SUMMARY BIO

As Acorn’s founding partner, Davis has provided leadership in all aspects of the firm’s operations and portfolio development activities, and currently manages the firm’s services and finance portfolios. Jeff serves on Acorn’s governance and investment committees and supports Acorn’s investor relations functions. He is heavily involved with deal sourcing, due diligence, transition support and portfolio management.

SUMMARY BIO

Jim was nominated to be the Administrator of NASA on September 1, 2017; he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 19, 2018. Jim was on the Committee on Science, Space and Technology during his time in Congress. He was the first elected official to be appointed NASA Administrator. As administrator, Jim has led NASA in advancing America’s aeronautics, science, and space exploration objectives.

SUMMARY BIO

Before joining Acorn, John had over 20 years of government service in multiple agencies including the United States Army, U.S. Department of Defense, and the US State Department. He served in a variety of special operations, national security, and diplomatic roles. Following his government service, John founded the international sports management firm, Sporting Global. He currently serves as the Oklahoma State Secretary for Military and Veteran Affairs.

SUMMARY BIO

Chris focuses his practice on federal funding opportunities. Prior to joining Steptoe, Chris was the deputy chief of staff and an appropriations associate at the Office of Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK). He managed the day-to-day operations and staff of member’s legislative shop as deputy of staff, as well as conducted and managed member’s appropriations work as associate staff to the House Appropriations Committee. Chris also served in a variety of other roles during his time at Congressman Tom Cole’s office, including Republican leadership liaison for NRCC chairman, legislative director/military legislative assistant, Rules Committee associate, and budget committee associate. He also worked for Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, Congresswoman Helen Chenowerth-Hage, Congressman Tom Latham, Congressman Joe Pitts, and he interned for former House Majority Leader Congressman Dick Armey.

SUMMARY BIO

Bob has spent more than 40 years working with corporate and government clients on challenging management, operational and financial management issues. Prior to his retirement, Bob led the U.S. Public Sector practice at Deloitte & Touche LLC and served as their vice president. He is on the board of the Executive Committee of the East West Institute, Aspen Group and Austin Council of Foreign Affairs, and is the former chairman of the Advisory Council of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

SUMMARY BIO

John DeBlasio is Chairman of DT Global and Continuity Global Services and founder and director of the GPD Charitable Trust and the DT Institute. Previously, John was sole owner of Sallyport Global Holdings, which he co-founded in 2004. Over 8 years, John built an organization that employed more than 1,900 people worldwide and became the largest provider of security and facilities management services to USAID prime contractors operating in Iraq, as well as a primary contractor for the Department of Defense and Department of State work in Central Asia and Africa. Following the sale of Sallyport to DC Capital Partners in 2012, he established the GPD Charitable Trust to work on issues related to international development and peace/conflict resolution globally. The Trust now has operations in over 90 countries around the world through its unique program-related investment in DT Global.

John is a 1989 West Point graduate who retired as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Civil Affairs branch, and was deployed to the Middle East in 2003-2004. During his time in combat service in Iraq, he was awarded a Bronze Star as well as a Joint Service Commendation medal.

SUMMARY BIO

Carl is a partner of Price Edwards & Company, the largest Oklahoma-based commercial real estate service company. Edwards serves as chairman of the Presbyterian Health Foundation, a local foundation that owns and operates a $100+ million bioscience research park at the OU Health Center. Carl is a member of the board of trustees of the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust. Carl is also a member of the board of trustees and chairman of the Oklahoma Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust (better known as the MAPS for Kids Trust).

SUMMARY BIO

Randy has one of the most comprehensive resumes in the general aviation industry. He has been a professional in the general aviation industry for nearly 40 years, holding positions ranging from flight instructor and charter pilot to the Executive Vice President of Piper and the President of Beechcraft. He is a general aviation leader of unquestionable integrity and enthusiasm for the business.

SUMMARY BIO

John’s primary focus is leading the firm’s financial services platform, AltAero Aviation Finance, as its CEO. He is responsible for the strategic direction, originations, and portfolio management. Heskin has over 25 years of financial services experience spanning many roles including credit underwriting, risk management, originations, and business leader. Prior to joining Acorn, John was Managing Director and Group Head of CIT Bank’s Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services lending practice, which focuses on lending to private equity-owned businesses as well as aviation asset financing. Over his 16-year career with CIT, he worked as a credit underwriter and as an originator prior to being named Group Head in 2017. Prior to CIT, John worked at GE Capital as a risk manager and at Bank One/First Chicago in its Asset Backed Securities Group as well as in its International Credit function.

