Board of Directors
The leaders behind Veteran Parent Project — veterans, operators, and advisors united by a shared mission to help single-parent veterans build the businesses and families they deserve.
Leadership with purpose.
Our board brings together decades of military service, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurial experience — all in service of our veterans.
Jim Hendley
Commander, USN (Ret.) · 23 years of service
Jim is a retired Naval Commander with 23 years of experience as a logistics officer, developing expertise in planning and strategy in the most demanding environments. His empowering leadership approach continues through mentoring and training leaders today.
After serving as Sales Manager at ADS Inc. and Director of Operations at IMS Inc., Jim spent five years developing his own business growth strategies before founding Leader's Edge Consulting LLC. He now serves as the founder and Executive Director of Veteran Parent Project.
Mark Lord
U.S. Military Officer · 10 years of service
Mark brings a breadth of experience spanning military service, corporate leadership, and advisory work focused on organizational execution and growth. As a U.S. military officer, he built a strong foundation in leadership, risk management, and decision-making under pressure.
Following his service, Mark held leadership roles at General Electric and Ingersoll Rand / Trane Technologies across strategy, operations, and cross-functional initiatives. He currently serves as a fractional leader to growth-stage companies and volunteers at LaunchCLT, supporting early-stage founders in the Charlotte area.
At VPP, Mark contributes to board governance and supports the organization as it builds programs to serve single-parent veterans pursuing entrepreneurship.
Brian Economy
Retired Naval Officer · EOD Operator
Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Emerald State Environmental, LLC, with over 40 years of experience as a U.S. Navy Master Explosive Ordnance Technician (EOD), Limited Duty Officer, and business executive. He is a highly respected military and civilian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) professional, recognized for excellence in both communities and for strong project management leadership. He consistently demonstrates the ability to assess the "big picture" while effectively coordinating multiple complex tasks..
Consider joining our board.
We're growing the team guiding this mission forward. If you bring military service, nonprofit governance, business leadership, or a genuine passion for veteran families, we'd love to hear from you.
Veteran Parent Project is led by veterans helping veterans. As we grow our cohort capacity and expand our reach across the Carolinas, we're looking for board members who can help guide strategy, open doors, and strengthen our governance.
- Veterans and military families who understand the transition to civilian life firsthand
- Nonprofit, legal, or finance professionals who can help strengthen governance and compliance
- Business owners and entrepreneurs who can mentor and coach our cohort participants
- Community and corporate leaders with networks who can champion our mission and open doors to funding
You served your country.
Now build your future.
You have the discipline, the resilience, and the drive. We have the curriculum, the funding, and the network. Together, we'll get your business launched — and your family on solid ground.