Chris Hadsall, Executive Director
Mr. Hadsall is a service-connected disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and a retired Captain from the United States Marine Corps. He received his wounds during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2005. Chris is also actively involved with numerous veteran organizations.
Lindsey Matthews, Director of Operations
Ms. Matthews is a Service Disabled Veteran who served four years in the United States Army, serving in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2000. Ms. Matthews’s primary duty upon enlisting in the Army was Administration Specialist, with Postal duties. Ms. Matthews was assigned as An Army Recruiter 2001-2003. Ms. Matthews has extensive experience with corporate recruiting, private staffing and human resources. Ms. Matthews has operations and leadership experience in non-profit, corporate and military environments. Specific areas of expertise include business administration, business operations, program management, grant writing, grant production, government contracting, contract compliance, and contract management. Ms. Matthews has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management.
Ernie Ambrose, Marketing Director
Mr. Ambrose is responsible for managing, coordinating, and providing the strategic marketing direction of the VET Foundation. Raising awareness of the VET Foundation, supporting fundraising events through marketing, and attracting veterans in need through Compass events are key goals for the Marketing team.
Mr. Ambrose earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 2001 from Virginia Tech. Upon graduation he was commissioned a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army. After completing Army Ranger School Mr. Ambrose held various leadership positions with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Colorado and Iraq, and with U.S. Army Africa in Italy and Uganda. Upon completing his active duty commitment Mr. Ambrose earned a Masters of Business Administration from The Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. He still serves in the U.S. Army Reserve in Colorado.
Prior to volunteering for this role, Mr. Ambrose was a Marketing Manager with Honeywell and a Channel Management Associate at Starz Entertainment Group. Mr. Ambrose now manages his own consulting firm offering marketing contract service for leading retailers, consumer packaged goods firms, non-profits, and start-ups providing expertise in marketing strategy, brand building, growth plans, consumer research, positioning, packaging, and messaging.
Ken Drifmeyer, Nationwide Team Leader/Mentor Manager
Ken Drifmeyer is the Principal and founder of FocusOps LLC a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business located in Northern Virginia with the mission of creating career-quality jobs for disabled vets. He also works with the VET Foundation (www.vetfoundation.org), running their Team Leader program for the Foundation’s intensive, week-long COMPASS program held 6 times/yr and which assists disabled vets in their often difficult transition from military service to career-quality jobs and successful, satisfying lives.
Mr. Drifmeyer was previously the President and Chief Executive Officer of Koniag Services Inc. (KSI), an Alaskan Native-Owned, 8(a) certified small business based in Chantilly VA. He grew the company from a paper ‘shell’ to $17M annual revenues in 3 years. Previous to his position at KSI, Mr. Drifmeyer held positions of increasing responsibility and authority with Global Associates, BDM, TRW, WarRoom Research, and Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation.
Mr. Drifmeyer retired from the Air Force as a Lt Col after 20 yrs as a pilot, attaché, and Joint Staff officer at the Pentagon. He holds Masters Degrees in Education, in International Affairs, and an MBA, and is married to the former Gail Taylor of Houston, Texas. They have two grown children; a daughter, Amanda and son Doug, and reside in Aldie, Virginia.
Kathryn Ricciardelli, Administration and Accounts Coordinator
Ms. Ricciardelli is an experienced Office Administrator with 10 years experience in contracts, business administration, and account management. Ms. Ricciardelli provides administrative support and attends to the organizations day-to-day needs.
Mike Maglier, Executive Assistant
Mr. Maglier is a seven year military veteran. Mr. Maglier spent three years in the Army and four years in the Marine Corps, serving in Northern Iraq in 1991. Mr. Maglier retired as a City of Rochester New York Fire Fighter in 2009.
