Robert McDowell
OEC Founder and President

Operation Ensuring Christmas Founder and President Robert McDowell retired early from Exxon Mobile Corporation in 1996 due to a back injury.   McDowell was involved in several business ventures after retirement but nothing fired his passion as intensely as hearing the stories and seeing the faces of the children of our fallen troops after 9/11 and the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.   McDowells passion for these very special children drove him to forego the business world and found Operation Ensuring Christmas...for Fallen Soldiers Children.

The organization began with just a website on the internet asking donations be sent to other fallen troop family support organizations.  Later McDowell realized this was not enough and began the full time process of becoming an official 501-c3 tax exempt organization to help these ‘precious lil heroes’ be kids again. O. E. C. was granted 501-c3 tax exempt status in January 2006, retroactive to February 2005.

McDowell is a member of the Philanthropy and Non Profit Leadership Center at Rollins College in Orlando/Winter Park Florida.  Rollins College, established in 1885 is Florida’s oldest college and is ranked first among Florida’s colleges.  McDowell attends regular classes and seminars at the center to stay abreast of new information in the Non Profit world and keep up with new laws and regulations impacting the non profit sector and O. E. C. in particular.  This is crucial to continue the ethical, efficient management of O. E. C. in an evolving, highly regulated environment.  McDowell receives assistance from retired non profit Executives at SCORE, is a member of BoardSource, has taken online non profit courses, and consults and receives advice from numerous other business executives.

McDowell is a recent Cancer Survivor.  He was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in February 2005 but put off prostate removal surgery until April 2006 in order to not lose ‘momentum’ in the early stages of building the organization.  McDowell was declared Cancer free after a subsequent  biopsy showed no spread outside of the Prostate.  In a recent interview McDowell said  “The risk that I took of [the] cancer spreading was minimal compared to the risk our troops take fighting every day for this nation. I hope all Americans realize that the sacrifice of a few dollars for these children is minimal to the ultimate sacrifice these children have made for their country.”

Mercedes Salguero
Vice - President

Mercedes Salguero is owner and president of R.E. Brokers, Inc., Orlando Florida.  While very busy with the hot real estate market, Ms. Salguero did not hesitate when asked to join OEC in its efforts to help the children of Fallen Troops.  Ms. Salguero has assisted OEC with organizational and administrative duties, fundraising, donor relations and other aspects of the organization from its inception. Ms. Salguero played an integral part in the production of OEC's 'lil heroes' Christmas CD, lending her writing and organizational skills to assure the sucess of the project. Ms. Salgueros' role with Operation Ensuring Christmas has been vital to the founding and continued growth of the organization.


Board Members:

Robin Lanclos - Medical Field
Lafayette, Lousiana

Cailan Riddel  - Hotel Industry
Atlanta, Georgia

Michael Carlini - Management
Orlando, Florida   

Advisors:

Bill Wisler - SCORE
Retired President of a major non-profit Florida Hospital

Micheal Speck - CPA
President, Micheal Speck and Associates

Tara Vanderperrin - Ameriprise Financial