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Board of Directors
Joseph M. Marchesani, Co-Founder and Board Chairman
Community Outreach Committee Chair
Finance, Marketing/ Communication, Fund-raising and Membership Committee Team Member
 Joe Marchesani is President and Owner of Markee Distributors, LLC a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) located in the Charlotte, NC area. Joe graduated from the Univ. of Central Florida with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration.
Markee is one of the top suppliers of batteries to the Veterans Administration's (VA) medical centers around the country. In 2005 they were awarded their first GSA Contract and a multi-year contract with one of the largest school districts in the country. More recently, they were awarded a multi-year contract with the VA for alkaline batteries.
Joe is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), holding an executive position with his local chapter as well as supporting the organization. He is also a Founding Member of USA VetBiz. Recognizing the need for more services for vets, Joe along with key veterans, created the vision and co-founded North Carolina Veterans Business Association (NC VetBiz). He recently received the Small Business Administration's 2009 North Carolina Veterans Small Business Champion of the Year. Joe was elected Board Chairman in 2007.
John Wharton, Co-Founder and Member of Board of Directors
Marketing/ Communication Outreach Committee Chair
Membership Committee Team Member
Mr. Wharton graduated from Clemson University in August of 2001 and was inspired to serve his country in the United States Army after the September 11th attacks. During his active duty service, he held numerous positions of responsibility as a Field Artillery Officer. He is a proud graduate of Ranger and Airborne schools and also received the Bronze Star for meritorious service while deployed in support of OIF IV. He left active duty in 2007 with the rank of Captain and currently serves at that rank in the North Carolina National Guard as an Assistant Fire Support Officer for 130th MEB.
John Wharton is now a North and South Carolina licensed Real Estate Broker with Colliers Pinkard of Charlotte, NC. He joined Colliers in 2007 as an Industrial Specialist upon release from active duty and wanted to use his newly found skill set in assisting Veteran Owned businesses. His decision to pursue efforts within this community ultimately led to co-founding the North Carolina Veterans Business Association with two other Board Members.
Mark M. Haupt, Founding Business Member, President and Member of Board of Directors
Membership Committee Chair
Fund-raising Committee Team Member
 Mark M. Haupt Founded Converged Services, LLC and Energy Efficient Integration, LLC in 2008. A seasoned executive leader of global business development, customer service, and operations organizations, Mark has more than 30 years global and domestic Information Technology and Telecommunications industry experience. Mark is a proven innovator and world-class individual with strong government and commercial enterprise experience that introduced products in 14 international markets and several large and small national telecommunications companies. Mark is a collegial executive and team player with a concertmaster leadership style that inspires both allegiance and hard work.
Mark serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Veterans Business Association and the Tammy Lynn Foundation in Raleigh, North Carolina. He served on the Board of Directors during the formative years, 1991 through 1995, of the Research Triangle Park Federal Credit Union.
Converged Services delivers Information Technology professional services for the City of Charlotte and commercial clients in Wake County. He is partnered on a $5B Service Disabled veteran Owned Small Business IT GWAC with Vets America. Energy Efficient Integration, with partner Gregg Labiak, is a premier energy efficiency and solutions provider, as well as a small business mentee for Cree lighting in RTP and the Honeywell Building Solutions group in NC.
Mark is a co-founder and President of the North Carolina Veteran’s Business Association. An organization dedicated to educate, empower and connect veteran’s in commerce in the State of North Carolina. The association is partnered with NC Military Business Association and various veteran business groups across the state of North Carolina.
From 2007 to 2008, Mark was the Vice President, Business Development of Professional Teleconcepts, Inc where he opene key markets and leveraged existing contracts to expand national recognition and market places. Mark leveraged his newly established southeast regional office in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to focus on Telecommunications and Information Technology service providers and manufacturers in North American, Caribbean and Latin American countries.
In 2005, Mark was appointed Federal Services Champion (Director) of Nortel Networks representing the newly formed Nortel Government Solutions, Inc. key federal government strategies and initiatives within the parent company Nortel Networks. Mark led the reformulation of the service introduction policy and programs as well as transforming the existing service delivery organization into an innovative, flexible and entrepreneurial organization emphasizing customer service, practical solutions, and enduring results. Mark was instrumental in preparing and developing the product and service methodology between Nortel Government Solutions and the parent Nortel Networks Company to achieve wins in the USPS and VoIP and SIP network conversion programs for the USAF network.
