L-37 Class Directory - Shareable

MISSION & VISION

Identifying, educating, connecting, and inspiring leaders to serve our community.

An inclusive community of enlightened and engaged servant leaders.

2023-2024

LEGACY LEVEL MEMBERS 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

Kyla Kelly, C-17

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

Denise Taylor, L-22

Mary Occhipinti, L-35

Donna Lamb, L-2

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

Leadership Staff

Shannon Drake, President & CEO

sdrake@leadershiphsv.org, 256.755.1951

Kevin Walker, CFO & COO

kwalker@leadershiphsv.org, 256.653.4004

Diana King, Program Director, Flagship

dking@leadershiphsv.org, 256.585.7023

Kayla Clark, Program Director Connect, Challenge & Marketing

kclark@leadershiphsv.org, 317.504.7265

Katelyn Sides Baker, Program Director Alumni, Focus & Spark

kbaker@leadershiphsv.org, 256.339.6513

2023 - 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Chair:

QUISHA BRYANT, C-14

Parking and Public Transportation Director, City of Huntsville

Board Vice C

DREW BATT

Senior Vice P

ServisFirst Ba

Immediate Pa TARON THO President, CB

Finance Chair CLINTON CA CFO, Huntsvi

Finance Vice GREG BROW CEO, Brown

Secretary: TAMMIE TER

Community

Board Advisor:

CHARLIE BLASS, L-23, F-17 Owner, B.L.A.S.S. LLC

Alumni Chai

DOUG BRAZ

Business De Calhoun Com

Alumni Vice BILL COLSO

President, A

Program Vice Chair, Flagship:

JEFFERY RICE, L-32 Police Captain, City of Huntsville

Administration Chair:

MARY ILA WARD, L-34

President & CEO, Horizon Point Consulting

Administration Vice Chair:

DR. HARRY HOBBS, L-33, MA-4

Vice President of Employee Engagement

Huntsville Utilities

Program Chair:

ROB HAMILTON, L-32, MA-10

Vice President, IGNITE

Program Vice Chair, Connect: EC gement estwood ison City ation , C-25 , City of hair: 11

Experience and munications

ice Chair: apital LLC : 34, MA-10 roducts and

Fund Development Vice Chair: TESS HALBROOKS, L-34 Vice President, Global Treasurer GameStop

DEI Chair:

MAIKE DEMARIA, L-34 Owner/CEO, Capabilitix, LLC

DEI Vice Chair:

ACACIA MOORE, MA-12, F-40 Senior Quality Manager, Parsons

STEERING COMMITTEE

Mark Branon, L-31, F-35

Dean, Huntsville Campus | Calhoun Community College

Mark Branon serves as Calhoun Community College's Dean of the Huntsville/Research Park Campus He facilitates Calhoun's presence in Huntsville and Madison County through his transformational and charismatic leadership styles while promoting student success and workforce development Mark has served North Alabama as an EMS Educator and Paramedic for over 25 years He was the EMS Program Director and Chair of the Allied Health Department at Calhoun from 2008 until 2016 Under his guidance, Calhoun Community College won the League for Innovation Award for Innovation in the Community College setting and was a finalist for the acclaimed Bellwether Award for Innovation in Workforce Development Mark chaired the committee to develop the current state of Alabama EMS curriculum He serves as a site visitor for the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) Mark has received many awards for excellence, including the 2013 Alabama Community College System Chancellor’s Award for Technical Faculty of the Year, the John and Suanne Roueche League for Innovation Excellence Award, and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award Mark is married to his wife of 23 years, Regina, and has two beautiful children, Eli (age 20) and Emmie (age 15) He spends his time away from Calhoun serving as the Executive and Global Missions Pastor at Refuge Church and volunteering for international and domestic missionary causes with his family throughout the country, Central America, and the Caribbean

Ranae Bartlett, L-26

City Council Member | City of Madison - District 5

Ranae earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law where she was a member of the Arkansas Law Review and a member of the National Moot Court team Upon graduating from law school, she clerked for the Honorable Henry A Politz, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Ranae graduated with high honors from the University of Central Arkansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in mathematics and political science Ranae and her family moved to Madison from Northwest Arkansas in 2003 where she worked for Walmart Stores, Inc as Assistant General Counsel and Director of Risk Analysis and Security Resources Upon moving to Alabama, she worked as a career law clerk to the Honorable C Lynwood Smith, Jr , US District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama She and her husband Todd have one son who graduated from Bob Jones High School and is currently attending the University of Alabama Ranae was appointed to the Madison Board of Education in June 2011 and was reappointed in 2016 She served as Vice-President from 2015-2017 and President from 2017-2020 In summer of 2020 she announced her candidacy for Madison City Council District 5 In 2020 she received the All-State School Board Member award from the Alabama Association of School Boards Ranae is a graduate of Class 26 of Leadership Greater Huntsville She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Huntsville Ranae also serves as President of the Madison City Chess League, a non-profit organization she created to promote chess education in North Alabama and is the Chess Coordinator for Madison City Schools In spring 2020, she accepted a position as Education Director for ChessKid com to assist the surge of students going online to play chess In that role Ranae trains educators and coaches around the world on how to utilize the ChessKid program to teach kids how to play chess Ranae serves as Co-Chair of the Chess in Education Committee for the US Chess Federation and is the Girls Chess Coordinator for the Alabama Chess Federation Ranae was elected to the Madison City Council in November 2020 She currently serves as President of the Council and on the HR Committee In April 2021, she was appointed as Madison's representative to the Huntsville Madison County Public Library Board

