BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R. David Nein
President
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R. David Nein
President
Dave spent his career in sales and marketing working for several leading companies in the bank technology industry, including an interesting three-year expat assignment based in London covering accounts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Shortly before his retirement from NCR Corporation, Dave learned of Folds of Honor. He was moved by the story of Lt. Col. Dan Rooney’s inspiration to form the charity and its mission to support military families to “Honor Their Sacrifice. Educate Their Legacy”. Dave knew this highly rated charity was an effort in which he wanted to be involved. Since then he has worked to establish the Western Carolina Folds of Honor chapter, and, with its board members, build awareness of the organization, develop new partners and raise funds to support its important mission.
Dave has been a resident of Charlotte, NC for the past 18 years. After 30 years experience in the technology industry in sales, consulting and marketing, Dave has found his next big challenge with Folds of Honor. He earned a B.S. in marketing from Miami University in Oxford, OH and an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Caryn Johnson
Treasurer
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Caryn Johnson
Treasurer
Caryn Reinhart Johnson is a retired banker who is active in a variety of advocacy and environmental groups. She currently serves as treasurer on the boards of both the Folds of Honor- Western Carolina and South Charlotte Partners, and is on the Financial Committee at Alliance Center for Education. In addition, she is a volunteer with the Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Trees Charlotte and Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary.
Caryn worked in community banking in Charlotte for over 25 years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer and Regulatory Compliance Officer of Carolina Premier Bank. She graduated from High Point University with BA in English, resides in Charlotte with her husband Charles and has two adult sons and one grandson.
Caryn's family has a strong legacy in the US military, as her father and youngest brother served in the US Navy, a younger brother served in the US Army and her step father is a Veteran of the Korean War.
Andy George
Director
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Andy George
Director
Andy currently owns and operates Country Club Collective, a golf and corporate gifting company founded in 2017. Prior to Country Club Collective, Andy worked in marketing for Bass Pro Shops corporate and Golf Digest magazine. He has also worked with brands like Pepsi, MasterCard and InBev on sports marketing and has helped run ten PGA TOUR Champions tournaments across the country. Andy is involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their annual golf tournament played in Charlotte, as well as his board membership at Folds of Honor. Andy, his wife Jennifer, and their two boys, live in Charlotte, NC.
Tom Shea
Director
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Tom Shea
Director
Tom has held executive positions and has been effective in both Fortune 500 and Entrepreneurial companies. His career domain has been focused in information technology with a focus on automotive and software services at firms such as Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen of America, Electronic Data Services (GM / EDS), and Oracle Corporation before launching and running his own successful Technology ventures. Since 1995, he has focused his efforts on advising and mentoring growth oriented technology firms based on sound business experience, solid ethics and industry success. He founded and is the Tournament Director for the Rock Barn Country Club Folds of Honor Signature Golf Tournament and Gala that has been recognized by the Folds of Honor Foundation as a Top 50 Performer. Tom has accepted a Director’s position with the Western Carolina Folds of Honor chapter to be able to support the Folds of Honor Foundation in a larger scope.
Jason Avery
Director
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Jason Avery
Director
Jason is a United States Army Veteran with 24 years of professional experience leading cross-functional teams and operating in global and diverse environments.
He currently serves as the Health and Wellness Director at Coca-Cola Consolidated responsible for the development, implementation, response coordination, and continuing assessment of critical wellness policies and procedures. He partners with company leaders to ensure the focus on health and wellness is a priority promoting both physical and mental well-being across the organization. Additionally, Jason co-leads the Veterans Resource Group dedicated to building a network and providing resources to military Veterans, their Families, and Friends to Veterans.
Jason resides in South Charlotte with his wife Heather, and their two daughters. Outside of work, Jason enjoys vacationing with his family, fishing, and spending time at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
Olivia Stiff
Director
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Olivia Stiff
Director
Olivia is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch with the Utz & Keller Wealth Management Group and manages the marketing and social media to help further awareness of Folds of Honor Western Carolina. She is also on the board of the Lake Norman Young Professional Group, and active in the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club, where she volunteers throughout the local community.
She earned her B.S. in business economics and a minor in mathematics at Miami University. She moved to North Carolina from Ohio in 2020 during the heart of the lockdown, and is extremely fortunate to have met Dave through the local Miami Alumni Chapter. As the granddaughter of a disabled Vietnam War Veteran, and many family members who are active duty and retired military, Folds' mission is close to her heart.
