NCS Bergen County

Jeff Harmon is a leadership coach, speaker, and the founder of My Impossible, a nonprofit born out of his decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro after being diagnosed with a progressive neurological disease that eventually put him in a wheelchair. In 2025, with the help of an extraordinary team, Jeff reached the summit of Africa’s highest peak.

But the mountain wasn’t the real story. Along the way, Jeff discovered how much of his life—and leadership—had been driven by control, performance, and proving his strength. The climb exposed something deeper: that real resilience isn’t about trying harder, but about learning to trust God in the places where our strength runs out.

Jeff now speaks to leaders, teams, and communities about resilience, faith, and the courage to face the hard things in life honestly. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Sandy and their two daughters.

Mark Whitacre has been engaged with the faith at work movement the past twenty years. Mark is Vice President of Culture & Care and Executive Director of the t-factor initiative at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. and Mark has worked with Coca-Cola Consolidated since 2019. Coca-Cola Consolidated is a faith-based, publicly traded (NASDAQ) company with an official purpose statement “To honor God in all we do, by serving others, pursuing excellence, and growing profitably”. Mark had served as National Director and then COO of Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC) from 2013 to 2019. Mark was the COO and Chief Science Officer from 2006 to 2013 at Cypress Systems, Inc., a California faith-based biotechnology company where Mark still serves on Cypress’ advisory council.

After completing his B.S. and M.S. degrees at Ohio State University, Mark earned his Ph.D. degree at Cornell University in biochemistry. He worked as an executive for some Fortune 500 companies, including Ralston Purina (now Nestle), Degussa (now Evonik), and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). He was recruited at ADM when he was 32 as the President of the Biotech Division and Corporate Vice President of ADM. Mark has extensive international business experience, having lived in Germany for four years working for Evonik at their world headquarters in Frankfurt.

Mark and his wife Ginger have been married for 46 years and have three adult children.

Kaz is a Senior Project Manager at Lord Abbett, an independent, privately held global asset manager.

He came to faith in Jesus Christ in 1984 and has been actively involved in ministry ever since, beginning with youth outreach and discipleship during his high school years.

His spiritual foundation was shaped through Bible conferences at Greenwood Hills in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania. Kaz currently serves as one of three Elders at Grace Gospel Chapel in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he is privileged to shepherd God’s people. He is married to his wife, Rosie, and together they have two grown children, Cassie and Philip.

Chris McPadden is a retired Major General in the United States Army, having served for 35 years. He currently serves as CEO and President of Drive Forward, a consultancy focused on strategic planning, organizational development and leadership training.

He previously served as a Co-President of the Grace and Mercy Foundation. As a retired Major General in the United States Army, McPadden's' past roles have included: Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy; Deputy Director of Joint Strategic Planning; Director of Concept Development and Learning; and Director of Future Plans in Afghanistan. Throughout his 35 years of active military service, Chris has mentored cadets and officers, developing the next generation of leaders in service to our country.

He previously served as Chief of Operational War Plans at U.S. Central Command. He began his military career in the 3-505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. McPadden’s other command and staff positions include Assistant S3 and Long Range Surveillance Detachment Commander, 1st Infantry Division; Assistant Chief of Division Plans, Battalion S3 and Commander for 1-27 Infantry, 25th Infantry Division; G3 Strategic Plans, U.S. Army Pacific; Strategy, Plans and Policy Officer (FA 59); and Deputy Chief of Operational War Plans, U.S. Central Command.

Chris received B.S. in American Studies from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a M.A. in History from Brown University, a Master of Military Art and Science (M.M.A.S) from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and a M.S. in National Security Strategy from the Army War College. His military education includes Airborne School, Ranger School, Infantry Officer Basic School and the School of Advanced Military Studies.

Chris is married to Linda, and they have two children: Jeremiah, who recently graduated from Wheaton College, and Mayla, who is a junior at Liberty University. He enjoys playing saxophone, chess, fishing, water sports, skiing, kit cars, weight lifting, and strategic investing.

Sami Asaad is the President of NCS Hartford and serves on the NCS National Board. He is also a Partner at Pierson Ferdinand LLP, where he practices labor and employment law with a focus on healthcare staffing and home care organizations.

Sami’s story is one of profound personal transformation. Externally, his life reflected success: rising from living on welfare with his mother in a roach-infested apartment to earning a full scholarship to college, attending law school, marrying his wife, and building a family. Internally, however, Sami struggled deeply with fear, sin, guilt, and shame, feeling increasingly disconnected and hopeless.

Through a series of God-ordained events, Sami experienced a decisive breakthrough that set him on a path toward true freedom. As he came to understand God’s love for him and his identity in Christ, that initial breakthrough grew into lasting freedom, peace, and joy. Today, Sami is passionate about sharing his story in the hope that other men will encounter the same freedom he has found.

Sami earned his bachelor’s degree with honors from Ramapo College and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. He was recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2013 to 2017 and was named a “Connecticut New Leader of the Law” by the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2015.

Sami lives in Hamden, Connecticut, with his wife, Jessica, and their five children.

Ray left his career as a program manager within the pharmaceutical industry to pursue God’s calling to bring healing and freedom to people experiencing inner turmoil. He and his wife Maureen are Certified Professional Coaches (CPC) and Assembly of God ministers. As the founders of Radiant Leadership Group, they design courses and workshops to lead the anxious and weary into peace and purpose. Ray and Maureen co-authored their powerful book Uproot Anxiety – How to Remove the Root Causes of Your Anxiety and Cultivate a Life of Peace.