Jason Parks, C-5, L-35

Senior Pastor | Refuge Church

Jason Parks is known for his visionary leadership and his anything is possible outlook With 20 years experience in corporate communications, professional development and global ministry, Jason is a sought after motivational speaker, Bible teacher, and professional trainer He’s spoken to over 2,000 audiences - from professional development workshops to public diplomacy with world leaders - and frequently speaks on leadership, communication, mental health, soul care and marriage enrichment Jason is the Senior Pastor & Chief Executive Officer of Refuge Church, a multisite church serving the Tennessee Valley and a global, online ministry, Church at My House which is viewed by over 27 5 million people in over 120 countries He is a subject matter expert in leadership for the Office of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and has earned the designation Certified Maxwell Leadership Speaker, Coach & Consultant Jason loves his community He has spearheaded efforts to provide over 1,000,000 lbs of free groceries to his neighbors in need including the creation of a free grocery store Refuge Market Jason led the development of Rooms of Refuge which provides dream bedroom makeovers to children and teens facing life-threatening illnesses He also partnered with the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs, to the Greater Huntsville area Jason has earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts from the University of North Alabama, a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University, and a Master of Divinity from Rockbridge Seminary He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Theology degree He is also a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor, a Certified Mental Health Coach, a Certified Addictions & Recovery Ministry Specialist, and Advanced Certified in Human Behavior He has served as a board member for several local nonprofit organizations including: UCP of the Tennessee Valley, Downtown Rescue Mission, and Alzheimer’s Association Mid-South Chapter He is currently on the board for the American Red Cross North Alabama Office Jason is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville Flagship Class 35, a member of Huntsville’s Committee of 100 and a member of Huntsville Rotary Club

Program Day Teams

Opening Retreat

Chair: Michelle Omenski, F-22, L-31

Brian House, F-34, L-32

Alison Kling, L-36

Mike Johnston, L-32, C-1

Angel Stinson, F-26, MA-3, L-32

Living Like a Local

Chair: Angela Walker, L-27

Marie Arighi, L-27

Jimmy Cook, L-27

Serena Forbes, L-36

Barry Schrimsher, L-28

Denise Swain, L-34

Jeanna Rodgers, C-9, L-36

James, Ross, F-37, L-33,

Camilla King-Stanley, C-5, L-36

Symmetris Gohanna, F-41, L-36

Arts & Entertainment

Chair: Karen Mockenstrum, F-28, L-31

Cheryl Geiger, F-41, L-36

Stephanie Kelley, L-36

Fathia Hardy, C-23

Human Services

Chair: Shirley Schofield, L-31

Cindy Hewitt, L-36

Jeremy Foulks, L-36

Ginny Wagner, F-40, L-36

Julie McCain, F-39

Khris Anderson, L-35

Education

Chair: Jimmy Hodges, L-36

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Chairs: Angie Sandritter, L-35 & Megan Nivens-Tannet, L-35

Vicki Morris, L-36

Jason Greene, L-35

Behind the Gate

Chair: Jeffery Langout, L-32

Ronnie Chronister, F-37, MA-10, L-33

Ambrosia Patterson, L-33

John Jones, F-35, L-32

Bill Marks, F-35, L-31

Matt Sipe, L-36

Health & Wellness

Chair: Ann Mix, L-33

Sherry Kolodziejczak, L-32

Heather Mason, C-2, L-33

Krishna Srikakolapu, F-27, L-36

Flo Behn, L-33

Allison Spratley, L-36

Marianne Curren, L-33

Jennifer Swoboda, L-25

Teri Mastando, L-30, MA-4

Public Safety

Chair: Tim Clardy Jr , L-36

Michael Johnson, L-35

David Bailey, L-32

Don Webster, L-15

Brandy Conway, F-41, L-36

Heather Donaldson, L-32

Elizabeth Fleming, F-25, L-27

Government

Chair: John Meredith, L-38

Elain Oakes, L-36

Chris Pape, C-18, L-35

Bethany Shockney, L-29

Travis Cummings, L-36

Johnny Gandy, L-36

Maggie Wallace, L-32

Karen Petersen, L-30

Launch Retreat

Chairs: Joel Banta, L-34 & Angel Stinson, F-26, MA-3, L-32

Maike Demaria, L-34

Brandon Smith, L-36

Social Team

Chair: Michael Oliver, L-36

Alicia Irmscher, L-36

Robert Champion, L-36

Dale Kuehl, L-36

Tim Strait, F-40, L-36, Symmetris Gohanna, F-41, L-36

Travis Cummings L-36

Allison Spratley, L-36

Annette Alexander

Vice President of Institutional Advancement | Huntsville Botanical Gardens

Annette Alexander is the Vice President of Institutional Advancement for the Huntsville Botanical Garden During her 7 years in this position, she has lead the Garden's strategy for raising philanthropic contributions to support its mission as well as serves on the Leadership Team, which is responsible for Garden leadership initiatives, institutional direction, strategic planning and policy development Prior to joining the Garden, she spent 25 years as a store manager of Talbots She is a native of north Alabama and graduate from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management She is an active member and currently serves on both the Personnel and Stewardship Committees at First Baptist Church in Huntsville When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and working in her own garden

Joey Azar

Co-founder/Owner | Boaz Ventures

A native of Huntsville, Joey is a Founder and Partner of Boaz Ventures, a real estate investment and development company in Huntsville, Alabama Drawing on his 16 years of experience in real estate acquisitions, development, construction, portfolio management, and ownership, he focuses on finding and executing investment opportunities for Boaz Prior to returning to Huntsville in 2020, Joey successfully led the strategy and capital deployment for the $25 million SW Neighborhood Centers I real estate fund and was a member of alternative asset manager, Harbert Management’s U S Real Estate team where he performed financial analysis, acquisitions, and dispositions for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions Locally, Joey serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Land Trust of North Alabama Joey and his wife Jenny (also a native of Huntsville) have three children Andi Kate (age 8), Isla (age 3), and Weston (age 1)

