Joe Agresti | CEO, Dream Motor Group

Joe Agresti is the CEO and owner of a series of automobile dealerships across the south. He owns Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti dealerships in Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. He partners with University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban on three of the stores.

At 27 years old, Joe became the Executive Vice President of Operations for the Asbury Automotive Group. He was responsible for operations, acquisitions, post-merger integration, strategic sourcing and internal audit. After playing a key role in bringing Asbury public, he moved on to private ownership. Prior to joining Asbury, he was a manager at Arthur Andersen LLP.

Joe has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Rutgers University and was a CPA.

David Anderson | CEO, Bay West LLC

Dave Anderson joined Bay West in his current role in April 2015, having served previously as a member of the firm's Board of Directors.

Anderson served as an engineer officer in the United States Army for 26 years, culminating as commander of the Baltimore District, US Army Corps of Engineers. In this role, he oversaw a $5 billion military construction program across the mid-Atlantic region, flood risk management and environmental restoration initiatives in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and engineering and real property support for the Army and intelligence community. He previously commanded the Corps' Honolulu District, and served in command and staff positions at over a dozen duty stations in the US and abroad.

Previously, Dave was an Executive Vice President on the Public Institutions team at Jones Lang LaSalle, where we responsible for the development and expansion of real estate and financial services in the Department of Defense market, and provided strategic advice on public sector projects.

Dave is proud member of the West Point Class of 1986. He earned master's degrees from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (formerly the Industrial College of the Armed Forces) in National Strategy Resourcing, and from the University of Texas at Austin in Construction Engineering and Project Management.

He is married to the former Kara Scichili of Richardson, Texas, and they are proud parents of Katy, Kurt and Kelsey.

Doug Black | CEO, SiteOne Landscape Supply

Doug Black was appointed CEO of SiteOne Landscape Supply (formerly John Deere Landscapes) in April of 2014.  SiteOne Landscape Supply is the largest wholesale distributor of landscaping products in North America with more than $2.4 billion in sales and over 550 locations throughout the United States and Canada. 

Doug was previously President and Chief Operating Officer of Oldcastle Inc., the largest integrated building materials manufacturer and distributor in North America and a wholly owned subsidiary of Irish-based CRH plc.  During his 18-year career with Oldcastle, Doug helped achieve industry-leading performance and growth; and he played a major role in transforming Oldcastle from a $900 million in sales company into a $12.6 billion market leader.

Doug’s business career began at McKinsey & Company in 1992, leading strategy, sales force effectiveness and plant improvement projects in the telecommunications, airline, lumber, paper and packaging industries. While serving as a U.S. Army Engineer Officer from 1986 to 1990, he completed construction projects in the Southeastern U.S., Central America and South America.

Doug earned an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business as a Fuqua Scholar and a BS in Mathematical Science/Civil Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. While at West Point, he was a Division I-A AP All-American running back, set Army's single-season rushing record, and was the recipient of the NCAA and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete awards.

Doug is Past Chairman of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association Board of Directors and previously served on the Board of Directors for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.   He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund.

Doug and his wife, Joanne, and sons, J.D. and Luke, reside in Atlanta, GA. 

Steve Cannon | CEO, AMB Group, LLC

Steve Cannon was named CEO of AMB Group, LLC effective February 1, 2016, assuming the day-to-day leadership of the company’s for-profit businesses. Cannon leads all business operations for the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons; Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer; Atlanta Falcons Stadium Company, the developer of Mercedes-Benz Stadium scheduled to open in 2017, PGA TOUR Superstore; and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch.

 

Prior to joining AMB Group, Cannon served as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and was responsible for leading operations that generated record sales, with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion. During his tenure, MBUSA achieved a first-ever No. 1 ranking on the American Customer Satisfaction Index and was also lauded as one of the best places to work by Fortune magazine for five consecutive years. Cannon oversaw MBUSA’s successful headquarters relocation from New Jersey to the Atlanta metro area, in addition to crafting a sports sponsorship strategy that closely aligned the premium brand with properties that were reflective of its category leadership and brand positioning.

 

Cannon began his automotive career in 1991 as an Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz of North America (predecessor to MBUSA). From there, he moved to Stuttgart, Germany and joined a small team tasked with the development, manufacturing, and launch of the M-Class, the first Mercedes-Benz SUV ever made in and for this market. Following his time in Germany, Cannon served as Director of Marketing for Debis Financial Services (later Daimler Financial Services). He also served as a principal for The Richards Group, one of the largest independent full-service advertising agencies in the U.S., before rejoining MBUSA in 2007 where he served as the Vice President of Marketing MBUSA from June 2007 until he was promoted to president and CEO in 2012.

 

Cannon graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point (B.S., Economics). He is Airborne Ranger-qualified and served as a 1st Lieutenant in West Germany during the fall of the Iron Curtain. During his time in the Army, he also served for five years as an artillery officer. 

 

Cannon and his wife, Ann, reside in Atlanta and are the parents of nine children.

Patrick Daly | President and CEO, Cohera Medical, Inc.

