About Bob Hering
Bob Hering grew up on the south side of Jacksonville, Florida. His parents, Bob and Margie Hering Sr., raised him and his two sisters. His parents instilled in them a strong sense of God, Family and Country. Bob graduated from the University of Florida in 1976 with a BA in Education. On the day he graduated from UF, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp. He served for two and a half years on active duty with the 2nd Marine Division, serving as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Commander and a Dragon Missile Platoon Commander. Leaving active duty in 1979, Bob joined the U.S. Marine Corps Active Ready Reserves.
On January 1, 2007 after thirty years of honorable service Bob retired with the rank of Colonel. His service in the Reserves included tours with Special Operations Central Command in Tampa, the 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion, the 6th Motor Transport Battalion, the 4th Marine Division Staff and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. In 1990, as the Commanding Officer of Truck Company, 6th Motor Transport Battalion, the Orlando based unit, he and his unit were activated and deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In 2004 Bob was again called to active duty, this time with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. He deployed to Iraq and spent eight months in Baghdad working at the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Headquarters. While in Iraq, Bob saw first hand the difficulties and the realities of the war we currently are engaged in. He worked closely with members of the Iraqi Interim Government, U.S. State Department Officials and U.S. and Coalition Military commanders.
In civilian life, Bob and his wife Pat knew they were risking everything but wanted to live the American dream of owning their own business. In 1980, Bob and Pat started a small business (Con-Air Industries, Incorporated). Their manufacturing facility is located in north Orange County. Today their company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of air filtration products throughout the southeastern United States. For the last twenty-six years Bob's business has required him to travel throughout Florida and the Southeast United States. His daily commute to work takes him through both Lake and Orange counties. As an owner of a small business, Bob has participated in the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and the Small Business Chamber of Commerce.
Bob strongly believes in giving back to his community as well as to the nation. His involvement in local activities, groups and associations is diverse:
- Bob and Pat's home church is Saint Luke's United Methodist Church, Orlando
- Graduate of Leadership Orlando, sponsored by the Orlando Chamber of Commerce
- Coached youth football for four years for SOYSA (South Orlando Youth Sports Association)
- Current Board of Directors for West Orange Habitat for Humanity ("Home at Last" for severally disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan)
- Current Board of Directors for Shepherds Hope (faith based initiative to provide health care for uninsured residents of Central Florida)
- Former member of the Small Business Chamber of Commerce
- Formerly active in PTA while his children were in school
- Former Board of Director for the Pace Center for Girls
- Chaired the United States Military Academy Selection Board for the 8th Congressional District of Florida
- University of Florida Scholarship Boosters
- Winderlakes Home Owner Association (Neighborhood Watch Coordinator)
Bob is an avid sportsman. He has fished and hunted throughout Florida and believes in the need to protect and conserve our natural resources for the benefit to our local and state economy as well as the enjoyment of future generations of fellow Floridians.
Bob and Pat have been married for twenty-six years. They have two children, Charles and Christina, and four grandchildren.