Repost: After the Military, a Call of Duty to His Community

This story was originally published in the Wall Street Journal, March 15, 2015.

After the Military, a Call of Duty to His Community

A former Navy base commander now serves the Red Cross in Texas

T.D. Smyers says ‘there is a lot of crossover’ between the Navy and the Red Cross.PHOTO: CINDY REDEMANN

By 

KRISTI ESSICK

March 15, 2015 11:04 p.m. ET

Who says you can’t go home again? After traveling the world with the Navy, T.D. Smyers has found a new life within several miles of the Texas town where he grew up. He works full time with the American Red Cross serving a community he loves.

“I saw a chance to retire from a long career in the military and do something…to give back to my hometown,” Mr. Smyers says.

That chance came in 2011. Mr. Smyers had spent the previous three years commanding a Navy base in Fort Worth, Texas. He was offered a new job in San Diego, with the lure of a future promotion to admiral. He chose instead to retire from the Navy and stay in Fort Worth.

“What I loved about my job on the base was serving my community,” Mr. Smyers recalls. He wasn’t sure exactly what his next step would be, but he knew he had found his calling.

Mr. Smyers’s wife, Barbara, was a board member for the local Red Cross chapter. He admired the organization, and when he heard about a new executive role the group was seeking to fill, he threw his hat into the ring. “All the lights went on for me, because this was exactly the type of job I wanted,” Mr. Smyers says.

Since January 2012, Mr. Smyers has served as chief executive of the American Red Cross North Texas Region. That encompasses 11 Red Cross chapters spanning 111 counties from the Texas Panhandle to Texarkana.

“I think a few people were unsure about a naval officer joining [the agency], fearing I’d be out of touch,” Mr. Smyers says. “But there is a lot of crossover. The Red Cross and the Navy are both about service and carrying out a mission; they are both global forces for good.”

The Red Cross has five primary missions: disaster relief, services for military personnel, blood supplies for emergencies, health and preparedness training, and international relief.

Mr. Smyers says he faces two big challenges: finding enough volunteers, donors and partners to bring services to the region’s nine million people—and fundraising. “Seeking donations is a new skill set, but I’m getting pretty good at asking for money,” he says.

Though he puts in long hours, Mr. Smyers says he loves his new job, especially when he’s working with volunteers. “I meet all kinds of people who are giving back to their communities, and it’s so inspiring,” Mr. Smyers says. “In my 30 years with the Navy, I looked in the mirror every day and felt privileged to do my job. My new career makes me feel the same way.”

T.D. SMYERS

Age: 52

Home: Fort Worth, Texas

First/primary career: Naval officer

Current path: Executive with the American Red Cross

Why this path: “After 30 years in the Navy, I still had a lot of energy to give back.”

Second Acts looks at the varied paths people are taking in their 50s and beyond. The profiles are by Kristi Essick, a writer in California. You can reach her, and let us know how you’re starting over in later life, at encore@wsj.com.

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Fifth Class of Leadership North Texas Includes Red Cross Regional CEO T.D. Smyers

NORTH TEXAS – The North Texas Commission graduated the fifth class of Leadership North Texas presented by Oncor on Friday, May 16. Leadership North Texas is a graduate-level, regional leadership program designed to recruit, develop and support leaders who have a commitment to civic engagement and to the North Texas region. Among the graduates is American Red Cross North Texas Region CEO T.D. Smyers.

The class of 31 leaders from throughout the region spent nine months learning best practices in regional stewardship, with discussion including education and workforce, regionalism, the North Texas economy, the impact on incarceration, sustainable development, healthcare and transportation.

“As one of the fastest growing large regions in the nation, North Texas needs leaders from all cities and counties along with stakeholder groups such as businesses, higher education institutions and non-profits working together to grow responsibly,” said Mabrie Jackson, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission. “Leadership North Texas brings these individuals from across our 12-county region together to form bonds that will last a lifetime.” 