Patrick Daly has over 24 years of experience in the medical device industry. Mr. Daly started Cohera Medical, Inc.® in January 2006, and led four successful funding rounds totaling over $75M in capital from private investors to facilitate the creation of Cohera Medical's two lead products-TissuGlu® Surgical Adhesive and Sylys® Surgical Sealant-through the FDA approval process for medical devices. Prior to starting Cohera, he had over 14 years of experience in sales, marketing, international marketing, and leadership positions throughout the Johnson & Johnson organization, including Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Ethicon Products, J&J Medical Australia/New Zealand, and J&J Medical Asia Pacific. He continued along his entrepreneurial-like Johnson & Johnson career track as a marketing leader in J&J Medical Asia Pacific by creating and implementing training and development programs in China, India, Korea, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Prior to his career in business, Mr. Daly proudly served in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Officer. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Latin American Studies. He played varsity lacrosse during his four years at West Point and was named an All-American.

Mr. Daly serves on several boards, including the Advanced Medical Technology Association's (AdvaMed) Board of Directors, the Emerging Growth Company Council (EGCC) for AdvaMed, the Pittsburgh Technology Council, and Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that provides a well-balanced, nurturing home and quality education through college for academically capable girls. He is committed to the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund and giving back to "Our Own."

Joseph M. DePinto | President and CEO, 7-Eleven, Inc.

Joe DePinto is the President and CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc. and leads the premier company in convenience retailing.  Globally, there are more than 78,413 7-Eleven stores of which some 15,375 stores are in North America.

Before being appointed Chief Executive of 7-Eleven, Inc. in 2005, Joe was President of GameStop Corporation.  He has also held executive positions at PepsiCo, Inc. and Thornton Oil Corporation.

Currently, Joe is a Board Director of 7-Eleven, Inc., Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO: 3382), and is the Chairman of the Board of Brinker International (NYSE: EAT).  

In December 2017, Joe was appointed a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.  He also serves on the Board of the Business Executives for National Security, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, and the UT Southwestern Medical Foundation.  Additionally, Joe is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the Kellogg School of Management Global Advisory Board, and the Dallas Stars Ownership Advisory Group.  

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Joe earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. 

Jim DiOrio | President and CEO, J3 Global

Jim DiOrio’s career is a testament to his life as a servant leader. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, DiOrio served as a Field Artillery and Civil Affairs Officer in the US Army. He then served 20 years in the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he led criminal and terrorist investigations and oversaw the FBI’s Evidence Response Team. He has worked as a liaison to military and intelligence units worldwide and is a highly decorated officer. He also serves on the Board of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, a nonprofit he helped found that provides scholarships to veterans and military family members.

A lifelong friend of the McHugh family, Jim grew up just blocks apart from Johnny Mac in Essex County, New Jersey. John McHugh and Jim were schoolyard friends, high school rivals, summer teammates, West Point classmates, and dedicated, passionate public servants. Their families spent hours and days together during Army football and soccer games, Caldwell American Legion baseball games, church activities, holidays and family celebrations. Their parents were inseparable. They stood up for each other. John inspires Jim every single day.

Dean Dorman | Chief Operating Partner, TT Capital Partners

Mr. Dorman has been the Chief Operating Partner for TT Capital Partners for the last 8+ years, where he leads an operating team and is delivering operating improvements across the full spectrum of value creation for TTCP’s 23 principal investment companies. 

Prior to that, he served 8 years as an Operating Executive for TPG Capital, one of the largest investment firms in the world.  At TPG he worked on operating transformations at a number of TPG portfolio companies, and also led TPG’s cross-portfolio shared partner programs.  Previously, Dean was President & CEO of Silver Oak Solutions for 6 years, a supply-management software and services provider, successfully ending in a strategic sale in 2005 to CGI, a multi-billion dollar international company.  Prior to Silver Oak, Dean filled a variety of senior executive roles including; as an executive at General Electric evaluating multi-billion acquisition candidates and driving GE’s early internet commerce strategy; and as an Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company for 4 years specializing in Operations Effectiveness.

Also for the last 2 decades, Dean has been an avid private investor building a portfolio of over 100 private companies.  Many of these are early-stage growth equity ventures where Dean sometimes serves as an advisor or board member focusing on matters of growth, operational excellence, and transformation.

Early in his non-business career, Dean was a Senior Design Engineer, serving as a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil Engineering.  And before that served in the U.S. Army for nearly 5 years leading soldiers as a Combat Engineer Officer in the 9th Infantry Division and in Honduras.

Mr. Dorman received a Bachelors degree in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1986, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1995.

Bob Eisiminger | Serial Entrepreneur, Investor in Veteran-Led Companies

Bob Eisiminger was the co-founder/CEO of Knight Point Systems. With 35 years of professional experience, Bob has held a variety of positions in numerous industries. Prior to the founding of KPS, Bob served in various sales and sales leadership roles, winning accolades at every level for a Fortune 100 Pharmaceutical Company. He is a firm believer in creating an environment where team members can do their best work. With that in mind, he co-founded Knight Point Systems in 2005. He led Knight Point Systems to 8 years in a row on the Inc 5000 list; best places to work awards from the Washington Post; the Washingtonian Magazine; and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce multiple times. In 2019, Bob sold his company to Perspecta and transitioned to a role of advisor. 