Jill Balch-Coon

Assistant Professor | Alabama A&M University

Jill -Balch Coon has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of arts education She joined the AAMU faculty in January 2021 as Assistant Professor of Performance in the Communications Media for the Visual, Communications Media and Performance Arts Department and has overseen renovations the Johnson Little Theatre and created Bulldog Players Productions, a producing arm of the department that has produced William Shakespeare’ Twelfth Night at the Orion Amphitheater’s Artists Meadow in September of 2022, the film the First Ladies of Alabama A&M, and most recently the sold out production of The Wiz for the AAMU and Huntsville communities The Bulldog Players partner with community organizations such as Fantasy Playhouse, Theater Huntsville and Isabelle Academy to create internship and performance experience opportunities for young artists Jill is a mentor for WEDC Foundation and serves as co-chair of the Monte Sano United Methodist Staff Parish Relations Committee

Spencer Beach

Lead Pastor | Building Church

Spencer is a visionary leader who has a vast love for people His passion to develop others and help guide them to significant living has led him to work with churches in multiple cities and community faith based organizations around the world Whether leading a non profit, guiding strategic community initiatives, his passion for connecting resources to deserving communities, developing healthy families, and serving those who are less fortunate is evident His presentations and appeals are inspirational, thought-provoking, and concise His teachings help people deepen their understanding and application of significance in their lives As a life-long learner, his famous question is “Why?”, and he often begins his responses with, “Help me understand ” He is constantly trying to figure out how to be husband extraordinaire to his wife Ellen and dad of the year to his daughters, Eliana and Gabriella

Caroline Bivens

Corporate Controller | Aviation & Missile Solutions

Caroline Bivens is the Corporate Controller at Aviation & Missile Solutions (AMS) Prior to joining AMS, Caroline worked at Dynetics for over 7 years where she held various roles such as Sr Operational Accounting Manager and Sr Financial Reporting Manager, where she was responsible for financial reporting for a $1B portfolio with six ledgers across multiple entities She is an active member of the Women’s Economic Development Council (WEDC) and served as the chair of their Marketing and Communications Committee in 2021 Caroline is a graduate of the Leadership Connect program, a previous participant of Dynetics Young Professionals, and a previous member of the advisory council for Elevate, a global business plan competition for undergraduate and graduate students She holds her MBA from the University of North Alabama and her BS in Accounting from Lee University, where she has since served as an adjunct professor in their School of Business

Erica Bradford

Convention Sales Manager - GVT, Military Reunions and Fraternal Market | Huntsville Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau

With love for travel and a passion for people, Erica was destined to be in hospitality In addition to her welcoming smile and eager ear, she’s a Huntsville native and “ grew up ” within the hospitality industry She is a Faulkner University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Erica thrives on professional development and continues to grow through memberships and involvement in numerous organizations Currently, she serves as a Board Member on the RedstoneHuntsville Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), and a proud member of the Rocket City Alabama Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) Erica has been appointed as a Trustee on the SGMP Gilmer Institute of Learning (GIL) Fundraising Board Trustee As Convention Sales Manager covering the government, military reunions, and fraternal markets, she is responsible for promoting Huntsville/ Madison County as a meeting and convention venue

Andrea Bridges

Executive Director | The CARE Center

Andrea Bridges served as the Education Coordinator for The CARE Center from 2009 until she was appointed Executive Director in 2018 As Executive Director, she collaborates with area churches, corporate donors, local schools, and community stakeholders to provide crisis services, education initiatives, and workforce development to the rural areas of Southeast Madison County

Andrea has developed, implemented, and managed programs in the five schools served by The CARE Center She has served on the Alabama Community Education Association Executive Board since 2015 She is honored to be chosen as one of only fifteen nationally to serve as the 2018-2019 Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance She serves as a Regional Hub Director for the Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance and President of the United Way Executive Director Association

Andrea and her husband, Kevin, enjoy spending time outdoors with their family and are active members of Owens Cross Roads Church of Christ

Lisa Bryan

Premier Private Banking | SouthState Bank

Lisa Sparks Bryan has served in the financial services industry for over 30 years In her current role as Premier Private Banker, she provides personalized high-touch service to help high-net-worth clients create, grow, and preserve wealth

As for her civic commitments, Lisa considers it a privilege to lend her expertise and experience to community interests She has served as the mentor-chair for the Leadership Management Academy; chair of Connecting Committee for WEDC; board president for CASA of Madison County; president for Executive Women International, and in other leadership capacities for local organizations

When she’s not working, this self-described daredevil is always looking forward to her next adventure She has already knocked skydiving off her bucket list She loves hiking, being outdoors, and traveling She also loves spending time with her three children: Courtney, 32; Nicole, 24; Conner, 19; and grandson, LJ who is 6

Cynthia Buchheit

Dean, Business & Computer Information Systems | Calhoun Community College

Cynthia Buchheit is the Dean of Business and Computer Information Systems at Calhoun Community College A proud Alabama community college graduate, she holds a B S and M A from the University of North Alabama, with focuses in Secondary Business & Computer Education and Instructional Leadership

With over 25 years in education, Cynthia has been fortunate to work in various positions, including secretary, lab assistant, IT technician, 6-12 teacher, K-12 administrator, and college faculty and administrator Serving at Calhoun Community College since 2011 as CIS Instructor and Department Chair, and Dean of Business and CIS has been a privilege and a joy

Cynthia attributes her successes to her parents and to special teachers along the way As a student, staff member, teacher, and administrator, she has witnessed and experienced the power educators have to change lives and change the community

Cynthia resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband, Gary

Rob Buddo

President & CEO | Downtown Huntsville Inc

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Rob Buddo graduated from the University of Alabama in 2011, after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Geography with an emphasis on Urban and Regional Planning He started his professional career in Birmingham, Alabama working as a Catalytic Development Manager for Main Street Birmingham, the predecessor organization to REV Birmingham While working for Main Street (and later) REV Birmingham, Rob focused on the redevelopment and management of properties in the city’s historic Woodlawn neighborhood Over the last decade, Rob also worked in several commercial real estate-related roles for CoStar Group, Inc in the Washington, DC, and Houston, Texas markets Over the past 4+ years, Rob has focused his career on place management, specifically as the City Center District Manager for REV Birmingham and currently as the President and CEO of Downtown Huntsville, Inc

Ronald Childress

Ron served in the Army for a remarkable 30-year career until his retirement in 2018 Following his service, he found a new passion in education and became a JROTC instructor at Austin High School in Decatur, Alabama Additionally, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Alabama A&M, where he continues to contribute his knowledge and experience

As a proud Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, Ron remains actively involved in community and social initiatives He holds a bachelor's degree from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and pursued further academic excellence by obtaining a master’s degree in management/Logistics Management from Florida Institute of Technology

Ron is married and a devoted father to four children

Sam Clark

Vice President Integrated Product Solutions Division | IronMountain Solutions, Inc.

