MIKE PETTIS: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Originally from Midland, TX, Mike now resides in Prosper, TX. Married to his wife Nikki for 22 years, together they have three awesome kids: Regan, Cole and Case. Mike owns and operates The Gin, a restaurant bar, and entertainment venue, in historic downtown Prosper. He also owns and operates Pettis Under Construction, currently engaged in a major preservation and revitalization effort in historic downtown Prosper. Mike is a member of the Board of Directors for Sons of the Flag, and co-chairs the annual Country for Country Dinner, Auction, and Concert, benefitting Sons of the Flag.
JOHN A. REDMOND, JR.
John Redmond is the Co-Founder and President of InspectIR Systems. A Frisco-based company, for the last 6 years, InspectIR has been focused on innovation and research, delivering breath-based devices and solutions to provide more equitable diagnostics and screening at or near the point of care.
With more than 25 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies, John is a human capital expert in the technology and consulting industries with leadership positions in talent acquisition and diversity and inclusion. John has held board, corporate, honorary, and personal memberships with organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), The National Society of Black MBAs (NBMBAA), the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC) and ITSMF. He has also served as corporate advisor and counsel to the organizations; operating as a coach and recruiter to members.
Through both his corporate and entrepreneurial endeavors, John has created success through a dynamic network of professionals, educators and consultants striving towards a higher level or performance and leadership, effectively collaborating through our most valuable resource – people.
John has a BS in Business Administration/Marketing from the Gies School of Business at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. While attending U of I, John was a President’s Award Scholar (4-year scholarship), a 4-year member and letter winner on the Varsity Gymnastics Team, and a founding member of Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB).
Married with two (2) adult children, John has been a Frisco resident for over 18 years.
We are thrilled that John is now sharing his expertise as our newest Sons of the Flag board member.
ISRAEL DEL TORO
Through many hardships and tribulations, Senior Master Sergeant Israel “DT” Del Toro’s life has been defined by absolute devotion to family. From an early age, he was thrust into the role of provider for his four siblings. He was 12 when his father died of a heart attack, and a short time later, his mother was killed by a drunk driver. As the oldest of four children, and just a teenager, Israel became the provider for his family. “The last thing he ever told me was promise you’ll always take care of your family,” Del Toro said of his father. That promise, echoed in another he made to his son – that he would never have to grow up without a father.
On December 4, 2005, United States Air Force SMSgt Israel Del Toro Jr.‘s Humvee hit an IED. The blast left him with severe burns on more than 80% of his body. He lost all his fingers on his left hand and had the fingers on his right hand amputated at his knuckles.
After being given a 15 percent chance of survival, he not only re-enlisted in the Air Force, but also set records and won a gold medal at the 2016 Invictus Games. DT has taken the lessons he learned through hardship and recovery. He now finds purpose in sharing his story and wisdom with audiences around the country in the hopes of helping others find the light in the darkness.
TRAVIS ALLISON
LCDR Travis Allison is a native of Houston, TX. A graduate of Texas A&M University and the College of William and Mary. He spent 12 years in active duty service as an F/A-18 fighter pilot, serving in 3 combat deployments and graduating from the Navy’s elite Fighter Weapons School, TOPGUN.
Travis is now the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of The Pennington Auto Group leading the financial team that manages 8 dealerships and their respective financial portfolios. Travis continues to give back to the local Dallas community as a Board member of Sons of the Flag. He is a native of Houston, Texas and holds an MBA from The College of William and Mary and a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University.
ISRAEL DEL TORO
Through many hardships and tribulations, Senior Master Sergeant Israel “DT” Del Toro’s life has been defined by absolute devotion to family. From an early age, he was thrust into the role of provider for his four siblings. He was 12 when his father died of a heart attack, and a short time later, his mother was killed by a drunk driver. As the oldest of four children, and just a teenager, Israel became the provider for his family. “The last thing he ever told me was promise you’ll always take care of your family,” Del Toro said of his father. That promise, echoed in another he made to his son – that he would never have to grow up without a father.
On December 4, 2005, United States Air Force SMSgt Israel Del Toro Jr.‘s Humvee hit an IED. The blast left him with severe burns on more than 80% of his body. He lost all his fingers on his left hand and had the fingers on his right hand amputated at his knuckles.
After being given a 15 percent chance of survival, he not only re-enlisted in the Air Force, but also set records and won a gold medal at the 2016 Invictus Games. DT has taken the lessons he learned through hardship and recovery. He now finds purpose in sharing his story and wisdom with audiences around the country in the hopes of helping others find the light in the darkness.
GARY SEIBEL
Mr. Seibel started his financial career in banking as a branch manager, then moved to residential and commercial lending. Next, he became an executive with a national real estate investment trust (REIT), facilitating loan investments for banks and various lending institutions. As his career advanced, he held many positions, such as president of a lending institution, division president of an investment firm, and was the CFO for a health strategies company.
