5 Questions with the CEO - BENS.org

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS New York member, David Bonfili. David is CEO of Acme General Corporation, a consulting firm leveraging decades of experience as warfighters, researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between government problem holders & non-traditional solvers. The conversation explores Bonfili's experience as a nuclear submarine officer and naval intelligence officer, proposed reforms for defense innovation, and helping startups and small companies work more effectively with the national security enterprise.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Southeast member, Ryan Millsap. Ryan is the Chairman & CEO at Blackhall Americana, an Atlanta-based streaming service which seeks to create aspirational high-action and high-intensity content that reaffirms the American spirit. The discussion explores the how Millsap entered the film industry, approaches to the creative problem solving that goes into designing and building a few of his favorite movie sets for blockbusters filmed at his studios, his experiences in Hollywood, and his goals for the future of Blackhall Americana.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Texas member, Ross Perot, Jr. Perot is Chairman of the Perot Companies and Chairman of Hillwood, a leading global real estate development company he founded in 1988. The discussion explores the soft-power role of private business in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine; the strong growth achieved through Perot’s Fort Worth Alliance, the nation’s first industrial airport and a unique public-private partnership; venture funding for applications of self-driving trucks and delivery drones; what brought him to BENS, and more.

General Joseph Votel spoke with BENS DC member Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems (NSS). Dr. Kiernan is a former Assistant Director of the ATF, where she served 29 years and blazed the trail for women rising to positions of leadership at the Bureau.  Throughout the conversation, Votel and Dr. Kiernan discuss her experiences in advancing diversity and inclusion within the federal law enforcement talent pool, her facilitation of critical incident management exercises for government and private sector organizations, launching the new NEC division developing powerful biometric, AI and machine learning technologies, and more.

General Joseph Votel spoke with BENS Chicago member Jennifer Pritzker, founder of Tawani Foundation and Pritzker Military Museum & Library which works to increase the public’s understanding of military history, military affairs and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military past, present, and future. Pritzker is a retired Illinois Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, previously served on active duty in the U.S. Army, and is a prominent investor and philanthropist. Throughout the conversation, Votel and Pritzker discuss her background and military service, the importance of military advocacy, and her lifelong interest in collecting and archiving military books and memorabilia.

In this edition of 5 Questions with the CEO, General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Boston member Dr. Lisette Cooper. Dr. Cooper is Vice Chair of Fiduciary Trust International following its 2020 acquisition of the pioneering impact investment firm Cooper founded in 1993: Athena Capital Advisors, LLC. In her role at FTI, Cooper oversees risk management and sustainable investing for the firm. Throughout the conversation, we get insight into Cooper’s transition from Geology to investing, the future of impact investing, the risks of disinformation and privacy threats on social media platforms, and what brought her to BENS.

In this edition of 5 Questions with the CEO, Gen. Joseph Votel speaks with BENS DC member Sam Meek. Sam is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sandboxx, a military media platform based in Arlington, VA, with a mission to build content and technology to simplify the military journey. Throughout the conversation, we get insight into Sam's service as a Marine, the transition from military life to Wall Street, how Sandboxx is bringing communications with servicemembers into the 21st century, Sam's take on BENS' recent delegation to Ft. Knox, what brought him to BENS, and his hobby in aviation.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Southeast member Jonathan Evans. President and Chief Operating Officer of Lithium Americas Corporation (LAC); a company currently bringing to market two world-class lithium resources located in Argentina and in Nevada, USA. Formerly he was the Chief Operating Officer of Diversitech, a portfolio company of the private equity firm Permira. Jon has more than 20 years of operations and executive management experience across businesses of various sizes and industries. Throughout the conversation, we get insight into Jon's perspective on the lithium industry, supply chain resilience, AUKUS Alliance, and what brought him to BENS.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Texas member George Knost III. Owner and President of Arkel International, an infrastructure and technical services company helping organizations, governments, and militaries work successfully in the world’s most austere and remote locations. With a 60+ year history of working overseas building plants, providing construction and power generation, logistical and life support, Arkel goes where others cannot or will not. Throughout the conversation, we get insight into George's perspective on Climate Change, Battling Corruption, managing in developing markets, and what brought him to BENS.

General Joseph Votel speaks with BENS Texas member Pete Dordal, President of GardaWorld Federal Services. He's an accomplished security management professional and a business leader with over 35 years of experience in the military, private and public security, the intelligence community, and entrepreneurial commercial endeavors. Throughout the conversation we get insight into Pete's perspective on the Afghan evacuation, changing threats and risk hotspots, the role of government contractors, GardaWorld's logistical support of government agencies during the COVID-19 crisis, and what brought him to BENS.