Jack Marin lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Robin. He is a retired lawyer, formerly with the firm of Williams Mullen PC. While there he served as outside counsel to the National Basketball Retired Players Association. He represented American basketball players playing in the NBA and in more than a dozen foreign countries. After college, Mr. Marin was a first-round draft pick and enjoyed a distinguished, 11-year career in the National Basketball Association.

Mr. Marin served for three years (1998 to 2000) as the executive director of the Celebrity Players Tour, a professional golf tour for notable athletes and entertainers. During his tenure, the tour grew from five to fifteen events that supported various charities around the country. He was a playing member and served on the organization’s board of directors. Mr. Marin has been elected to the North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Duke University sports halls of fame. In 1996 he was president of 30th Reunion Class at Duke University.

Prior to his retirement, Martindale Hubbell rated Mr. Marin an AV attorney, its highest rating.

Mr. Marin is an emeritus member of the North Carolina Bar Association. He received an A.B. in chemistry from Duke University and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Major General Dickerson was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from Bryant College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in June 1973. He also holds a Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University (1981) and the College of Naval Warfare (1987).

Following completion of the Basic School in April 1974, Major General Dickerson attended the Ground Officer Supply School at Camp Johnson. Upon completion, he reported for duty with Second Shore Party Battalion, followed by Second Medical Battalion where he served as the Battalion Supply Officer for each billet. In September 1976, he was assigned duties as an Analyst Officer, Field Supply Maintenance Analysis Office-One, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. He was transferred to Third Marine Division in September 1978 where he served as the Assistant Division Supply Officer, Division Supply Operations Officer, and the Officer-in-Charge of the Management Assistant Team.

Major General Dickerson was ordered to the Marine Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, VA, in 1979. Upon graduation in June 1980, he served as the Marine Corps Property Officer, Fourth Marine Corps Aircraft Wing, New Orleans, LA. Returning to Camp Lejeune, NC in November 1983, he served as the S-3, Second Supply Battalion, then as Operations Officer, Brigade Service Support Group Six where he worked with Maritime Prepositioning Ships, Squadron One. During this assignment, he was selected to attend the Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College, Newport, RI.

Following graduation, Major General Dickerson was assigned duty as the Logistics Operations Officer, C-4, Combined Forces Command, Seoul, Korea. Returning to the United States in the summer of 1989, he reported to the Fourth Marine Amphibious Brigade for duty as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4. During this assignment, he deployed to Southwest Asia to participate in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Eastern Exit. He returned to the United States in April 1991. Major General Dickerson was reassigned to Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic, where he served as the Operations and Plans Officer, G-4. During August 1992, he reported to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, for duty as a student.

Major General Dickerson assumed duty as the Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2d Force Service Support Group on 8 July 1993. He deployed to the Caribbean in June 1994 for Operation Sea Signal where he served as Assistant Chief of Staff, J-4, Joint Task Force 160. During November 1994, he assumed duty as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, 2d Force Service Support Group. On 12 July 1995, Major General Dickerson assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Service Support Schools. During July 1997, he assumed duties as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, II Marine Expeditionary Forces, and on 6 July 1998, he was assigned as Chief of Staff, 2d FSSG. From 12 August 1999 to 13 July 2001, Major General Dickerson was assigned as the Commanding General, 2d Force Service Support Group.

Reassigned to HQMC, in July 2001, he served as the Director, Logistics Plans, Policies, and Strategic Mobility Division, Installations and Logistics Department, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps until August 2003. On 29 August 2003, Major General Dickerson once again returned to Camp Lejeune, NC, and assumed duties as Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune.

On 4 October 2005, Major General Dickerson assumed joint command of Marine Corps Installations East and Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune. During January 2006 he relinquished command of Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune and retained command of Marine Corps Installations East and its 7 subordinate installations.

Paul McTear joined Raycom Media in February 1997 as Chief Financial Officer with responsibilities including traditional financial oversight plus operating responsibilities for Raycom Sports. In July of 2001, Paul was promoted to the position of President/Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of CEO John Hayes. The company has grown to the largest privately owned TV broadcast company in the US, now owning and/or operating 47 television stations in 18 states and covering more than 12.6% of U.S. television households. Raycom stations are the news leaders in the majority of their markets.