Sam Clark is Vice President of the Integrated Product Services Division of IronMountain Solutions Sam is responsible for a wide portfolio of contract support to the Systems Readiness Directorate, Program Executive Office, Aviation and Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL Sam is focused on employee welfare and developing a well-qualified team to provide the highest quality support to each customer Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U S Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University Sam is a native of Miles City, MT, a retired U S Marine, husband and father

Philomena Compton

Business Development Leader | Mission Multiplier

Philomena is a retired educator from the State of Alabama following 30 years of teaching service After earning a master’s degree in Cybersecurity Management, she has transitioned into industry where she works at Mission Multiplier at Lincoln Mill in Downtown Huntsville

Currently, Philomena is serving as Deputy Director of Education for Cyber Huntsville She is an active member with past leadership roles in Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher Honor Society, as well serving in leadership, and sustaining member/volunteer for Junior League of Huntsville Philomena volunteers annually to mentor other teachers earning National Board Certification Philomena has an education degree from Athens State University and a master’s in Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi Her EDS is in Educational Technology from Boise State University and her second master’s is from Murray State University in Cybersecurity Management She is a doctoral candidate in Cybersecurity Management at St Thomas Cynthia resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband, Gary

John Corbell

COO | GTEC

John Corbell was a founding member of GTEC in 2020 and was elected to his current position as the company ’ s Chief Operating Officer in 2021 John has a Bachelor of Science from University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states He has 20 years of experience in the civil and geotechnical engineering field across market sectors to include industrial, commercial, infrastructure, and transportation John has served in various roles with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to include Alabama Section President where he helps promote the civil engineering profession and mentor students and new members He is also involved in several other professional and community organizations focused on helping Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley remain the best place to live and work John and his family serve at First Baptist Church in Huntsville where he is a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and Trustee

Conn Crabtree

VP/Director of Operations | Doster Construction

Conn is Vice President and Operations Manager for the Huntsville office of Doster Construction leading a business unit that specializes in commercial, industrial, healthcare and multi-family construction During his 24-year career, he has been involved in projects across Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia with an emphasis on building and maintaining client relations Although a recent transplant to Huntsville, Conn is active int he Associated General Contractors and Four Corners Church Conn and his wife, Sarah, have one son, Preston

Outside of work, Conn is an avid golfer and Auburn sports fan who also enjoys fishing and hiking

Joseph Cuzzort

Director of Operations | Madison County Board of Education

Joseph Cuzzort is the Director of Operations for Madison County Schools, a small business owner, an experienced home builder, and a dedicated member of the greater Huntsville community

In his current role with Madison County Schools, he is responsible for constructing and maintaining quality facilities while providing safe and cost-effective learning environments for thirty schools and 20,000 students

Cuzzort has a diverse business background ranging from twenty-seven years at Thompson Tractor Company to twenty-one years as a licensed residential home builder In these roles, he demonstrated his expertise in heavy equipment sales, territory management, construction, and marketing

In 2011, he and his wife, Kellye, fulfilled their goal of becoming small business owners and opened Whiskers in Madison, Alabama Their implemented business plan now serves over 2,000 clients monthly and continues to succeed and grow

Cuzzort serves on the Alabama Plant Manager Association (ASPMA) Board

Andrew D'Amico

Managing Director | Bridgeworth Wealth Management

Andrew enlisted in the Army when he was 17 yrs old and a junior in high school as a Cavalry Scout in the Florida National Guard He was later commissioned in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant when he graduated from Auburn University in 2000

Andrew served as an aviator flying CH-47 (Chinook) helicopters in both Afghanistan (2002-2003) and Iraq (2003-2004) Andrew also served in the Special Operations community as a Civil Affairs Officer where he served again in Afghanistan (2008-2009) supporting efforts against senior Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgents , and he eventually left the Special Operations community to become an Army Strategist where he served in the Pentagon, Jerusalem, and Army Materiel Command

After retiring from military service, Andrew joined Bridgeworth Wealth Management on their advisor career track and now sits as the Managing Director of the Huntsville office

Morgan Dennis

VP, Cardiovascular Service Line, President, HH HC LLC | Huntsville Hospital Health System

Morgan is a senior healthcare leader at Huntsville Hospital Health System and the Huntsville Hospital Heart Center Prior to joining Huntsville Hospital Health System, he spent several years in leadership at Tufts Medicine, and before then with the Heart Center in Huntsville Morgan has led various community initiatives in his professional roles, and volunteers with community organizations in Huntsville, Birmingham and Boston

Ben Denton

Specialist Leader | Deloitte

Dr Ben Denton is a Specialist Leader at Deloitte where he leads technical projects in cyber risk and threat intelligence for the U S Department of Defense and Intelligence Community He is the Cyber offering lead for Deloitte’s Army account with expertise in cyber for weapon systems, operational technology, and strategic risk Previously, Dr Denton led U S Army science and technology research and development projects focused on developing advanced offensive and defensive cyber techniques for Army missile and aviation systems and led exploitation teams developing cyber effects against foreign weapon systems

