“It was that moment that made me realize that what the Red Cross does is way bigger than me or any of us. This kind of work is special. A volunteer was giving her time for nothing at all, and she stepped out of her shoes for a stranger. I’ll never forget it.”

Court Ogilvie, known to many of us for his 17 years with Red Cross Blood Services and Disaster Services, joined the American Red Cross Alumni Network (ARCAN) as its first new member. He recently took on a new role as COO of the National Military Family Association (NMFA), which works with families to identify and solve the unique challenges of military life. NMFA advocates for military families on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon, and in communities around the world. It also provides scholarships for military spouses, and camps and programs for kids. Court was a military kid himself, and his work roles since leaving the Red Cross have all been in the military and veterans’ sector.

“I joined ARCAN to keep in touch with the people, but also with the Red Cross mission,” said Court. “I tell my friends who are former Red Cross colleagues that the Red Cross has an amazing work force, and experts in a lot of different things. I recommend that people work continually to maintain their professional network, which I like to think of as my work community. Ask for help from others but offer it back if you can.”

Court is a member of ARCAN’s Programs, Services and Education Committee, which he says is creating a value proposition to attract more alumni. “It’s a neat intersection of business and people,” he said. “My Red Cross work was always focused on how we impacted our constituents, and the alumni network feels like an extension of that.” He joined ARCAN to contribute this service orientation, and says “Honestly, I’d do anything to help Becky McCorry! She’s one of those heart and soul people that I feel lucky to have had the chance to work with.” (Becky chairs the committee.) 

“This kind of work is special. A volunteer was giving her time for nothing at all, and she stepped out of her shoes for a stranger. I’ll never forget it."

Looking back, Court says, “Most everyone has a ‘welcome to Red Cross moment.’” For Court it came when he was managing a shelter after a hurricane. “I was making the rounds when I encountered a volunteer who was barefoot. I thought I was going to have to send her home.” He thanked her for coming and asked, “What’s up with your shoes?” She pointed to a shelter resident across the way who was wearing a beautiful pair of red leather shoes  and said, “I gave them to that woman over there.” Court said, “It was that moment that made me realize that what the Red Cross does is way bigger than me or any of us. This kind of work is special. A volunteer was giving her time for nothing at all, and she stepped out of her shoes for a stranger. I’ll never forget it.”

Court is not all about work and service. He and his wife, Suzy Leous, like adventure travel. Most recently they’ve been exploring the Alaskan Arctic by kayak. “It’s pretty far up there. On most trips we don’t even see another footprint and the only sounds we hear are from nature, a long way from our work lives.”

“Sometimes I draw on my disaster experience during our trips; the problem solving that I learned at the Red Cross can come in handy when you are in the middle of nowhere,” said Court. 

One of the things he likes about his most recent role as COO is that he’s able to bring a lot of his Red Cross network along. “A bunch of you have helped me with business problems, and I hope I’ve helped back. Becky has helped me…or, rather, helped our mission at NMFA. Current Red Crossers have helped me, and I’m incredibly grateful. But that only works if you are willing to help back. Partnership means equal status, so it has to go both ways.”