Bob earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1988 where he was teammates on the Army Soccer Team with Johnny Mac. He later served as an Air Defense Artillery Officer with tours of duty in Texas and Germany. In 2018, he was named one of the Distinguished Members of the West Point Society of DC and was named The EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Government Contracting category for the Mid-Atlantic in 2019. He is a serial investor in veteran-led companies to include everything from a real estate company to a brewery to a software company. 

Bob comes from a long line of service to our nation in uniform and has a passion for supporting our soldiers and their families. His grandfather was KIA in WWII and he believes that the efforts to honor Johnny McHugh fall in line with those of honoring his grandfather.

Dietmar Exler | Chief Operating Officer, AMB Sports & Entertainment

In 2019, Dietmar Exler became AMB Sports & Entertainment’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing fan experience, the food and beverage program, private events and tours, as well as security and retail across the AMBSE portfolio.  Previously, he was president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) with responsibility for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans and the smart brand in the United States, leading MBUSA’s more than 1,600 employees and 380 dealers throughout the U.S. 

Prior to leading MBUSA, Exler was vice president of sales for MBUSA, with overall responsibility for the company’s sales, volume planning and distribution operations in the United States. Exler’s career spans nearly two decades with international business experience in various leadership roles. He began at McKinsey & Co. in 1997 as part of the financial interest group in their Germany office and later in their Midwest office, based out of Detroit, Mich. Five years later, Exler joined Chrysler Financial as senior manager of program development and was promoted to vice president of marketing the same year. 

In 2004, Exler became vice president of customer services for (then) DaimlerChrysler Financial Services in Farmington Hills, Mich., before transferring to Germany in 2005, where he served as chief operating officer of Daimler Financial Services Europe and member of the board at Mercedes-Benz Bank. Exler returned to the U.S. in 2010 after being appointed vice president for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA. 

Originally from Austria, Exler studied at Johannes Kepler University in Linz, where he received his doctorate in law. He also holds a master of laws from the University of Chicago. Exler has been a member of the New York State Bar Association since 1997. He currently resides in Brookhaven, GA. 

Salvatore Fichera | President and CEO, F&G Mechanical, An EMCOR Company

Sal leads and oversees F & G Mechanical’s operations to provide maximum value to the client while delivering excellent financial performance for F&G’s parent company, EMCOR Group, Inc.  Along with client development and relationship building, Sal also assists the company’s estimating team with new project bidding and procurement phases.  He develops strategic direction and policies that make F&G Mechanical the premier mechanical contractor in the region, and guides the company’s safety initiatives and policies.

Sal has been in the mechanical contracting business for over 40 years. He started working in the family-founded business, F&G Heating Company, in Brooklyn, NY. In 1975, Sal and his partner, Salvatore “Butch” Giardina, came to Secaucus, New Jersey, and started F&G Mechanical Corporation.

In 1984, after watching the growth of the fire sprinkler business and fulfilling the needs of a very important and large client, Butch and Sal founded Meadowlands Fire Protection Company. This new entity gave F&G the ability to provide the total mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection solutions their clients demanded.

Sal completed a four-year UA Apprenticeship and has performed all aspects of the F&G business, including: drafting, design, estimating, project management, and purchasing. He holds a Master Plumber’s License for the State of New Jersey and the City of New York, along with a Fire Suppression License for the City of New York. He also holds a Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration License for the State of New Jersey.

Sal is active in the MCA of New Jersey and is a Contractor Trustee for Local 24. He is on the Joint Apprenticeship Committee and the MCA of New Jersey Labor Negotiating Committee. Sal is also a member of ASPE and ASSE.

In his downtime, Sal enjoys spending time with his wife, Valerie, and his two grown children, Danielle and Marc. He is an avid golfer and enjoys watching all sports, especially football and basketball. He and his family enjoy traveling and spending time at the Jersey Shore.

Terry Finley | President, West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc.

At the helm of a horse racing partnership management company he founded in 1991, Terry Finley leverages over 25 years of accumulated institutional knowledge to guide his management decisions and better position his clients for success. His passion for racing was ignited as a youngster while attending horse races with his father. Finley is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and a former Army Ranger, achieving the rank of Captain during his service. Finley incubated and executed his business plan to provide unique lifestyle experiences via fractional racehorse ownership, enabling people of modest means to compete at the highest levels of horse racing. Finley grew the company from two investors and a $5,000 claiming horse in 1991 to its current state of over 400 investors and more than 65 horses typically under management. West Point runners compete in elite races, including the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders' Cup World Championships, as well as various other stakes and allowance levels.

Finley has served on numerous industry boards of directors including the Breeders' Cup, the NTRA Horse PAC and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. Finley serves on the boards of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the Catholic Leadership Institute.