The graduates of Leadership North Texas Class 5 are the following:
• Bruce Arfsten, Realtor, RE/MAX and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Addison
• Beth Bowman, Chief Development Officer, Greater-Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
• Dana Burghdoff, Deputy Planning & Development Director, City of Fort Worth
• Richard Casarez, Vice President Customer Operations, Oncor 
• Vanessa Copeland, CFO, O. Trevino Construction, LLC
• Armin Cruz, Vice President, Parking Business Unit, DFW International Airport 
• Corey Davison, Vice President, Government Relations, Tenet Healthcare Corporation
• Dr. Laura DeFina, Chief Scientific Officer, The Cooper Institute
• Scott Donaldson, Assistant Coordinator, Tarrant County College District
• Lynda Gearheart, Manager, Public Affairs, Chesapeake Energy
• Mark Israelson, Director of Policy and Government Relations, City of Plano
• Gianni LaBarba, Managing Partner, Venator Group
• Kim Ludwig, Founder, The Giving Tree 
• Opal Mauldin-Robertson, City Manager, City of Lancaster
• Wes Mays, Councilmember, City of Coppell and Division Engineering Manager, Peterbilt Motors Company 
• Tracy Merzi, Publisher, Dallas Business Journal
• Winjie Miao, President, Texas Health Alliance, Texas Health Resources
• Cindy Milrany, CFO/CAO, Freese and Nichols
• Carl Pankratz, Councilmember, City of Rowlett
• David Parker, Vice President, External Affairs, AT&T
• Mary Jo Polidore, Vice President, Public Affairs, DFW International Airport
• Asusena Resendiz, President and CEO, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Kristin Reznicek, Public & Community Relations, Crandall ISD
• Larry Robertson, President, Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery
• Dr. Liz Seymour, Physician, Medical Associates of Denton
• Owais Siddiqui, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Murphy
• TD Smyers, President and CEO, American Red Cross - North Texas
• Charlene Stark, Executive Director, Hope for the Brave
• Michael Thomas, Executive Director, My Possibilities
• Jake Yarbrough, Account Director, Global Prairie

Recruitment is underway for Leadership North Texas Class 6. Since the program’s inception, 146 leaders from across North Texas have participated, including a state representative, numerous mayors and city council members, city managers and economic development professionals, business leaders, higher education executives and nonprofit leaders.

Over a nine-month period, the class addresses and discusses topics such as the history of North Texas, regionalism, our economy, workforce and education, sustainable development, the impact of incarceration and a plan for civic engagement. They learn best practices in regional stewardship from experts and other regions, and explore how to collaborate to best address current regional issues.

The application deadline for Leadership North Texas Class 6 is noon, June 13., 2014. Applications are available online at www.leadershipnorthtexas.org or through the North Texas Commission office at 972-621-0400. Tuition for the program is $3,000.

Oncor is the Presenting Sponsor for Leadership North Texas.

Established in 1971, the North Texas Commission is a regional non-profit consortium of businesses, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and higher education institutions in the North Texas Region. The North Texas Commission improves the economic vitality, infrastructure and lifestyle of North Texas by marketing the region, promoting collaboration and advocating on critical issues.

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A Message From CEO T.D. Smyers: North Texans Helping Our Neighbors After Tornado Outbreak

by T.D. Smyers, CEO, American Red Cross North Texas Region

T.D. Smyers

In the past week, thousands of people were affected by the tornadoes and floods that caused heartbreaking devastation to neighborhoods and communities across the south. Our own Gail McGovern went to see the Red Cross response in Arkansas and wrote this first-hand account. As these storms were touching down, I was glued to my TV and Twitter monitoring the weather situation. We dodged a bullet in North Texas. Had those storms developed only a few hours sooner, they might have put us in the same situation, requiring Red Cross help from other states. 

In fact, it was only about a year ago that we were reeling from such an event. Fresh off of the West, TX fertilizer plant explosion, we responded to fatal storms in Hood, Johnson and Parker Counties. With this latest response, our newest capability, the North Texas Region Digital Operations Center, has been a tremendous asset in helping us connect those in need with resources available at the Red Cross. Of course, it's not only technology that North Texans are wielding help. We've deployed more than 40 volunteer disaster responders to the affected areas, along with a fleet of Emergency Response Vehicles.

A Fort Worth Emergency Response Vehicle
provides support to people affected by tornadoes in Arkansas

We can't do any of this without your support, which brings comfort and hope to people when they need it most. As you saw with the tornado threat in Dallas just yesterday, a disaster can happen at any time and when it does, we'll be in need of the same kind of help that we're now providing to our neighbors. Help people affected by disasters big and small, give to disaster relief.

Our sincerest thanks for your support.

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A Message From CEO T.D. Smyers: Unique New Way to Donate

by T.D. Smyers, CEO, American Red Cross North Texas Region

T.D. Smyers

As I write this message, nearly 40 American Red Cross volunteers from across the North Texas Region are deployed to help families with storm recovery in Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas and North Florida as part of the massive 13-state response to last week's tornadoes and floods. Volunteers are crucial to our mission in helping people in their time of need, making it possible for the Red Cross to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters each year. We know that not everyone can immediately rush to another state, but there are many other ways to help.