For twenty years, Bill Paige was a policeman and detective in and around New York City. He served fourteen years as the associate chaplain at Children’s Village, where he worked with emotionally disturbed boys in the city. He has also served 10 years in senior leadership of Young Life. He is a certified trainer for “Therapeutic Crisis Intervention” involved in areas of emotional and behavioral issues among young people. Paige now serves as Special Assistant to the President of Young Life.

An ordained minister, Paige speaks frequently at chapel services for National Football League (NFL) teams, including two opportunities to speak at the NFL Pro Bowl.

Chaplain (Colonel) Dave Bowlus, born in Toledo, Ohio, was commissioned in the U.S. Army in May 1993 as an Armor Officer from the United States Military Academy. He went on to serve as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion S-4 and Battalion S-1 in assignments at Fort Carson, CO, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea, and Fort Knox, NY. In 1998, Chaplain Bowlus resigned from active-duty service to attend seminary at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY.

Returning to active duty in 2002, Chaplain Bowlus served as the chaplain for 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, HAAF, GA; Chaplain Recruiter, Fort Meade, MD; Regimental Chaplain 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Moore, GA; Instructor at the US Army Religious Leader Academy, Fort Jackson, SC; United States Office of Military Support, Fort Belvoir, VA; Division Chaplain for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; Senior Mission Command Chaplain of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Chaplain (MSCoE), Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Command Chaplain Eighth US Army and United States Forces Korea (USFK), Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Command Chaplain of United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), Fort Liberty, NC; and Command Chaplain for US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Fort Liberty, NC. He currently serves as the USMA Chaplain at West Point, NY.

CH Bowlus’ military schools include the Armor Officers Basic Course, Chaplain Officer Basic Course, Chaplain Captain Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, Jumpmaster School and the Dismounted Armor Scout Course. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal (7), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (7), and Army Achievement Medal (5). He has earned the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Combat Action Badge, Instructor Badge, and Gold Badge recruiting award. He has a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary, a Master of International Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.

Dave and his wife, Meridee, have been married for thirty-one years and have two children, Andrew (26) and Savannah (20).

Ray Milazzo is a long time member of the NCS family going back to the Indian Trails days.In his 45th year as a practicing Chiropractor, Dr.Ray has been able to share his faith in a quiet way with many thousands of patients. He also has been to give many presentations to groups on many matters regarding physical, mental and spiritual health. Dr. Ray will share his life story of how he's been a follower of Jesus since the age of 7, and how faithful the Lord has been during ups and downs of his 68 years!

Ray was an Elder at West Side Presbyterian Church which he attended for 30 years and now attends Cornerstone Christian Church, where he teaches Sunday School. Ray is a father to four girls, and grandfather to two granddaughters. Ray has a couple of relatives very close to the NCS family, including his brother Barry, and his nephew Kurt Schwarz. He looks forward to sharing with this group, which has meant so much to him.

Dave Szott spent 35 years in the National Football League, beginning in 1990 with the Kansas City Chiefs and ending with the NY Jets in 2025.

A graduate of Penn State, Szott started 171-of-177 games over 14 seasons with Kansas City (1990-2000), Washington (2001) and the Jets (2002-03), earning consensus All-Pro and All-Madden recognition in1997 and received the Ed Block Coverage Award twice, once with Kansas City and again with the Jets.

Following his retirement as a player, Dave spent the following 17 years as the assistant offensive line coach (2004-05), team chaplain (2006-07) and his most current as director, player development.

As director, player development, Szott oversaw a number of NFL programs, including Players Assistance, Continuing Education, Financial Education and Career Development. Working with Bryce Bevill, the player development department also looks to set up every Jets player up for success before, during and after the player’s football career, providing resources to grow, both personally and professionally throughout their player experience, along with transition training for NFL rookies.

Dave’s accolades continued after his playing career was over.  Szott was a key figure in the smooth transition and relocation of the entire Jets organization to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Summer 2008.  He was awarded the Player Development Award in the area of Player Assistance that year - the first rookie player development director to be so honored. Szott was also awarded the 2009 Player Assistance Award.

In addition, Dave was given the 2014 Most Valuable Player Award by the Executive Board of the Phil Simms New Jersey All-Star Football Classic, which is given to NFL players that had great careers and continue to promote football at the youth, high school, college and professional levels.

Outside of his career Dave is active in helping those with special needs.  While in Kansas City, Szott and his wife, Andrea, started Szott for Tots, a foundation who’s mission is to bring awareness to the special needs community.

Szott is on the Board of Directors for the Matheny Medical and Educational Center, a school and medical center for special needs children and adults located in Peapack, NJ.  Andrea Szott, Dave’s wife, now serves on the Matheny Development Committee, as well as the Matheny Parent Advisory Committee.

Szott also serves as special advisor and coach of the Morristown Wildcats Football Club, where he is consulted on coach and player code of conduct guidelines.  He also helped establish a playbook, practice plans and coaching clinics for the football club coaches.

Within the past year, Dave and his partner founded an organization entitled Alpha International Outfitters.  He and his partner host hunters and non-hunters in Spain, providing “once in a life-time” experiences, either hunting big game and/or touring traditional sites and cities.

Originally a native of Clifton, NJ, Szott and Andrea, along with their sons, Shane and Joshua, reside in Morristown, NJ.