Finley lives in Saratoga Springs with his wife and business partner, Debbie. They have two grown children: Erin, who is the Communications Director at West Point Thoroughbreds; and Ryan, who plays professional soccer for Chivas USA.

Malcolm Frost | Major General, U.S. Army, Retired

Major General Malcolm Frost has over three decades of leadership experience in both the U.S. Army and business. He served as a career Infantryman, commanding and leading soldiers at every level from Lieutenant to 2-star General. Throughout his military career he provided large-scale strategic and operational leadership and oversight of units across the globe - successfully leading the evolution of soldier training programs in peace and war.

Malcolm led the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness revolution from 2017-19 and was responsible for developing the first new physical fitness test for the Army in 40 years. He also led the Army’s initial entry training enterprise that annually transformed 130K civilians into soldiers and as the Army’s Director of Public Affairs, developed and led all strategic communications plans, roll-outs, and national media relations initiatives for the Army. He has been deployed to combat several times in a variety of leadership and command positions in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan between 1995-2011.

Since retiring from the Army, Malcolm provides executive leadership development, public relations, and communications advice to corporate America. He also provides expert advice to companies in the health and wellness, training, and information operations industries. He has extensive keynote and public speaking experience and has been an on-air military and national security contributor to Fox News and other outlets.

A 1988 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Malcolm was a soccer teammate of Johnny McHugh.  He believes strongly in the causes of supporting families of our fallen servicemembers and improving the state of health and fitness as a national security challenge in America.

Alex Gellert | CEO and Partner, Merkley+Partners

Alex Gellert is currently a Partner and the CEO of Merkley+Partners. M+P provides marketing and award-winning communications services to a broad range of clients, including Ferrero USA, Florida's Natural, Mercedes-Benz, Niconovum USA, Sun Products Corporation, and several others. Merkley+Partners produces content for clients in all media spaces, including television, print, social, digital and many others. Prior to M+P, Alex was an Executive Vice President with Lowe and Partners. He began his career at Scali, McCabe, Sloves.

Alex prides himself on working with clients that have achieved business success and been recognized by the industry. Alex has been associated with campaigns that have won EFFIEs, Gold Lions, Clios and the Gold Bell, the Ad Council's highest honor.

In 1985, TAB Books (a division of McGraw-Hill) published a book by Alex. The book, entitled How to be Your Own Phone Company, was a guide to the consumer implications of the 1984 breakup of AT&T.

Married since 1993, Alex and his wife, Jean, have three children: Alexander, Andrew, and Aidan.

Alex graduated with honors from Hobart College in 1986 with a dual major in Art History and Economics.

Salvatore “Butch” P. Giardina | President, F&G Mechanical, An EMCOR Company

Sal oversees the day-to-day operations of F & G Mechanical, maintaining close business relationships with NJ and NYC’s elite general contractors. Through the constant cultivation of business relationships, Butch ensures a steady flow of newly awarded projects to F&G’s portfolio each year.  He is one of the Team Leaders of the organization’s Executive Committee, and actively participates in strategic planning meetings with each department head to maintain the future direction of F&G Mechanical.

Sal has been in the mechanical contracting business for over 42 years. He started working in the family-founded business, then called F&G Heating Company, in Brooklyn, NY.  In 1975, Sal and his partner, Sal Fichera, came to Secaucus, NJ, and started F&G Mechanical Corporation. Together they established a reputation in the industry for reliability, total customer satisfaction and faith in the promise that projects will be completed on time and within budget. In 2001, F&G Mechanical became a subsidiary of EMCOR Group, Inc.

Sal holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wagner College. He is President of the New York Law Enforcement Foundation, and has licenses with NYC Master Fire Suppression and Rockland County Plumbers.  In his downtime, Sal enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He’s an avid outdoorsman and can usually be found hunting, fishing, playing golf, or participating in other outdoor sports.

Kurt Gutierrez | CEO, FPS, Inc. and Partner, Patriot Strategies

Kurt Patrick Gutierrez has owned and operated numerous successful businesses since 2003. His ventures include work in telecommunications in the Middle East and U.S., and technical security upgrades at U.S. embassies worldwide. Prior to his business enterprises, Kurt worked for Corning Cable Systems and Danaher as Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Kurt, a graduate of U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger Schools, served as a Field Artillery Officer with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, patrolling the politically sensitive East/West German border and the West German border of Czechoslovakia.

Kurt graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986. He was captain of the Army football team that produced victories in both the Cherry Bowl over Michigan State and the Peach Bowl over the University of Illinois. He also holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Kurt lives in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Marcy; he has two adult children.

Kurt, the son of a career-enlisted U.S. Army soldier, has a passion for supporting soldiers and their families. He believes that the efforts to honor Johnny McHugh will provide a vehicle impacting the lives of soldiers everywhere. He is honored to be a part of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund team.

Anthony J. Guzzi | Chairman, President and CEO, EMCOR Group, Inc.

