North Carolina Veteran & Military Spouse Talent Roadshow: Greenville

Date: September 23, 2026

Location: East Carolina University, E 5th St, Greenville, NC 27858

Guest Speakers

Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette

Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette is the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and is a third-generation service member. As Secretary, Jocelyn leads the Department in its mission to support the military and veteran connected communities in North Carolina.

As the daughter of Goldsboro natives, Jocelyn received her nomination to the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy from North Carolina Congresswoman Eva Clayton. After graduating, Jocelyn served for ten years in the USAF. First, as an Admissions Officer at the Air Force Academy. Then, she secured a mission critical assignment as an intelligence officer, during which she briefed pilots in South Carolina and in Germany. Jocelyn cross-trained into the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Jocelyn served as a prosecutor and general practice attorney in the JAG Corps at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. After ten years of active-duty military service, Jocelyn started her civilian career as an attorney by clerking for the Honorable Barbara A. Jackson of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, Jocelyn spent six years at the international law firm of McGuireWoods, where she represented Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial litigation and became partner.  

As an active member of her community, Jocelyn currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. She also is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Raleigh. She is married to Harold A. Mallette, who is a licensed architect, and she is the proud mother of two hilarious and lively children. 

Secretary Lee Lilley

Lee Lilley's service as North Carolina's Secretary of Commerce began on January 1, 2025. Appointed to the office by Governor Josh Stein, Secretary Lilley brings extensive economic development experience to the role.

Immediately prior to joining the department, Secretary Lilley served as the Director of Economic & Pandemic Recovery for Governor Roy Cooper. In that position, he coordinated statewide pandemic recovery efforts, served as State Infrastructure Coordinator, and led economic development initiatives for the Cooper Administration. Lee also advised Cooper Administration leadership on strategy and communications.

Lee joined the Governor’s Office in 2018 as the Director of Legislative Affairs, where he led all Gubernatorial and Executive Branch engagement with the North Carolina General Assembly and served as the principal advisor to the Governor on policy and legislative strategy. Lee was previously senior vice president and deputy director of federal practice at McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC, based in Washington, D.C. There he represented a diverse group of clients including Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, trade associations, and non-profits before Congress and the federal Executive Branch. He led public affairs strategies for clients facing political and regulatory scrutiny of international mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and trade disputes. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Lee served as legislative director for Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), a member of U.S. House Democratic leadership and the Energy & Commerce Committee, and the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. He served as the Member’s senior legislative strategist and policy advisor.  Lee is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A native of Williamston, North Carolina, Secretary Lilley lives in Raleigh with his wife and daughter.

Jennifer Akin

Jennifer Akin is a national leader, prolific writer, and Gold Star spouse who has dedicated her career to building a stronger nation by understanding core problems facing military, Veteran, and survivor communities, and working to develop innovative solutions to solve them. She believes in the power of strong coalitions and today leads Blue Star Families’ critical cross-sector collaborations, creating trust-based, resilient networks capable of supporting military- and Veteran-connected families now and into the future.

Jenny has a Bachelor of Arts in Peace, War, and Defense (and History) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina State University. She is the surviving spouse of Army Special Forces Veteran, Cooper Akin, who died in 2023 of cancer likely caused by environmental toxins he was exposed to during his military service. Jenny and her two children reside in Davidson, NC.

Tim Gabel

Tim J. Gabel is RTI International’s president and chief executive officer. Mr. Gabel became CEO in 2022, having served the previous 10 years as executive vice president of Social, Statistical, and Environmental Sciences, the largest business unit within RTI. Mr. Gabel joined RTI in 1983 – his first professional job – and has served at every level of RTI leadership, guiding various divisions and operating units to grow by maintaining a focus on operational excellence, client centricity, and innovation.

Mr. Gabel is a member of the American Statistical Association, American Association for Public Opinion Research, and American Public Health Association. He has an adjunct academic appointment at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Over the course of his career Mr. Gabel has contributed to books, articles and technical reports on a variety of research topics, including most recently co-editing the book The Essential Role of Language in Survey Research, published in 2020 by RTI Press. Mr. Gabel serves his community in a variety of volunteer roles, including board member for Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, Tocqueville Society member of the United Way of Alamance County, and member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Wyoming College of Arts & Sciences.

Pete Goodridge

Pete Goodridge serves as the General Manager for Johnson and Johnson’s Biotherapeutic Manufacturing Facility in Wilson, North Carolina. He assumed this role in the fall of 2024 and is responsible for operational and business readiness for the facility as it comes online following the construction phase over the next few years. Previously, Pete served as the General Manager of J&J’s biologics facility in Malvern, Pennsylvania where he worked to shape the site’s overall performance and compliance culture, along with ensuring the delivery of both short-term goals and long-term strategies. Prior to the General Manager role, Pete was the planning director for the COVID-19 Vaccine program. Pete’s team worked around the clock and cross-functionally through many of the pandemic era constraints, developing scenarios and business trade-offs to maximize manufacturing capacity and respond to the urgent global need. Pete has over 14 years of experience with Johnson & Johnson working across the Synthetics & Biotherapeutics both in the US and abroad. Additionally, Pete’s experiences include new product introductions, divestures, and multiple change management & digital initiatives. Pete joined Johnson & Johnson from the U.S. Army and has continued furthering his education through both APICS certifications, the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research & Training, and many of the great J&J learning and leadership development opportunities.

