FOCUS CLASS 45 November 2 & 3, 2023
Special thanks to our 2023-2024 COMMUNITY TRUSTEES
2023-2024 LEGACY LEVEL MEMBERS Shannon Drake, L-25, MA-11 Jim Diehl, F-22, L-26 Charlie Blass, L-23, M-7, F-17 Quisha Bryant, C-14 Tammie Terry, L-23 Sarah Macaluso, MA-11 Paula Cushman, M-1 Linda Akenhead, L-13, M-5 Hank Isenberg, L-28 Diana King, F-36 David King, F-10 Susan Anderson, L-14, F-1 Vincent Boles, L-25 Shannon Neblett, L-33 Zach Griffin, S-2 Acacia Moore, F-40, MA-12 Alice Lessmann, L-32 Lori Light, L-14 Nilmini Thompson, L-34 Sonia Robinson, C-3, L-31 Steven Conway, L-35 Denise Swain, L-34 Mary Occhipinti, L-35 Donna Lamb, L-2 Walter Hough, MA-9, C-23 Chris Halbrooks, MA-11, L-35 Tess Halbrooks, F-41, L-36
Joe Alexander, F-3, L-15, M-4 Pam Alexander, F-11, L-23 Taron Thorpe, L-25 Lauren Battle, C-17 Drew Battle, C-11, MA-6, L-33 James Ross, F-37, L-33 Ashley Engles Ross, F-38 Kristine Harding, L-14 Tim Strait, F-40 Kelli Powers, L-33 Carey Miller, F-29, L-28 Nick Vickerson, MA-11 Joe Yearta, L-29 Melony Yearta, F-42 Lisa Abbott, F-7, L-22 Julian Butler Kim Caudle Lewis, C-3 Sarah Savage-Jones, L-11 Andrew Jennings, L-27 Bill Colson, L-32 Beth Medley, F-26, L-28 Greg Brown, F-17, L-21 Heather Shonrock, L-35 Mary Ila Ward, L-34 Joanna White, C-22 Kris Ison, L-35, MA-13 Don Bowyer, F-42
Thank you to our Focus 45 Meal Sponsors!
Focus 45 Program Volunteers Program Volunteer Lead Lisa Abbott, F-7, L-22 Senior VP, Market Executive Cadence Bank lisa.abbott@cadencebank.com 256.319.2501
Program Support Volunteer Diana King, F-36 Flagship Program Director Leadership Greater Huntsville dking@leadershiphsv.org 256.585.7023
LGH Staff Member Katelyn Sides Baker, C-19 Alumni, Focus & Spark Program Director Leadership Greater Huntsville kbaker@leadershiphsv.org 256.339.6513
Program Support Volunteer Andrew Jennings, L-27 Chief Commercial Officer Transcend andrew.jennings@transcendculture.co 256.690.2379
Program Support Volunteer Dr. Symmetris Gohanna, F-41, L-36 English Instructor/Composition Chair/ QEP Director Calhoun Community College symmetris.gohanna@calhoun.edu 256.655.6155
Program Support Volunteer Kristen Pepper, C-20 Public Affairs Specialist/Protocol NASA/MSFC kristen.f.pepper@nasa.gov 256.874.0583
FOCUS CLASS 45 DIRECTORY
Bobbie Terry DAU Senior Service College Fellow | US Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal Bobbie Terry is the Division Chief, Policy and Assessments, Review and Compliance and Government Credit Card Program Division for Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA). Ms. Terry serves as the contract policy trusted business advisor to the SCO and ACC-RSA execution Directors. Ms. Terry customer base encompasses approximately 800+ contracting officers/specialist disbursed across five geographical locations and major weapon systems and services PEO organizations performing complex contract actions. Her career is diverse across several organizations including Army Corps of Engineers-Huntsville Center; Army Atlanta Contracting Center Forces Command; Center for Disease Control; AMCOM and ACC-RSA. Ms. Terry holds a BS Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Talladega College and MBA with a concentration in Contract Management from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and an active member of Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church.
Cameron Newirk Integrated Program Planner | Lockheed Martin Cameron was born in Huntsville Alabama in 1995, graduated from Virgil I, Grissom High school, commissioned into the Alabama Army National Guard from Marion Military Institute, and completed his bachelor’s degree in supply chain management at Auburn University. He has worked for Lockheed Martin as a manufacturing planner and program planner for over 4 years and completed his master’s degree in supply chain management at Florida's Institution of Technology during that time. He currently lives in Madison, is the proud father of two cats, and is interested in logistics.
