Staff Bios
John Snider
President and Chief Executive Officer
NOVA Corporation
John Snider is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) for NOVA Corporation, and is based at the company's Chambersburg, Pa., office. Mr. Snider's main responsibility includes determining the overall direction for the company. He also plays a key role in working with the Board of Directors, ensuring NOVA's continuing contributions to improving the quality of life for the Navajo Nation. Mr. Snider brings more than 18 years of proven leadership and government IT experience.
Mr. Snider joined NOVA Corporation in December, 2005 as the company's executive vice president and chief operating officer, leading the business development team for more than three years. Mr. Snider was made President and CEO of NOVA in February, 2009.
Prior to joining NOVA Corporation, Mr. Snider was a Director for Ingenium Corporation. During his six years with Ingenium, Mr. Snider oversaw network engineering, software development, and served as a program manager and director. He also served as a client account executive at NETCONN Solutions, a technology services company specializing in network infrastructures and data centers.
Mr. Snider served in the U.S. Army for six years as a network engineer. He spent the majority of those years at RRMC, an extension of Fort Ritchie in Maryland. He currently lives in Chambersburg, Pa. with his wife and four teenage sons.
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George Brewster
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
NOVA Corporation
George Brewster is NOVA Corporation's executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO). Mr. Brewster provides oversight and management for NOVA projects and contracts. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Brewster was NOVA's program manager and handled all of the NOVA's contracts with the U.S. Army. He joined NOVA Corporation in April, 2007 as one of the company's Avaya telephone switch administrators.
Before joining the corporate world, Mr. Brewster performed various assignments in the U.S. Army, culminating in a position with the White House Communications Agency. Mr. Brewster held various positions at the agency, including operations NCO for Camp David, non-commissioned officer-in-charge (NCOIC) of the communications infrastructure and personnel at President Bush's personal ranch in Crawford, Texas, and a vice presidential communications officer.
Mr. Brewster served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and spent most of his time stationed at forts along the east coast as well as Panama and Kuwait. He currently lives in Waynesboro, Pa. with his wife and son.
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Elfonzo Nephew, Diné
Chief Financial Officer
NOVA Corporation
Elfonzo Nephew is the chief financial officer (CFO) for NOVA Corporation. He manages the financial direction of the corporation, providing financial planning and oversight, and financial reporting to the CEO and the Board of Directors. Mr. Nephew brings more than 16 years of financial expertise with a focus on Native American lending and underwriting. Mr. Nephew joined NOVA in October, 2009.
Prior to joined NOVA, Mr. Nephew worked for KeyBank's Native American Financial Services Group as a relationship manager, overseeing the group's commercial lending portfolio of $280 million. Before his tenure at KeyBank, Mr. Nephew worked for JP Morgan Chase Bank as an underwriter, underwriting taxable and non-taxable debt obligations totaling $565 million. Before that, Mr. Nephew worked for Native American Bank, NA, in Denver, Colo. as a commercial lender, developing direct and indirect commercial banking relationships with Native American tribes, their respective business enterprises, and tribally designated housing entities totaling $12 million. Mr. Nephew has also held the title of commercial lender at Western Bank in Gallup, New Mexico. During his two years at Western, he established a $3 million portfolio in small business development and as an asset quality manager.
Mr. Nephew is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and serves as the vice-chairman of Navajo Agricultural Products Industry. He currently lives in Albuquerque, N.M. with his daughter, who will be attending New Mexico Tech in the fall of 2011, and his son.
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Mr. Edward Richards, Diné
Edward Richards spent 27 years in the forestry industry, working with Navajo Forest Products Industries, starting out as a Road Engineer and ultimately advancing to General Manager. Mr. Richards worked for six years as a Director for the Navajo Nation Small Business Development Department and three years as the Executive Director for the Division of Economic Development. Upon retirement, Mr. Richards starting a private consulting gaming firm and served on various successful Boards of Navajo Nation business entities. Mr. Richards is married with children, and divides his time between his homes in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona. He holds a degree in Management from Northern Arizona University.
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Mr. Larryl Lynch, Diné
Larryl Lynch is the owner of several companies including a film production company, a publishing and advertising agency, and a monthly lifestyle magazine. Mr. Lynch has worked for major newspaper organizations in California, Arizona and Texas; created and developed a feature length film; and worked extensively in advertising. Mr. Lynch, a single father, lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He holds a degree in Journalism from New Mexico State University.
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Mr. Tom Teegarden
Tom Teegarden has considerable experience managing the interface between tribal government and tribal business. Mr. Teegarden worked for more than 16 years as a planner, strategist, and chief executive for tribal development corporation at Taos and Acoma pueblos. He is the current Vice President for Native Resource Development Company, a Navajo Woman-owned 8(a) Business headquartered in Gallup, New Mexico. Mr. Teegarden earned a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the University of Colorado–Denver. He divides his time between residences in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Ft. Defiance, Arizona. Mr. Teegarden is an avid cyclist, a well-known powwow singer/composer, and a 24- year Navajo in-law.
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Tazbah McCullah, Diné
Tazbah McCullah has an extensive professional communications career in various mediums. She serves as the Marketing/Advertising Director for Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc./Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ms. McCullah was the General Manager for KTNN/KWRK Radio (commercial stations owned by the Navajo Nation), former Press Secretary for the Office of the President, Vice President of the Navajo Nation and was associate producer for an award-winning weekly news analysis program for KAET-TV in Tempe, Arizona. Ms. McCullah was also the managing partner of the TM Group, a land-use planning and architectural design company which produced designs used on the Navajo Nation for senior centers and a multi-purpose building. Ms. McCullah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of New Mexico.
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Mr. Ron C. Wood, Diné
Ron C. Wood recently retired as the Executive Officer of the Navajo Area Indian Health Service after an 18 year federal career. Mr. Wood currently does health administration consulting, real estate management and has recently written and published a book. Mr. Wood has prior experience as Director of the Navajo Division of Health and as a Director of an Indian center in Flagstaff, AZ. Mr. Wood is a veteran and served in Vietnam as an Army communications sergeant. He currently lives near Window Rock, Navajo Nation, in Coalmine, NM and is married and has children and grandchildren. Mr. Wood graduated from Arizona State University with a BS degree in Aeronautics (airport management) and from the University of California at Berkeley, with an MPH in Behavioral Health and Administration.
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