Our Board

Michele Packard-Milam, CAE is a popular facilitator, strategic planner and public speaker. Michele brings 30 years of association management (American Heart Association, Promotional Products Association International, Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association) and marketing/brand management (Sara Lee, Tracy-Locke, The Bloom Agency) experience to her work.
She has worked with dozens of organizations (American Association of Poison Control Centers, American Mensa, Retail Gift Card Association, National Dental Association, Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives, Parker University, Optical Women’s Association, Operation Kindness) on board optimization, knowledge-based governance, strategic planning and member engagement. She received her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives in 2006, and has helped others achieve this distinction. Michele is a cum laude graduate of the University of North Texas and lives in Dallas with her husband of 33 years, their three children, and numerous flora and fauna.

Michele Blair is an executive with experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
As CEO for non-profits for the last 20 years, Ms. Blair has managed all aspects of the business including finances and fundraising, day-to-day operations and staff, meeting planning and special events and advocacy. Ms. Blair provides the overarching vision, direction, and leadership for the organizations for which she has worked. She has successfully led turnarounds for the operations and financial position in her last two positions for non-profits.
Ms. Blair has worked as an advocate and policy expert in the state legislature and the private sector. She has developed and implemented strategic plans, government relations, communications programs, community outreach, media relations, and fundraising initiatives.
She has managed team efforts on high-profile projects and campaigns, including the successful grassroots and media outreach campaign for the National Tobacco Settlement for healthcare in Orange County (Measure H). Her leadership secured nearly $40 million annually for healthcare services.
Until recently, Ms. Blair served as the Executive Director and CEO of the Orange County Medical Association, an organization that includes over 2300 physicians and residents in Southern California. Ms. Blair oversaw the association's activities including promoting the science and art of medicine, and advocating for the protection of public health.

Currently consulting for biopharmaceutical companies, Michele has spent her career advocating for patients and the health care professionals who care for them. Michele has spent a significant part of her career immersed in all facets of cardiovascular disease services and education, in order to advance quality patient care, access and outcomes. She has held long-term roles with major patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, biopharma companies and served as a national consultant to hospitals seeking to build and expand their cardiovascular services offerings.

Michele served in several academic institution senior administrative roles both at the University of Maryland Department of Surgery where she directed all activities of Surgical Associates, a large non-profit organization and the Johns Hopkins University Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. She received her BA in Hospital Planning and Management from the University of Maryland, and her MAS in Healthcare Business Management from Johns Hopkins University.

Michele enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, walking on the beach, sunsets, fishing, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Hawk is an experienced nonprofit administrator with a proven track record in strategic leadership, operations management, public, veteran, and military health affairs. As the current Chief Operating Officer of NAVREF, Hawk oversee’s the organization's day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of programs and services to our members who administer $313 million in extramural research activities and maximize the research capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Prior to his current role at NAVREF, he served as Interim CEO of NAVREF, demonstrating his ability to drive organizational growth and success. His past experience includes a distinguished career in military healthcare and public health, where I specialized in epidemiology, disease investigation, and program development.