Mr. Seibel received his Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses in 2010 as well as his life insurance license (Ark. Ins. Lic. #11724706).
In 2011, Mr. Seibel joined Cardinal Investment Group. He specializes in financial advising, with a focus on investment advising and retirement planning. Another area of Mr. Seibel’s practice is financial coaching for individuals and businesses that need something more than standard financial advice. As a business consultant, Mr. Seibel uses his financial experience to provide consulting in a number of areas for small and growing businesses. Mr. Seibel is the Vice-President of Recruiting for Trutoro, a Broker-Dealer and SEC-Registered Investment Advisor.
Mr. Seibel studied at Berean University (Biblical Studies), SAU Tech (Fire Science), and Liberty University (Government and Finance). Mr. Seibel has held several board positions in the past for a variety of civic and nonprofit firms; and is currently on the boards of two nonprofits: Sons Of The Flag, an organization dedicated to revolutionizing burn care; and Riverside Actors Theater, a theater company dedicated to helping veterans and first responders overcome PTSD and other traumatic injuries. He is a member of the Conway Chamber of Commerce. He enjoys outdoor activities as a hobby, including running and fitness training; is an avid reader, a perpetual student, and is a proficient guitar player.
GARY SEIBEL
Mr. Seibel started his financial career in banking as a branch manager, then moved to residential and commercial lending. Next, he became an executive with a national real estate investment trust (REIT), facilitating loan investments for banks and various lending institutions. As his career advanced, he held many positions, such as president of a lending institution, division president of an investment firm, and was the CFO for a health strategies company.
Mr. Seibel received his Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses in 2010 as well as his life insurance license (Ark. Ins. Lic. #11724706).
In 2011, Mr. Seibel joined Cardinal Investment Group. He specializes in financial advising, with a focus on investment advising and retirement planning. Another area of Mr. Seibel’s practice is financial coaching for individuals and businesses that need something more than standard financial advice. As a business consultant, Mr. Seibel uses his financial experience to provide consulting in a number of areas for small and growing businesses. Mr. Seibel is the Vice-President of Recruiting for Trutoro, a Broker-Dealer and SEC-Registered Investment Advisor.
Mr. Seibel studied at Berean University (Biblical Studies), SAU Tech (Fire Science), and Liberty University (Government and Finance). Mr. Seibel has held several board positions in the past for a variety of civic and nonprofit firms; and is currently on the boards of two nonprofits: Sons Of The Flag, an organization dedicated to revolutionizing burn care; and Riverside Actors Theater, a theater company dedicated to helping veterans and first responders overcome PTSD and other traumatic injuries. He is a member of the Conway Chamber of Commerce. He enjoys outdoor activities as a hobby, including running and fitness training; is an avid reader, a perpetual student, and is a proficient guitar player.
STEVE WOODS: FORMER CHAIRMAN
Steve has been involved in private equity real estate investments since the early 1980’s as a Principal of The Woods Company, Valcor Partners, ValQuest Equity Partners and ValQuest Equity Partners II. Steve also has a back ground in the oil business as well as other investments.
From 1971 to 1973 Steve worked for General Electric Credit Corporation in Dallas, Arlington, and Ft Worth. Steve worked with a large family owned commercial cattle feedlot operation in the Texas Panhandle, managing all cattle on pasture and the company’s profit sharing plan. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of WalVerne, Inc., the feedlots managing partner.
He served on the board of Alliance Tax Group, Inc., a small Minority Woman Owned Business (MWOB) and on the Administrative Board at Highland Park United Methodist Church. He is member and Deacon of Park Cities Presbyterian Church and has been actively involved in several youth ministries including Boy Scouts where both sons received their Eagle Scout Award.
Steve received a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the Texas Cowboys service organization and the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. Steve is 64, grew up in Dallas and is married with 5 children, 7 grandchildren and more on the way.
Founder
RYAN PARROTT: FOUNDER
Founder and Former President & CEO, Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, served eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, attached to Team SEVEN, completing three combat tours to Iraq. In 2005, Ryan was manning the turret gun of a Humvee in enemy territory when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive devise (IED), causing a flash fire and throwing him from the vehicle. With his face and arms on fire, Ryan witnessed team members suffer devastating burn and blast injuries.
After completing his service, Ryan moved to Dallas. Meeting other Veterans in the area who suffered serious burn injuries, Ryan was discouraged that burn medicine and technologies were not advancing the same way that amputees benefit from incredible innovations made in prosthetics.
Searching for better answers, Ryan realized that traumatic burns significantly impact not only the military community, but fire fighters, first-responders and civilians as well. Ryan realized his calling and established Sons of the Flag.
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