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, and a member of Board of Directors of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
Received The City of Dallas Proclamation for creating ArtPicks, first major 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.
Presently sits on the Board 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 Association.
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 fiancée Nina. They plan to marry in 2010.
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.
With over 35 years in the hospitality industry, John is a well-recognized and respected leader, both in business and the various communities he has lived in. He has been President of Preferred Hotel Management for the last thirteen years, prior to which he held multiple high-level luxury hotel management positions in Europe and Asia. His international experience and service to those in need as a Rotarian expanded his understanding of how the world views the USA.
Allen Brock is currently a 767 International Captain for American Airlines. His love for aviation and the military comes from his family. Unable to land a flying job in the military, Captain Brock started an unorthodox approach to an airline career. American Airlines hired him as a flight attendant after graduating with a BA from the University of Texas Arlington. In 1977, he started taking flying lessons while serving trays for American. He often worked four jobs to pay for his flying. He landed his first flying job hauling freight at night. Subsequently he co-owned that small airfreight company and was the Director of Operations.
His career at American Airlines includes, FAA designee, four years in various flight management positions, 727 & DC10 co-pilot, 727,737, 757, 767 Captain. He has over 24,000 hours and 34 years serving the customers of American Airlines. He is very grateful and proud for the opportunity to serve the public.
In 2008, he flew his first "Snowball." He was hooked on the mission of serving the families of our fallen heroes. It is such a privilege. It is said "that there is no greater love than a man or woman willing to give his life, so that another may live." Snowball Express exemplifies and rewards those that have done just that. Captain Brock is so proud and honored to be a part of SNOWBALL.
"Other than my personal Savior and my family, Snowball is the greatest event to touch my heart." Thank you Snowball and American Airlines for giving me this opportunity to serve. Dream big, dream often, look up and trust, dreams do come true!!!
For more than two decades, Joe Petersen has worked as a construction and marketing professional in various facets of the real estate industry. His career started as an on-site construction laborer mid-1970’s while continuing his studies in architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. In the 1980’s, Mr. Petersen began his first endeavors as a home builder and remodeler. His projects during this time ranged from 960 square foot, modular-based "starter homes" to custom homes of over 20,000 square feet in the most exclusive areas of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Mr. Petersen then moved from single-family home building to multifamily development. As a founding partner of Carbon Development, he completed the planning, financing, site acquisition, construction and marketing of over 1,500 apartment units in four separate developments. In 1995, Mr. Petersen worked in association with the Disney Development Company to create zoning, community design guidelines and the architectural pattern book for select Disney properties (Celebration and Little Lake Bryan) in the Orlando area. Through this multi-year assignment, Petersen worked with some of the nations’ top development executives, architects and land planners.
Mr. Petersen has served as a multi-term President of the Dallas Multifamily Builders Council as well as Chairman of the National Multi-Housing Council for the National Association of Home Builders. He has served many years as a board member and chairman of Multi Housing World, an annual convention and educational conference for the apartment development industry. He has also worked as a speaker and educator for Mealey’s (LexusNexus), Crittenden and a variety of industry associations. In addition to his real estate career, Petersen has served as a Chairman of the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce, a city Planning and Zoning Commissioner and currently serves on the Economic Development Board.
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