MILITARY LOUNGE MIAMI - Key Persons
Angel M. Rodriguez joined Armed Forces Service Center, as a volunteer, in August 2011. He dedicated over 40 years to corporate America, specializing in ATM driving and monitoring, credit and debit card processing, traveler's checks and Internet gateways for e-Commerce. He previously served as a vice president and/or COO at corporations, including Citibank NA, MasterCard International, First Data and Fidelity. He served in Vietnam as an enlisted Marine. He served in the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation board for 9 years, and the Young Marine Program National board for 10 years. He also serves with several other military organizations, including the VFW, DAV, American Legion, and the Marine Corps League. He grew up in Brooklyn, NY and attended Hunter College. Mr. Rodriguez, is married to, his high school sweetheart, Felicita and has four children and four grandchildren.
Ed. Pelton, grew up in the military because his father was a 30 year Army veteran. After he served in the Navy, he moved to Miami, in 1954. He worked as a carpenter for 3 years then worked for Pan Am, as a sheet metal mechanic for 2 years. Then he joined the Coral Gables Fire Department. There he dedicated 37 years and retired in 1997. While employed as a Fireman, Ed worked a second job as an air condition mechanic for 25 years. Since 2006, Ed has volunteer at the AFSC.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Board Director
- Volunteer Coordinator
Gail L. West, joined Armed Forces Service Center, as a volunteer on May 26, 2011 and became Volunteer Coordinator of the AFSC in April 28, 2014. He entered the US Navy in October 31, 1969, working in Navy Intelligent as an electronic technician. Left the Navy in August 1974 to peruse a college education and received a degree in Computer Science from Florida International University. He worked in several companies as a Software Engineer, Presales Engineering and Project Manager. Mr. West is retired and has been married for 35 years.
Rick Ciravolo has been a volunteer at the AFSC since May, 2021. He is a Circuit Court Mediator where he has conducted over 1000 mediation conference dealing with all areas of the law.
Rich was also a personal Injury attorney from 1965 to 1990. He was also General Counsel and V.P. Business Affairs for computer software publisher in corporate law from 1987 to 1990.
Samuel Alvarez joined the Armed Forces Service Center as a volunteer in August 2022. After 6 years of service with the US Navy, he was medically retired in 2012.
Steven Bobes joined the Armed Forces Service Center as a volunteer in 2017 after reading an article about the center in the BOLO, a newsletter published by the Dade County Police Benevolent Association. He worked 37 years with Miami-Dade County for the Clerk of Court and then the Passenger Transportation Regulatory Division of the Consumer Services Department. After retiring from the county in 2016 he spent one year as a Parking Enforcement Officer with the Miami Parking Authority and currently serves as a Code Enforcement Administrative Hearing Officer for Miami-Dade County. He graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degree in Public Administration. In 1989 he joined the American Society for Public Administration, the professional association for public administrators serving as the critical bridge between public administration scholarship and practitioners in the field. Over the years he has been an active member on state, local, regional, and national levels serving as an officer, committee chair and member of numerous committees on all levels. He served as the president (1998) and treasurer (2001-2013) of the local ASPA chapter and continues his participation in chapter activities. In 1982 he was recruited to be a founding Board Member of the Miami Center of PACE Center for Girls, Inc. a non-profit program for at-risk girls dedicated to changing their lives through the development of critical life, health, and academic skills. He served on the local board as well as the state board of Trustees until the program closed in 2006
Stuart Kinstler is from Queens N.Y. From 1967 to 1970 proudly served in the U.S. Navy; traveled the world including one year in Vietnam. After leaving the service, finished school and settled in Miami, Florida. Manufactures Representative for National Companies in Florida from 1974-1988. From 1989 to 2012, worked on the business side of Managed Healthcare. Retired in 2012 from the University Of Miami Lennar School Of Medicine. For three years, volunteered for the Day of a Caring - a nonprofit group that supports breast cancer. Served as the Treasurer and on the Board of Directors for this 501c organization. Volunteers as a State Certified Counselor for Shine which helps people 65 and over understand their Healthcare Options. For almost 5 years volunteering at the Military Hospitality Lounge.
Thomas Gammon has been a volunteer in the AFSC since January 2022. He retired with 27 years active duty in the U.S. Air Force. But was recalled to activity duty for Operation Enduring Freedom, war on terrorism.
He has been an educator for 34 years with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and served as a Teacher, Professional Developer trainer. He was also a Director Legal Information and Referral for the elderly at the University of Mississippi Law School.
Yolanda Woodbridge was born in Bogotá, Colombia, daughter of a Costa Rican diplomat in post there. She travelled extensively with her family throughout her youth. She studied at San Francisco College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then at the Javeriana University in Bogotá, Colombia. Since 1980, she has lived in Miami with her four children. Her husband, Frederick Woodbridge, Jr., is a local attorney.
Since 1983, she has worked in Coral Gables and been involved in many community activities: Rotary Club of Coral Gables: Member of the Coral Gables Rotary Club since 1994. Mrs. Woodbridge, is a Former President of the Club, has been a Member of the Board of Directors for the past18 years and has held very senior positions in this capacity.Rotary International, District 6990: At the International level continues her service in the following critical positions: GSE Program Chair (Group Study Exchange), Ambassadorial Scholar Program Participant, District Chief of Staff and Secretary, Rotaract Chair and Newsletter Editor.