2020 Board of Directors Candidates

Candidates for the OLLI Board of Directors 2020

Robert "Bob" Heyer	Paul Howard	Gloria Loew
David Osterman	Mel Russell	Dave Talaber


		Robert "Bob" W. Heyer Bob Heyer retired after 20 years in the US Navy as a US Naval Aviator, flying single seat attack aircraft from aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean and Western Pacific during Viet Nam. He holds Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Duke, a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering at the US Naval Postgraduate School and graduated from the 5-month Defense Acquisition Course at the Defense Acquisition University. Bob has spent 35 years managing upgrades and integrating systems into Naval tactical aircraft as well as the weapons upgrades of the F-14A and A-6E aircraft. As a support contractor, Bob worked the avionics design of A-12 & AX/AFX Programs, and for 23 years was involved in the design, manufacturing and procurement of the F-35 family of stealth aircraft from conception through Limited Rate Initial Production (LRIP). He retired in 2016 and in 2017 began attending OLLI classes and taught an OLLI course in "The F-35 Program". Bob has been involved in soccer since the 1970s playing, coaching and refereeing. He is currently coaching a Braddock Road Under 16/19 Boys soccer team, a State/Regional Referee Emeritus working High School through Adult matches, certified US Soccer Referee Instructor and was on the CSOA High School Soccer Referee Board for four years. Bob is currently the Chairman of Saint Andrews Episcopal Church Endowment Fund Committee since 2018.
		Paul Howard Membership growth is absolutely vital to constantly renew our instructor pool, fill volunteer ranks, and overcome severe impacts of inflation on our budget. We must formulate sound plans for enhancing facilities and fund growth with prudent investments. OLLI’s greatest strength is our classes. We need to insure that all we do strengthens our course offerings and supports the program committee and subject area program planning groups. Paul joined OLLI in June 2006, and established the Investment Forum’s website in November ‘06. He joined OLLI's Finance Committee in '07. Paul served as appointed member of the board of directors from July, 2007 - May of 2008, and will complete his third elected term June, 2020, and service of a year as Vice President. Other committee service included Nominating, Strategic Planning, Facilities, and Ad Hoc Bylaws Review. In September, 2007, Paul organized the AV Support Committee, assisting staff with audiovisual and technology issues. Paul spearheaded the acquisition of improved video projectors, document cameras, BluRay players, videoconferencing equipment, improved sound and other capabilities for OLLI’s use at all OLLI locations, including UCP, COGS and Lord of Life facilities. In 2009, he founded the OLLI Personal Computer User Group. Click4More: http://nctcug.org/candidatepaul.html
		Gloria Loew A member of OLLI since 2009, Gloria Loew appreciates the quality and diversity of the programs offered and the excellence of the administration. She works with the Humanities and Social Sciences committee to develop new courses, and enjoyed facilitating political philosophy and activism courses. She has Master’s degrees in Education and in Human Resource Development. After teaching elementary school, she worked in all areas of software systems. In her last job, as staff development manager for an IT organization, she was most proud of her work developing teams. Past volunteer activities were with the Fairfax County Commission for Cable and Consumer Protection, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO), and organizing a grassroots support group for the ACLU.She enjoys analyzing and solving problems, and would like to continue working with OLLI to help the organization be successful in delivering and expanding services to our membership.
		David Osterman David Osterman has been an OLLI member since 2010 and for the last three years has served as the Chair of the OLLI Finance Committee. In 2018, he was appointed to the OLLI Board of Directors to fill a vacant position. He served as Treasurer for OLLI for about one year. David moved to the Washington area in 1978 after working for the City of New York for six years, where he assisted in managing the City’s employment and training programs. After moving to Washington, he worked in various management positions (mainly budgeting, auditing, grants management and strategic planning) for the Environmental Protection Agency until he retired in 2007. After retiring he spent two years as a consultant mainly in the area of grants management. Currently, David and his wife spend about two days a week taking care of his beautiful and magical granddaughter. During the winter he volunteers with Fairfax County’s Volunteers In Tax Assistance Program (VITA) preparing tax returns for low income individuals and families. David is a big believer in the need for exercise and spends a lot of time bicycling indoors and out and weight lifting in the gym.
		Mel Russell Mel has now been an OLLI board member for three years. During this time, he served on the Facilities Committee, working with Jennifer Disano. He also joined the Finance Committee, working to allocate OLLI funds to support the organization’s mission. Mel enjoys working with other board members to continue to maintain and enhance the vibrant program and community that is OLLI. After retirement 7 years ago, Mel made the wise decision to join OLLI. He followed the advice of his wife, a long-time OLLI member, who convinced him this organization would enrich his life in retirement. Mel holds a degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in television and film production. He served 22 years as an Army officer and an additional 29 years as a senior Department of Defense official, managing audiovisual production, radio and television facilities, and public affairs organizations. During the last five years of his career, Mel served as director of the Defense Media Activity, which provides information and entertainment to American military service members and their families worldwide. He managed 2,500 people and a budget of over $70 million with operations in five states and 20 countries. His organization included the American Forces Radio and Television Service, the Stars and Stripes newspaper, the Defense Information School, and a large information technology operation that administered over 200 web sites. Mel has served as president of his neighborhood homeowners’ board for over 20 years. His interests include photography, genealogy, travel and soccer (he coached for many years). Mel and Kathryn love to hang out with their two children and four grandchildren. Mel believes that his managerial and organizational background make him a valuable member of the board. OLLI has become an important part of his life, and he wants to continue to give back to the organization.
		Dave Talaber Dave Talaber has been a member of OLLI since 2014. Since then he has enjoyed not only the satisfaction of being able to take many and varied courses and events, but more importantly, the fellowship of his wonderful OLLI contemporaries. Dave is a native of Bethlehem, PA and attended Madison College (now James Madison University) where he met and married his best friend Angie - also an OLLI member. Dave had a varied career before retiring from the US Army and later the Federal Government in the fields of administration, employee compensation and benefits, and human resources, which included nine years of assignments in Germany. He retired in 2013 after more than 35 years of service. Dave and Angie live at Westminster at Lake Ridge, a life care retirement community in nearby Woodbridge, where they have enjoyed living for more than 30 years. They have two children and four grandchildren, all of whom live in Northern Virginia. Since joining OLLI, Dave has served as an office volunteer, a member of the OLLI Strategic Planning Committee, a co-coordinator of the OLLI Photo Club and since 2018, an appointed member of the OLLI Board of Directors. He strongly believes in the future of OLLI as a valuable resource for all of the ethnically and socially diverse senior populations of Northern Virginia. He firmly believes we must all do our best to maintain what we love about today’s OLLI while at the same time managing the challenges of the future.