Paul was previously at the Providence Journal Company for 20 years where he was Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development. While there, Paul was involved with acquisitions, strategic and financial planning, and corporate development. He was also instrumental in the launch of two cable programming networks, Television Food Network and America’s Health Network. In addition, Paul had financial overview of The Providence Journal’s cable, paging and cellular telephone companies.

Paul also serves on the National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors, NBC’s Affiliate Board, and heads a Small Market Coalition formed to keep Small Market Broadcast issues in the forefront. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of Worldnow, MSTV and My Weather.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Paul received his BS in accounting from Drexel University. He and his wife Denise are the parents of four sons and live in Montgomery, Alabama.

Gregory L. Bowman, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Siemens Government Technologies (SGT), Inc., the separate but affiliated U.S. government arm of technology powerhouse Siemens. With project teams across the U.S. and internationally, SGT is a cleared provider of Siemens products, technologies and software to solve some of the most complex government challenges in energy, automation and digitalization.

Prior to joining SGT, Mr. Bowman served in the U.S. Army for more than 25 years—culminating his career as the Strategic Military Law and Policy Advisor/Legislative Counsel to the Secretary of the Army. Chosen to establish that position, he served two Secretaries and two Acting Secretaries of the Army for over seven years. At SGT, Mr. Bowman has served as Director of Large Integrated Programs (OCONUS), then Deputy/Chief Operating Officer of Energy & Infrastructure followed by Vice President of Strategy, Growth and Partnerships. Most recently, he served as Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President of Corporate Development. In his current role, he is focused on driving strategic growth by leveraging innovations from across the Siemens global portfolio to support U.S. government customers around the world.

A graduate of Longwood University, Mr. Bowman was commissioned in the Army in 1990 and graduated summa cum laude in Pre-Law and was the Distinguished Military Graduate. Following graduation, he was selected for the “Educational Delay” Program to attend the University of Virginia School of Law. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1993, and later received a Master of Military Law and Government Contracting (Honor Graduate) from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center & School, and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences (Strategy) from the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and is admitted to practice law before both the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Bowman’s military positions included Strategic Military Law and Policy Advisor and Legislative Counsel to the Secretary of the Army; Legislative Counsel, Office of the U.S. Army Chief of Legislative Liaison; Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox, Kentucky; Military Personnel Law Attorney, Administrative Law Division, Office of The Judge Advocate General; Senior Legal Advisor, Governorate Support Team (1st Armored Division-Baghdad); Military Member Judicial Review Committee of Iraq; and served as the first Administrator/Amicus Central Criminal Court of Iraq.

An accomplished executive leader with over three decades of government industry experience, Ms. Dolph has held key leadership roles throughout the US Defense industry in service to national security domestically and abroad.  She began her career with GE Aerospace in the early 1990’s. She has held leadership roles at of increasing responsibility at leading federal contractors including Lockheed Martin, PAE, CRDF Global and ASRC Federal.  Ms. Dolph also served the President and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies (SGT), where she led that company in driving growth and innovation for some of the U.S. military’s largest modernization projects in critical infrastructure and digital transformation.

Ms. Dolph has earned recognition for her contributions to the government marketplace, twice named a Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) Tech 100 executive for leadership and innovation in the Greater Washington region’s technology community. She has been named to Washington Executive’s “Top 25 Execs to Watch” list three times and is a four-time recipient of the Wash100 award from Executive Mosaic. She is a board member for Valiant Integrated Services, a global government services contractor serving the defense, aerospace, national security, and intelligence communities.

Passionate about service and support of the military community, Ms. Dolph has served on the board of the National Defense University Foundation and currently serves on the Boards of Directors for the post-9/11 veteran and military family national nonprofit Hope for the Warriors.

Robin Kelleher is CEO and co-founder of Hope For The Warriors. For 20 years, Robin has led HOPE with a unique blend of strategic insight and compassionate leadership. Through cultivating meaningful partnerships, driving the vision and impact of HOPE’s mission across diverse communities, and building teams that deliver tangible outcomes, Robin has created countless opportunities to meet the evolving needs of our military families. Under her guidance, Hope For The Warriors has become a trusted voice in veteran and military family advocacy and a catalyst for restoring self, family, and hope within the military community.

