MCEC Welcomes New Board Members and Announces Renewals and Retirements

Harker Heights, Texas – July 30, 2024 – The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished individuals to its Board of Directors, the renewal of terms for four current board members, and the retirement of three esteemed board members.

New Board Members:

Bob Eisiminger
Bob Eisiminger, co-founder, and former CEO of Knight Point Systems, brings a wealth of experience in IT services, leadership, and community involvement. A West Point graduate and Army Reserve veteran, Bob has a long history of service and support for veteran organizations and business councils. His extensive board experience includes roles with the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, and Chaminade University.

Jim Speltz
Jim Speltz, CEO of Luxury Brand Holdings, has a deep background in retail, catalog, and e-commerce marketing. The son of a West Point graduate, Jim grew up in the military community, experiencing frequent relocations firsthand. His commitment to supporting military families is personal and profound, and he brings valuable insights from his leadership roles in various consumer goods companies.

David Henry, J.D.
David G. Henry is a leading intellectual property attorney and partner at a prominent law firm in Waco, Texas. With considerable experience in patent litigation and a strong connection to Baylor University, where he serves as a professor and advisor, David is well-versed in navigating complex legal landscapes. His contributions to the legal field and community are recognized through numerous awards and memberships.

Renewing Terms:

• Dr. Patrick J. Bingham
  Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the board; Principal Training and Education Officer for Veteran Government Services Corporation.
• Rebecca Cederholm
  Generations of experience in military families, having grown up as a military child, marrying a U.S. Marine, and being a parent to military-connected children.
• Mary Claire Murphy
  Vice President, External Relations for Textron Inc. through its Washington, D.C. office.
• Debra Wada
  CEO of Senshi Ame Advisors LLC, a government consulting firm that provides strategic advice to corporations and organizations seeking to engage with Congress and the Department of Defense.

MCEC is grateful for the continued dedication and leadership of these board members and looks forward to their ongoing contributions to the organization’s mission.

Retiring Board Members:

• Cortez Dial, Ed.D.
  Vice Chairman and Secretary of the board. Over his twenty-nine-year career with the Department of the Army, COL (RET) Dial held positions in Human Resources, Professional Development, and Education with increasing levels of executive responsibility. Following his Army career, Dr. Dial served as Chief of Staff for the President of Virginia State University.
• Anne Brooks Haston
  Retired realtor and planner with a Tennessee-based engineering firm. As a military spouse and mother of a military-connected child, Mrs. Haston continues to be a passionate advocate for military families by engaging in a variety of community-based support.
• Eric Waldo
  President and CEO of Washington, DC’s largest scholarship foundation, the District of Columbia College Access Program.

“We are excited to welcome our new board members, and we deeply appreciate the ongoing commitment of our renewing members,” said Rebecca Porter, MCEC President and CEO. “We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our retiring members for their years of dedicated service and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of military-connected children. The collective expertise and passion of our board members, both new and continuing, as well as those who have served in the past, are integral to our efforts.”

“Vision, empathy, and thoughtful support are the heart of how we serve,” added Porter. “The fresh perspectives of our new members, combined with the experience of our current and past members, will help us continue to meet the evolving needs of military families.”

For more information, please contact: Karen Kirk
Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy
Karen.Kirk@MilitaryChild.org
(254) 953-1923 ext. 1123

About MCEC:
The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military-connected children affected by mobility, transition, and family separation. MCEC conducts research, develops resources, and offers programs to help military children thrive in school and life. For more information about MCEC, visit www.MilitaryChild.org.

For a full list of our board officers, members, and committee members, please visit MCEC Boards and Advisors.