Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Janet Manion, Chairman ~ Community Leader and Visionary
Janet took on the role of Founder and Chair of the Travis Manion Foundation after a memorial fund established in honor of her son 1st Lt. Travis L. Manion USMC became much more. As a military wife and mother, Janet has spent years volunteering and served on many boards with local and national organizations. Janet is a board member of the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown where she is involved in many aspects of the organization. Through the Foundation she also developed a partnership with the Bucks County Commissioners known as the Military Community Network of Bucks County. Through this effort, she has allowed local and national groups to come together to better serve our military community. Janet resides in Doylestown, Pa with her husband Colonel Tom Manion U.S.M.C. Retired.
Alex Gorsky, Vice Chairman ~ Worldwide Chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices and Diagnostics Group and a member of the Company’s Executive Committee
Alex holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and spent six years in the U.S. Army, finishing his military career with the rank of Captain. Alex earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. A longtime advocate of diversity and inclusion, Alex was named the 2009 Mentor of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, an organization he has been involved with for many years. During his tenure with Novartis, he established the Novartis CEO Award for Diversity and Inclusion. Currently, he is the Executive Sponsor of the Johnson & Johnson Women’s Leadership Initiative.
Barbara Orr, Vice Chairman ~ Owner/Executive Vice President, Poretta & Orr, Inc.
After graduating from Villanova University in 1982, Barbara has worked to revolutionize the approach to healthcare conventions by coining the term and then implementing...strategic marketing through conventions. Since 1990, Barbara has been an Executive Vice President for Poretta & Orr Inc., a marketing communications firm specializing in event production and exhibit marketing with a business focus in healthcare. Barbara was the first and only person to receive an "Outstanding Service Award" for the Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association for exceptional volunteerism. Barbara is the Chairman for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Kick Off For The Cure event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was also on the Board of Directors for Kids Smiles until 2007. Barbara is the mother of son David, and resides in Downingtown, Pennsylvania with her husband.
Mary Katherine Ham, Secretary ~ New Media Enthusiast
Mary Katharine Ham has never been able to find her way entirely out of old media. She's a staff writer and blogger for the conservative political magazine, the Weekly Standard. She graduated with a degree in Newspaper Journalism from the University of Georgia in 2002, after which she was general assignment reporter for a newspaper in North Carolina, winning two North Carolina Press Association awards for features and sports writing. She headed for Washington, D.C. in 2004, editing a policy magazine for The Heritage Foundation before becoming a columnist and blogger for Townhall.com. She also created a weekly videoblog called HamNation, for which she won 2006's Best Vlog Award from the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet and the 2007 Weblog Award for Video of the Year. She’s now a Staff Writer for the Weekly Standard and a Fox News Contributor, who appears weekly on The O’Reilly Factor.
Croft Young, Treasurer ~ Morgan Stanley Investment Banking Division
Croft joined Morgan Stanley’s Investment Bank in 2009 after completing an MBA at the University of North Carolina. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, He currently works in the Real Estate Advisory Group. From 2001 – 2006 Croft spent five years in the United States Marine Corps’ First Marine Division, where he served as a Regimental Targeting Officer, Reconnaissance Platoon Commander and Battalion Intelligence Officer. During his service, he deployed twice to Iraq, serving both times in the Fallujah arena. It was on his second deployment that he became close friends with Travis Manion. Prior to the Marine Corps, Croft was a collegiate women’s soccer coach, serving as an assistant at the University of Kansas and The Ohio State University. Croft holds a BA in International Studies from the University of North Carolina. Croft will be married in October 2010.
Stephen K. Chadwick, Director ~ President and Chief Executive Officer, Prodesco Inc.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Secant Medical LLC
Stephen has twenty-eight years of commissioned service as Surface Warfare officer in the US Navy. Hands-on leadership and operational experience at sea and in combat as a junior officer followed by senior command positions moving up the chain of command to selection and executive service as a Rear Admiral in the Navy. Eighteen years of business management as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer in product development and custom manufacturing.
Tom Manion, Director ~ Business Executive, Johnson & Johnson
Tom started his career in the Marine Corps retiring after 30 years as a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. In 1985, he earned an MS in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. Besides his military career, Tom joined Johnson & Johnson in 1990 and through the years he has held various leadership roles building a reputation for delivering results. He’s known for his ability to build high performing teams and to bring people of different views together to solve problems. Tom has worked within the community and around the country to galvanize people around him, inspiring them to convey a sense of sacrifice and public service in all they do. Tom is married to Janet Manion and has two playful granddaughters, Maggie Rose and Honor.
Mike O’Hara, Director ~ Retired Business Executive
Mike resides in Doylestown, PA and is married with 4 children and 5+ grandchildren. His youngest son is serving in the military as a Naval Aviator, USNA class of '04. From 1994-2004 Mike served as Senior Vice President of Development for Cendant. His responsibilities included North American sales management and franchise development for several hotel brands within Cendant's hotel business unit. During his tenure Mike was responsible for the sales and franchise development of a new business unit in the Vacation Rental business he oversaw the integration of the time-sharing business within the hotel division. Prior to Cendant, Mike worked in the mainframe Computer Industry for Unisys for 16 years with increasing sales management responsibilities within the Eastern Region.
Kate Papak, Director ~ Military Advocate
Kate embraces her role as a Marine Commanding Officer spouse, married to Brigadier General Dave Papak, U.S.M.C., . She served as Advisor to the Board of Military Officer Wives in New Orleans, Louisiana and Advisor to the Key Volunteer Network of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW). In this leadership role, Kate was instrumental in supporting and unifying families of 4th MAW Headquartered Marines in the evacuation and four month relocation to Atlanta, Georgia following Hurricane Katrina. Kate remained an integral advocate for the wellbeing of military families as she supported the 4th MAW’s effort to secure more in-depth resources for the Global War on Terror’s pre-and post-deployed Marines and family members.
Carlo Pecori, Director ~ Program Manager at the Institute for the Study of Violent Groups, University of New Haven
Carlo served in the United States Marine Corps from 2001-2007 during which time he deployed to Iraq three times with the 1st Marine Division, prior to working at the University of New Haven. While serving with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion on his third deployment to Iraq, Carlo became close friends with Travis Manion and subsequently the Manion family. Carlo is also an active supporter of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation and their annual Iwo Jima to Ground Zero Charity Bike Ride. Carlo holds a BS in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and currently lives with his wife in New York City.
Nick Trainer, Director ~ Chairman of the Board at Widener University
Nick graduated from Widener University in 1964 with a degree in Chemistry. Nick is a seasoned business executive with broad range of experience in Chemical Manufacturing. During his tenure as President with Sartomer Nick was awarded the Lee W. Rivers Innovation Award from the Commercial Development and Marketing Association. Nick resides in Newtown Square, Pa where he spends his free time as a Big East football official.