Robin serves on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women In The Service (DACOWITS), Membership Committee and Health & Wellness Solution Group of the Washington Board of Trade, Military Family and Veterans Service Organizations of America (MFVSOA) Board of Directors, Virginia Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Executive Committee (as a PREVENTS Ambassador), and Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations in Virginia. Robin has worked extensively with military families, caring for family units during multiple deployments as the wife of a Marine. Additionally, her experiences as the daughter and granddaughter of U.S. soldiers have given her a unique insight into the needs of service members and their families.

Prior to 2006, Robin founded two for-profit businesses and one nonprofit. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from Randolph Macon College, a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Duke University, and a Certificate in the Psychology of Leadership from Cornell University.

Nelson was the Chairman & CEO of Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO), the world’s most successful premium television company, from 2008 until his retirement in 2013 and was responsible for the overall strategy and management of this $4.5 billion global premium television company.

Previously, from 2004, Nelson was Chief Operating Officer focused on HBO’s long-term strategic initiatives.

Nelson joined HBO in 1984 as VP Assistant Controller and successively served as SVP Controller from 1985, and SVP Chief Financial Officer from 1991.

Before HBO, Nelson worked for Time Inc. as Director, External Financial Reporting and Risk Management. Earlier, from 1975 to 1979, he was an Audit Supervisor, CPA, for Ernst & Young, a public accounting firm in New York.

Nelson holds a BBA degree in finance and an MBA from Pace University in New York. He also completed Harvard University’s Program for Management Development.

Nelson has dedicated himself to supporting our military veterans and their families in need through veteran focused charities: He is a Board member of Hope for the Warriors and Board member emeritus and Advisory Council member of Friends of Vietnam Veterans Plaza NYC, United War Veterans Council NYC and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 126 and an Advisory Council member of the National Veterans Business Development Council.

He is the recipient of recognition for his work on behalf of our veterans including the Veterans Advantage TOPVET Award, the Vietnam Veterans of America’s Excellence In The Arts Award, as well as their highest award The Commendation Medal for exemplary service to veterans, the U.S Army’s inaugural Soldier For Life Award which recognizes a veteran who served honorably in the Army and has generously given back to our veterans. In 2014, he was inducted into the New York State Senate Veteran’s Hall of Fame, established to recognize outstanding Veterans from New York who have distinguished themselves in military and civilian life.

Nelson is a Vietnam combat veteran, having served with the U.S. Army’s 2/502nd “Strike Force” Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

JoAnn C. Stonier is the global privacy & data protection officer for MasterCard Worldwide. She is responsible for worldwide privacy compliance for the enterprise, which includes identifying, evaluating and managing risks associated with privacy and information management on a global basis. Ms. Stonier and her team of global professionals help business colleagues understand the risks and relevant legal requirements with utilizing personal information in the development of products and services.

Before joining MasterCard in 2008, Ms. Stonier was the chief privacy officer for American Express Company. She also held various roles of increasing responsibility at American Express, including chief operating officer, American Express Tax & Business Services; vice president, Acquisition Integration; vice president & assistant to the Chairman; director & assistant to the General Counsel; and senior manager, Financial Reengineering. Prior to this, Ms. Stonier worked at Waldenbooks, Inc., PepsiCo and started her career as an auditor for PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

In addition to her work at MasterCard, Ms. Stonier is an adjunct professor at two local colleges, St. Francis College in Brooklyn where she teaches accounting and auditing at the undergraduate level; and Pratt Institute where she teaches business strategy as part of the Design Management Masters program.

Ms. Stonier received her Juris Doctor from St. John’s University in Queens, and her Bachelor’s of Science from St. Francis College. She holds memberships in the Bar of the State of New York and the Bar of the State of New Jersey. Ms. Stonier has been recognized as an expert in the field of financial privacy and has spoken at industry events, including International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Annual Meeting; PLI’s Annual Institute on Privacy and Data Security Law; the Center on Law & Information Policy and Dow Jones Global Compliance Symposium.

Harry Bridgwood served his country as a USMC Vietnam Era veteran, and afterwards served the people of New York City in law enforcement for 29 years with the NYPD, 24 years as a Detective, 17 years of which dedicated to investigating homicides.

His devotion to the 1,741 New York City residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam was equaled only by his dedication to supporting our post-9/11 wounded veterans as a Board Member of Hope For The Warriors.