After returning from a highly successful England ex-patriot assignment in 1998, Mark was appointed Director of Field Operations, Northeast Region where he directed and consolidated the Bell Atlantic and New York telephone company engineering and field deployment, test and new product introduction teams. Service performance metrics improved 25% and service revenues doubled during Marks tenure. Mark was instrumental in setting and achieving the service and support strategy to meet the new Verizon and Verizon Wireless organization strategies following the purchase and merger of the GTE and Bell Atlantic operating companies.
While residing in the United Kingdom from 1995 through 1998, Mark became the Director of Operations, Fixed Wireless Access and developed and executed the operations organization design and delivery programs for the engineering, verification, test, deployment, training, documentation and customer service organizations. His team successfully introduced fixed wireless access technology products and services in ten countries. Revenue was increased by greater than 125% during Marks assignment in England.
For more than 14 years in various marketing operations and product management positions at Northern Telecom, Inc., Mark served as the key marketing operations manager, product manager and new product introduction prime for the USA, Caribbean, and Latin America and Japan markets. He successfully introduced North American digital technology in Japan, Mexico, and Costa Rica, Columbia, Nicaragua, and Argentina.
After leaving the US Air Force in 1978, as a decorated and recognized veteran, Mark joined the Engineering organization at GTE of the Southeast Headquarters in Durham, NC.
Mark holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from U. Iowa University and an Associate Degree in Electronic Technology from the Community College of the US Air Force.
During the recent Integrative Leadership Experience II: Leadership and Ethics II in a Multicultural World program at The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University Mark counseled and mentored 32 second year Master of Business Administration students.
Mark and his wife Sandra have two married children and four grandchildren living in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Anthony J Scott, CPA, Member of Board of Directors and Treasurer
Finance Committee Chair and Education Committee Chair
Fund-raising and Marketing/ Communication Committee Team Member
 Anthony Scott is a NC Certified Public Accountant, and an Internal Audit Manager for Scottish Re (a Bermuda Reinsurance Company). He is responsible for supervising and performing internal audits and special project audit procedures over significant business and financial reporting processes. Additionally, he partners with his company's departments to help improve their overall efficiency and effectiveness over these processes. He joined Scottish Re in 2006 and works in the Charlotte, North Carolina office.
Mr. Scott started his accounting career at Ernst & Young, LLP, one of the big "4" accounting firms, where he led local and international audit teams on multi-national SEC clients. He joined Ernst & Young, LLP in 2002 and worked in the West Palm Beach, Florida office.
From 1990-1996, Scott was on active duty as a United States Naval Petty Officer based in Yokosuka, Japan. During his tour in Japan on the USS Curts (FFG 38), he served as a Fire Controlman Second Class Petty Officer & Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist [FC2 (SW)]. Scott took part in the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), which began in January 1991. He obtained nine military decorations including the Kuwait Liberation and Southwest Asia.
He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and holds a Bachelors of Science in Accounting.
Mr. Scott has been involved with many non-profits in the past, Project White Hat (a program to help very sick children through visiting and playing with patients at their bedside); Habitat for Humanity (partners with families communities to create and preserve affordable home ownership solutions) and Junior Achievement (educates children about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs) to name a few. Mr. Scott joined NC VetBiz as a Founding Member in June 2008, where he was elected as Treasurer.
Mr. Scott is married to Elizabeth K. Scott since October 2004, and they are parents to twins, Gabriella and Jason.
J. Wriley McKeown
Director
J. Wriley McKeown received his undergraduate degree and commission as an officer from the The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He thereafter was assigned to the Army National Guard as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps, where he served as a Military Police Officer for several years before transferring to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He is a graduate of the United States Army Military Police School Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps Reserve Component Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.
Mr. McKeown has achieved the rank of Major, and currently serves as the Brigade Judge Advocate for the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) in Charlotte, North Carolina. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in both 2004 and 2008.
Mr. McKeown received his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi in 1999. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Bolster, Rogers & McKeown, LLP in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is currently licensed to practice in North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi, and he handles a wide variety of litigation, with a primary focus of civil and criminal defense in State Court.
He resides in Charlotte with his wife and three children.
Annette Hibbert Stevenson, C.P.M.
Director
Annette has over 27 years of professional work experience in the personnel/administrative management and procurement profession. During her career at SAS Instiute Inc., she has been responsible for procuring various commodities and earned the designation of Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.).