Kelly East

Vice President for Educational Outreach | HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Kelly East leads HudsonAlpha’s Educational Outreach team in its endeavor to foster a genomically-literate society and to inspire and train tomorrow’s biotechnology workforce She is also a certified genetic counselor with more than 10 years of clinical experience caring for patients and families affected with rare, genetic disease Prior to stepping into the role of Vice President for Educational Outreach in 2022, Kelly was HudsonAlpha’s director of clinical education and director of the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine where she helped expand the application of genomics through research, education, and patient care She holds an undergraduate degree from Auburn University and a Master of Science in genetic counseling from the University of North Carolina Greensboro Kelly and her husband Andrew live in Huntsville and have two children

Lisa Edwards

Chief Quality Officer | Crestwood Medical Center

Lisa Edwards, DNP, RN, CPHQ, moved to Northern Alabama in the spring of 2021 to take on the role of Chief Quality Officer at Crestwood Medical Center To date, Lisa has had a distinguished career in Quality, Safety, Risk Management, and Performance Improvement at several healthcare organizations in Texas and Louisiana Her nursing background includes ER, critical care, medical/surgical areas, and ambulatory care

In her spare time, Lisa is co-owner and operator of Camp Edwards, a family and veteran-owned "members only" club that provides a safe, friendly atmosphere for the promotion and support of firearms use for shooters of all levels of expertise

Noel Estopinal

Radiation Oncologist | Retired

Dr Noel Estopinal moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1988 to join Dr Joseph Schneider at the North Alabama Radiation Oncology, LLC This healthcare company became part of The Center for Cancer Care which is part of the Clearview Cancer Care facility Dr Estopinal’s role in the company was a an owner, partner, and practicing Radiation Oncologist

Dr Estopinal has served as the Chairman of the American Cancer Society in Madison County, an Assistant Boy Scout Leader, a leading supporter of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Friends Inc , The Land Trust, and is currently chairing an endeavor sponsored by the Land Trust to Build a Greenway on Monte Sano

Dr Estopinal is married to Elisabeth (Betsy) Estopinal for 39 yrs, with 4 daughters They are members of Covenant Presbyterian Church

Paul Fall

Senior Program Manager | SAIC

Paul recently celebrated his 21st service anniversary with SAIC in Huntsville, and after completing a stint as a Capture Manager for some large Government contract re-competes, Paul is transitioning into a role directly supporting the Vice President managing SAIC's ~$300M Intelligence, Space, and Missile Defense programs portfolio Paul retired in 2017 after 30 years of service in the US Army (Active and Reserve) as a Commissioned Officer, completing numerous assignments of increasing responsibility and culminating in a successful Brigade command Paul and his wife, Margaret, have four adult children between them, and they share responsibility for raising a rambunctious chocolate Cocker Spaniel puppy Paul and Margaret are members of the First United Methodist Church in Athens, AL

Jason Fickett

Principal/Director | Booz Allen Hamilton

Jason Fickett is an executive with Booz Allen Hamilton within the National Cyber Platform Prior to joining Booz Allen, Jason served a dual career as both an FBI Special Agent before he retired in 2022 and a senior executive leading operations for the FBI's Cyber Division and as a Navy Intelligence Officer Reservist before retiring after 22 yrs of service in 2020

Chadwick Ford

Director, Army / SOCOM Connected Battlespace | Collins Aerospace

Chadwick Ford is the director for Collins Aerospace Connected Battlespace, US Army & SOCOM, Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) rapid prototyping, demonstration, and experimentation Chadwick joined Collins Aerospace after serving over 24 years in the U S Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) Aviator His Army leadership assignments include Special Programs Director for Special Operations Aviation, SOCOM Senior Advisor to Lebanon and Sweden's Deputy Minister of Defense, Aviation Tactical Operations Senior Advisor for Army Chief of Staff (Pentagon) His operational experience includes six major combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, 5 years as a special mission planner for Army Special Operations Aviation Command that included several operational deployments to undisclosed locations Chadwick lives with his beautiful wife Nicole Ford and three children, Jonas (9), Holly (7), Lawson (6), in South Huntsville He is a member of Valley Hill Country club and avid supporter of Huntsville charities

Ericka Gorman

SVP/CLO | Redstone Federal Credit Union

Ericka moved to the Huntsville area two years ago after spending most of her life in the Chicagoland area She moved here with her husband, son, and daughter They have made their home in Madison She has over 20 years of experience in the credit union industry Ericka is the SVP/CLO at Redstone Federal Credit Union She serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Northern Alabama Revolving Loan Fund, Advisory Board Member for Experian, and recently joined the Board of Northern Alabama Food Bank

Beth Haynes

Executive Director | Christmas Charities Year Round

Beth moved to Huntsville in 2003 from Kentucky to attend UAH She began volunteering while a member of Delta Zeta sorority This ignited a passion to better serve the community She brings experience in the nonprofit sector with a tenure at American Cancer Society and chairing private local fundraising events

Beth currently lives in Huntsville with her husband Kelsey and their son Fitz When Beth isn’t working, she enjoys golf, crafting, and playing cards with friends

Robb Keeter

Director | IronMountain Solutions, Inc.

Robb Keeter served as an aviation officer in the United States Army for 27 years He deployed twice to Iraq and served three overseas tours In addition to his traditional military jobs, he was also an assistant professor of systems engineering at the United States Military Academy He is currently a SETA contractor supporting PEO Aviation and a director for the Engineering Services Division of IronMountain Solutions

Robb is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion He also serves at the Rock Family Worship Center in the video production team His volunteer activities include supporting Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels Originally from Muskegon, Michigan, Robb has resided for 9 years in Alabama as well as New York, Kansas, North Carolina, and Virginia He is married to Denise Keeter of Winchester, Virginia, has three adult children and one grandchild

Richard Landolt

CEO/President | Still Serving Veterans

Richard gave 32 years of service in the U S Navy retiring as a 2-star Rear Admiral Surface Warfare Officer He then spent 3 years as the Executive Director, Public Safety for the City of Mobile, Alabama overseeing the Mobile Fire and Police Department Additionally, Richard served 3 5 years as Secretary of Defense Representative to Europe and the Defense Advisor to the US Ambassador to NATO in Brussels, Belgium