In early 2016, we paid tribute to Harry Bridgwood. Our beloved board member left a legacy of honor, courage and Hope to us all. His leadership will continue to set the bar for our level of excellence. Aside from honesty and fidelity, a sense of humor is the human quality many valued most in Harry. With a twinkle in his eye, Harry would invariably remind us of what is important.

Harry’s love of family and country drove his every day. He exemplified our 10 year campaign, Serve 2 Serve. “We are forever grateful for the dedication of Harry and his amazing wife, Candy Bridgwood.” – Robin Kelleher, CEO Hope For the Warriors

Tom is the Chief Merchandising Officer of Casey’s and he has been in the role since the end of October 2019. As Chief Merchant he is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the company’s overall merchandising, prepared foods, and omni-channel marketing strategy. He joined Casey’s from CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, where he was Chief Operating Officer responsible for the operations and support of over 3,000 restaurants across the United States. Prior to CKE, he spent 11 years at 7-Eleven in a variety of leadership roles in merchandising, category management, store development and operations. Before 7-Eleven, he worked in the financial planning and analysis group at Target Corporation, and he also served six years active duty as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Tom and his wife Michelle have been married for 24 years and they have 2 children, Thomas who is a junior at Mizzou, and Quinn, who is a senior in high school.

Colonel (Retired) Gregory D. Gadson, a Chesapeake, Va., native, served our nation in the United States Army for more than 26 years. Col. Gadson’s service culminated as the Garrison Commander of Fort Belvoir, where he oversaw the daily operations of the post, a strategic sustaining base where more than 50,000 military personnel and employees provide logistical, intelligence, medical and administrative support, and command and control for a mix of more than 140 commands and agencies for the Department of Defense.

A 25-year career Army officer, Col. Gadson’s life is a portrait of courage in the face of great adversity. In May 2007, as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, Col. Gadson’s greatest challenge came in Iraq, where an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack cost him both legs above the knees and normal use of his right arm and hand. Despite this, Col. Gadson remained on active duty in the Army and continued to inspire many with his message of courage, perseverance, determination and teamwork. Refusing to be defined by his severe and permanent injuries, he has continued to draw upon the lessons of Pride, Poise and Team, learned as a West Point linebacker, and apply them to his life, career and family.

He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant of Field Artillery in 1989 from West Point. He has served in every major conflict of the past two decades, including Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Kuwait; Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He announced his retirement from US army in 2014.  Col. Gadson has served in various assignments throughout the world dedicating himself to leading the Soldiers, civilian employees and family members in living the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. He is a passionate advocate for wounded warriors, veterans and those with disabilities; on several occasions testifying before Congress on issues related to these groups.

In 2007, Tom Coughlin, New York Giants head coach, asked Col. Gadson to meet with the then-struggling team. Col. Gadson talked to the players about service, teamwork, duty, perseverance and adversity. Although he refuses to take any credit, the Giants players and coaches have heralded the key inspirational role he played in their unprecedented season culminating as victors of the 2008 Super Bowl. Col. Gadson currently maintains his mentoring relationship with the Giants. In addition, Col. Gadson has delivered his inspirational message and leadership counsel to numerous sports teams, corporate and non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Col. Gadson also established himself as an actor,  acting in several movies and appearing in many TV shows.  In 2012, he starred in an American military science fiction action war film Battleship portraying the role of Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales. He is also an avid photographer.

Dan Moran founded Moran Enterprises Incorporated on November 10, 2008 and serves as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. Dan is a combat decorated veteran who served in the Global War on Terror as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He is a recipient of the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor, the Navy Achievement Medal with Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Purple Heart. He medically retired as a Captain of Marines July 31, 2009.

Mr. Dan Moran attended the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate Course, The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Virginia from January through November, 2004. Upon his graduation from the Infantry Officer Course, Dan reported to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as a Rifle Platoon Commander.

He served his initial tour of duty in Fallujah, Iraq. After the initial deployment, Dan was assigned to lead a Mobile Assault Platoon in the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, Weapons Company. Dan deployed for a second tour of duty to Ramadi, Iraq in September, 2006.

Dan was wounded during a patrol on October 9, 2006 north of the city of Ramadi. Twelve days later during a night patrol on October 21, 2006 in downtown Ramadi, Dan’s vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device, killing three of his Marines and severely injuring him and his vehicle commander. Dan sustained 3rd degree burns to 50% of his body, incurred multiple fractures in his back, suffered an inhalation injury, a concussion and loss of his spleen. He was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where he recovered for almost 3 years. He moved to Houston in August 2009, where he lives with his wife, Teal, and their two children, Trey and Macy.