Anthony (Tony) J. Guzzi is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EMCOR Group, Inc., (NYSE: EME), a Fortune 500® leader in mechanical and electrical construction, industrial and energy infrastructure, and building services for a diverse range of businesses and government with estimated 2017 revenues of ~$7.6 B and ~33,000 employees. For nine consecutive years, EMCOR has been named by Fortune® as one of the top five World’s Most Admired Companies in the Engineering and Construction Industry—EMCOR is ranked #2 for 2017.

Prior to joining EMCOR, Tony was President of United Technologies Corporation’s multi-billion dollar Carrier North American Parts, Distribution and Services Division.

Previously, Tony had served as an engagement manager with McKinsey & Company.

Tony is Ranger qualified and served in the U.S. Army as a Light Infantry Captain from 1986 to 1991.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science with highest distinction from The United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986.  Tony earned his MBA from Harvard Business School with distinction in 1993. 

Tony is a member of EMCOR’s (NYSE: EME) Board of Directors.  He also serves on the Hubbell (NYSE: HUBB) Board of Directors and is the Lead Independent Director. 

Passionate about giving back to veterans and their families, Tony helped found the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. Johnny Mac’s mission is to provide educational opportunities to the children and spouses of those soldiers who either perished in combat or training defending our country.   

Tony enjoys spending time with his family, including two sons and a daughter. He coaches youth sports, and also enjoys playing golf, and attending sporting events.

Robert Healy | Founder and Managing Partner, L Squared Capital Partners

Prior to founding L Squared, Rob cofounded Chicago Growth Partners, a growth-focused private equity fund that invested over $750 million in more than 35 growth companies. Rob was previously a Managing Director at William Blair Capital Partners, a General Partner with ClearLight Partners, and a Principal at William E. Simon & Sons, besides working in investment banking with Merrill Lynch & Company. Prior to his investing career, Rob served for nine years as an officer in the United States Army and was decorated for his combat leadership, commanding a Black Hawk Squadron in Operation Just Cause. Rob graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he quarterbacked the Army football team and led them to their second Bowl victory in history. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

James "Ted" Hoyt | Treasurer and Clerk, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund

Ted serves as the Fund's legal counsel with help from pro bono volunteer lawyers from the preeminent Boston law firm of Ropes & Gray, as well as in-house attorneys at EMCOR Group, Inc.

Ted is the manager of Hoyt Legal LLC, a five-lawyer litigation firm located outside Boston. Hoyt Legal specializes in representing commercial landlords across the country. Prior to forming Hoyt Legal, Ted was the managing attorney at Mickelson Barnet, P.C. in New Bedford, MA, and for four years prior to that, he was a real estate and land use attorney at Prince Lobel Tye in downtown Boston. Ted earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law with his Juris Doctor degree.

Before becoming an attorney, Ted was an officer in the Army Special Forces (Green Berets), where he served in a number of locations and assignments. Ted's extended family has strong military roots. His younger brother served for 23 years as a Navy SEAL, and his two brothers-in-law are Air Force officers - one an F-22 instructor pilot and the other, a top infectious disease doctor. Ted's grandfather-in-law was a distinguished graduate and fifth-generation West Pointer. Ted enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children in Hopkinton, MA. He looks forward to doing great things through the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund for years to come in honor of our friend and brother.

James Hradecky | President and CEO, GxP Partners, and CEO, NuLife Med, LLC

In his 21 years in both the medical and IT industries, Jim has founded, managed, grown, sold, and turned around several businesses. Always focusing on delivering promised outcomes for customers, Jim's businesses effectively use technology, human interaction, and doing what's right in caring for people to achieve the best results possible. Jim believes that small companies such as his have a duty to provide affordable needed services and caring for both Government and Civilian customers that improve their quality of life and work.

After graduating from West Point in 1986, Jim served seven years on active duty, with two tours in the 82nd Airborne Division and one in Germany. A Field Artillery Officer with both Battery Command and Battalion Operations Officer experience, he left the military in 1993. He was then recruited into the medical industry, where he still works today.  In 2010, he earned an MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship from Babson College.

Jim lives happily with his family in New Hampshire and enjoys traveling to other places, as long as he gets to come home soon.

Bob Lockett | Chief Diversity and Talent Officer, ADP

Bob is currently the Chief Diversity and Talent Officer at ADP. In this role, Bob is accountable for the Diversity, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Talent strategy. Bob is passionate about ensuring that our workforce is reflective of the communities in which we live and the clients we serve. Additionally, he is an advocate for parity in leadership levels for all ADP population segments. 

Prior to his role expansion, Bob was the Chief Talent Officer. He joined ADP in 2016 as the Head of Human Resources/Division Vice President for Small Business Solutions & HR Outsourcing business units. Bob’s corporate career spans over 20 years with several top-tier companies. Prior to ADP, Bob was the Senior Vice President/Head of Human Resources at Harland Clarke; Vice President, Talent Management at First Data; HR Executive at USAA; Director, Human Resources at Limited Brands (Bath& Body Works, Express); Director, Player Services at Harrah’s Casino; Senior Group Manager, HR at Frito Lay, and Executive Senior Partner at The Lucas Group. He has led multiple HR Centers of Excellence (Diversity & Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Employee Relations, and HR Business Partners) throughout his career. 