IanLaughlin

Senior Manager | Accenture Federal Services

Ian Laughlin served 11 years in the Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, where he solved people’s problems, before being medically retired for injuries sustained in combat At a loss of what to do, he continued his education and became interested in data analytics Ian managed to obtain a position with Novetta (since acquired by Accenture Federal Services) doing his interest Since then, he has grown to lead AFS’s National Security Portfolio’s Law Enforcement Analytics, serving clients such as the FBI, DHS, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau Ian’s first civic activism dates to when he was 16 and spoke at a meeting about placement of high-powered electric lines In his free time, Ian likes to hike with his son, camp, garden, and tinker with anything and everything

James Lee

Program Management Director / MJAT Program Manager | SAIC

James Lee is the MJAT Program Manager with SAIC For the past three years, he has been leading the production and fielding of a government owned simulator for the USAF MQ-9 Reaper Prior to taking the helm as the program manager, he was the lead systems engineer responsible for the development of the simulator for the Joint System Integration Laboratory In his eight years with SAIC, he has been a part of a dedicated team of professionals growing the project from a subset of the UAV’s training requirements to the Air Force’s program of record for MQ-9 training Leveraging eight years in the Air Force, as both an air refueling and reconnaissance pilot, he transformed his operational experience into a successful career as systems engineer focused on aircraft simulation Outside of the office, he can be found playing, coaching or refereeing soccer

Helen Lien

Senior Development Officer | University of Alabama in Huntsville

Dr Helen Lien serves as the Senior Development Officer for UAH Athletics and the Colleges of Education and Nursing She graduated from Smith College with a BA in Biochemistry and received both her MEng and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute A native of Texas but a long-time Huntsville resident, Helen came to UAH in 2021 as the Annual Giving Officer and quickly rose to the position of Major Gifts Officer With her help, UAH achieved a recordbreaking year of donor gifts Helen serves on the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville’s Ambassador Council, volunteers with Boy Scouts of America, and contributes to Rocket City Mom as a guest writer She enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, and caving with her husband and daughter

Robert Littleton

Vice President, Architecture | Goodwyn Mills Cawood, LLC (GMC)

Robert is the Vice President of Architecture for Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) GMC is one of the largest Architectural and Engineering Firms in the Southeast, with over 500 employees in 22 offices Robert has spent his career focused on K-12, Community College, Municipal and University projects in Alabama Local and regional projects in which he was the Architect include: Little Ridge Intermediate School (Fort Payne), Renovations of the Westin and the new Element Hotel (Bridge Street), Huntsville Pediatrics and Edgars on South Memorial Parkway (Huntsville) Robert is a member of the American Institute of Architects Robert grew up in Albany, Georgia and moved to Huntsville in 2013 with his wife, Lain Littleton and son William, after spending over a decade in Birmingham, Alabama Lain is a CPA and the Controller for Fite Building Company and William is a 6th Grader at Hampton Cove Middle School

Joyner Livingston

Senior Manager | Deloitte Consulting

Joyner Livingston is an IT Modernization Leader with ten years of program and portfolio management experience He has supported technology insertion for program offices and major commands across the Army and Air Force Prior to entering the defense sector as a civilian, Joyner served in the US Army as an Armor officer He continues to serve in the Army Reserve supporting the design and execution of cyber training and validation exercises for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University, a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering, with concentrations in Operations Research and Modeling & Simulation from the University of Alabama – Huntsville, and is a Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional and Project Management Professional

Joyner serves a small group leader at a church in downtown Huntsville and has been an active coach in local recreational leagues

Sinead

Lounmala

County Extension Coordinator | Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University)

Sinead Lounmala immigrated to the United States from Ireland at five years old After graduating from high school, Sinead enlisted in the U S Army and deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I After more than seven years of honorable service, Sinead left the military She spent the next 12 years traveling the country supporting her husband until his retirement from the U S Army in 2020 During that time, Sinead pursued her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) Through her social work career, Sinead served in various positions to include a mental health court, an inpatient behavioral health facility, a veteran rapid rehousing program, and most recently providing educational services via Alabama Extension Sinead is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the state of Alabama Sinead has been a resident of Madison County since 2020 with her husband, David, and two sons, Liam and Eli

Roderick Matthews

Director of Aviation Army Contracting (Aviation) | Department of the Army - Army Contracting Command (ACC) - Redstone Arsenal (RSA)

Roderick, a native of Jackson, MS, is the Director for Aviation ACC-RSA with 35 years of Government Civil Service Roderick is the recipient of numerous accolades & awards (i e AMC Employee of the Quarter, Secretary Army Excellence in Contracting Awards, ACC Contract Professional of the Quarter/Year & Commanders Award for Civilian Service) and a certification Level III in Contracting and Level I in Program Management He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Jackson State University and a Master of Science Degree in Acquisition and Contract Management

A 30-year resident of Madison AL, he is married to Brenda Matthews, loving & proud dad to 2 amazing sons (Justin and Jordan) and two daughters-in-law (Cheyna and Dorothy) He is a devoted grandfather to awesome grandsons (Lionel, Josiah, & Cairo) Roderick is extremely active with “Matthews Mission” (community & charity programs) and strongly supports his beloved fraternity (Kappa Alpha Psi) & alma mater Jackson State University

Rae Ann Meyer

Associate Director, Marshall Space Flight Center | NASA

Rae Ann Meyer is associate director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Named to the position in January 2022, she leads development of the center's business operations, guides daily business decisions, and oversees center operational policy and processes In addition, she is a senior adviser in advancing the direction of the center's future

Meyer helps manage the center’s 7,000 on- and near-site civil service and contract employees and helps oversee an annual budget of approximately $4 billion She provides executive leadership across Marshall’s mission support areas as well as the center’s diverse portfolio of human spaceflight, science, and technology efforts, which touch nearly every mission NASA pursues She helps ensure MSFC resiliency (strong workforce, infrastructure, and partnerships) to continue Marshalls strong economic impact to Alabama for years to come