In her free time, she enjoys working on her farm in Mount Ulla, hiking the beautiful Carolina mountains, and spending time with her family on Lake Norman.
Ben Mears
Director
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Ben Mears
Director
Ben is an Executive Vice President with TowneBank. He serves as the Market Executive for the Ballantyne Financial Center in South Charlotte. He is an Army Veteran, having served 4 years as a Tank Crewmember. Ben has been in financial services for over 20 years as Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo Commercial Banking and a former Market President with BB&T/Truist Financial. Ben is on the Executive Board of South Charlotte Partners as well as a board member of the Novant Health Presbyterian Foundation Board. Ben and his wife Stephanie have 5 children and live in Matthews, NC.
Tim Mann
Director
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Tim Mann
Director
I am honored to join the board of Folds of Honor, bringing 40+ years of financial services expertise to support the mission of "Honor Their Sacrifice. Educate Their Legacy.". As the former Complex Director of the Triad & Triangle Regions of Truist/BB&T, I led initiatives that built top-performing teams, managed $11B in AUM, and earned national recognition for excellence. I am dedicated to fostering advocacy and strategic growth for the Western Carolina Chapter, and look forward to driving impactful contributions to this vital cause.
Jeff Dudas
Director
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Jeff Dudas
Director
Attended the University of Colorado Boulder on Naval ROTC scholarship. While at the University of Colorado was Battalion Commander of the ROTC unit.
Following graduation became a Naval Aviator flying the McDonald Douglass F-4S Phantom, deployed for 2 years to Japan aboard the USS Midway. Graduated Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun April 1985), 150 Carrier Landings. VF-151. Active duty 1980-1987 Naval Reserve 1987-1990.
1987 Become an Investment Advisor with Prudential Securities. In 1990 joined UBS/PaineWebber. Managed offices, complexes, and advisors throughout the Southeast. In 2000 became the CEO and Managing Director and Country Head of the UBS Private Client’s Australia. Moved to Charlotte in 2004.
In 2008 become CEO/Partner of Spiroflow Systems in Monroe, North Carolina with offices in Monroe, Chicago, Cleveland, and Clitheroe, UK.
Sold the company to Private Equity in April 2022.
My wife Susan and our 2 sons all reside in the Charlotte area and have all learned and grown from our travels and experiences around the world.
Jack "Gil" Bolton
Director
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Jack "Gil" Bolton
Director
Gil is a Captain with American Airlines based in Charlotte, NC. In addition, he is a Senior Tactical Systems analyst for Tactical Air Support Inc. where he provides weapons systems expertise for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps fighter community.
He is a retired Marine who served 23 years as an F/A-18 Hornet pilot where he was the Executive Officer of the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and a Marine F/A-18 squadron commanding officer. During his final 3 years of active service, he worked for the Secretary of Defense as a National Security Strategist.
Gil lives in Charlotte with his wife, Greta, and their daughter. His son is currently attending Eastern Carolina University. Outside of work, Gil enjoys traveling with his family and playing golf.
Ryan Myrick
Director
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Ryan Myrick
Director
Mr. Myrick is a Partner and Co-Head of Ares Insurance Solutions, where he oversees strategic initiatives. He also serves as a Director of Aspida Holdings, Ares' indirect life and annuity subsidiary. Mr. Myrick helped launch Aspida with the acquisitions of its Bermuda reinsurance company, U.S. domiciled insurance company and insurance operating platform. Previously, Mr. Myrick helped start Ares Corporate Strategy Group to drive growth and development across the Ares platform through acquisitions, balance sheet investments, partnerships and new team onboarding. He led the Group's efforts on numerous transactions including the acquisitions of SSG, Crescent Point and AMP Capital's Infrastructure Debt platform as well as its strategic partnership with BlueCove. Mr. Myrick serves as Co-Portfolio Manager and Director on the board of the Ares Master Co-Invest Program. Prior to joining Ares in 2014, Mr. Myrick worked in the Financial Institutions Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Mr. Myrick holds a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Business Administration.
John Ryan
Director
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John Ryan
Director
Coming soon!
Chris Ann Phillips
Director
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Chris Ann Phillips
Director
Coming soon!