Robert is a native of Santa Ana; after serving our country in the United State Air Force, he returned home to impact the lives of young people in his community. During four years of active duty, Robert served as a member of the 15th Security Forces Squadron at Hickam AFB Hawaii.
Robert’s passion to impact the lives of youth led him to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana. He started as a volunteer and mentor with the Club, and his relationship with the Club continued to grow. As Director of Operations, he oversaw the expansion of the Club from a single site with 12 staff and 130 kids to six sites, 65 staff and over 1,000 children served daily. Within three years of his first visit as a volunteer, he became the Chief Executive Officer of a Club with a strong tradition and progressive approach to improving and expanding programs.
Robert is active throughout the County of Orange and has become a resource to other non-profit groups. Robert’s background in law enforcement, business management, and child development creates a unique blend of experience, which leads to his effectiveness as community leader. In 2010, Robert was recognized as one of the Top 100 OC Latinos for his impact and advocacy on the Latino community in Orange County. Robert’s track record and prominent role in the community landed him on OC Metro’s 23rd annual “Hot 25” list of Orange County’s most innovative and influential executives.
Robert currently serves as a member of the Professional Advisory Council to the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Vistage, and the Planning Committee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Pacific Region Professional Leadership Conference. Robert has also served as president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Orange County Alliance, board member of the Santa Ana Empowerment Corporation, executive secretary of the Orange County Area Council for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and member of several community task forces and philanthropic committees. Robert has volunteered to help non-profit executives and boards with training, strategic planning, and non-profit management.
As the leader of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, he has brought innovation, vision, and leadership to an organization with more than 75 years of impact. Under his leadership, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast has become one of the premier Boys & Girls Clubs in the Pacific Region.
As a business and community leader, Robert refers to the core values by which he lived while serving in the US Air Force: Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in all he does. These core values, along with his vision and passion, have enabled him to create a mission-driven culture for both the staff and Board at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast.
Robert holds an MBA with emphasis on organizational leadership from National University, a Bachelor of Science in Child & Adolescent Development and additional teaching certifications from California State University, Fullerton, and an associate degree in criminal justice and justice administration from Hawaii Pacific University.