Carson Wakefield DAU Senior Service College Fellowship | PEO Aviation (Army) Carson grew up in North Alabama but moved as far away as Brisbane, Australia, before employment as an Army civilian moved her to Texas and then back to Huntsville. She started at Redstone Arsenal in logistics, moving from Missiles & Space to Aviation. Currently holding the position of Fellow with DAU’s Senior Service College Fellowship, her career has spanned many leadership roles, most recently serving as the Product Lead for Soldier Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, delivering small UAS capability to Soldiers. Carson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama and a Master of Science – Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University – Texarkana. she's an enthusiastic runner, CrossFitter, and retired semiprofessional football player. She resides with her husband Brady, a feline companion and a reptile sidekick, embodying a well-rounded and accomplished individual in both her career and personal pursuits."
Cason Westmoreland Private Wealth Advisor | Twickenham Advisors Cason Westmoreland graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Alabama in 2021. Following graduation, he immediately started working as a financial advisor in training and acquired his Series 7, Series 66, and Health and Life Insurance licenses. Subsequently, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to work as a Hegde Fund Credit Risk Analyst at UBS Financial before relocating to Huntsville to pursue his passion for financial advising. In his current role, Cason will develop, support, and manage client relationships at Twickenham Advisors. Cason will assist with all client experience stages, from onboarding, planning, investments, and conducting client reviews. Outside of work, Cason enjoys playing golf, spending time outdoors, and volunteering for the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama. He looks forward to becoming more involved throughout the city.
Chris Jones Senior Vice President / Chief Operating Officer | Huntsville Utilities Chris Jones serves as the Senior Vice President / Chief Operating Officer for Huntsville Utilities. This role is responsible for Electric, Natural Gas, Water, and Fiber operations, engineering, and operations support. Prior to relocating to Huntsville in July 2023, he served as the Vice President / Chief Electric Operations Officer at City Utilities of Springfield, MO. Chris holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from Missouri State University. He has held Board level leadership roles in several industry groups including the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, Southwest Power Pool, MEA Energy Association, and Missouri Public Utility Alliance. He has also served on the Board of Sunrise Rotary of Springfield, Missouri and The Kitchen Foundation.
Cline Thompson VP - Business Development | Knight Eady Sports Group Cline Thompson is Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel for the Knight Eady Sports Group, where he works to bring major sporting events to the Huntsville area. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the Cumberland School of Law, and has vast experience across the sports industry. Cline has worked in NCAA Compliance (UAB), the NHL (Nashville Predators), minor league baseball (Huntsville Stars), minor league hockey (Huntsville Havoc), and most recently as the Assistant General Manager of the Birmingham Squadron, the NBA G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans. Additionally, he spent five years in the financial sector as a Vice President at BBVA. Cline also serves as an officer in the Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps, currently assigned to the 213th Legal Operations Detachment based at Redstone Arsenal.
Corey Tillman Program Manager | SAIC Mr. Tillman is a Marine Corps veteran with over 18 years of experience in the Department of Defense. He has extensive experience with unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely piloted aircraft, intelligence operations, and intelligence analysis. Mr. Tillman is highly knowledgeable in project and program management. He obtained a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Master of Arts in Psychology from American Military University. Since 2021, Mr. Tillman has been a Program Manager with Science Application International Corporation in Huntsville, AL.
Garett May Chief Operating Officer | Crestwood Medical Center Garett is a native of Clinton, Mississippi, moving to Huntsville in 2023. After earning an MBA and JD from Mississippi College, Garett entered healthcare administration. Garett has served in various roles within the Merit Health system in Mississippi, most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Merit Health Natchez. With over ten years of experience in healthcare administration, Garett relocated to the Huntsville area to serve as the Chief Operating Officer at Crestwood Medical Center. Garett currently lives in Owens Cross Roads with his wife LeeAnn. They have two daughters, Gracen and Caroline. In his free time, Garett enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing golf.
James ‘JD’ Webster DAU Senior Service College Fellowship | Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space Mr. James (J.D.) Webster is currently a Fellow at the Defense Acquisition Senior Service College. He is a Department of the Army Civilian with previous assignments as Product Director for the Joint Tactical Ground Station, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, Director for Industrial Operations, and Director of the Condition Based Maintenance program for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. Mr. Webster is a 21-year veteran of Army Aviation with assignments on the Department of the Army Staff; as Chief of Joint Exercises, XVIII Airborne Corps; and as an Apache Helicopter Battalion Commander. He retired in 2006 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and remains active in retiree advocacy and wounded warrior programs. He is the father of eight children ages 29 to 13 years old, three of whom are military members currently serving with the United States Army and United States Air Force.