Dan was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor, which was presented to him by former President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates during half time of the Texas A&M vs. University of Kansas football game in College Station on October 27, 2007. Dan also is a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University and a Graduate Certificate in Advanced International Affairs at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. He has also participated in executive business education at Harvard Business School.

Craig Proctor is a Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Altria Client Services Inc., in Washington, D.C., and has held those positions since 2010, when he joined the company. Craig is responsible for managing jury trials and trial strategy issues for his company’s tobacco and health trials throughout the Unites States. Prior to working with Altria, Craig worked for Philip Morris International in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2009, managing their worldwide regulatory litigation and portions of their tobacco and health litigation.

Craig previously worked at the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon, from 1993-2009, in their offices in Kansas City Missouri and Geneva, Switzerland, where he was a partner, the managing partner of the firm’s Switzerland office and head of their international practice group, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Craig received a B.A. in history and a B.S. in political science and international studies from Iowa State University, and an M.A. in Asian Civilizations and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa. Craig is a native of Iowa, and lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Richard Wood, the energetic leader of Plaza Construction Corp., takes great pride in the fact that he has helped to shape the New York skyline. For more than 30 years, he has been affiliated with Fisher Brothers and Plaza Construction Corp. throughout his long career has been involved in many of NewYork City’s most complex building projects-including over 20 million square feet of new core and shell construction, interior renovation and sophisticated infrastructure upgrades.

Skyscrapers that have directly benefited from his on-site presence can be found across the city. They include: Park Avenue Plaza, 299 Park Avenue, the St. Thomas Choir School, Random House World Headquarters, 200 Chambers Street, the residential tower at 26 Astor Place, and 11 Times Square among many others.

Under Richard Wood’s astute leadership, Plaza Construction Corp. has grown to be one of the nation’s most respected providers of construction management and general contracting services and regularly represents leading national and international corporations. In 1999, Plaza received the prestigious American Architecture Award presented by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum for its role in the construction of NYU’s University Hall.

His intelligence and outstanding abilities were quickly recognized, and he steadily progressed from field superintendent to general superintendent to project executive. In 1995 he was named executive vice president of Plaza Construction and in 1997 assumed his current title as President.

Today, Plaza’s reputation for excellence and integrity, cultivated by its CEO Steven Fisher in tandem with Richard Wood, have enabled it to evolve from a modest company that only serviced Fisher family projects into a nationally acclaimed firm with annual revenues of $1 billion. Thanks to his longstanding association with the Fisher family, one of New York’s great owner/builders, Richard Wood gained unique insight into the crucial relationships that link effective construction management with developer’s vision. This fostered an intense commitment to overseeing a firm that maintains a stellar record of on-time and on-budget performance.

As Plaza continues to enhance its reputation in the tri-state area, president Richard Wood is actively focusing on growing the Plaza organization nationally. “Plaza can provide important construction resources to developers nationwide,” explains Mr. Wood, “greatly enhancing their ability to meet development goals in diversified locations.”

On a more personal level, Mr. Wood is an accomplished outdoorsman and father of two boys who lives with his wife Margaret in Westchester County. He is deeply committed to such philanthropic causes as the Intrepid Foundation, sits on the Board of Friends of the Vietnam Veteran’s Plaza and is an advisory Board Member to the Valerie Fund, a provider of comprehensive health care for children with cancer and blood disorders. In 2000, he was presented with the Life Leadership Award from the LIFE Organization.

Craig Conover, a reality TV personality from Fenwick Island, DE, is also a board-certified attorney, entrepreneur, and author. He gained popularity on Bravo TV’s Southern Charm beginning in 2014, and then used his public persona for philanthropic efforts, spending time in Haiti, and lending a hand with hurricane rescue and support across the Carolinas. He owns a thriving home decor & lifestyle brand, Sewing Down South, which has fulfilled over 100,000 orders in four years and donated more than $200,000 to charities around the world. In addition to owning a law firm in Mount Pleasant, he recently opened a restaurant in NYC and is opening another in Charleston soon. Craig graduated from the business school at College of Charleston and Charleston Law School, recently published the book “Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong with My Sewing”. Currently, he splits his time between Charleston and NYC, and travels the country speaking on leadership and overcoming challenges.

