Key Leaders
Dave Woolf, President and CEO
Dave Woolf, President and CEO, has over 10 years of sales, marketing, and leadership experience and has founded/co-founded three start-ups during that time. Most recently, Dave co-founded a software and services company where he built the sales and marketing operations from scratch, generating multi-million dollar sales in less than two years. Dave’s extensive sales experience includes closing and managing multi-year, multi-million dollar, engagements with global Fortune pharmaceutical, financial services, technology and manufacturing companies. During a 14-year Army career, Dave commanded an airborne infantry company during Operations Desert Shield/Storm, taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Dave holds a bachelors degree from USMA, and a Masters in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Herb Aten, Chief Operating Officer
Herb Aten, COO, has over 18 years (including 5 years in the Defense Industry) of sales, marketing, operations and leadership experience, and most recently served as President and COO of Desert Steel Corp, a design and fabrication business that has more than doubled revenue and grown EBIT 500%, in 28 months. Herb’s other business experience includes sales and operations executive roles with American Axle and Manufacturing, a Fortune 600 Company, where he was responsible for over $3 billion in sales to General Motors, and Engineered Air Systems, Inc., where he was responsible for military sales to the Department of Defense and foreign military sales. Herb holds a bachelors degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Herb serves on the Board of Directors for Desert Steel Corp. and Tu Nidito, a large non-profit agency assisting terminally ill children, and is a six-year Army Veteran.
Greg Hopper, VP Marketing and Product Development
Greg Hopper, VP of Marketing and Product Development, has over 28 years of experience in engineering, marketing, operations and Intellectual Property management. Most recently, he has been CEO of Netanium Strategic Consulting, and has held a number of executive positions at small and mid-sized companies. Prior to Netanium, he was co-founder of an innovative computer hardware startup that went public in 2000. Earlier, he held a progression of technical and management positions in strategy, new market development, and product development over a 17-year career with IBM. Mr. Hopper has eight United States Patents, and is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lafayette College; has completed graduate coursework in Materials Science at Columbia University; and received his Masters of Entrepreneurship degree from Western Carolina University. He is an adjunct professor at Duke University in the Master of Engineering Management Program, and serves on the Board of Directors of several companies.
Bob Lee, VP of Government Sales
Born in New York, Bob served in the Marine Corps in a variety of leadership positions around the world, and founded two leadership consulting firms upon his retirement in 2001, most recently Uncommon Leadership, LLC, teaching essential leadership skills for managers to drive improved employee performance. During his 33 year career with the USMC, Bob served with the U.S. State Department in the Middle East responsible for embassy and consulate security from Bangladesh to Morocco; the UN Truce Supervision Organization in Lebanon; Military Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the Department of Defense; Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy; and Principal Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy. Bob also commanded an infantry battalion and was the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps' Basic School, where the Marine Corps teaches leadership to all newly commissioned Marine Corps lieutenants.
Bob attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Management. He earned his Masters degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He has been featured in numerous books and articles on leadership including McKinsey & Company's "War for Talent"; David Friedman's book "Corps Business"; Michael Useem's "Leading Up"; Federal Executive Magazine, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company Magazine and the Marine Corps Gazette.
Advisory Board
Gen. Hugh Shelton: US Army (R), 14th Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
A native of North Carolina, General Shelton served in the US Army for 38 years, retiring in 2001 as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after serving two terms. During his distinguished career, he participated in the liberation of Kuwait and the restoration of democracy in Haiti, among a variety of postings and commands. Currently, General Shelton is on the board of directors for Red Hat, CACI, Ceramic Products Corporation, Robbins-Gioia and CoVant. He is chairman of the O'Gara Group board of advisors, vice chairman of the board of advisors for MIC. In addition, he also serves as Executive Director of the General Hugh Shelton Leadership Center at NCSU and as Director of the Hugh and Carolyn Shelton Military Neurotrauma Foundation. He received his bachelor's degree in textiles from NCSU and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. General Shelton holds a master's degree from Auburn University, and has attended Harvard University, the Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
John Heller: VP and GM, DoD Programs, Harris IT Services, Harris Corp
John is currently VP and General Manger of DoD Programs at Harris IT Services business unit where he is responsible for profit and loss management, program execution, and business development. He has 25+ years of IT management experience, including serving as President and COO of Multimax, Inc.; President and CEO, Netco Government Services; and President and CEO of Rentport, Inc. John has been a principal for TenX Capital Management, where he was involved in due diligence of TenX acquisition opportunities. He has held senior management positions with Answerthink Consulting and Deloitte & Touche Consulting. John is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Mitch Mumma: Partner, Intersouth Partners
Mitch is currently Managing Director, where he is responsible for Intersouth's technology portfolio. He joined Intersouth in 1989 and has has full-cycle venture investment experience. He has held management positions with various companies throughout his career, including three start-up companies, all of which subsequently went public. He is known for board and syndicate leadership as well as tireless focus on portfolio company success. Mitch has served as a director and former Chairman of the Board of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA), the Advisory Board of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Duke and the NCSU Engineering Entrepreneurs Program. Mitch is an adjunct professor at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC, and received his A.B. in management science from Duke University.
Lt. Gen. John Sattler: USMC (R)
Lieutenant General Sattler retired in August 2008 as the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following a distinguished 37-year career in the US Marine Corps. He has served in leadership positions around the world, with postings from Okinawa to the Horn of Africa. As an Marine Infantry officer, he commanded the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment, was the Assistant Division Commander for the 2nd Marine Division, was the Commander, Combined Joint Task Force -- Horn of Africa, Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force during Operation Phantom Fury (The 2nd Battle of Fallujah) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command. He is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (with honors) and the Industrial College of Armed Forces (ICAF) at the National Defense University (with distinction). In addition to his command postings, John served as Congressional Liaison Officer to the U.S. House of Representatives and in several positions with the Joint Chiefs.
Affiliations & Organizations
Williams Innovations is a member of the following affiliations and organizations
- Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA)
- National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA)
- National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM)
- North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA)
- National Marine Marketing Association (NMMA)
- Association of the United States Army
- Light Truck Accessory Alliance - LTAA
- U.S. Army Transportation Corps Regimental Association
Williams Innovations, LLC is a proud sponsor of the General H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Challenge at the North Carolina State University.