Justin Moore Risk and Financial Advisory Manager | Deloitte Justin Moore, CPA is a Manager in Risk and Financial Advisory at Deloitte. Justin has spent 8 years with Deloitte in assisting Defense and Intelligence agencies in achieving their financial management and audit remediation goals and excels in merging accounting system data analytics with generally accepted accounting principles to create new innovations for government clients. Justin leverages extensive consulting experience and a dualdegree in Accounting and Supply Chain Management to apply advanced technical accounting treatments and develop innovative solutions where accounting guidance and regulation is often absent.
Kara Ayala Senior Associate | Booz Allen Hamilton Kara Ayala is a Senior Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, providing Capture, Proposal, and Program Management support to both DoJ and DoD markets. Ms. Ayala serves as the FBI’s Joint Technical Exploitation Center (JTEC) Project Manager and oversees the FBI Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) Technical Exploitation Unit (TExU) and Emerging Threats Program (ETP). She is helping lead Booz Allen’s FBI portfolio transition from Quantico and DC to Huntsville. Kara has a passion for tackling her client’s toughest challenges, driving solutions, leading high performing teams, and genuinely taking care of those around her. Outside of work, she is a mother of two, volunteered her time as a member-at-large on the Marshall Child Development Center’s Board of Directors, and enjoys investing in real estate. Kara and her husband Juan relocated to Huntsville from the Baltimore area in 2017 and fell in love with Rocket City!
Katie Starck Director | CFD Research Katie Starck is a Director at CFD Research within the Program Management office. Katie currently leads our Hypersonics Ground Test Tunnel OTA with the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, for which CFD Research is the Prime. Katie joined CFD Research in 2020 as a Manager with 9+ years of experience leading multiple, complex contracts at Redstone Test Center, including the RTC-Wide Engineering and Support Services contract, and Program Manager on a subcontract under the RTC Engineering Test Support Services contract. Katie has her MBA from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill. She lives in Huntsville with her husband, Paul, and two sons Connor, 8, and Ethan, 5.
Keith Greene VP Chief Audit Officer | Redstone Federal Credit Union Keith Greene is the VP Chief Audit Officer for Redstone Federal Credit Union and has been with the credit union since July 2022. Keith moved to Huntsville from Columbus, GA. He has been an auditor in the financial services industry for more than thirty years having worked for Synovus Bank. When he is not working he spends time with his wife Patti and dog, Ollie, as well as visiting his son Jacob. In his free time, you will find him fishing and spending time with family.
Keith Sedberry Jr. Director, Program Manager | CFD Research Corporation Keith Sedberry was born in Huntsville, AL and attended Farley Elementary, Challenger Middle, and Grissom High School. As native to Huntsville, he has watched Huntsville's unbelievable growth and is proud to have gotten is BSE in Mechanical Engineer from UAH and to have spent the overwhelming majority of his professional career as a defense contractor in Huntsville working to keep our nation safe. His father was a Huntsville police officer for 32 years and his mother worked for a large defense contractor right here in Huntsville city for 27 years. Keith is married to his wonderful wife who works as a school administrator and they two wonderful boys who attend Madison City Schools. Keith is active in the community coaching AYSO soccer teams and attending Highlands Church. In his professional career, Keith has lead teams protecting our nation's warfighters as well as solving challenging and critical national defense programs.
Kelly Craig Human Resources Generalist | Trideum Corporation Kelly Craig is a young professional hailing from the greater Huntsville area. Holding both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Kelly's educational background underpins her skill in leadership. She has a seven-year tenure as a dedicated human resources professional in the government contracting industry, currently with Trideum Corporation. Kelly's commitment to excellence extends beyond her employment, as evidenced by her active membership in the local and national chapters of the Society of Human Resources Management and earning her SHRM Certified Professional certificate in 2019. Beyond her professional role, she liaises with the Trideum Foundation, where she coordinates events as both an employee and a volunteer.
Lesley Shotts Director of Institutional Effectiveness / Title III Administrator Drake State Community & Technical College Lesley Shotts is the Director of Institutional Effectiveness / Title III Administrator / Accreditation Liaison at Drake State Community & Technical College and has over seventeen years of experience in higher education, with ten specifically in institutional effectiveness, research, and assessment. She holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from The University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Morgan State University. Lesley is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville Management Academy (Class 10). She has served in multiple leadership positions within the Alabama Association for Institutional Research. She is also a member of the Southern Association for Institutional Research, the Association for Institutional Research and serves as the campus coordinator for United Way.