As always, you can visit RedCross.org to donate or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10. Or, you can donate a vehicle. In February of this year, the Red Cross launched our Vehicle Donation Program, partnering with Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA). The program converts unneeded vehicles into Red Cross donations.

Have an older car in the garage that isn't being used? You may think that your old, beat-up vehicle is worthless, but the donation of that car could be priceless to someone in need of Red Cross services.

To make it easier on you, the donation is tax deductible and we'll provide free pick-up and towing. We accept cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, snowmobiles, jet skis, tractors, farm equipment and more, in any condition -- even salvaged.

Do you know someone that may be interested? To donate a vehicle, contact the Red Cross online at RedCross.org or call 1-855-92 RC CAR (927-2227) to make arrangements. An IAA representative will pick up your vehicle at a time that's convenient to you and at no cost. Once the vehicle is sold, they'll provide you with a tax receipt on behalf of the Red Cross.

It's that simple. With storm season ramping up, we need your help more than ever. Follow updates about the Red Cross response on www.redcross.org/dfw and on Twitter at @RedCrossDFW. Thanks so much for your support.

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BOOTS on at Red Cross

by Micaela Rosinski, intern contributor

During the summer months, I interned with the Red Cross communications team in Dallas. It was a great experience as I was able to tie my appreciation for nonprofits with my aspirations of becoming a public relations professional. Even better, I was able to connect my internship with another favorite nonprofit of mine, Boot Campaign.

Boot Campaign is a nonprofit organization created in Texas and serves as an outlet to show appreciation for our troops, and raise awareness and funds to help troops with challenges they face when returning home. All this is done by simply “getting your boots on.”

When I spoke to the communications team about Boot Campaign, they immediately suggested I get our regional CEO, T.D. Smyers, involved. Intrigued, I found his biography on the Red Cross website. Wow. T.D. was a four-year track letterman at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, earned multiple awards and began a career in naval aviation, eventually leading to his reception of the Legion of Merit for his leadership of Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. In 2009, the Chisholm Trail Chapter of the Red Cross recognized Smyers as the Military Member of the Year.

In addition to his military success, he holds degrees from Annapolis and the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

T.D. talked to me each time he walked by my desk, offering a friendly smile and a hello. I took the opportunity to explain my desire to photograph him in a pair of Boot Campaign military boots and how he could help this organization. 

Taking the photos was great. He was intrigued to learn more about Boot Campaign’s mission and how wearing boots was helping. After the completion of the photos, he bought the boots! 
Bringing it full-circle, Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces also provides military members and their families with various outlets of support.  Red Cross links military families during emergencies, provides emergency financial assistance and resiliency training, supports wounded warriors and military hospitals, and more. 

Want to help both organizations? Here are some ideas to get started!

• Buy Boot Campaign boots! In addition to the money benefiting the organization, they are a great way to spark a conversation when people are confused as to why you are wearing military boots with civilian clothes.
• Volunteer for the Red Cross while wearing your boots. Take it a step further and become a Service to the Armed Forces volunteer!
• Donate blood to the Red Cross in boots. Considering donating this Veteran's Day, in honor of those who have served our country!

On this Veterans Day, thank both the troops that protect our freedoms and the organizations that help our armed forces. Organizations such as the Red Cross and Boot Campaign are vital necessities in seeing our active and veteran members of the military receive the services they deserve. 

For more information about Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces, visit redcross.org. Join T.D. at the Veteran's Day Parade in Fort Worth on Monday starting at 10am. 

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Looking Back on Superstorm Sandy, One Year Later

by Tonya Solis-Mosby, volunteer contributor

The American Red Cross response to Superstorm Sandy
was our largest US relief operation in 5 years.

Her fierce winds rose to 115 miles per hour.  In her wake she left trees splintered and strewn; demolished houses and other buildings; many lives uprooted and at least 285 dead.  She was so much more than the average hurricane. She was called Superstorm Sandy.

As the first anniversary of Hurricane Sandy’s devastating blow to the East Coast on October 29, 2012 approaches, Tom and Jeanne Gargiulo, a Long Island couple, shared recently with Red Cross staff, board members and volunteers their story of survival during a hurricane nightmare.

North Texas Regional CEO T.D. Smyers presents
the Gargiulo's with a framed copy of the poster
they were featured in for the American Red Cross.

“We were shattered,” Mrs. Gargiulo said, adding, “but we weren’t broken.”

Mr. and Mrs. Gargiulo were featured guest speakers for "The Journey Forward," a Sandy Commemoration Forum hosted by the American Red Cross in North Texas last week.  The special event was attended by Red Cross volunteers, board members and community partners.