Kayla Homar

Kayla Homar is a Manager of Employee & Labor Relations with West Pharmaceutical Services, where she supports employee relations strategy and workplace practices across the organization. With nearly a decade of human resources experience, Kayla has built her career in people-centered HR leadership, with much of her experience supporting manufacturing environments and the employees and leaders who keep them running.

Before moving into Employee & Labor Relations, Kayla served as a Senior HR Business Partner at West’s Kinston, North Carolina manufacturing site. Her experience spans employee relations, leadership development, workplace investigations, policy and compliance, employee engagement, and building practical programs that strengthen both the employee experience and organizational effectiveness. She holds the SHRM-CP credential and has been particularly passionate about creating workplaces where employees from different backgrounds and life experiences have meaningful opportunities to connect, contribute, and grow.

That passion has also shaped Kayla’s involvement with Employee Business Resource Groups, including supporting and championing initiatives focused on women in the workplace. She is an active ally to the military and veteran community and has supported efforts connecting transitioning service members with civilian career opportunities, including North Carolina’s Boots to Biotech and NC4ME initiatives. For Kayla, that work is especially meaningful in Eastern North Carolina, where military installations, manufacturing, and the state’s growing life sciences industry create a unique opportunity to build stronger bridges between military talent and employers.

Based in Goldsboro, Kayla brings both a professional and local perspective to workforce conversations across Eastern North Carolina. She is passionate about expanding access to meaningful careers, strengthening inclusive workplaces, and helping employers recognize the skills and experiences people bring with them whether they are transitioning from military service, advancing within manufacturing, or finding their next opportunity in North Carolina’s growing life sciences sector.

Major General Marvin T. Hunt (Todd)

MG Todd Hunt assumed his duties as The Adjutant General of North Carolina on 1 December 2019. As The Adjutant General, he commands nearly 10,000 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the North Carolina National Guard and is the Governor's principal advisor on military affairs.

He is a graduate of East Carolina University where he received his commission as an Aviation officer. He is also a graduate of several military schools, to include the United States Army War College and Naval Post Graduate Program for Executives in Homeland Defense and Security.

His former positions include Deputy Commanding General for the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, and Joint Force Headquarters Director of Joint Staff. He has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels.

MG Hunt has deployed to Kuwait in support of Southern Watch and Desert Fox (1998), as the Detachment Commander, Company E, 130th Aviation Battalion, and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom- Afghanistan (2001), as the Executive Officer of the 1st of the 130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion and Aviation Task Force 130.

He has received multiple awards, to include the Legion of Merit with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is rated in numerous helicopters: UH-1 Huey, OH-58 Kiowa, UH-72 Lakota, and AH-64 Apache.
 

Jacob Key

Jacob joined NCBiotech in May 2023, as Program Manager for Military Outreach Engagement (M.O.V.E.) initiative. His role consists of promoting Career Skills Program internships and promoting BioWork certificate programs to veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, guardsmen, and reservists. Jacob also enhances connectivity between participants in the program and life science companies/in-demand jobs.  

Jacob is a combat veteran who served on active duty for over 20 years. He has a track record as an outstanding project manager and human resources manager since 2007. Jacob completed his B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Business and Religion at Liberty University. He possesses a deep passion for continuing his service by connecting veterans to their newfound purpose after leaving the military. Jacob continues to interact with the veteran community through his local church as a small connect group lead and dream team volunteer.

Before joining NCBiotech, Jacob held various roles such as a human resource manager, operations manager, project manager, talent acquisition manager, and recruitment specialist. Jacob enjoys time with his family, supporting his local church, camping, hiking, and the Carolina Panthers “Keep Pounding”.
 

Antoine McNeal

Antoine C. McNeal is a procurement, supply chain and innovation leader at Amazon. Mr. McNeal is Head of Global Health & Safety Procurement for global fulfillment and operations. In this role he serves as Amazon’s global leader for procurement and continuity of supply for health and safety supplies and services. He has over 22 years of experience and is recognized as a supply chain and procurement change agent and solutions architect. Prior to Amazon he was recognized in the Department of Defense (DoD) as a senior procurement director and champion of supply strategy, supply chain management, contract lifecycle management, weapon systems product development (i.e. F-35, F-22, etc), procurement information technology, enterprise architecture and automation to achieve next-level operational performance. He served as the Deputy Director of the Defense Contract Management Agency’s (DCMA) National Capital Region Contract Management Office.