Annette currently serves as the Supplier Diversity Manager at SAS. As part of the Corporate Services Division, she is responsible
for advancing the goals and objectives of the company’s supplier diversity initiatives. She presently serves on the following boards:
• Maryland/D.C. Minority Supplier Development Council
• N.C. Indian Economic Development Initiative
• N.C. M/WBE Coordinator’s Network
• Triangle Chapter, Institute of Supply Management-Carolinas Virginia Region
She serves on the State of North Carolina’s Diversity Advocacy Partnership Council as well as the scholarship committee for the U.S. Pacific Asian American Chamber of Commerce.
Under Annette’s leadership, SAS’ supplier diversity program has been credited with several accolades and service awards. Notable recognition includes: Small Business Administration’s 2011 North Carolina Minority Small Business Champion of the Year for both North Carolina and SBA’s Southeast Region IV, Advocate of the Year by the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council and Woman Business Advocate of the Year by the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina. In 2009 Annette was also selected as a recipient of SAS’ CEO Award of Excellence.
A graduate of Methodist College, Annette holds a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Military Science. She received an early Reserve Officer Commission as a rising senior at Methodist. As a Quartermaster Officer she successfully completed Airborne and Rigger school. Upon college graduation, Annette received a Regular Army Commission in the Adjutant General Corps. She served in numerous leadership positions during her ten years of active duty service. Her assignments included Fort Bragg and Raleigh, North Carolina; West Germany; and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. She is retired from the U.S. Army Reserves.
Annette lives in Cary with her husband and is an active in her church and as a volunteer in the community.
Board of Advisors
 J. Quincy Collins, Jr., Honorary Member and Board of Advisors
J. Quincy Collins, Jr. was raised in Concord, N.C.; he graduated from Concord High School, attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce in 1953.
Quincy immediately entered the Air Force as a 2nd Lt. and began pilot training.
21 years later, he had accumulated over 3,000 hours of jet time with a Command Pilot rating and had flown all the jet fighters of the day. He earned his Jump Wings at Ft. Benning, Georgia while a Flight Commander in an F-104 unit at George Air Force Base, California.
He had an illustrious Air Force career, from opening the new Air Force Academy in 1955 as an Air Training Officer, to being the Aide to the Four Star Commander-In-Chief of U. S. Air Forces in Europe, to being shot down by the North Vietnamese Communist and spending 7½ years in prison cells in and around Hanoi.
Quincy retired as a full Colonel in 1974, ran for Congress in the 7th District of Georgia in 1974 and again in 1976. He has since been involved in insurance, was the General Sales Manager for 4½ years at Arnold Palmer Cadillac and was President of his own marketing firm in Charlotte. He is now a commercial and industrial real estate broker and Vice President of Southern Real Estate in Charlotte. He is married to Catherine, his wife of 25 years. She has 3 daughters and Quincy has 3 sons. They have 10 grandchildren - triplet girls (14 yrs.), boy/girl twins (9 yrs.) and four grandsons and one granddaughter, all under the age of nine.
Quincy is very involved in the Charlotte community through his civic and political activities. He is a Deacon at Myers Park Presbyterian Church and has served on the Boards of The Carolinas Carrousel Parade, the Carolinas Concert Association, the Board of Charlotte's Friendship Trays, was President of "The Collector's Circle" of the Mint Museum, and now serves on the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Museum of History. He is the founder and past Chairman of the Carolinas' Citizens Freedom Foundation appointed by the Mayor and the Chairman of the County Commissioners and is now Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg World War II Memorial Foundation. He was a candidate for Charlotte City Council in 1995. In 1999 Quincy was President of the Citadel Alumni Association headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. The Colonel was recently designated a "Distinguished Graduate" by his Alma Mater. He is a 10-year member of the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Club of the Charlotte Commercial Board of Realtors and last year became a member of the Ten Million Dollar Club for two years in a row. In 2003 The Board of Realtors, for only the second time in their history, awarded Quincy their coveted "Realtor Citizen of the Year Award" for his contributions to the betterment of the community and for outstanding public service in the Charlotte Region. He also is recognized as one of the top Commercial Real Estate Producers in the Charlotte Region and has achieved the SIOR designation awarded by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, an international association of professional commercial real estate brokers. General Shelton, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has recently asked Quincy to serve on the Board of the "Shelton Leadership Initiative" at N.C. State University, and he recently was selected to join the South Carolina State Guard Foundation Board to advise the South Carolina Adjutant General on military matters.
His military awards include:
- 2 Silver Stars
- Legion of Merit
- 2 Bronze Stars
- 2 Air Medals
- 2 Purple Hearts
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Distinguished Service Medal
- POW Medal
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