Board of Directors

Yvette Maglio - Assistant Executive Director - Operation Ward 57

Yvette Maglio

Assistant Executive Director

Yvette is a married mom of 3 grown boys. She is has been a real estate appraiser for over 30 years. Her husband is an Air Force veteran and retired police lieutenant. Yvette started volunteering with Operation Ward 57 in 2013 after her nephew, Sgt. Derek McConnell, US Army, died from his injuries sustained in Afghanistan. Yvette saw first hand the great things Operation Ward 57 was able to accomplish and wanted to continue to give back to those who have given so much for all of us.

Mandi Atkins

Assistant Executive Director

Mandi Atkins is a prior Army active duty/combat veteran spouse, the daughter of a Navy veteran, and has 6 living family members who have selflessly served this country. In addition to being a mother of three children, she works as a sales manager and mortgage advisor in WA, OR, and CA. She brings her education experience with her and is also a licensed real estate instructor, teaching financial literacy to active duty service members, as well as educating real estate professionals on how to better serve their military clients. While also serving on multiple non profit boards, Mandi has helped fundraise and coordinate large events to provide funding for the overlooked needs our servicemembers face, including funding service animals, and has received numerous service awards for her contributions across multiple agencies. Mandi has been volunteering with Operation Ward 57 since 2015, and joined the board in 2017.

Siobhan Fuller-McConnell - President - Operation Ward 57

Siobhan Fuller-McConnell

President

Siobhan Fuller-McConnell lives in NJ, is a single mother of five children, and is a practicing attorney. Her second child, Sgt Derek McConnell, US Army, was injured in Afghanistan on July 23, 2011, and died of his wounds on March 18, 2013. As a Gold Star Mother, Siobhan has stayed active in the caregiver community, and travels often between NJ and Bethesda, MD to visit Walter Reed.

Siobhan Fuller-McConnell - President - Operation Ward 57

Lisa Heeter

Treasurer

Lisa Heeter lives in Maryland with her husband of 37 years. They have 4 children and 3 grandchildren that they love spending time with. Her father is an Army veteran as well as her husband. She started volunteering with Operation Ward 57 in 2009 when she was introduced to the organization by her friend Nelson Stewart. Over the years she has participated in the holiday cheer program as well as ice cream socials, nurse’s week, adopt a family and other events at the hospital. Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors and giving back to the community.

Laura Boone | Secretary  Operation Ward 57

Laura Boone

Secretary

Laura has been with Operation Ward 57 as a volunteer since 2009. She stumbled upon a T-shirt booth for them at a concert in the DC area while living in Baltimore. From 09-2013 she visited the ward weekly and took patients to events once they were mobile. Laura moved to Nashville late 2013 and swapped her roll from inpatient visits to social media management. Now back in Maryland, she recently joined the board of directors and hold the Secretary position. Happy to be back in the area, her daytime job is the toll of store manager for Rack Room Shoes since 2011.

Nelson Stewart - Board Member - Operation Ward 57

Nelson Stewart

Board Member

Nelson Stewart graduated from McMaster University on the Dean’s Honour List with a double major in English and History. He also received a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario, again on the Dean’s Honour List. He teaches in Canada where he also conducts a stage band, a funk band, and a concert band, and coaches soccer and football. Dubbed “Bon Scottsman” by fans Nelson has been a musician for 35 years in such diverse musical genres as rock, Celtic, funk, punk, blues, folk, jazz, pop, and classical.  He is a singer/songwriter/producer who plays several instruments including piano, guitar, accordion, bass, mandolin, sax, harmonica, bodhran, and various other drums.  When Nelson is not performing with the AMERICAN ROGUES he also appears with other groups. Nelson and The AMERICAN ROGUES have continuously shown their support of the military.  The AMERICAN ROGUE family includes former members of the Army, the Marines, the Air Force, the Military Police, and the Navy.  They have raised thousands of dollars for individual veterans, the U.S. Air Force Aid Society, and have been a close partner with Operation Ward 57 since 2009.  They have performed for the troops in Guantanamo Bay, Japan, Italy, Spain and Guam and they regularly volunteer to perform for WWII Vets at Honor Flights in Washington, D.C.