Rob Rickles

Rob Rickles is Chief Marketing Officer at OpenArc Corporate Advisory and previously spent more than 20 years as a Vice President at Merrill Lynch.

For Rob, JELF’s support represented far more than just another student loan to help fund his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University—it was his Jewish community stepping up to invest in his future. More than a decade after making his final loan payment, he was contacted by JELF as part of an alumni outreach effort and invited to become involved as a volunteer.

Grateful for the support JELF had provided, Rob welcomed the opportunity to give back to the organization. He initially became involved through service on the Advancement Committee, where he contributed to a range of public relations and communications initiatives, and later continued his leadership through several additional committees, including the Loan Program and Board Development committees.

Rob has served as JELF Board Chair twice (2013–2015 and 2021–2023), an honor he will always treasure. In recognition of his longstanding leadership and commitment, he was presented with the Garber Family Honor Roll Award in 2017 and again in 2024. As a longtime board member and financial supporter, Rob has cherished the opportunity to come full circle—helping ensure that future generations of Jewish students have the resources they need to complete their education. L’dor v’dor.