Meyer, her husband, David and their children reside in Madison, Alabama

Jared Mitchem

Regional Vice President, South | Tennessee Valley Authority

Born, raised, and schooled in Alabama, Jared is a lawyer by training and trade, but he also spent half his career solving realworld problems in various business roles As a lawyer, he worked on and supervised every aspect of TVA’s legal portfolio, from complex litigation to large power supply contracts As a business leader, he’s been part of teams responsible for economic development incentives, contracts, and stakeholder relations Jared has volunteered as a competition judge for First Robotics and at numerous TVA events around the Tennessee Valley In Huntsville, he is an ex officio member of the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce, and he serves on Mayor Battle’s Environmental Sustainability Committee Jared enjoys domestic life with his family and exploring the outdoors (on foot, on a bike, or in a kayak, and often with a fishing pole in tow)

Carrie Olden

Legislative Affairs Manager | NASA - Marshall Space Flight Center

Carrie Suggs Olden is the Legislative Affairs Manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center In this role, Carrie is responsible for coordinating all federal and state government relations at Marshall Space Flight Center and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana Prior to joining NASA, Carrie worked for various Members of Congress for 16 years, including recently retired Senator Richard Shelby Within the community, she serves as the President of Marshall Child Development Center and the Vice President of Fund Development in the Junior League of Huntsville Carrie resides in Huntsville with her husband George and two little girls, Ann Margaret and Eleanor

Garrett Parr

Vice President | IronMountain Solutions, Inc

Mr Garrett Parr is a Vice President at IronMountain Solutions where over the past 10 years he has provided professional services for DoD customers He moved to the city of Huntsville over 35 years ago and has remained here for both his bachelor's and master's Degree's pursuance Once entering the workforce professionally, he has always held positions requiring a constant level of marketing to members of the community to include industry partners After graduating with a Communications degree in 2004, he began his career in Huntsville and has remained local since that time He began working for IronMountain Solutions as a Program Analyst and then a Business Development Lead In 2015, he began supporting Army Aviation in a direct customer support position and was shortly thereafter promoted to a Division Director and then finally a Vice President in a 300+ employee company

Wesley Rakestraw

Vice President of Academic Affairs | Calhoun Community College

Mr Wesley Rakestraw has 29 years of experience in the field of higher education He currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Calhoun Community College, where his focus is instructional relevance, digital literacy, and curriculum development He started his career at Wallace State Community College as an instructor in the Natural Sciences, later becoming Division Chair Mr Rakestraw then became the Director of WSCC’s Oneonta Campus where he became involved with workforce development in the Central Six Region After two years in that role, he advanced to Dean of Applied Technologies at Wallace State He has extensive experience working with North Alabama Works and Central Six Workforce Councils His wife of 30 years, Donnette, is a pharmacist in Cullman They have two children and are natives of North Alabama

Kimberly Robinson

CEO & Executive Director | U S Space and Rocket Center

Dr Robinson is the CEO and Executive Director of the U S Space & Rocket Center, Alabama’s leading tourist attraction and home to the world-renowned Space Camp Prior to becoming CEO in February 2021, Dr Robinson worked at NASA as the Utilization Manager for Advanced Exploration Systems at NASA HQ for the Artemis Program Previously she served at NASA’s Payload Mission Manager for Artemis 1, as well as Strategic Communications Manager and Deputy Program Integration Manager for NASA’s new SLS rocket

Dr Robinson also served as the Deputy Project Manager for the Ares I-X test flight, which was named Time magazine’s science invention of the year in 2009, and as a Crew Trainer preparing NASA astronauts for science missions aboard the Space Shuttle She is the recipient of numerous awards, including Yellow Hammer’s Women of Impact, NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal, and a Silver Snoopy Award

Allison Ross

Retired | Yellowhammer Multimedia, LLC

Allison Ross is the owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia, LLC, an Alabama-based media company delivering news and information across a variety of platforms including Yellowhammer News, YHN Radio News Network, SoulGrown and 265 Today

Prior to entrepreneurship, Allison was in the economic development industry for over 11 years After working as the Vice President of Morgan County Economic Development Association, she joined the team at international site selection and consulting firm Hickey and Associates There she led capital investment projects spanning the United States, with specific expertise in incentive negotiation and project financing

She is a graduate of the University of Alabama, a member of the Shepherd’s Cove Hospice board of directors, the Huntsville Committee of 100 and Christ Redeemer Church Along with her husband and twin children, Allison lives in Guntersville

Julie Savage

Program Manager/Business Developer | ExoAnalytic Solutions

Ms Savage has 18 years of experience in the missile defense industry including 3 years as a government civilian serving as the lead for Cybersecurity, M&S Accreditation, and RADAR for the MDS Operational Test Agency Ms Savage was awarded 2 Civilian Commendation Medals and the 2020 Army Modeling and Simulation Award She lived on Kwajalein, RMI for 15 years and was the lead ALTAIR systems engineer and flight test director While on Kwaj, Ms Savage also taught dance to ~100 kids each year, sang in a rock band, and operated a thriving photography business Now, living in Madison, she is an avid Trash Panda fan, AL council woman for the Prof Photographers of America, 2022 Gold Photographer of the year, an international juror for photography/art portfolio reviews, and a PTA member for Horizon Elementary Ms Savage is currently working as a program manager and in business development for ExoAnalytic Solutions

Jared Sharp

Partner | Warren Averett

Jared resides in Madison with his wife, son and three daughters He is a member of Warren Averett in the tax division of the Huntsville Office He has been practicing public accounting since 2005 Jared has experience serving clients in industries such as technology, biotechnology, government contracting, manufacturing and distribution He focuses his practice on tax planning, research and development tax credits and tax structure for mergers and acquisitions He is a volunteer board member for BioAlabama and the Heart of the Valley YMCA