Prior to his corporate career, Bob served as a field artillery officer in the US Army for 9 years. He commanded an artillery unit in Germany and is a Desert Storm veteran. 

Bob is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas. 

Bob sits on the board of directors for the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, is a member of the Diversity HR50, coaches little league football, is a lifetime member of the VFW, The American Legion, and the National Black MBA Association. 

Victor Losure | President, The Elm Press, Inc.

Victor L. Losure assumed his current position on May 30, 2001 after having served as Vice President of Sales & Operations of the Elm Press for the previous ten years. Prior to that, he served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. In this capacity, he served in a variety of positions, including Operations Officer, Company Executive Officer, Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and Infantry Platoon Leader while stationed at both Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Benning, Georgia.

Vic graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York in 1986. He also holds a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Denver.

Vic has four teenage children, and is active in numerous civic and youth athletic organizations. His devotion to family and community service is equaled by his commitment to supporting the soldiers of our great country.

Vic fervently believes that the needs of our soldiers and their families, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, require our support. He is honored to be a part of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund team, and to help our fellow soldiers in honor and in memory of John “Johnny Mac” McHugh.

Paul S. Magness | CFP® Managing Director – Investments

Paul began his career at the height of the Tech Bubble in 2000. For over two decades he has helped lead his clients through multiple recessionary periods and maintained their focus through carefully managing their assets, their livelihood, and their expectations. As a Managing Director – Investments and a Certified Financial Planner™ professional with Wells Fargo Advisors, Paul and his team oversee and service a referral based business. Paul’s mission is to focus on multi-generational wealth planning and to create, preserve and manage wealth for his clients through superior client service and comprehensive investment, tax efficient strategies and estate planning strategies. 

Preceding Paul's business career he served on active duty with the Army's Old Guard at Fort Myer, Virginia, home of Arlington National Cemetery. 

In addition to Paul's investment planning career, he is an active real estate developer in rural towns throughout the mid-Atlantic region.  Paul has a tremendous passion for small towns and actively participates in numerous charitable events throughout the region.

Paul served as President of the Board for the Winchester Rescue Mission and was active in their mission for over 10 years.  He was also a past President of the Winchester Rotary Cub (2019) and as is the current President of the Board for Canaan Valley Institute, Davis, WV.

Paul, his wife Molly and their four children live on their farm in Winchester, Virginia. He works out of the local Winchester and Tyson’s Corner, VA offices.

 

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Investment and Insurance Products are:

*Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency

*Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate

*Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested

James McHugh | Senior Managing Director, Business Development, Intech

James McHugh is responsible for providing investment solutions to current and prospective Intech clients and consultants.

Prior to joining Intech, Mr. McHugh spent the majority of his career with The Prudential Insurance Company. From 1982 to 1994 he served as director of portfolio management for PDI Strategies where he was responsible for asset allocation and balanced investment management for multi-employer pension funds.

In 1994, Mr. McHugh joined HSBC Asset Management Americas Inc. as director of client investment services where he was responsible for asset allocation strategies for U.S. balanced portfolios in addition to servicing U.S.-based investment relationships. He returned to Prudential Investment Management in 1998 as vice president of institutional sales and marketing responsible for Taft-Hartley Benefit Funds. Mr. McHugh holds FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses.

Rick Minicozzi | Founder and Managing Partner, Thayer Leader Development Group; Managing Partner, The Historic Thayer Hotel

Rick Minicozzi is a 1986 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation, he served at Fort Hood and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Rick founded Always There Property Management Services (ATPMS) in 1999. ATPMS provides property management services to his personal real estate portfolio and to other owners and homeowners associations.  He is a value investor and has invested, developed, and turned around many properties in Texas over his 30-year career.    
 

In 2009, he led a partnership to acquire the Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point; he re-capitalized, renovated and restored it to the quality that is expected at West Point. Today Rick is the Managing General Partner of the Hotel.

In 2010, Rick led a group of West Point graduates to found the Thayer Leader Development Group (TLDG) at West Point. TLDG provides executive leadership and ethics education coupled with experiential learning, team building and a guest speaker program to help build leaders of character by offering leadership and ethics education grounded in the United States Army leadership philosophy of “Be, Know, Do” and the United States Military Academy values of “Duty, Honor, Country” in the inspirational venue of the Historic Thayer Hotel at West Point.

In 2011, Rick co-founded Iron Sword Enterprises, Inc. a New York based construction company that performs design/build construction projects as well as construction management services.  He is also founder of ESR Development, Inc in Austin Texas.  ESR recently completed a condominium development on Lady Bird Lake in Austin. 

In 2014, Rick founded Lone Star Peak Performance (LSPP).  LSPP an experience offered at M5 Ranch on the beautiful Lake Buchanan just northwest of Austin, Texas. LSPP provides Teams an inspirational venue for a team meeting, planning session or retreat that can be coupled with experiential learning through an expert team-building program. 

