Management Team
 Since 2003, Oak Grove founder and CEO, Mark Gross, has grown a successful business practice serving both the federal and commercial sectors. He has guided the company to numerous achievements including the 2007 DoD Inaugural SDVOSB Achievement award. In addition, Mark's leadership led Oak Grove to be named the 2008 Mid-sized Company of the Year by the North Carolina Technology Association. Before founding Oak Grove, Mark was a U.S. Army enlisted soldier. He continued his public service under the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Honors Program, Antitrust Division. There, Mark improved relations between regulatory agencies, and was presented the Assistant Attorney General (AG) (Ann Bingaman) Award in 1993 and 1994 and the AG (Janet Reno) Award in 1995. Mark is a passionate supporter of Veterans. He served as legal editor of Veterans Benefits Manual - An Advocates Guide to Veterans Benefits and is active within the NDIA and AFCEA. He is a founding member of the American Legion, National Economic Committees Small Business Task Force. Mark was also selected to serve on the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Veterans Advisory Committee, advising both the White House and the Congress on issues affecting veteran businesses. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. |
back to top Frank Beaty is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) Colonel and career Intelligence Officer. He finished his active duty career at MacDill Air Force Base Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command (HQUSSOCOM), as Director of Intelligence. Col. Beaty is intimately experienced with ongoing Intelligence, Counter Terrorism and Counter Intelligence issues, and familiar with those working such issues within the DoD. Prior to HQUSSOCOM, Col. Beaty was the Senior USAF Intelligence Officer in Japan. He was also the Director of Intelligence for Operation Northern Watch during OPERATION DESERT FOX and was Director of the USAF Intelligence Operations Center during the Kosovo campaign. Col. Beaty served two tours at the Pentagon where he was in charge of such programs as Long Range Plans, Force Management, and Joint Intelligence Matters. During his first Pentagon tour, he was on the Air Force's Checkmate Team, deeply involved with strategy during DESERT STORM. He is well versed in the Command and Control (C2) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) arenas. While serving in his leadership positions, he was both involved with or in charge of the complex Intelligence funding issues for those organizations. He is on the Advisory Board of the National Conference on Homeland Security, in Tampa, FL. Col. Beaty earned a Master's Degree in National Security Studies, and is a graduate of the Air War College. He is a former RAND Corporation Research Fellow. |
 Denise Lawson is a PMI Certified Project Manager with over 15 years of professional experience in planning, developing, and implementing solutions for a wide range of clients in both the government and commercial sectors, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security. Over the course of her career, Denise has led key IT strategy and implementation efforts and provided guidance to project teams and clients on how changes in technology impact organizations. Prior to joining Oak Grove, Denise was a Program Manager at Booz Allen Hamilton where she received the Woman of Distinction Award in 2004 for her accomplishments. She was also a Product Manager for PRC, Inc. where she led the development of software applications for the real estate industry. Denise has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing and Information Technology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. |
 Chris Greene is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army Acquisition Corps with 26 years of military experience. A former enlisted soldier and commissioned officer, Chris gained extensive expertise in both operations and acquisitions. Chris began his military career in Combat Arms and later transitioned to contracting. While on active duty, Chris was Chief of Contracts for the United States Property and Fiscal Office. As a Level III Certified Acquisition Professional, he held numerous contracting warrants which included licensure without monetary restriction. Chris was presented with the 2006 Individual Outstanding Achievement Award from the Center for Veterans Enterprise. He was recognized for his continual support to the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business community. Chris earned a senior certificate from the Defense Acquisition University, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Organizational Development from Mount Olive College. |
 Susan Stiles has over fifteen years of experience in strategic communications and IT project management. Her primary areas of interest are in knowledge management and e-Learning. Prior to joining Oak Grove, Susan was an IT consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. Susan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and a PhD in Comparative Literature, both from Harvard University. |
 Robert Jones began his employment with Oak Grove in June 2008 as a Recruiter, became Director of Human Resources in May 2009, and assumed the role of Vice President of Human Resources and Administration in March 2010. Prior to joining Oak Grove, Robert served on active duty for 21 years with the United States Army and the Army National Guard. During his successful military career, he served as Director, Human Resources for the North Carolina National Guard, Deputy G-1 (Personnel Officer), Battalion Commander, Public Affairs Officer, Operations Officer, Aide-de-Camp, and Recruiting Officer. Robert served in command and staff positions of increasing responsibility from platoon to Joint Forces level. He served in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Robert is a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer’s Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from North Carolina State University in Business and a Master's degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. |
 Colonel Jack Zeigler (Ret.) recently left active duty after serving the majority of his 30 year Army career as a Special Forces Officer. Col. Zeigler's final assignment, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, was Chief of Staff, Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force Transition Team based in Baghdad, Iraq. Col. Zeigler’s previous assignments include Chief of Staff, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School; Commander, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne); Commander, 3d Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne); and Operations Officer G3, Army Special Operations Task Force - Haiti, in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. He also served as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha commander in the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and he served with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command as the Deputy G3 (Operations), and as the command’s Inspector General. Col. Zeigler commanded the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) and served as the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, during a period of unprecedented change in the training and growth of Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations Soldiers. He also has extensive special operations experience in Africa to include deployments to Malawi, Senegal, and Ghana in support of the Africa Crisis Response Initiative. Col. Zeigler has conducted humanitarian demining operations in Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. He also conducted Joint and Combined Exercises in Botswana and Senegal. Additionally, he has been directly involved in planning and executing special operations and training for host nation forces in Kuwait, Iraq, Portugal, and Italy. Col. Zeigler has a Master’s Degree in Systems Management from the University of Denver, and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. |
MANAGEMENT TEAM
- Mark Gross
President & CEO - Frank Beaty
Senior Vice President, Business Development - Denise Lawson
Senior Vice President, Strategy - Christopher Greene
Vice President, Contracts and Operations - Susan Stiles
Vice President, Product Development - Robert Jones
Vice President, Human Resources and Administration - Jack Zeigler
Director, Special Operations Program