During their presentation, which included a slide show presentation of the storm damage, Mrs. Gargiulo described her family’s activities in the days prior to the storm hitting Babylon Village where she and her family lived.  She said their efforts weren’t unlike other village residents. They boarded their windows and strategically placed sandbags in an effort to ward off the effects of the storm. But their efforts were in vain. 

“We moved 3 miles away (to her in-laws house),” Mrs. Gargiulo said, “There were electric lines sparking, trees uprooted and what sounded like explosions.  There was also high water.”

Mrs. Gargiulo said 24 hours later, she and her family returned to their home to find it had been filled with about 6 feet of water.  She said it took boats and wading in waist-high water to get through their neighborhood. But before the Gargiulo family and their neighbors could begin to think about repairs, Mother Nature dumped a tremendous snow storm on the area.

“With everything that was going on,” Mr. Gargiulo said, “and all the organizations that came out to help, one organization stood out. It was one of the happiest moments of our lives when that truck drove up with hot meals.”

The truck that Mr. Gargiulo spoke about was an American Red Cross emergency relief vehicle. Aboard that truck was food and drink, but in the days following the storm, the Red Cross also delivered supplies that helped residents sift through the remains of their homes and to keep warm, he said.

“Thank you for being our light in the darkness,” Mrs. Gargiulo said.

Now, one year later, The Gargiulos described their neighborhood as one that is struggling to overcome the devastation.  There are vacant lots and friends and neighbors who have vowed not to return, they said. However, they had the hope of rebuilding their lives in their old neighborhood so they began repairs to their house earlier this year.  Unfortunately, a project to elevate the house failed. The house plummeted from the hydraulics to the ground, causing irreparable damage.  They are slated to begin rebuilding again in a few months.

Larry Mowry, CBS 11 meteorologist & Sandy Forum
speaker poses with Red Cross volunteer Anna.

Also during the forum, T.D. Smyers, North Texas Region Red Cross chief executive officer, facilitated conversations of Hurricane Sandy experiences from DFW-area volunteers who were deployed to the storm-damaged area. Larry Mowry, CBS 11 chief meteorologist, also shared insight on the conditions that made Sandy such a significant storm.  Finally, tips for preparing for hurricanes and tornados, as well as other emergencies, were shared by Red Cross officials and by members of the city and county of emergency response teams, including emergency managers Doug Bass and David McCurdy and Juan Ortiz, and Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley.

Check out more photos from the events in Dallas & Fort Worth on Flickr. Learn more about the American Red Cross' massive response to Superstorm Sandy by reading our one-year report.

Tips for emergency preparedness can be found on the American Red Cross website www.redcross.org/prepare. Safety information is also available on Facebook: RedCrossDFW and Twitter @RedCrossDFW.

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A Symbol of Hope – The Work of the Red Cross in Israel

by Sydney Holt, American Red Cross volunteer contributor

T.D. & MDA Director
Chaim Rafalowski 

A simple symbol can say so much. For National Boss Day, I caught up with our boss, American Red Cross North Texas Region CEO, T.D. Smyers, about his recent trip to Israel for a joint leadership gathering with Magen David Adom, otherwise known as MDA, the Red Cross society in Israel. MDA has been officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as Israel’s national aid society since 2006.

Smyers was one of a select group of CEOs invited to travel to Israel for an information exchange with our counterparts on the other side of the world. The relief workers in Israel were interested to hear from Smyers and the other CEOs about responses to catastrophic emergencies in major US urban centers. His biggest take-away from the experience: “Different symbols, same principles.” 

This short, but profound statement from Smyers as he recapped his experiences perfectly describes Red Cross’ efforts abroad. “Regardless of religious or political affiliation, socio-economic status, race, age or gender – Red Cross is in the business of helping people,” said Smyers. “And although our symbol differs from the MDA’s it represents the same in any disaster situation – hope.”

More about the efforts in Israel – 

• The Red Cross symbol as we know it was the original protection symbol declared at the 1864 Geneva Convention – it’s purpose being to introduce a uniform and neutral protection symbol
• The “cross” is not a Christian cross, but the inverse of the Swiss flag
• Two other largely recognized symbols throughout the world are the Red Crescent and the Red Crystal – these symbols are used in countries where the appearance of a cross may alienate some, such as majority Muslim populations

• MDA’s two main focuses are to provide emergency medical and blood services – they provide 99% of civilian and 100% of the military blood supply
• MDA has a very developed, robust disaster response force that leverages the use of newly-developed technologies such as personal communication devices with geo-location aiding volunteer response and mobile apps for the general public

Upon returning from Israel, Smyers is excited to share the lessons learned with Red Cross workers here in the states. 

