THE WHO
THE WHY
THE MISSION
The mission continues to grow.
Holidays and Heroes focus is to show support to enlisted military service members who are active, reserve or guard during Christmas holidays and other military supported events during the year. Our mission is to show these service members that they are not alone, and that there are people in the community that truly care about their well-being. Our motto is “Serving those who serve us.”
Kerre Randel Ortegel is the Founder and President of Holidays & Heroes and a children’s author whose work reflects her passion for kindness, community, and imagination. Inspired by her proximity to Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Kerre created Holidays & Heroes in 2015 to support local military families through food drives, Christmas celebrations, and volunteer engagement.
Her dedication has earned her recognition as an Honorary Commander for both the 301st Fighter Wing and the Texas Air National Guard 136th Airlift Wing, as well as the Distinguished Citizen Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution.As an author, Kerre has writtenSanta’s Special Mission and Oh Santa!, heartwarming books that celebrate the spirit of giving. She lives in Fort Worth with her husband, Bob Ortegel, former television announcer for the Dallas Mavericks.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kerre Randel Ortegel
President
Susan Irvin
Vice President
Susan Howell Irvin is serving as Vice President of Holidays & Heroes. Susan was formerly owner and general manager of Smiley’s Fine Portrait Studio in Fort Worth, Texas for 30 years. She is the majority owner of Howell Instruments an aeronautical engineering firm that makes testing equipment for jet aircraft. She has recently started a marketing company called LoadStar Reality LLC that brings technology to life.
Because of her father’s business, Susan was raised traveling the world with her parents from a young age back in the 50’s and 60’s and watched the world go from the propeller driven aircraft to voyaging to Mars. The instrument that her father designed and patented, the JetCal, helped to stabilize the efficiency of the gas turbine engine that made jet travel safe. In the cockpit it reads out as the EGT gauge, Exhaust, Gas, Temperature gauge.
Susan graduated from a Swiss Boarding School. Because her father’s business required he travel all over the world, whenever he would leave the continent of the United States, he would call her and she would meet him at his various destinations. Many times she would end up meeting and dining with heads of states worldwide. In having a first hand view it gave her a very different and unique perspective of the worldwide geo-political climate.
During those years, Susan was given an opportunity to see how America affected the world. It gave her a greater appreciation of the many sacrifices this country has asked our men and women who have stood in harm’s way. Susan has had first hand experience and seen the cost of war. She has also seen the mighty footprint America has had on the world. Wherever we have stepped the world has benefited. No other country can make that claim. God Bless America.
Melanie Whitley
Treasurer
Melanie Whitley serves as the Treasurer for Holidays & Heroes. She comes from a strong military background. Her father served in the Air Force, and her mother was a Marine. She had 4 siblings who served, 2 in the Army, 1 Air Force and 1 Navy. Her husband is a former Marine who joined the Navy Seabee Reserves in 2004.
During her husband’s time in the Seabees, he was deployed 2 times to Afghanistan. During those deployments, Melanie served on the Family Readiness Group for NMCB 22. This involved supporting family members of those deployed by keeping open lines of communication and information.
Melanie is an active member of the VFW Arlington Heights Memorial Post 8235 Auxiliary since 2004 in which she serves as Treasurer. She is also a charter member of the Fleet Reserve Association Lone Star Unit 11 Fort Worth and has served as President, Vice President and Financial Secretary.
Anne Pottinger
Secretary
Anne Pottinger is a Director and Secretary of Holidays & Heroes. She is the wife of a retired Air Force veteran having lived across the southwest of the United States as well as in Germany and South Korea before being stationed in Fort Worth. Anne is a retired public and private school elementary teacher. From 2019 until December 2024, Anne was the Executive Administrator of the Fort Worth Air Power Council, the oldest civilian military support organization in the United States, founded in 1958. Anne also is the Corporate Secretary of the Freedom Mobility Foundation, a 501(c)3 formed in 2020 that provides mobility to active military, veterans, and first responders impacted by physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities.
Anne and her husband, Kevin, have two children. Their son is an Air Force Reservist stationed at Randolph AFB, Texas. Their daughter is a stay-at-home mom. Anne and Kevin are active in their church and try to serve others whenever they are able.
Brittany Rico
Director
Brittany Rico serves on the board of Holidays & Heroes.. Involved since the organization’s founding in 2015, Brittany is passionate about building community and believes that giving back brings joy to both those who serve and those who receive.
A graduate of Texas Christian University with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management, Brittany thrives where creativity and business meet. She has spent over a decade with First American Payment Systems, helping businesses find the right merchant solutions, and also runs her own venture, Basically Brittany, which showcases her creative pursuits from stovetop potpourri to custom monogramming.
Brittany is honored to serve Holidays and Heroes. She hopes to instill in her children the same love for helping others that has guided her life.
Mia Curb
Mia Curb is a director on the board of Holiday & Heroes. Prior to retirement Senior Chief Mia Curb served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve Command in Fort Worth, TX. She is a native of Baytown, Texas, and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School class of 1998. Mia received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Northwood University in June 2019 where she graduated top of her class (Cum Laude).
Her 21 years of active-duty assignments include:
Recruit Training Command (September 1998 – November 1998); Assault Craft Unit ONE in San Diego, CA (December 1998 - March 2001); United States Ship JOHN C. STENNIS CVN 74 (March 2001 – February 2003) stationed in San Diego, CA; Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 10 in San Diego, CA (April 2003 – March 2004); Sea Land and Air Team SEVEN stationed in San Diego, CA (March 2004 – December 2007); Training Support Center San Diego, CA (December 2007 – September 2011); United States Ship SAN DIEGO LPD 22 in San Diego, CA (October 2011 – August 2014); Commander Naval Information Force Reserve Command in Fort Worth, TX (September 2014 – September 2019).
Mia is a dedicated single mother, and is now a proud grandmother to one grandchild—roles that bring her great joy and purpose.
Director
Lori was raised as an “Army brat.” Her father is an Army veteran serving for over 34 years. He has spent many of his retirement years volunteering for various causes that benefit soldiers and their families. Watching his dedication to improving soldiers’ lives, she wanted to give back to military families as well. Holidays and Heroes is very special to her because it benefits so many service members and their families.
Lori is a retired CPA. She graduated from Texas A&M University with an Accounting degree. Her background includes retail accounting, public accounting and financial administration for family offices.
Lori and her husband, Scott, have two children who were both born and raised in Fort Worth.