SUMMARY BIO

Danny was appointed in July 2015, and serves as President of Corporate Development for the Chickasaw Nation. Danny served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for 14 years, and most recently as vice president of External Relations and Planning for the University of Oklahoma.

SUMMARY BIO

Adm. Bobby R. Inman served in the U.S. Navy from November 1951 to July 1982, retiring with the permanent rank of admiral. On active duty, he served as director of the National Security Agency and as deputy director of Central Intelligence. After retirement from the Navy, Bobby was chairman and CEO of the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) in Austin, Texas, for four years and chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Westmark Systems Inc., a privately owned electronics industry holding company, for three years. Bobby also served as chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 1987 through 1990. His primary business activity since 1990 has been investing in startup technology companies, serving as managing director of Gefinor Ventures and Limestone Capital Advisors. He serves as a trustee of the American Assembly and the California Institute of Technology. Bobby is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and serves as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas at Austin.

SUMMARY BIO

Keating, former two-term governor of Oklahoma, is an attorney in the financial services team and focuses on the banking, financial services, and insurance industries. He recently completed a five-year term as president and CEO of the American Bankers Association (ABA); from 2003 to 2011, he was president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI).

SUMMARY BIO

Randy has an exceptional track record of leadership in billion-dollar public corporations in aviation, aerospace, and defense. A vision-driven executive, he has remarkable strengths in leading the creation of new strategies, producing unprecedented financial success, and driving operational excellence. Among many noteworthy achievements, he has led multimillion-dollar revenue and profit growth, significant turnarounds and has a successful track record in strategic acquisitions as well as organic profit and loss growth.

SUMMARY BIO

James is a highly accomplished operating executive with experience as a chief operating officer and CEO over multiple commands as a rear admiral with the United States Navy. He is an experienced business leader with more than 20 years of senior executive management experience in government and private industry. James has demonstrated expertise in international marketing and sales, strategic business planning, government relations and budgetary planning. He has a deep understanding and rolodex in the Washington Interagency and DOD acquisition process throughout government and industry, including congressional members and committee staff. James’s domain expertise spans manned and unmanned systems, cyber security, strike and surveillance systems, satellite communications and missile defense.

SUMMARY BIO

Robert currently serves as president, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Inasmuch Foundation and the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. The foundations were founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord in 1982. Ross was previously employed as an Attorney with the Oklahoma City law firm, McAfee & Taft. He is a graduate of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and Washington and Lee University, where he received a BS in Business Administration. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma.

SUMMARY BIO

Laura is a public company director and results-oriented leader with over 30 years of experience providing strategic guidance and operational oversight, with a passion for business success and talent growth. She has significant experience with strategic initiatives addressing opportunities and changing cycles resulting in successful business transformations. Her strengths include developing talent, integrating domestic and international teams, providing technical and financial oversight for public equity offerings, private placements, public and bank debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and interactions with the SEC. During her career, she has completed 24 acquisitions and six divestitures with a focus on the aerospace and defense markets.

SUMMARY BIO

Gregory G. Wedel is the managing member of Remington Capital, LLC, a privately owned investment partnership operating in Texas, Oklahoma and the Southwestern United States. Remington has been an active private investor over the last 35+ years, investing in a broad number of private equity, real estate, oil and gas and other alternative investments. Wedel has led Remington since it and its predecessors were established in May of 1989.

Wedel is the managing member of Wedel Rahill & Associates, CPA’s PLC, a public accounting firm established in 1984. Wedel is an experienced advisor to financial services and investment firms, serving as Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairman of Bancfirst Corporation, and numerous other private companies and non-profits.

Wedel earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants.

SUMMARY BIO

G. Rainey Williams, Jr. is president of Marco Capital Group A Limited Partnership, a privately owned investment partnership operating in Oklahoma, Texas, and the Southwestern United States. Marco has been an active private investor over the last 25+ years, investing in a broad number of private equity, real estate, and other alternative investments. Rainey has led Marco since it and its predecessors were established in 1989.

SUMMARY BIO

Craig brings more than 15 years of financial and operations management experience with both large, public companies and privately held startup organizations. His background includes technical areas of operations, finance, treasury, and accounting, as finance director for a division of Chesapeake Energy, and more recently CFO for a private equity-backed services firm. Craig was a member of the leadership team responsible for the formulation and execution of the short – and long-term strategic plans, while ensuring timely access to capital resources. His extensive experience includes profit and loss responsibility for domestic and international portfolio companies, along with oversight of start-ups and strategic expansion efforts across the U.S., Canada and in China.