Combined Federal Campaign loaned executives explain their volunteerism, commitment

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Each year two people are appointed as loaned executives for the Miami Valley Combined Federal Campaign to execute the campaign at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This year’s loaned executives are Senior Master Sgt. Reggie James, director of Staff Office, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, and Capt. Ross Hansen, deputy chief, Aircraft Operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. 

 

Loaned executives work with agency chairpersons and key workers to make sure campaigns are running smoothly and that they exceed goal. They help coordinate special events and make charities visible. Both began their MVCFC assignments in late August and jumped into the thick of the campaign. They’ll serve the campaign until Nov. 23.

 

“Senior Master Sgt. James and Capt. Hansen have embraced this assignment from day one,” said Susy Himelhoch, Miami Valley CFC director. “Their leadership skills, knowledge of our Department of Defense and federal communities, organizational expertise, flexibility and unflappable spirit have ensured this year’s campaign is off to a great start.”

 

James said being able to talk to charities and attend different organizations’ campaign kickoffs has been meaningful for him. He was particularly touched by an event showcasing more than a dozen charities held at the Dayton VA campus on Oct. 11.

 

“To see the VA employees – the prospective donors – and veterans stopping by to get information was pretty special,” he said. “Plus I met a veteran who had been in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Seeing the veterans who are going to benefit from the donations to the charities brings it full circle.”

 

The sergeant also was thrilled as he observed two nonprofits with similar missions but performing them in different locations become aware of each other. The organizations are now discussing working together to form a possible partnership.

 

“It felt like everything made sense,” James said. “My personal motto is, ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ I saw the whole process yesterday.”

 

Being involved in such circumstances is very humbling, he said.

 

Hansen pointed to the MVCFC Charity Fair and Kickoff on Oct. 5 at Wright State University’s Nutter Center as having a tremendous impact on the campaign.

 

“To see the local key workers and representatives, part of a crowd of about 1,000 people, discover the charities, get excited about them and want them to come on base to talk to various organizations was really cool,” he said.

 

“It’s that ripple effect: That key worker is happy. The charity is happy as it gets exposure and that can have an effect on the members of that unit and possibly the community,” Hansen commented.

 

He’s also touched with the way such exposure to charities and nonprofits speaks to the better part of people’s nature.

 

“It’s nice to see the altruistic tendencies of people come out. It shows the good in people,” he said. “It’s exciting to see the anticipation and participation build up. This is putting a face to things in your own backyard.”

 

James echoed that sentiment, saying he’s observed people go from merely sitting at a presentation to getting excited, taking notes, asking questions and then making plans to volunteer with an organization.

 

Being a part of the MVCFC won’t just benefit others for the loaned executives. Both said they feel it will help them with their own careers.

 

“If I have troops struggling with outside work issues, now I’ll have a much better perspective,” Hansen said. “I hope it leads to bigger and better things. I hope I can entice others to become a loaned executive.”

 

He wants to encourage prospective loaned executives to look past any personal hesitations about such issues as a fear of public speaking or working on the campaign for three months.

 

“If you don’t, you would just be leaving yourself behind in the long run. There are so many opportunities that you are going to miss out on,” he said.

 

James said he’s in administration by trade, but going out to network and talk with various organizations has brought him out of his quiet-person shell.

 

“It’s hard to explain what I’ve gotten out of this experience,” he said. “I think each loaned exec will get something different out of it. Your passion will lead you down the path.”

 

Hansen said he intends to take his son, when he’s a few years older, to volunteer at some of the charities so he is exposed to them and learns how fortunate he is.

 

“I want my kids to be well-rounded,” he said. “My wife and I want to raise our kids so they know how truly blessed they are. This experience has opened up lots of opportunities to show my kids and family ways to give back.”

 

Hansen and James encourage any unit that would like to have speakers come visit them for a speaking engagement to contact them.

 

“Give us a call,” Hansen said. “We don’t care if you’re an A1C or a four-star general. If you want to have a charity come out, we’ll be more than happy to arrange it.”

 

To contact the loaned executives, call Hansen at 937-904-3512 and James at 937-904-3514 or email them at ross.hansen.1@us.af.mil and reginald.james@us.af.mil.