Narendra P. Sharma. Ph.D. Founder & Chairman
Dr. Narendra Sharma worked for more than 32 years at the World Bank in Washington, DC, where he was involved in finance and economic development in more than 50 developing countries in Asia, South America and Central America, and Africa, plus more than 12 years in a leadership capacity in the non-profit sector. He has a broad international perspective and understanding of social, economic development, and environmental issues at the global, regional, national, and local level. He has over 40 years of experience in organization and management, and in dealing with high ranking government civil servants, international and regional policy forums, multi-and bilateral development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses. He has a PhD in economic development from Virginia Tech University, as well as an MS from Rutgers, an MEM from Duke University, and a BS from the University of Hawaii. Dr. Sharma has also been involved in teaching and research. He was Adjunct Professor at Duke University, School of the Environment (1991-2005) and has more than 40 years of experience in training and mentoring of people. He is Founder and currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of NOC. Since 2008, he has volunteered in community services and has received numerous national and local awards and recognitions.
Patrice T. McCloskey. Treasurer
Patrice McCloskey is currently CIO of Communications Technology Services, LLC, Marlboro, MA. She is responsible for planning, developing, updating and tracking corporate wide technology strategy and budgets across all departments. From 2005 to 2008, she was Vice President, DSL Business Unit in the same company. Prior to this position, she served as Director in IT & Business Process reengineering from 1999 to 2005. Previously, she has worked as Director, Software development at Workgroup Technology, Lexington, MA. and as a Software Engineer at digital Equipment Corporation, Nashua, NH. Patrice McCloskey earned a BS in computer science and mathematics from Rensselaer, Troy, NY and a MS in computer science from Brown University, Providence, RI. She joined NOC’s Board in 2019. In addition to her responsibilities as Treasurer, she provides substantive inputs in NOC’s strategic visioning and technology, as well as leadership in NOC’s marketing and special events.
Julie Palma, Executive Director
Doug Fletcher. Ph.D. Board Member
Born and reared in Iowa, Dr. Douglas Fletcher received a B.A. from Drake University and Master of Divinity and PhD degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served Presbyterian (USA) congregations in Tulsa, OK, Austin, TX, and Hilton Head Island, SC. Dr. Fletcher also has taught Biblical studies at universities in Oklahoma, Texas, and Zambia. He was part of a Lilly Endowment Pastor-Theologian program with the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, N.J. A trained life coach, Dr. Fletcher is committed to working to deepen conversations and understanding in neighborhoods, communities and businesses. He is on the board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and is actively involved in his local community. He joined the Board of the NOC in 2020. He is also actively involved in community efforts to help those who are in need in Jasper County, SC. In NOC, Dr. Fletcher is actively involved in NOC’s program to replicate its model outside Beaufort County in South Carolina and nationally.
Don Hendrickson. Board Member
Don Hendrickson earned a BA in history from Georgetown University (DC), and a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. He has worked more than thirty years in various capacities in the health care sector, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in health management and information systems, planning and development, marketing services, and human resources. Among other things, Don Hendrickson served as the Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2007 at Mid- Carolina Physician Organization, Pinehurst, NC, which included 300 physicians covering seven counties. Subsequently, he was employed as the Executive Director at Sandhills Community Care Network in North Carolina. He moved to Hilton Head Island and set up Hendrickson and Associates to recruit suitable physicians for hospitals and medical services. He is active in community services and currently volunteers at The Literacy Center and SCORE in Hilton Head Island. Don Hendrickson also serves on the Board of the Hendrickson Family Foundation, which provides funding to organizations that help disadvantaged people obtain the education they need to become self-sufficient. He joined NOC’s Board in 2019 and is the Chair of NOC’s Health and Wellness Program.