To learn more about the ICRC and the American Red Cross's International Services, visit RedCross.org.

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Regional CEO T.D. Smyers Heads to Israel for Information Exchange

Magen David Adom volunteers help the
injured after the earthquake in Haiti.

North Texas Region CEO T.D. Smyers is taking a little bit of Texas to the Middle East.

T.D. is one of a handful of American Red Cross local CEOs that have been personally selected by Red Cross National President and CEO Gail McGovern to join her on a trip to Israel beginning today. 

The trip will serve as a comprehensive information exchange between the American Red Cross and the Magen David Adom (Israel’s Red Cross Society), with the societies hoping to share lessons learned in preparing for, and responding to, mass casualty events such as earthquakes and terrorist attacks. 

The meeting will enable both Red Cross Societies to better serve people in need in their respective countries, and to create opportunities to work together. A recent example of collaboration was when the American Red Cross and Magen David Adom jointly deployed to Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake to deliver life-saving assistance. Additionally, the teams will discuss the launch of a new universal first aid app, based on the success of the American Red Cross series of life-saving apps. The first Hebrew language app is rolling out in Israel this month. 

Safe travels, T.D.!

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A March is Red Cross Month Update from T.D. Smyers

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross

T.D. Smyers, CEO,
North Texas Region

Red Cross Month is buzzing along and here in the DFW area, we’re looking forward to a little more celebrating before April comes our way. Regional CEO T.D. Smyers, for one, is excited:

“Red Cross Month is an affirmation of what we mean to America and to the people we help,” said T.D. “The recognition during the month of March each year gives us a great opportunity to showcase to the public all that we do. The fact that the mayor of Dallas, Mayor Mike Rawlings, and the mayor of Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price, have agreed to be honorary chairs of Red Cross Month activities annually has meant a great deal.”

Some of the activities coming up between now and the end of the month include:

• Jack Rogers Trunk Show & Shopping Event
  Wednesday, March 20, 4-6pm at Highland Park Village
  20% of sales will benefit the American Red Cross
• Red Cross Day at Norma’s Cafe
  Thursday, March 21 at Norma’s Cafe
  A portion of the day’s sales will benefit the American Red Cross
• Downtown Fort Worth Turns Red
  Monday, March 25 after dark
• Chisholm Trail Chapter Open House
  Monday, March 25, 10am-2pm
  Tuesday, March 26, 3pm-7pm
• Dean Fearing’s Lost Coyote Band Benefit Concert
  Friday, March 29, 8-11pm at the Green Elephant Bar
  $20 admission price will benefit the American Red Cross

Many of these events have a special Red Cross tie—Dallas Area Chapter board members Lori Jones and Kimberly Schlegal Whitman are co-hosting the Jack Rogers Trunk Show, while board member Bob Boulogne plays drums for the Lost Coyote Band. 

“We are so grateful that these leaders in our community believe in our cause and have been so closely involved in planning these events,” said T.D., who was on hand to receive the official Red Cross Month proclamations from the Dallas City Council and Dallas Commissioners Court and will do the same in Fort Worth on March 19. Additionally, on March 25, buildings in downtown Fort Worth will light red to commemorate Red Cross Month. 

T.D. says he’s especially excited that Red Cross Month is bringing attention to the new Red Cross Tornado app.

“It’s so powerful because it’s a real tool, something people can hold in their hand and that has the potential to save their lives. That’s pretty amazing.”

Red Cross Month is a great time to get involved—whether it be donating, giving blood, taking classes and especially volunteering.

“It’s going to be tough for you to find something more rewarding than getting involved with the Red Cross. We’re more than 90 percent volunteers,” T.D. explains. “It’s not that volunteers are important to us fulfilling our mission—they’re crucial. They’re the soul of our organization."

“I tell people, the Red Cross is you. We’re your neighbors. Sometimes people think of the Red Cross as just being a big organization that responds to national disasters, but we’re also the neighbors who show up at the curbside when a house burns down.  That’s because of our volunteers.”

To start your Red Cross story today, visit RedCross.org/DFW, and don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more updates on Red Cross Month celebrations.

So what’s T.D. looking forward to the most?

“I’m excited to see the Fort Worth skyline turn red. It’s the culmination of a lot of work to make something like that happen, so that’s special,” he said, adding, “On the Dallas side though, definitely the Lost Coyotes concert. I like to rock. And I would never turn down a slice of Norma's Mile High Pie. I'll let my wife take care of the Jack Rogers sandals.”

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