Patrick Hogenbirk has more than 25 years of experience in corporate ethics, compliance & global privacy. Currently, Hogenbirk serves as global vice president and chief compliance & privacy officer with Owens & Minor, a Fortune 500 global healthcare solutions company. He also served as the Chief Compliance Officer for Comprehensive Health Services, and Assurex Health. He has held similar positions at Johnson & Johnson and Cardinal Health, where he was instrumental in establishing new ethics and compliance programs.

Hogenbirk holds a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional certificate from the Society of Corporate Compliance, and an Ethics and Healthcare Compliance Law certificate from Seton Hall University Law School. He is also a graduate of the University of Maryland and Park University. Hogenbirk is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired as Chief of Fire Protection for 4th Air Force with more than 25 years of service.

Thomas (Tommy) J. Lyons has a longstanding commitment to service—to his country, his community and his fellow veterans.

Mr. Lyons retired November after 16 years of service at MassHousing Finance Agency as the Vice President of Government Affairs & Corporate Communications. MassHousing is the state’s Affordable Housing Bank. From 1995 to 2002, he was the Executive Director of the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans. He served as Commissioner for Veterans’ Services for the City of Boston from 1984 to 1995.

Born in South Boston, Mr. Lyons graduated from South Boston High in 1967 and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1969 and is a combat Veteran with a tour of duty 1968-1969 in Vietnam.

In 1978, Mr. Lyons organized a committee of Vietnam Veterans to pay tribute to the 25 young men from his community who died during the Vietnam War. On September 13, 1981, the committee erected the South Boston Vietnam Memorial, which was one of the first of its kind in the nation. In 1987, he founded the Semper Fidelis Society of Boston, a Marine Corps organization that has grown to more than 2,500 members. The Society sponsors an annual luncheon on the Marine Corps’ Birthday and donates the proceeds to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and local veterans’ charities.

He also started the annual Boston Marine Corps Honor Run, which raises money for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He was Chairman of Marine Week Boston in 2010 and Chairman of the 2001, 2006 and 2015 Medal of Honor Convention.

Mr. Lyons graduated from Boston State 1978 and the Senior Executive Fellows Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government 1988. He was honored by the University of Massachusetts Boston with the Robert H. Quinn Award for Outstanding Community Leadership, the recipient of the 2011 “Marine for Life” Award, presented in 2012 for his 30 years of advocacy on behalf of our nation’s veterans, the 2014 recipient of the Commandant’s Award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and 2019 received the John W. McCormick Distinguished Public Service Award.

Mr. Lyons serves on a number of boards and committees: he is a member of the Governor’s Veterans Advisory Council and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Veterans’ Housing, Chairman and Founder of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial Committee, Board Member Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Board Member of ATCNE (Addiction Treatment Center New England), Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Chelsea Soldiers Home, a Board Member of the Brighton Marine Health Center and a member on the Long-Term Care Commission for Veterans.

Mr. Lyons lives in Wakefield, Massachusetts with his wife Jean. They have two daughters Sarah, Maura and his son, Todd, a Federal Agent in Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) who is a Veteran of the Iraq War.

Kevin Schwartz is Chief Executive Officer and a Founding Partner at Paine Schwartz Partners.

Prior to co-founding Paine Schwartz Partners in 2006, Mr. Schwartz was a Managing Director at the Predecessor Firm, which he joined in 2002. Prior to joining the Predecessor Firm, he worked for the private equity firms Fremont Partners, where he assisted with the management of approximately $1.7 billion of funds, and American Industrial Partners, which managed approximately $1 billion of funds. He began his professional career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Investment Banking Division focusing on financial analysis of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, public and private financings and other corporate transactions.

Mr. Schwartz serves on the boards of Advanced Agrilytics, FoodChain ID, Lyons Magnus, SNFL Group, Verdesian Life Sciences and Wawona Packing. Previously, he also served on the boards of Advanta, AgBiTech, Costa Group, Icicle Seafoods, Seminis, Sunrise Growers, and Verisem. He is a member of the Rush Associates board at the Rush University Medical Center. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Bachelor of Science in Accountancy) and was raised in Moline, Illinois.

