Biographies

William Capelle, Director of Business Development, VAL-FAB Inc.
Bill Capelle is the Director of Business Development for VAL-FAB, Inc. in Neenah Wisconsin. VAL-FAB, Inc. is a “Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business” servicing the custom metal fabrication industry for over 25 years. Mr. Capelle joined VAL-FAB, Inc. in 2003 bringing with him over 15 years of custom metal fabrication and pressure vessel experience. With VAL-FAB, Inc., Mr. Capelle has been responsible for the development of the Pressure Vessel Division and Military Division. He has been instrumental with the government contracts including working with many major clients including General Dynamics Land Systems, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh Corporation, CH2M Hill, Bechtel, Fluor Enterprises, US Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, US Armed Forces, GE Oil & Gas, Fermi Labs, Oak Ridge National Labs and EERC. He also teaches other veteran and small businesses how to do business with the military. Mr. Capelle is a member of NCMA, NaVOBA and AUSA. For the past 12 years he has served as the Secretary of the Green Bay Area Great Lakes Sport Fisherman as well as the Chair for the Kids Fishing Education Program. Mr. Capelle has been with his high school sweetheart Jill for 27 years and boasts of their shitzu poodle “ABBEY”.

Paul Darley, President and COO, W.S. Darley & Co.
Paul Darley was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of W.S. Darley & Co. in July of 1998. Under his leadership, sales have increased over 300% in less than 10 years to over $100 million in 2009. Prior to that appointment, he served as Vice President - Sales & Marketing for the Fire Pump Division of W.S. Darley & Co. since 1990. Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co is a third generation family business, led by Mr. Darley and an executive team that has transformed this 101 year old company into a world leader in the fire fighting industry with ISO 9001 certification and an electronic catalog of more than 10,000 items. The company has recently been awarded major Department of Defense Contracts. He is Past President of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association after serving on its board for the past 5 years. He also served on the Board of Directors of FEMSA (Fire & Emergency Manufacturers & Services Association) for seven years. Mr. Darley holds a BS Degree in Marketing and Finance from Marquette University. He earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2003. Mr. Darley is involved with numerous charitable organizations including service as Chapter Chair of the Windy City Chapter of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization). Mr. Darley is married to his high school sweetheart and together they are raising three daughters in Elmhurst.

Richard M. Deschauer, CPCM, Fellow, Director of Contracts and Compliance, DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc. / DRS Power & Environmental Systems
Rich Deschauer received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Montclair State University and received a MS degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. Aside from numerous sea tours while in the Navy as a commissioned officer, Mr. Deschauer served as the Deputy Director for Special Acquisitions with the Defense Fuel Supply Center, DLA. He was the Contracting Officer for DoD’s worldwide strategic fuel storage where he negotiated Government-to-Government agreements for fuel storage in the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Deschauer also served as the Director of Contracts at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center. Mr. Deschauer was the Deputy Director for Contract Management at the Naval Supply Systems Command. There Mr. Deschauer established and managed both the Navy’s Contingency Contracting program, the Navy’s purchase card program, and the Navy’s electronic commerce portal, NECO. For Mr. Deschauer ’s final tour in the military, he was the Director of Business Operations for the DCMA’s in-plant office at Boeing, St. Louis. He was the senior on-site Government contracting official for Boeing Aircraft and Missile Systems. In his current position, Mr. Deschauer is the Director of Contracts and Compliance for DRS Power & Control Technologies; managing pre and post-award contract activities for three facilities. Mr. Deschauer has been a member of National Contract Management Association (NCMA) since 1986, has held various leadership positions, including president of the St. Louis Gateway chapter, is designated as a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) and an NCMA Fellow. Mr. Deschauer has held Level III Certification in Contract Management under the standards of the Defense Acquisition Work Force Improvement Act (DAWIA); is a former designated member of the Department of Defense Acquisition Professional Community, and is a standing member of the Defense Systems Management College (DSMC) Alumni Association.

William Hughes, Attorney, Whyte Hirschboek Dudek S.C.
Bill Hughes is a partner of the law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, and chairs the Firm’s Government Contract practice. Mr. Hughes has extensive experience in the award, protest, and litigation of competitively bid and publicly awarded contracts. He counsels clients on all aspects of government contracts including audits, bids, changes, costs, claims, intellectual property rights, terminations and negotiations. He regularly assists clients in complying with export control and International Traffic in Arms Regulations requirements. He also represents clients on protests before the Government Accountability Office and contract disputes before the various boards of contract appeals and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In addition, Mr. Hughes counsels clients on a variety of business and corporate matters. Prior to joining WHD, Mr. Hughes was an attorney for the U.S. Air Force at the Air Force Contract Law Center where he served as senior legal counsel for a number of major procurement programs and represented the Government on bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. He also has a Masters of Law in Government Procurement from George Washington University (with highest honors). He is the founder and Past President of Wisconsin Chapter of the National Contract Management Association, and he serves as a member of the Board of Directors and as General Counsel for the Wisconsin Procurement Institute.

