Our Team

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Meet Our Team

Founders

At the age of 12 and 13, Robbie and Brittany Bergquist heard the story of a soldier returning from Iraq with a near $8,000 phone bill. They couldn’t believe that a man serving his country was not able to call his family for free. They decided to do something about it.

Robbie Bergquist

Founder and Director

Rob Bergquist is Director & Co-Founder of Cell Phones for Soldiers. Founding with his sister Brittany at ages 12 and 13 in 2004, he continues to run the operation to collect used electronics to generate revenue to provide cost-free communication services to active duty military and Veterans. His passion is social entrepreneurship with a focus towards the military and sustainability.

Brittany Bergquist

Founder

As a small child, Brittany Bergquist was not your average kid. A child of two public educators, Bergquist’s philanthropic initiatives began early. Her first act of giving consisted of 10 inches of her hair for Locks of Love. By age 13, Bergquist’s ambition and generosity began to shape her life. In 2004, together with her brother, Robbie, Bergquist co-founded Cell Phones for Soldiers, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with a mission to provide cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans.

Courtney Bergquisx

Veteran Mobile Program Director

As the eldest of the Bergquist children, Courtney has proudly witnessed her siblings and parents serve active-duty military members and veterans for over 20 years. With a background in social media management and a passion for helping others, Courtney coordinates our Veteran Mobile Program and social media accounts.

Ryan Hellerstedt

Chief Operating Officer

Ryan is a retired 25 year Army veteran, father of six and grandfather of four. Recognizing the needs of veterans across the country, Ryan joined Cell Phones For Soldiers in April 2024. He leads the team in strategy, program development, organizational processes and policies. Ryan’s passions are spending time with his family, travel, and outdoor activities.

Dan Minton

IT Director

Manage and direct all IT activities in support of Cell Phones For Soldiers Experience: 25+ years as an IT Program Manager/Specialist within the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Last five years at DIA, I managed all development and operations for more than 100 DIA Applications that directly supported military combatant commands, service agencies, and military.