MEET THE TEAM
Vettes4Vets administration and support team are all volunteers. We have no paid staff, therefore almost 100% of your donations and support goes directly to provide Veterans and their families help during difficult times.
V4V Board Emeritus
Founder & CEO
Mark Davis, U.S. Navy
Mark served in the US Navy from 1973-1979. He is the founder "Vettes4Vets". In 2018 he was named Volunteer Veteran of the Year by the "Daughters of the American Revolution" and winner of the "Hoover Freedom Award" in 2017. Mark also founded the "Alabama Fallen Warriors Project".
Mark is an active member of the "Hoover Veterans Committee", "American Legion Post 911" and "Krulak Marine Detachment".
V4V Board Officer
Board President,
Serves as V4V Corvette Liaison
Gary Nelson, U.S. Army
Gary was an Army Warrant Officer rotary wing pilot who flew Cobra gunships in combat. He transitioned into much much bigger aircraft, retiring after twenty-six years as a 747 pilot for UPS. Gary now flies corporate jets out of Birmingham’s Shuttlesworth International Airport as Chief Pilot, LSA LLC. He is also currently President of Team Corvette Alabama and is the Corvette Manager for Hendricks Automall in Hoover.
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Volunteer
Jim Williams, U.S. Army (Ret)
Jim Williams is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army Reserve, having served 25 years in various assignments. His civilian expertise lies in governmental research, which he is utilizing as a V4V board member to enhance the coordination of services to veterans and their families.
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Support & Communications Volunteer
Serves as V4V Support & Communications Volunteer
Lori Banes, Military Family
Lori has been with V4V since almost day one and was our first Miss Vettes for Vets. She has a strong family connection to military service through her Dad who served in Vietnam and who suffered from Agent Orange exposure. Lori has expressed the strength of this father-daughter bond through her artwork entitled; ‘Strength, Struggle & Sacrifice’ which can be found on her website www.daddyshonor.com. Lori is a registered nurse at Grandview Hospital in Birmingham.
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Volunteer
John Sellers, U.S. Army Alabama National Guard
John is retired from J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Since his retirement he has been a community advocate and leader in Birmingham. He founded Adopt-A-Golden Birmingham and serves on the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Alys Stephens Center, The Red Mountain Theater Company, Alabama School of Fine Arts. He is a Past President and Board Member of Aldridge Gardens, Bessemer Jaycees, Bessemer Chamber of Commerce. He is a Past Board member of Bessemer Kiwanis Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Birmingham, as well as, a former Big Brother of the Year for Birmingham; Jaycee of The Year for the Bessemer Jaycees; Kiwanian of the Year for the Bessemer Kiwanis Club.
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Volunteer
Doyal Marks, Military Family
Doyal comes from a strong military family. As a past President of Team Corvette Alabama, Doyal is one of the driving forces behind V4V’s Talladega Track Day each year and is our primary contact with the several Corvette clubs across the Southeast. He is also Alabama’s Ambassador to the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky. Doyal is former President and Owner of Marks Wood Products in Birmingham.
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Volunteer
Mark Middlebrooks, Military Family
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Volunteer
Tom Long, U.S. Air Force
Tom Long was born in San Antonio, Texas and is a third-generation veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force for six years including multiple locations in the U.S. and in East and Southeast Asia. His father served four years in the Army including 27 months as a POW in Germany during WWII and then 25 years in the U.S. Air Force. He is semi-retired from Hospital Administration and Leadership continuing to provide consultative services in leadership to hospital and healthcare.
Tom holds an MBA and BS as well as medical certifications in Radiology, Cardiovascular Care and Cardiopulmonary Care along with a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Tom brings to Vettes4Vets a deep and abiding commitment to our men and women in uniform, past, present and future. Along with his profound respect for the families of our fallen hero’s he is a consummate patriot, loving America unconditionally.
Tom is the President of Blue Star Salute Foundation, Inc., and a member of the VFW, American Legion, the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery and Pelham 1st Baptist Church. Tom is married to Dee, residing in Helena, Alabama since 1994. Tom and Dee have two children with families of their own.
V4V Board Member
Serves as V4V Volunteer Treasurer
LaDonna Gibbs,
LaDonna Gibbs retired after 35 years in the Financial Transactions industry. Thru seven mergers and acquisitions, she held increasing levels of responsibility from Contract Administration, Vice President of Software Services, Client Relationship Executive, to the General Manager of the North American Systems Division.
LaDonna is an active volunteer since retirement, engaged with a local senior choir and serving associate to the homeless – many of whom are vets – at Church in the Park with the Alabama Diocese of the Episcopal Church.
She has taught the Senior Adult Women’s class at Shades Crest Baptist Church for 30-plus years, is an ordained deacon and a Stephens Minister. She is a member of the DAR, Warrior Chapter and is a Dress Circle volunteer at Red Mountain Theatre.
In her spare time, she and her husband Randy love to cook and use that hobby to deliver food to the homebound in the community. They have one son and two grandchildren that live in Helena.