Patricia (Patti) Jelen, Worldwide Defense Parts Marketing Manager - Navistar Defense
Patti has been with Navistar for the past 12 years, managing marketing communications, direct marketing, joint venture marketing and special event marketing and dealer  programs for Navistar Parts in multiple assignments.  Prior to Navistar, Patti directed the development of the first marketing department and program for The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, leading the team to national awards, including the Silver Anvil of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).  Other past experience includes national health care and cultural arts marketing, as well as advertising.  Originally, from St. Louis, Missouri, Patti holds  a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, is married and lives in Woodridge, Illinois with her husband and three rescued terriers.  Patti is a proud member of NDIA, Great Lakes Chapter, and AUSA.

Dirk Mourar, Government Sales Consultant
Prior to his current role as consultant, Mr. Mourar was the Director, Sales and Sustainment Program Management, Navistar Defense.  Mr. Mourar has utilized his extensive experience in vehicle supply chain management to lead multi-disciplinary teams managing delivery of spares and services for military and non-armored vehicles both in-theater and domestically. A dynamic sales strategist, Mr. Mourar has driven multimillion-dollar revenue growth by identifying new business opportunities and forging strong relationships with potential business partners. Prior to his leadership with government and military business development, Mr. Mourar served as Director of Government, Military and Export Sales and as Director of National Accounts Sales for Navistar Parts. His development of his sales teams and their consequent abilities to exceed goals earned Navistar’s recognition for his exemplary leadership.

Peter J. Provenzano, CEO and President, SupplyCore Inc.
Peter Provenzano is the CEO and President for SupplyCore Inc. SupplyCore is a small business that specializes in global supply chain management services, from the procurement of materiel, to forecasting, logistics, warehousing and distribution worldwide. Prior to his current role, Mr. Provenzano started in purchasing, operations, sales, and supplier development. He has led SupplyCore through various successful technology, logistics, and supply chain undertakings including winning and implementing multiple CONUS and OCONUS DLA Prime Vendor contracts. These contracts include the North Central US, the Southeast US, Europe South of the Alps, the Pacific, and the CENTCOM region. Mr. Provenzano effectively guided SupplyCore in winning the Fleet Automotive Support Initiative Global (FASI-G) set-aside contract in 2008 to provide logistics and supply chain management services in supporting the military’s land-based vehicle fleets. Mr. Provenzano graduated from the University of Arizona. He continues to be a strong supporter of the Midwest region. Currently, Mr. Provenzano is active as a trustee for Rockford College, a Commissioner for the Chicago/Rockford Airport, and many other civic initiatives working closely with other leaders. Mr. Provenzano is married to Heather Provenzano and is a father of four; MiaBella (7), Annelise (6), Eleri (4), AJ (2).

Darryl Scott, Corporate Vice President Contracts & Pricing, The Boeing Company
Darryl Scott is corporate vice president, contracts and pricing for The Boeing Company. He is responsible for contracts and pricing policy, processes, operations, and compliance. Mr. Scott joined Boeing in 2009 after serving 34 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Major General. In his last position, he served as Deputy Commander, Task Force to Support Business and Stability Operations in Iraq, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Business Transformation), and Deputy Director, Defense Business Transformation Agency, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Prior to that assignment, the general was Commander, Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq. General Scott reported directly to Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, and was responsible for planning, executing and managing mission-critical contracting efforts supporting U.S. and coalition forces, security operations, humanitarian relief and the reconstruction efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. General Scott entered the Air Force after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He served as a principal contracting officer for space; missile; aircraft; and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. He commanded three times; served as Vice Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, GA.; and as Director, Defense Contract Management Agency, Alexandria, VA. He received a BS degree in Economics from the United States Air Force Academy, and a MS degree in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. The general is also a Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Active in numerous professional associations, Scott serves on the Aerospace Industry Association Procurement and Finance Council, and on the National Contract Management Association (NCMA)’s board of advisors. He also is a member of the Air Force Association.

Ally Veres, Vice-President of Business Development, AEG Group Inc.
Prior to her current position she was the Director of Government Sales at the same company. AEG Group Inc. is a Small Disadvantaged Women Owned Business based in Grayslake IL providing comprehensive turnkey solutions and professional services for the design, integration and deployment of wireless military systems. Mrs. Veres was instrumental in developing a new corporate strategy focused on military platforms and also in increasing the company’s involvement in the federal government arena. Under her direction, the government division developed long term contracts and very strong relationships with customers like: Defense Logistics Agency, US Air Force, US Army, NAWCAD, Northrop Grumman, URS, SAIC, General Dynamics (GDC4S), DynCorp International, BAE Systems and DRS C3&A, Land Systems. Mrs. Veres is a member of AFCEA, AUSA, WID and NCMA. She also holds a Master in Business Administration with a Major in Operations and Finance from Loyola University Chicago.