Board Of Directors

Board Of Directors

G. Russell Laing : Chairman

G. Russell Laing

Chairman

  • North Carolina State University. BS Business Management 
  • 30 years Vice President/Dealer Principal - Cooper Kenworth and Cooper Leasing
  • 5 years Region Vice President - Murphy Hoffman Company
  • Kenworth Dealer Management Association - Member 15 years
  • North American Leasing Association - Co-Founder 12 years
  • Paccar Leasing Executive Committee -  Chairman 4 years
Chris Judy : Treasurer

Chris Judy

Treasurer

  • East Carolina University, BSBA, Accounting
  • Managing Partner, Thomas, Judy & Tucker, P.A.
  • Member, American Institute of CPAs
  • Member, North Carolina Association of CPAs
  • Director, Triangle Area Chapter, American Red Cross
  • Trustee, Raleigh-Wake Leadership Foundation
  • Founding Member, Raleigh Young Entrepreneurs Organization
Marilyn Avila :

Marilyn Avila

  • Georgia Southern College, BS in Chemistry
  • Five-Term North Carolina State Legislator, 40th District
  • Policy Advisor on Health and Human Services Issues to the Speaker Pro Tem, NC General Assembly
  • Event Coordinator/Finance Manager, John Locke Foundation
  • Owner, Command Performance/Focus One Hairstyling Salons
  • Chemist, Hanes Brands, Inc.
Col. David Hayden :

Col. David Hayden

  • U.S. Military Academy – BS, Engineering
  • NC State University, MBA
  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D.
  • Judge Advocate Generals Corps
  • Engineering Company Commander, Ft. Bragg
  • Deployed to Afghanistan, 2002-03
  • Federal Prosecutor; Practicing attorney, Smith Anderson, Raleigh
Col. Kirk Warner :

Col. Kirk Warner

  • Duke University and University of Toledo, J.D.
  • NC State University, M.A., M.B.A.
  • Army War College, M.S.S., Strategic Studies
  • The Ohio State University, B.S.
  • Deputy Legal Counsel, Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Commander, 12th JAG Detachment, Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, V Corps, Iraq
  • Senior Litigator and Partner, Smith Anderson LLP, Raleigh
Mike Mitchell :

Mike Mitchell

  • Partner, Smith Anderson, LLP
    • Co-chair of the law firm’s Business Litigation practice
    • Co-Chair of the law firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation group
  • Commissioner, Chief Justice’s Rules Advisory Commission
  • Executive Board Member, North Carolina Business Committee for Education
  • Board member, Wake County Economic Development
  • Past Commissioner, North Carolina General Statutes Commission
  • Past Commissioner, Chief Justice’s Commission for the Administration of Law and Justice
  • Wake Forest University School of Law
  • Wake Forest University, B.A., English
Brett Watkins :

Brett Watkins

  • BA Political Science/Pre Law, University of North Carolina-Asheville
  • Professional Researcher Certification (PRC), Insights Association
  • Multiple award winner for entrepreneurial growth (Triangle Business Journal 40 under 40, Business Leader)
  • CEO, L&E Research Inc. 19 years
    • 15x growth since acquired in 2004
    • Inc. 5000 award winner
    • Top 50 market research firm in US according to size as measured by the Insights Association
    • Member of the Insights Association, American Marketing Association and Qualitative Research Consultants Assoc

     

  • Former Board Member, Junior Achievement of Eastern NC
  • Former Board Member, Entrepreneurs Organization, RDU Chapter (including former Chapter President)
CWO5 Sequoia Aldridge, Retired, MAED :

CWO5 Sequoia Aldridge, Retired, MAED

Senior Examiner, Board for Correction of Naval Records

Sequoia is a Retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5), combat veteran, former inpatient substance abuse counselor, former Middle School Science Teacher, and she has more than 35 years experience as a Human Resource professional.  During her career in the Marine Corps, Sequoia was assigned to a variety of locations that included Quantico, Virginia, Okinawa, Japan, Corpus Christi, Texas, San Diego, California, Iwakuni, Japan, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Washington, D.C. and a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Sequoia is also experienced in leading and conducting compliance inspections/audits, managing a team of experts that validated the compliance of essential functional areas at major military installations and commands.  Sequoia has received numerous personal awards in recognition of her professional accomplishments while on active duty.  She was recognized as Onslow County’s phenomenal military woman of the year during 2009.  During August 2017 Sequoia was selected by the organization Honored for recognition as the August honoree for her excellent service as an educator.  Sequoia has dedicated her life to the service of others and excellence as a leader, mentor and counselor. 

Sequoia is married to Col Rory Aldridge.  Collectively they have five children and six grandchildren.

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