George Paletta. Board Member
George Paletta has been a full time resident in HHI since 2009. George Paletta earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Fairfield University in Connecticut and has spent most of his professional life in the private sector, holding senior positions in the machinery, utilities, and construction industries. He was founder and President of several companies, mainly in New York. His most significant accomplishment was as the founder and president of the first concrete recycling company in New York City. He is presently a managing member of Con Agg Recycling Real Estate, LLC. On a parallel track, George has been active in community services through his church and various civic and community organizations. He is committed to building strong communities, assisting low income neighborhoods, and helping children through educational programs and youth activities. He joined the NOC’s Board in 2014. He provided leadership in establishing NOC’s Learning Center in the south end of Hilton Head Island, serving three neighborhoods consisting more than 300 apartment units. More recently, he has played a major role in establishing NOC’s new Learning Center in the mid-section of Hilton Head Island serving four low-income neighborhoods comprising more than 500 apartment units.
John Weymouth. Board Member
John Weymouth was born and raised in Adelaide, Australia and attended the University of Adelaide, earning a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering. His 35 year career involved operations and engineering leadership positions in the refining and chemical industries, with assignments throughout Australia, several Asian countries and the US. Since retiring to Hilton Head Island in 2001, he has volunteered in community services and held board positions in community and nonprofit organizations including Memory Matters, the Sea Pines Country Club, and Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. He served has the Chairman of the Board of Directors of both Memory Matters and the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. He joined NOC in 2017 and has been actively promoting NOC locally and helping to expand NOC’s programs in Beaufort County. John Weymouth.is now actively involved in replicating the NOC business model beyond Beaufort County, SC.
Gordon K. Haist, Retiree
Mike Davis, Business
Mike is a 1988 graduate of Newberry College in Newberry, SC. A native of South Carolina, Mike began his working career as a teacher and coach at Irmo High School in Columbia, SC. After three years of teaching, he changed directions and began a career in the event rental business. This career brought him to Hilton Head in 2000, when he purchased an event rental business and rebranded it as Low Country Event Rentals. He operated that business for seven years and then sold it to an investment group. In the meantime, he purchased Village Self Storage in Bluffton, operating that business for approximately 20 years before selling it. Currently, Mike owns & develops light industrial properties for lease in the Bluffton area.
Mike has served as a volunteer coach at Hilton Head Christian Academy, a middle school basketball referee at local schools, is on the Infrastructure Committee at Indigo Run Property Owners Association and is a long-standing volunteer with the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament. He has also served on the Board of Hilton Head Christian Academy, on the Stewardship Committee and as an Elder at Hilton Head Island Community Church and was the first Executive Director of the First Tee of the Lowcountry. Mike and his wife Jeanette live in Hilton Head and have two children and two grandchildren.
Angela Bennett
Angela Bennett is a certified professional coach and experienced business executive who has spent her career leading teams and developing people. She has built businesses from the ground up, partnered with CEOs and founders of startups, and has driven growth inside major corporations. Through her coaching practice, Angela partners with individuals at every stage of their career journey — helping them define clear goals, align with their strengths and passions, and find their path forward with purpose and confidence. She understands that work is at the heart of how we build our lives, and she is committed to helping people identify what they have to offer the world and move toward it with clarity and intention. A business professional with roots in the beauty industry, Angela brings a unique combination of executive leadership, HR talent strategy, and certified coaching expertise to her work, making her a trusted partner for individuals and organizations.
Colleen Beach, Retiree
Colleen Beach relocated to Hilton Head in 2022, after living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for over thirty years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Virginia, and a J.D. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
For twenty years, Colleen was an Administrative Law Judge with the Kentucky Personnel Board where she presided over employment disputes between state employees and their supervisors. Prior to holding that position, Colleen was a Kentucky Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Litigation Division.
Colleen has been involved in a number of non-profits, including Dress for Success Louisville, where she was Board Secretary for several years. Here in Hilton Head, she has volunteered in the Circles program of Deep Well, and is currently on both the Education and Grants Committees of Women in Philanthropy. Colleen is also a volunteer mediator with the Mediation Center of Savannah.
