US Air Force assigned then Major General Essex to serve as CEO and Commanding General of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). AAFES is a $9 billion dollar multi-channel retail organization headquartered in Dallas, which serves military customers in 34 countries. It operates on a “co-op” model, running almost entirely on its own sales-generated revenue and using very few tax dollars.
Bill served 34 years in the USAF in a variety of jobs and locations around the world. An air mobility and logistics expert, Bill commanded large flying organizations, served in NATO, worked in the Pentagon, and was responsible for multi-billion dollar acquisition portfolios. Among his projects were all upgrades to Air Force One and other VIP aircraft, acquisition of the Lockheed Martin C-130J fleet, the Boeing C-17 fleet, and all the support equipment required for the nation’s air mobility aircraft.
Bill’s formal education includes an undergraduate degree in zoology and physiology, and two masters degrees in business management and international security from Central Michigan and the US Naval War College, respectively. He is also a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School, Program for Executives, and from two senior executive programs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Bill is president of On-Time Supply and Logistics, Incorporated, a freight forwarding and third party logistics company in the DFW area. He also serves as a senior associate in the Burdeshaw Associates and Durango Group companies in Washington, DC. He is a member of the Ft Worth Airpower Council and a director of Career Solutions Workshop, a 501C3 which assists the unemployed .
He is also a proud supporter of Snowball Express, a charity which supports the families of our nation’s fallen heroes.
Brenda Collins is currently the National Purchasing Director for Thomas Reprographics, a full service specialty document management, document communications and distribution company located in Dallas, Texas. She is a highly creative, self-motivated professional with proven insight for facility operations, problem analysis and resolution, and customer relations. In her current role Brenda provides superior customer service to high profile clients such as Neiman Marcus and Wilson Associates, an Interior Design Firm. She trains purchasing agents nationwide, coordinates new location openings and location moves, negotiates service contracts, vehicle and equipment leases, and selects and establishes nationwide vendor partnerships. Prior to her current position at Thomas Reprographics, Brenda was the City Support Manager responsible for staffing and operations for 10 DFW locations.
Before joining Thomas Reprographics in 2001, Brenda spent 12 years working for Ridgway’s, a multimillion-dollar reprographic service provider to the Design and Construction Industry. During her tenure she held several positions including Customer Service Manager, Facilities Manager, Store Manager and Branch Manager. Her client companies included NASA, Bechtel, Fluor Daniel, 3DI, CRSS, Continental Airlines and Amoco. Brenda trained and empowered employees to be solution providers. In 1992, she was responsible for the installation and implementation of the first Digital Press allowing transition of flight manuals to a digital workflow reducing production time from weeks to days. She managed various projects requiring one million copies in twenty-four hours with overnight distribution. Brenda provided 24-hour support to attorneys and government in confidential classified cases. She was responsible for consolidating operations of the underperforming Denver locations. Her restructure efforts resulted in the Denver operation achieving the number one ranking for the most profitable store. Brenda was responsible for developing budgets and projecting revenues and expense for three profit centers. She identified opportunities and collaborated with the technical team to train managers on accounting processes. She also implemented a digital workflow on-site facility for Amoco.
Brenda volunteers for several organizations including Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen, and the Dallas Life Foundation.
Robert A. Woodward “Bob” is Vice President, Engineering for Elbit Systems of America in Fort Worth, Texas and leads the Fort Worth Operations engineering organization providing strategic guidance for the development of defense systems. Elbit Systems of America is a leading provider of high performance products and system solutions focusing on the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation, and medical instrumentation markets.
Bob graduated from San Diego State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (BSAE) degree. He started his career at Lockheed Martin in California working on the first digital autopilot for the L-1011 airliner. He soon moved to the Skunk Works, developing and fielding avionics systems for various complex military aircraft. He has 28 plus years of engineering experience in fielding avionics, software systems, hardware platforms, communications systems, and managing technical organizations. He holds four patents and has received many engineering awards in his field of expertise.
He has supported all branches of the military in developing systems to provide operational advantages to our military and has found throughout his carrier that working with military personnel is one of his most rewarding experiences.
Bob is an Eagle Scout and continues to support scouting causes. He is a member of Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) North Texas Chapter and Association of United States Army (AUSA), which advances the cause of current and former members of the US Army. He participates in many technical development organizations including DirectNet, Network Centric Operational Industry Consortium (NCOIC), International Data Link Society (IDLS), and IEEE. He has also volunteered in the Pohick Creek bald eagle survey program for three years which is an especially important eagle concentration area.
Bob and his wife, Kerry, live in Fort Worth, Texas. He enjoys golf and has a passion for woodworking.
A veteran of the United States Air Force who served eight years active duty to include overseas tours in Shemya, Alaska and Phu Cat, Vietnam.
My transit career began as a bus operator in Washington D.C. driving for a period of seven years. During my tenure with D.C. transit and Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMARTA) I advanced through the ranks to become the Manager of Transportation Support in the department of Bus Service.
In September of 1987 I assumed the position of Manager of Safety, Training and Audits with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Currently, I am the Vice President of Transportation at DART responsible for providing bus and light rail transit services to the 13 member cities that comprise the DART Service area. My department is the largest in the agency consisting of over 1600 employees in various positions.
I welcome this new challenge as the newest member on the Board of The Snowball Express and look forward to participating.
Mark retired from American Airlines as a Supervisor in Weight & Balance Planning in 2004. In 2006, Mark was mobilized to Active Duty with the Army where he served as a Casualty Notification/Casualty Assistance Officer for the Fort Hood Casualty Assistance Center at Fort Hood, TX, until his retirement in July, 2010. During Mark’s 33 year career in the U. S. Army Reserves he was honored with many awards and special recognition. In 2007, Mark was named as an Honorable Mention in the Army Times Soldier of the Year Award. In 2008, Mark was presented with The Ancient Order of Saint Christopher award for his distinguished career in the Transportation Corps, and in 2009, Governor Rick Perry, recognizing Mark’s work with our surviving family members in the North Texas area, commissioned him as an Admiral in the Texas Navy.
Mark is a proud member of the Patriot Guard Riders of North Texas, works on lowering his handicap at Shady Valley Golf Club, is the Communications Officer for the Chester Nimitz Squadron of the Texas Navy and is on the Board of Directors of the Eagle Mountain Classic Boat Club. Mark resides in Pantego, TX with his wife Michele, daughter Molly, and dog Kirby.
“Unfortunately, I have had to notify many children of the death of their parent. I know from firsthand experience how children do not get the full measure of attention they deserve during this most tragic time. This is why I am so completely drawn to Snowball Express. When children attend Snowball Express they are transported to a place where they can share their stories with one another and develop lasting memories of fun and fellowship. I am honored to be able to be part of the effort to provide these children with a comfortable place to find a moment of happiness and hope.”