William Wagasy grew up in Missouri.  A former Outside Linebacker and Special Teams player for the University of Notre Dame under Coach Lou Holtz from 1992-1996, he graduated with an accounting degree and a second major in philosophy in 1996. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University in 2000 and his Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine in 2001.

Following the attacks of September 11th, he enlisted in the navy.  He is a decorated U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. having completed four combat tours from 2002-2012, three to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  In the SEAL Teams his specialties included being a lead sniper, a lead breacher, a JTAC, and a lead navigator.

After his time in the navy he served as the Director of Veteran’s Outreach for the Gary Sinise Foundation and continues to be an official ambassador for the foundation as well as sitting on the Advisory Board for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the Board Council for Hope for the Warriors, the West Coast Host Committee for the Navy SEAL Foundation and also on the Selection Committee for the Orange County Community Foundation’s veteran initiative.

Today he is the Vice President of National Sales, National Commercial Services for Commonwealth Land Title Company as well as for Fidelity National Title Group for Home Builder Services.   He provides national commercial services for national accounts and major projects from coast to coast and has current accounts in New York, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Colorado and California.  He also is an active Inspirational and Motivational Public Speaker, having spoken on Patriot Tour with Marcus Luttrell of Lone Survivor, as well as to major corporations such as, imortgage, Shea Homes, Tri Pointe, Allied Building, Zellman Associates, and Orbis, as well as Universities and sports teams to include Texas A&M Football Team, Ohio State Football Team, Pepperdine Law School, and the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team, just to name a few.

Craig Conover, a reality TV personality from Fenwick Island, DE, is also a board-certified attorney, entrepreneur, and author. He gained popularity on Bravo TV’s Southern Charm beginning in 2014, and then used his public persona for philanthropic efforts, spending time in Haiti, and lending a hand with hurricane rescue and support across the Carolinas. He owns a thriving home decor & lifestyle brand, Sewing Down South, which has fulfilled over 100,000 orders in four years and donated more than $200,000 to charities around the world. In addition to owning a law firm in Mount Pleasant, he recently opened a restaurant in NYC and is opening another in Charleston soon. Craig graduated from the business school at College of Charleston and Charleston Law School, recently published the book “Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong with My Sewing”. Currently, he splits his time between Charleston and NYC, and travels the country speaking on leadership and overcoming challenges.

Chris joined USAA in 2024 as a Strategic Innovation Director working in Property &Casualty Insurance Innovation. In this role, he identifies, prioritizes, and leads innovation projects focused on improving member products and services relating to their most valuable physical possessions: their homes.

Chris is a 20-year Air Force combat-tested and decorated veteran with 32 years of experience leading dynamic teams and innovation in high-pressure environments.

Prior to his work at USAA, Chris served for nearly 6 years as the President and CEO of Stop Soldier Suicide, the nation’s largest suicide intervention provider for the military community and a key partner in USAA’s Suicide Prevention Initiative, Face The Fight. He is also the Founder of the National Association of Veteran-Serving Organizations.

Previously, he served two decades in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Forces Officer, Legislative Liaison, Contingency-War Planning Officer, and Executive Officer. He also served as a two-time commander with several combat deployments and service in more than 20 countries around the globe. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the University of South Carolina, the Naval Postgraduate School, Air War College, and the FBI National Academy. Chris was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, among other awards and decorations.

He and his wife have 3 adult daughters and 6 grandchildren. When not working, they enjoy the outdoors via kayaking, fishing, swimming, camping, travel, and triathlons.

Sue Jurney is a native of Statesville, North Carolina, and a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

She has enjoyed an active relationship supporting Military and Family Readiness Programs for over 35 years and served in numerous non-profit organizations. Her ties with Hope For The Warriors are deep rooted. She has been an advocate and supporter of the organization since its beginning, becoming a volunteer in 2007 and later served on staff as Director of Public Relations. Additionally, Sue has worked for the Navy League of the United States, Onslow County Department of Social Services, Beaufort County Council on Aging, and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Sue has served in numerous volunteer leadership positions benefitting our military communities during her journey as a Marine spouse. Throughout, she has served as an Advisor on the boards of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, the Armed Services YMCA Hawaii and the Armed Services YMCA Twenty-Nine Palms.