Gwen Shelton

Consultant

Gwen is the North Alabama Regional Director for Senator Tuberville She dove into politics headfirst serving as chairman of the Republican Party during the Bush/Qualyle campaign She continued has a working member on the campaigns of Senator Thompson and Congressman Hilleary Those experiences sparked her desire to step into public service She served 18 years elected office Her first elected office was to City School Board and continued as Vice Mayor, eventually serving as the first female Mayor Gwen's focus is on positive growth for her community She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Middle Tennessee State University She is married to Scott and they have two sons She always starts her day with a morning run

Rainer Steinwandt

Dean, College of Science | University of Alabama in Huntsville

Rainer Steinwandt received his M S and Ph D degrees in computer science, researching topics in computer algebra, from the University of Karlsruhe (Germany) in 1998 and 2000, respectively Since 2021, he serves as Dean of the College of Science at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Before joining UAH, he served as Chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton, FL for more than five years, and also as Director of FAU's Center for Cryptology and Information Security Before joining FAU, Rainer was with the University of Karlsruhe in Germany His research has been funded through the Air Force Research Laboratory, the German Federal Office for Information Security, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and the NATO Science for Peace and Security program He is a recipient of the 2018 NATO Science for Peace and Security Partnership Prize

Brad Walker

President | Torch Technologies

Brad Walker joined Torch Technologies in 2006 and currently serves as President of Torch He recently led the Advanced Concept Engineering (ACE) Group which consists of over 600 employees across 10 locations The ACE Group supports a diverse set of customers and provides a wide range of engineering, scientific, and logistics support throughout the DoD lifecycle in areas such as systems engineering, test and evaluation, requirements, software development, electrical and mechanical system design, metrology, optical sensors, virtual trainers, Joint operations, and obsolescence Mr Walker has over 35 years of experience providing services support and solutions development for DoD programs Mr Walker has expertise in Ballistic Missile Defense programs, development of advanced instrumentation for warhead testing, and development of advanced algorithms for sensor and command and control applications Prior to joining Torch Technologies, Mr Walker held leadership positions at Computer Sciences Corporation and Nichols Research Corporation

Stuart Whitaker

Vice President, Commercial Banker | ServisFirst Bank

Stuart Whitaker is an experienced commercial banker with extensive experience in the financial services sector Whitaker is a member of the Committee of 100 Young Professionals, serving on the BizPac Board in 2022, and he is a member of Rotary of Greater Huntsville where he sat on the board as Director of Club Service in 2019 Additionally, he is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County’s Connect Class 22 Stuart and his wife Lillie have four children and attend Rivertree Church in Huntsville The Whitaker's are also currently serving as ambassadors for the Lincoln Village Ministry

Sara Beth Wilcox

Vice President & Division Manager | Brasfield & Gorrie

Sara Beth leads our North Alabama office where her primary responsibility is to keep projects running smoothly She supports project teams by monitoring budgets, schedules, progress, and performance; asking questions; anticipating issues; and recommending solutions based on her years of experience

Sara Beth has several years of hands-on construction experience and prides herself on knowing her team members' strengths well She uses this information to staff and provide appropriate resources for North Alabama projects, thus setting them up for success Sara Beth focuses on establishing long-term partnerships that allow us to serve our clients as a trusted resource when they plan for new projects and as their contractor when they are ready to build

Sara Beth enjoys spending time with her husband Sam and their 5-year old son Walter, including taking hikes at Monte Sano and feeding the ducks in Big Spring Park They attend First United Methodist Church in Downtown Huntsville

LaVerne Williams

Chief School Financial Officer | City of Madison Board of Education

LaVerne Williams is the Chief School Financial Officer (CSFO) for Madison City Schools

LaVerne has been a CSFO for 5 5 years (2 5 years at Chilton County Schools and 3 years at Madison City Schools) and enjoys working with the Administrators, faculty, staff, and parents in the system to help the kids of Madison City She also has a personal interest in Madison City Schools because she has two kids in the Madison City School system

She currently holds a B S in Mathematics from Auburn University and two Master’s Degrees (MBA/ Accounting and MPSE –Masters in Post-Secondary Education/Mathematics) from Troy University

LaVerne has over 12 years of experience with the State Department of Education within the SDE Accounting and LEA Accounting Sections

Brian Wylie

Vice President and Chief Growth Officer | Avion Solutions Inc

Brian Wylie serves as Vice President and Chief Growth Officer for Avion Solutions, Inc Over the years, he performed many different roles, from direct technical support to Program Manager for multiple contracts supporting Army Aviation Before his current role, he was Senior Program Manager for EXPRESS, responsible for executing Avion’s primary technical services contract

Prior to Avion, Brian retired as a U S Navy Master Chief Petty Officer in 2008 While serving, he maintained aircraft as an Aviation Electronics Technician, Master Training Specialist, QA Manager, and ultimately Patrol Squadron Maintenance Master Chief

Brian was raised in the Shoals and has a fondness for outdoor activities Growing up in North Alabama his passion to engage our local community aligns well with his Company’s core values of Service, Loyalty, and Integrity

Brian earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia College and a Master of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Brent Yonk

Assistant Section Chief | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Brent Yonk is the Assistant Section Chief for the FBI Counterterrorism Division’s Technology and Data Innovation Section In this role, he oversees a large technical and analytical workforce and a contract portfolio of over $120M with the responsibility for the development of novel technology solutions supporting international and domestic terrorism investigations and other critical incidents around the world

Prior to his current role, Brent has served in numerous leadership positions to include leading the FBI's technology scouting efforts, overseeing large and complex technical programs that have modernized the FBI's IT infrastructure, and improving the leadership development programs He is a trusted expert in leadership and project management and has been recruited to speak on the FBI's behalf both nationally and internationally

Outside of his work at the FBI, Brent is a certified coach helping clients around the world improve in areas of leadership, emotional intelligence, and career development