Leslie Hyatt General Engineer/DAU Senior Service Fellow | US Army Ms. Hyatt holds 25 years of experience in Leadership, Program Management, Systems and Production Engineering. She was selected for the DAU Senior Service College Fellowship. She served US Army AvMC and PEO Aviation as the APEO for Future Operations, Product Director for Future Vertical Lift, Deputy Product Director for MEDEVAC Helicopters, and Production Lead member for Lakota Helicopters. Ms. Hyatt graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she earned a Master's degree in Systems and Engineering Management and a Bachelor's in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Ms. Hyatt is an active member in AAAA, AUSA, and SWE. Ms. Hyatt has served as Challenger Elementary PTA President, Treasurer for IIE, Vice-President and Treasurer for her HoA, Secretary for Grissom Football Boosters, and President for Grissom Basketball Boosters. Ms. Hyatt is a proud mother of Tyler and Dylan Hyatt, who are currently studying at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Megan Potter Program Analyst | Parsons Corporation Megan Potter works at Parsons Corporation. She graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
Mitch Coley Division Manager | The Robins & Morton Group Mitch Coley is the Huntsville division manager for Robins & Morton, a nationally ranked general contractor that has performed construction services in the city for more than 40 years. He is a member of the Committee of 100 and serves on the board for several organizations, including Associated Builders and Contractors of North Alabama, Huntsville Hospital Foundation, and the Randolph School. Mitch and his wife, Elaine, live near downtown Huntsville with their two sons, Miles and Cameron, and are active members of Huntsville First United Methodist Church. Mitch enjoys football Saturdays and spending time with his family and friends outdoors.
Rajiv Doreswamy Manager, Exploration and Transportation Development | NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Dr. Rajiv Doreswamy serves as the Manager of Exploration and Transportation Development Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama. In this role he is responsible for managing the Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) efforts in key human exploration focus areas: Commercial Crew Launch Vehicle Systems, Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) and Cross Program Systems Integration (CSI) as well as providing systems engineering support to the Gateway Program and Lunar and Mars Architecture activities. He leads a team of experienced project managers, systems engineers and subject matter experts to accomplish these high value activities for the Agency. For 2021 he was the Acting Director of NASA’s Space Grant Program. Space Grant is NASA’s flagship STEM education program with a budget of over $60M, supporting 52 consortia in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. It provides practical hands-on experience to students as research, internships and fellowships.
Samantha Cooper Management Academy Program Director | Leadership Greater Huntsville Since graduating from Auburn University in 2002, Samantha has specialized in financial services including Bank Branch Management, Loan Origination and Commercial Lending. She has had the privilege of helping people attain their financial goals in both their personal and professional lives. She enjoys being active in various non-profit organizations which strive to improve our community and the quality of life for our residents. For this reason, she has transitioned out of financial services into a full-time role with Leadership Greater Huntsville. She is a Connect Class-17 graduate and now the Program Director of Management Academy. Her family moved to Madison 10 years ago. Her husband Tim has an exciting career in Missile Defense on Redstone Arsenal. They have 4 sons ages 14-20 who all play lacrosse and love fishing. She loves a good psychological thriller to read and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.
Scott Harris DAU Senior Service College Fellowship | PEO Aviation, U.S. Army Mr. Michael (Scott) Harris is currently enrolled in the DAU Senior Service College Fellowship. Prior to the fellowship's start in July 2023, he served as the Product Support Manager and Logistics Division Chief for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Project Office, Program Executive Office Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, AL. In this capacity, he led total life-cycle integrated product support management and acquisition support planning. Mr. Harris has accumulated over 36 years of military, contractor, and civil service support to United States Army aviation. In 2019, Mr. Harris received the Army Acquisition Executive’s Excellence in Leadership honors as Logistician of the Year. He has earned a Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and advanced DAU certification in both Project Management and Life Cycle Logistics. Mr. Harris resides in the Huntsville metro area with his wife of 34 years, Kelly.
Shanell Weissinger DAU Senior Service College Fellowship | US Army Aviation & Missile Command Mrs. Weissinger is an accomplished leader in the field of aviation maintenance, serving as the Aviation and Missile Command Field Maintenance Directorate Production Division Chief since May 2019. Her expertise shines in overseeing multimillion-dollar contracts, ensuring global Army Aviation readiness. Managing three Regional Support Teams and planning contract strategies, she bridges communication between the Army Contracting Command and Industry partners. Holding a bachelor’s in accounting from Albany State University and an MBA from Texas A&M-Texarkana, she's also advanced trained in Life Cycle Logistics and Civilian Education System. With a notable career that began in 2002 as an Army Materiel Command Fellow, she earned recognition including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Global War on Terrorism and Commander’s Award for Civilian Service. Residing in Alabama with her family, she actively contributes to the community as a dedicated volunteer with both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.
