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.
Doris Beedie, Secretary
Doris Beedie holds a BS in Nursing from the University of New York and has completed graduate classes at the University of Colorado. She was Head Nurse at St Anthony’s Hospital in Denver and Unit Supervisor of the ICU at University Hospital in Denver before coming to the Lowcountry. She moved to Bluffton full time in 1998. Doris has volunteered in the many communities in which she has lived. She has been a volunteer for VIM, Co-leader of the charity fund of Colleton for several years, and is currently Chairman of the Grant committee. She has a passion for helping children succeed and a vision of what they can do and accomplish. Education is a way for children to feel successful and see a different future for themselves and the things they can accomplish. Helping young children feel successful in school can be life changing for them. It is exciting to be a part of that effort.
Julie Palmo, Executive Director
Andew R. Buzzelli, O.D., Board Member
Dr. Andrew R. Buzzelli is a licensed Optometrist in South Carolina. He received a Doctorate in Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois and a Master’s degree in Child Development and Visual Perception from the State University of New York. He has practiced for over twenty years in the private clinical Health Care sector as a specialist in dysfunctions of Binocular Vision and Visual Information Processing. Dr. Buzzelli has served as a consultant to NASA for medical protocols currently utilized on the International Space Station. He will serve as co-chair of NOC’s Health and Wellness Program.
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.
Rebecca Mastrorocco, Board Member
Rebecca Mastrorocco holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her extensive work experience includes marketing, writing, and communication, as well as networking within the resources of the public school and health sectors. Most recently she created a new brand for her husband’s dental practice in Hilton Head “ROC Dental Group — and developed a marketing plan to raise recognition of the dental practice and improve its social media presence. She has also been actively involved in community service locally, including managing the Hilton Head Island School Store and serving as secretary of the Hilton Head Island Middle School PTSO.
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.