William F. Murdy | Chairman, Thayer Leader Development Group and Thayer Hotel, and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army

William F. (Bill) Murdy stepped down recently as Chairman of Comfort Systems USA (Houston) (NYSE: FIX) a $1.3 billion company providing heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) installation and services in the commercial/industrial/institutional sector countrywide. Comfort Systems operates from over 75 locations employing more than 7,000 people.

Until December 31, 2011 he was both Chairman and CEO of Comfort, having joined the company in 2000 in those positions. Before joining Comfort he was President and CEO of Club Quarters (New York City), a privately owned, rapidly growing chain of membership hotels catering to corporate travelers to major cities in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to Club Quarters he was Chairman, President, CEO and Co-Founder of LandCare USA, Inc. (Houston) (NYSE: GRW). LandCare grew to be the country's largest commercial landscape and tree services company before merging with ServiceMaster (NYSE:SVM) in 1999. Before LandCare, Mr. Murdy was President and CEO for 8 years of General Investment and Development (Boston), a large, privately held, diversified real estate investment, development and operating company, and before that, from 1981 to 1989, Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of the Morgan Stanley Venture Capital Fund and President of its associated management company (New York City). From 1974 to 1981 he served in a number of positions including chief operating officer of Pacific Resources (Honolulu) (NYSE: PRI), a rapidly growing $1 billion company in the oil refining and gas utility sector.

He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School (1970) and West Point (1964). He served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1974, including one year in the Dominican Republic (82nd Airborne) and two years in Viet Nam (173rd Airborne Brigade). He was awarded three Bronze Stars, four Air Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After three years teaching (Economics) at West Point, he left the active Army as a Major and served in the US Army Reserve.

Currently, he is the Lead Director and Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of LSB Industries (NYSE: LXU) and the Board of Directors of Vectrus (NYSE: VEC). Former Board positions include LandCare (NYSE: GRW), Chairman and CEO; Comfort Systems (NYSE: FIX), Chairman and CEO; Kaiser Aluminum (NASDAQ: KALU), Chairman Compensation Committee; and UIL (NYSE: UIL), Chairman Compensation Committee. He is a Founder and former Chairman of Warrior Gateway (connecting Veterans with services), a Vice Chairman and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Business Executives for National Security and a member of the Board of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Murdy is a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army and a former member of the Board of Visitors for West Point. At West Point today, he is an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees of the West Point Association of Graduates and a principal owner and Chairman of the Hotel Thayer and of its associated Thayer Leader Development Group. He was recently designated a Distinguished Graduate of West Point.

He is married with two grown children and resides with his wife of 50 years, Mary Benbow Murdy, in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Bill Noble | Founder and CEO, West Point Optical Group, LLC

Bill currently serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of West Point Optical Group, LLC, the largest Pearle Vision franchisee with 82 locations across the Midwest, AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, and NJ generating over $80M in annual sales.  

Prior to his current role, Bill served as the Senior Vice President of Store Operations and MPA for LensCrafters. In that capacity, he supervised a team of seven Vice Presidents and oversaw the Store Operations, Lab Manufacturing, EyeCare Services, MP&A, and Real Estate teams.  Bill has also served as the Senior Vice President of Store Operations for the Caleres;  Regional General Manager for Walmart; Executive Vice President for Store Operations and Visual Merchandising for Lord and Taylor; Senior Vice President of Strategy, Operations, and Planning for Toys R Us and Strategic Consultant for McKinsey & Company.

Bill served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Aviation Branch in the Republic of South Korea.  He earned a BS in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Harvard University. 

Bill and his wife, Lauralee reside in Mason, OH and are the proud parents of 8 children. Bill enjoys staying physically fit and following Army Football.

 

Patrick O'Connor | President, Swagelok Denver

Pat O'Connor is the President and owner of Swagelok Denver, a distributor of world-class fluid system components used in critical industrial gas and liquid applications. Pat began his career at Swagelok in 1996, and has held various engineering and plant management roles. Prior to his time at Swagelok, Pat was the plant manager of an injection-molded plastics company in Austinburg, Ohio.

Pat graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a concentration in Latin American Studies. Upon graduation from the U.S. Army's Airborne and Ranger Schools, Pat served five years as an officer with both the First Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division.

Pat currently resides in Denver, Colorado, where he enjoys long-distance triathlons, mountain biking and skiing. He gives back to the community as a coach and administrator for both youth and high school lacrosse. His wife, Monica, is also a 1986 graduate of the United States Military Academy. They have three children, ages 15 to 21.

Richard Pascoe | Executive Chairman, KemPharm, Inc.

Richard W. Pascoe was named Executive Chairman of KemPharm, Inc. in November of 2021 where he has served as a member of the board of directors since 2015.  He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Histogen Inc. from January 2019 to November 2021.  Mr. Pascoe was the Chief Executive Officer of Apricus Biosciences, Inc. from March 2013 until January 2019.  Prior to Apricus, Mr. Pascoe was with Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Pernix Therapeutics, Inc.) where he served as the Chief Executive Officer. 