Shannon Seay Director, Redstone Arsenal Senior Service College Fellowship Seminar | Defense Acquisition University Shannon Seay, the Director of the U.S. Army Senior Service College Fellowship Redstone Arsenal Seminar, embarked on his distinguished Navy career in 1991 after earning his commission from Auburn University. As a Naval Aviator, he demonstrated his leadership abilities through numerous deployments on aircraft carriers and amphibious ships, serving in operational squadrons, on headquarters staffs, and in systems acquisition. After his Navy retirement in 2011, Mr. Seay transitioned into civilian service, where he led enterprise IT programs for the Navy. His journey with the Defense Acquisition University began in 2019 as a professor of program management before his appointment as the Director of the Redstone Arsenal Senior Fellowship. Originally from Los Angeles but raised in Auburn, Shannon now calls Huntsville home. He is an active member of the Church of Highlands Madison campus and enjoys spending time with his wife Jennifer and their three adult children, Kaitlin, Braden, and Taylor.
Sofia Andreola Chief Technology Officer (CTO) | CHONEX Sofia Andreola is Chief Technology Officer for CHONEX, an ag tech startup an associate company at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. In her time at CHONEX, she has demonstrated the critical role a diversity of microbes plays in restoring health and productivity to agricultural soil. She is motivated by the potential for applying knowledge from 7 years of experience in academia, utilizing her Bachelor of Biochemist and PhD in Biological Science. This, combined with her passion to take action to make it happen, led her to get involved in the world of entrepreneurship. Her particular focus on agriculture stems from her upbringing on her family’s farm in Argentina, and her personal knowledge of the challenges facing the world’s farmers. She also loves travel and hike with her family and friends. She enjoys running, swimming and playing tennis.
Sravya Chirumamilla Cardiologist | The Heart Center at Huntsville Hospital Dr. Sravya Chirumamilla is a board-certified Cardiologist at The Heart Center at Huntsville Hospital. She is interested in health equity, especially women's cardiovascular health. She is hoping to work within the community to break barriers to access to high-quality healthcare.
Tarun Gupta DAU Senior Service College Fellow | Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office Mr. Tarun Gupta is a DAU Senior Service College Fellow. Most recently, he served as the Acting Director for the Directed Energy Project Office (DEPO) within the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, Redstone Arsenal. In this role, he was responsible for oversight and execution of development, prototyping, test, evaluation, procurement, and fielding of Army Directed Energy technologies and capabilities that address near-term and mid-term threats, consistent with the Army’s modernization priorities. In addition to delivering prototype weapon systems, he also provided oversight on the coordination and alignment of the Army’s Directed Energy Science and Technology portfolio. He has served in the Federal Government for 13 years and held a career in the Automotive Industry for 15 years at various leadership levels. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.
Tau Kadhi Associate VP for Academic Administration and Dean of Graduate Studies | Alabama A&M University Dr. Tau Kadhi is the current AVP and Dean of Graduate Studies at Alabama A&M University. He is a former Professor of Mathematics, Special Assistant for Academic Affairs, and Vice Provost at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Previously, Dr. Tau Kadhi was a Professor, Associate Provost, Provost, and VP at Albany State University (ASU) in Albany, GA. Before ASU, he served in various senior leadership positions at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC., West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon, TX, Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, TX, and Prairie View A&M University. In addition to his experience as an executive-level administrator, leader, and data-informed decision expert, Dr. Kadhi served, for 13 years, honorably in the U.S Navy, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and the Texas Army National Guard and is a war veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Tobin Butler Fellow | US Army Tobin G. Butler is a highly accomplished professional with a military and civil service background. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1994, served in various leadership roles in the United States Air Force, and later transitioned to civil service. Mr. Butler's career highlights include being the business lead for the Air-to-Ground Missile Systems Product Office and serving as the Deputy Product Manager for the Joint Tactical Ground Station. He holds a Master's in Systems Program Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. He has received several awards, such as the Air Force Achievement Medal and the Superior Civilian Service Award. Currently, Mr. Butler is a Fellow in the Defense Acquisition University - Senior Service College Fellowship.