Most recently she has served as the Honorary President for Spouse Clubs in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Camp Lejeune, NC; Twenty-Nine Palms, CA and Okinawa, Japan, that helped to foster a sense of community, networking and belonging among the spouses.

She was the Family Readiness Command Team Advisor for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune; Third Marine Division in Okinawa and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twenty-Nine Palms, supporting readiness and quality of life initiatives for service members and their families. Additionally, she also served as the Honorary Advisor for the Spouse Leadership Seminars, which enrich and empower the military community through leadership training.

In September 2024, Sue was recognized by the Department of the Navy, receiving the Meritorious Public Service Award for her exceptional contributions and unwavering efforts advocating for Marines, Sailors, and their families across the Pacific and the Corps.
She and her husband, LtGen Bill Jurney, USMC (Ret), recently moved to The Woodlands, Texas, after retiring with 38 years of service. They have two adult children.

Command Master Chief Octavia D. Harris retired from the US Navy in August 2012 after 30 years. She led in commands at sea, ashore and overseas. In 1994 assigned in USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) as one of the first female Sailors on a combatant warship.   Only 1 percent of the US military can promote to the rank E9, less than that are women; even less are minorities.  In her career she completed seven Middle Eastern deployments in direct support of the war on terror.  Her Command Master Chief at sea tour was aboard USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91).  Her final tour of duty was as Command Master Chief Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command leading over 10,000 men and women in the Commander’s vision and mission of Information Warfare Dominance across the Enterprise, DoD and Global Operations with our allies.

She earned a BA Degree in Healthcare Administration from National University and MS Degree in Healthcare Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.

As a Civil Service employee, she was the Program Manager for the Comprehensive Advanced Restorative Effort (CARE) program at Naval Medical Center San Diego.  This National program collaborated with the VA Medical Centers and Civilian Medical Centers of Excellence in the multidisciplinary care for the most traumatically Wounded, Ill and Injured men and women in the Armed Forces.

She was appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Defense as the Subcommittee Chair (Employment and Integration) of the Defense Advisory Committee On Women In The Services (DACOWITS), where women make up nearly 18% of the best Armed Forces in the World.  Formerly serving as Chair of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV), leading a group of Veterans from across the Nation representing a voice for over 2 million. Additionally, she serves on the Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee for Women and Children.  She was recently appointed to the National NAACP Advisory Committee for Armed Services and Veterans as well as a member of the USAA Advisory Panel to the Board of Directors.

Also appointed as the Texas Ambassador of the Military Women’s Memorial the only official National Museum dedicated to honor women who served and are currently serving all branches of the Armed Forces.  Born and raised in New York City, she currently resides in San Antonio, TX, also known as Military City USA and volunteers as a consultant to active, reserve, guard, veteran and retiree military personnel in the state with one of the largest groups of those who serve or have served.  She is the 2024 National Surface Navy Association recipient of the Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Leadership Award.

Following three decades of military service in the U.S. Army, Colonel Sutherland is now working with many corporations, nonprofits and civic organizations on leadership development, organizational culture and veteran inclusion. He is a published author and presents speeches on leadership around the country.

Colonel Sutherland culminated his military service as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, focusing on Warrior and Family Support. In that position, he was the point man for the JCS in coordinating an initiative throughout communities to align the myriad of support organizations/agencies in a collaborative effort to enable veterans, their families and the families of our fallen. Prior to his assignment at the Pentagon, he served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Multi-National Division – North as Commander, 3rd “Greywolf” Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in the volatile Diyala Province during Surge Operations. Over his 30 years of military service he commanded at all levels, from Platoon to Brigade Combat Team, and he served around the globe, including seven combat tours in Southwest Asia.

Sutherland is now the Chair of Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services; he has spent the past 15 years working with thousands of communities and community-based organizations building capacity that is enabling veterans and their families to succeed where they live. He is a nationally recognized expert on the evolving needs of veterans and their families, and the grassroot solutions that support them.

Dr. Chard is the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Director of Trauma Recovery Center at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. She is also a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Director of the UC Health Stress Center at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Chard is an international expert on the assessment and treatment of stress-related disorders including PTSD. Dr. Chard is co-author of the Cognitive Processing Therapy PTSD treatment manual, and she has received extensive funding to examine stress epidemiology, assessment and treatment in Veterans, first responders and civilians. She frequently provides trainings on the causes of stress, stress management, resilience and the treatment of PTSD.