The Warrior Protection and Readiness Association, which will continue to be known as the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition, held the inaugural meeting of its newly appointed Board of Directors early this morning. The Directors enthusiastically agreed to pursue further expansion of the WPRC as a not-for-profit organization.
During the meeting, the WPRC Board of Directors elected Luke Hiller, CEO of ADS, Inc. as its Chairman; Brent Finemore, Vice President of Government Sales at Pelican Products as its Treasurer; and David Bohannon, President of London Bridge Trading Company as its Secretary. The officers are joined on the Board of Directors by Matthew LeBretton, Esq., Director of Public Affairs at New Balance Athletic Shoe Company and Brent Finemore, Vice President of Government Sales for Pelican Products. The WPRC also designated David L. Costello as the WPRC’s first Executive Director. Costello and his team at ADS Ventures in Boston will work at the direction of the Board to develop public policy and outreach strategies that advance the WPRC’s mission on behalf of industry and the warfighter.
In little more than one year, the WPRC has grown from a concept to a leading advocate for the tactical clothing and equipment industry. The WPRC membership speaks with a single and increasingly strong voice on issues that impact domestic manufacturing and the safety of American military personnel in harm’s way. The current WPRC membership includes: ADS, Inc., Bates Footwear, Benchmade Knife Company, Bluewater Defense, Brookwood Companies Inc., Darn Tough Vermont, DuPont, Duro Textiles, Eye Safety Systems, Honeywell, Insight Technology, International Textile Group, Leading Technology Composites Inc., London Bridge Trading Company, Milliken & Company, New Balance Athletic Shoe Company, Otis Technology Inc., Outdoor Research, Pelican, Polartec, Smith Optics, Surefire, LLC, Tactical Holdings, TenCate, Wilcox Industries, Wiley X, W. L. Gore and WT Tactical.
For more information on the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition please visit www.warriorprotection.net.
WPRC Board of Directors
Luke Hillier, Chairman
Luke Hillier, a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1994 Hillier graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance. Upon graduation he accepted a position with the Outstanding Scholars Program in Acquisition Management for the U.S. Navy. During Mr. Hillier’s time in the program, he was recognized with a U.S. NAVAIR Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service.
Mr. Hillier then joined the Oracle Corporation in their State and Local Government Sales Division, where he served as a Lead State and Local Government Sales Representative, winning Sales Person of the Year in 1998 by achieving over 300% of his sales quota.
In 1999, Mr. Hillier founded Mythics, Inc., an Oracle Software reseller. As Mythics’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hillier interfaced with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as health care and higher education facilities, growing Mythics from a garage startup with no employees into a dominant Oracle solutions provider with over 60 employees and annual sales over $300 million.
In 2001, Mr. Hillier took an ownership position in ADS, Inc. and was elected to the Board of Directors. Soon after he took on further responsibilities and became CEO of ADS. Continuing today as CEO, he oversees one of the nation’s leading operational equipment and logistics solutions providers with east and west coast, as well as international operations and a workforce of over 400 employees.
In 2010, Mr. Hillier received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Award in the Government Contracting category in Greater Washington. Mr. Hillier currently resides in Virginia Beach, and has 3 daughters. He is a member of the Virginia Beach Development Authority, Old Dominion University’s Board of Visitors, ODU Alumni Association, National Government Contractors Association, and serves as a coach in a local youth soccer league.
Brent Finemore, Treasurer
As Vice President of Government Sales, Brent Finemore brings a wealth of sales and management experience in the military sector. He is responsible for leading the Pelican Government sales team, driving new business and strengthening the company’s already close relationship with all branches of the armed services and agencies.
Prior to joining Pelican, Finemore retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his time in the U.S Army, Finemore held several different positions including Product Manager for Defense Satellite Communications Systems at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and Chief Acquisitions Plan Division, DISC4, Department of the Army.
His private sector experience includes 8 years at General Dynamics working directly with all branches of the military and other affiliated agencies to develop next generation satellite communication systems. Most recently Finemore served as Senior Director of Business Development for General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies and Director of Mobile Deployable SATCOM Communications GDC4S, where he led the team responsible for the company’s acquisition of Tri Point Global in 2004.
Finemore earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Maine and a Master’s Degree in Administration from the Central Michigan University.
David M. Bohannon, Secretary
David Bohannon II currently serves as President of London Bridge Trading Company (LBT). LBT is an industry leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of sewn nylon products for the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and other State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies. All LBT gear is made in the continental United States.
From 1991 – 1997 Mr. Bohannon was the Managing Partner at Outback Steakhouse 91′-97, and then served as the Managing Director from 1995 – 1997. Mr. Bohannon then started with LBT in January 2000. Under his direction the company has grown from 42 employees in 2000 to just under 500 in 2011, and has manufacturing facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia and El Paso, Texas. He is married to wife Laura Bohannon, with whom he has four children.
Matthew Hemenez
Matthew Hemenez is the Vice President of Sales and Support for SureFire, LLC, a Fountain Valley based company that manufactures premium lighting and other tactical products. He has over 20 years experience in the sales, marketing and development of high-technology products and systems.
Prior to joining SureFire, Mr. Hemenez was with Raytheon Company as a program manager in AESA radar and software defined radio development. Prior to his time with Raytheon, he worked for PairGain Technologies, later acquired by Minneapolis-based ADC Telecommunications. There Mr. Hemenez worked in a variety of sales, marketing and product management roles, focusing on new product development and revenue growth.
Mr. Hemenez started his career as a US Marine Corps Officer. Receiving his bachelor degree from the Virginia Military Institute, Mr. Hemenez also has a Master Degree in Managerial Economics from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA with a Finance emphasis from Cal State University Fullerton.
Matt LeBretton
Matt LeBretton serves as the Director of Public Affairs for New Balance Athletic Shoe Company and the Director of Public Affairs for Major League Lacrosse. Prior to joining New Balance, Mr. LeBretton worked for Governors Paul Cellucci and Jane Swift of Massachusetts. He currently serves on the Board of the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association and the Friends of South Shore Hospital. Mr. LeBretton received his BA from Salem State University and received his JD Cum Laude from Suffolk University.
Mr. LeBretton resides in Hingham, MA with his wife and two children.
WPRC Executive Director
David L. Costello
As Managing Director of ADS Ventures, David Costello brings 20 years of marketing and external affairs experience to his work developing federal, state and commercial business opportunities for corporate and non-profit clients.
David came to ADS after eight years with Malden Mills Industries, Inc., where he served as Director of Sales and Marketing and later as Business Manager. He directed the growth of the Polartec® manufacturer’s government business to more than 100 million dollars, created the company’s technical consulting business, managed the company’s corporate public relations, and directed the company’s federal and state level government relations. Since joining ADS, David has applied this expertise to clients in the defense, high technology, manufacturing, and outdoor industries, developing new products, creating new channels to markets, and gaining them entree to new government business opportunities. David interacts regularly with key offices in the U.S. Congress, and has long-standing relationships with program managers at military development labs across the country.
David holds a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire and is active on the Boards of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, The Conservation Alliance and The Trustees of Reservations. Through his pro bono efforts with ADS, he has advocated for the protection of public lands throughout the Northeast. He lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts with his wife Jennifer, and two daughters.