Prior to joining Somaxon in 2008, Mr. Pascoe held a series of senior management roles including Chief Operating Officer at ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Takeda Inc.) and Senior Vice President of Neuroscience Division at King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Pfizer Inc.). Prior to King, Mr. Pascoe held commercial roles in the hospital pharmaceutical and medical device groups at Medco Research, Inc. (acquired by King), COR Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc.), and B. Braun Interventional. 

Mr. Pascoe is a member of the board of directors of Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. He is the past chairman of the board of directors of Biocom, California’s leading advocate for the life sciences industry, and a member of the board of directors of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund and the Florida Chapter of the Gary Sinise Foundation, charities that serve military veterans and their families.

Mr. Pascoe served on active duty as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Army’s 24th Infantry Division with one combat tour in Iraq where he earned several awards and decorations including the Bronze Star Medal. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he received a B.S. degree in Leadership.  Mr. Pascoe was appointed as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Southern California in 2017, where he served as a liaison between the Secretary of the Army and the local community until November 2021.

MaryEllen Picciuto | President, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund

MaryEllen Picciuto was named President of Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund at its inception in 2014.  She leads all day-to-day operations, fundraising efforts, and grant programs for the organization, a nonprofit and public charity with the mission of providing veterans and military family members with scholarships and educational opportunities.  The start-up CEO of Johnny Mac, MaryEllen chairs the board of directors and has led the board to award $30 million in scholarship funding in less than 9 years.

Before joining Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, she was Senior Director of Alumni Support and Business Operations at the West Point Association of Graduates, the nonprofit alumni and fundraising association for the United States Military Academy.  MaryEllen also held the historic and unique "Cadet Hostess" position at West Point, providing etiquette and military protocol instruction to the U.S. Corps of Cadets.

Prior to her career in nonprofit management and leadership, MaryEllen served for five years as a logistics officer in the United States Army with duty both stateside and overseas.  She is a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991).  MaryEllen graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986.

MaryEllen and her husband have raised a daughter and son, both serving as military officers in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, respectively.  Residing in Northern Virginia, MaryEllen enjoys being outdoors, traveling, cooking, and reading.  She tries to take at least 10,000 steps per day.

David Urban | Managing Director, BGR Group

David J. Urban is a Managing Director at BGR Group. He has more than three decades of experience in the military, law, business, politics and public service sectors. David provides strategic advice and counsel to BGR clients throughout the firm.

Prior to joining BGR, David served as Executive Vice President of North American Corporate Affairs for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. In this senior role, he worked alongside the company’s top leadership, helping them navigate public policy and communications challenges, as well as advising on Environmental, Social, and Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility issues.

As President of the American Continental Group (ACG), a premier bipartisan government affairs and strategy consulting firm, he provided high stakes counsel to key clients including the CEO of Zoom during the early tumultuous days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the CEO of 7-Eleven to help the company adapt to a rapidly changing regulatory environment. He also has experience in the nonprofit space working with groups ranging from the Human Rights Campaign to the US Anti-Doping Agency.

Before joining ACG, David served as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania for five years. Senator Specter was an influential member of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees. In this role, David was the Senator’s senior advisor on all legislative, political, media, and administrative matters in Pennsylvania and Washington.

David was appointed by former President Donald Trump to serve as the 11th Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission, playing a leadership role in the commemorations of the 100th Anniversary of the World War I Armistice, the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy, and the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. He was also appointed by the President to the Board of Visitors (Trustees) for the United States Military Academy at West Point.

A graduate of West Point, David served as an artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during Operation Desert Storm. He earned a law degree from Temple University and a Master’s in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed an ESG certification program through the Said School of Business at Oxford University and the Stratfor certification program in geopolitical analysis at the Florida Atlantic University. He served as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Government. An active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, David is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

John Magness | In Memoriam

John Magness served on the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Board of Directors from June 2017 until his untimely passing on February 5, 2023.  John passed away just hours after summiting Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, one of the highest mountains in the world at nearly 23,000’.  He was participating in the “Aconcagua Challenge” expedition to raise funds and awareness for Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund.  John was a dedicated, generous, patriotic leader on our board and a fierce supporter of our organization’s mission to provide scholarships to military children of our nation’s fallen or wounded.

At the time of his passing, John was Executive Vice President of Hillwood Investment Properties, leading industrial transactions with some of Hillwood’s largest clients.  With Hillwood for over 20 years, he was a trusted and respected colleague and leader to all who knew and worked with him.  

John graduated from West Point with the Class of 1986.  He served honorably for nine years as a United States Army officer with roles as commander, staff officer, and pilot. He was a Desert Storm veteran.  His last Army assignment was as Operations Officer and Pilot with the famed Task Force 160 Night Stalkers, an elite Special Operations Aviation unit. In this unit, John participated in numerous combat missions, including the Battle of the Black Sea in Mogadishu, Somalia, depicted in the movie “Black Hawk Down.”

We are forever grateful to John for sharing his immense talents and passion for serving Gold Star children and military families.   He was our classmate, teammate, and friend.  He was our hero, serving others until the end.

And when our work is done, our course on earth is run, may it be said, “Well done, be thou at peace.”

--from West Point’s Alma Mater