Leadership

Kevin McLaughlin

Chief Executive Officer

Brian Anthony

Chief Operating Officer

Rajesh Ghimire

Chief Financial Officer

Meagan Guerzon

General Counsel

Trina Colie

Vice President, Human Resources

Kate Pickworth

Director of Enterprise Operations

Heather Hanks

Director of Marketing

Courtney Ashmore

Director Benefits & Administration

Russell Koch

Director, Human Resource

Candace White

Director Project Finance,  Accounting

Christopher Stefek

Director of Contracts

Ron Hernandez

Director Project Finance, Accounting

Kevin McLaughlin
CEO

Mr. McLaughlin serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Copper River Family of Companies, where he leads a diverse portfolio of more than twenty subsidiary companies supporting federal customers across the United States and abroad. He oversees government contract portfolios exceeding $500 million and guides a workforce of more than 900 employees. In this role, he drives long‑range strategy, directs operating company presidents, and leads multiple executive teams to ensure operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and sustained enterprise growth.

Since joining Copper River, Mr. McLaughlin has been a central architect of the organization’s expansion. Drawing on deep experience supporting Alaska Native‑owned enterprises and extensive knowledge of Alaska Native set‑aside authorities and SBA 8(a) regulations, he established Copper River Shared Services—an integrated support platform designed to strengthen oversight, streamline operations, and enable scalable growth. His leadership has been instrumental in seven strategic acquisitions and the launch of twelve new subsidiary companies, each contributing to the Copper River Family’s continued diversification and profitability. His long‑term vision, disciplined execution, and emotionally intelligent leadership style have significantly elevated the organization’s performance and competitive position.

A former U.S. Army Officer (Captain) and Judge Advocate Attorney, Mr. McLaughlin is a graduate of multiple Military Officer Leadership Schools, the Defense Acquisition University, and the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Alabama and a Juris Doctor with a concentration in corporate law and mergers & acquisitions from Samford University.

Brian Anthony

Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer for Copper River Shared Services, Mr. Brian Anthony is responsible for the operational strategy for the
Copper River Family of Companies. Dedicated to innovation, Mr. Anthony leverages his 28 years of business technology experience
to guide implementation of advanced tools, processes, and procedures that have led to enhanced communication and collaboration efficiencies across multiple business units and departmental functions. With over 16 years of experience in various leadership roles, Mr. Anthony takes pride in mentoring multiple
teams and individuals to help guide in the development of collective solutions that solve complex, multi-functional challenges

Rajesh Ghimire

Chief Financial Officer

Raj Ghimire serves as Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 20 years of accounting and finance leadership experience across both public and private organizations. His role is responsible for strategic planning and analysis, capital financing and treasury management, budgeting, indirect rate design and development, mergers and acquisitions, end-to-end accounting operations, and both corporate and operational financial management. 

 

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida, an MBA from the University of South Florida, and completed the Senior Executive CFO Program at Columbia Business School. Outside of work, Raj enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.

Meagan Guerzon

General Counsel

Meagan Guerzon serves as General Counsel for the Copper River Family of Companies, bringing more than 16 years of federal procurement and small business program experience from her tenure with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel. Most recently, she served as Deputy Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, advising on acquisitions, regulatory reforms, administrative litigation, and the SBA’s 8(a) program.

 

A Virginia native, Meagan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University and her law degree from The George Washington University School of Law. Outside of work, Meagan enjoys spending time outdoors with her three daughters, traveling with family, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

Trina Colie

VP of Human Resources

Ms. Colie serves as Vice President, Human Resources responsible for leading our team of HR professionals in the areas of Compensation, Benefits, Talent Acquisition, Training, Employee Development, and Compliance. Ms. Colie has more than twenty years of experience cultivating meaningful cross-functional partnerships with Senior Executives in designing and implementing transformative strategic plans that drive organizational performance through aligning HR initiatives, processes, and tools with organizational goals. Prior to joining the Copper River Family of Companies, Trina held several roles in Human Resources Management at an Alaska Native Corporation and a Healthcare Information Technology Organization where she was responsible for providing strategic direction and creating a high-performing culture of success, accountability, transparency, and collaboration. Ms. Colie holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Strayer University.

Kate Pickworth

Director of Enterprise Operations

A results-oriented senior leader, Ms. Kate Pickworth has over 20 years of business operations expertise focused on the development and implementation of business policies, procedures, and strategies. As the Director for Copper River’s Enterprise Operations Office, Ms. Pickworth is responsible for the collection, recording, and analysis of enterprise-wide business intelligence that enables Executive-level leadership to make impactful, strategic decisions for maximum company growth. Driven by results, Ms. Pickworth leverages her strategic thinking and long history of information assessment to improve upon all operations, policies, and procedures of organizations, serving both in the U.S. and Australia. Outside of her professional career, Ms. Pickworth is passionate about supporting her community and serves on the Board of two non-profit organizations; Kate’s Cause, a childhood cancer organization dedicated to supporting the pediatric cancer community, and the Green Lizard Foundation, an organization that supports local youth by sponsoring nutrition programs, team sponsorships, and cycling.

Heather Hanks

Director of Marketing

Ms. Hanks is a seasoned marketing professional with 15+ years of experience driving successful campaigns across diverse industries. As the Director of Marketing at Copper River Shared Services, her team provides strategic counsel, creative solutions, and services to the Copper River Family of Companies. Specific responsibilities include marketing collateral and content creation, social media, website management, event management, partner marketing campaigns, and proposal graphic support.

Ms. Hanks expertise spans a wide range of marketing disciplines, including data analysis, campaign management, content creation, and social media. Her proven track record in the public sector, cybersecurity, entertainment, and higher education industries demonstrates her ability to adapt to different audiences and achieve organizational goals.

She believes in utilizing data analytics to optimize campaigns and produce engaging content that drives results. Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from York College of Pennsylvania, where she graduated Cum Laude.

Courtney Ashmore

Director, Benefits & Administration Human Resources

Ms. Ashmore, as the Director of Benefits & Administration, plays a crucial role in overseeing various aspects within the organization. Her responsibilities include managing benefits, leave administration, HR compliance, and office administration. With over 25 years of experience, she brings valuable insights to the team.

Ms. Ashmore’s strengths lie in her ability to build strong relationships and find practical solutions. She streamlines processes to benefit both employees and the company. Additionally, she enjoys mentoring her team and collaborates effectively with others.

Ms. Ashmore graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Music from the University of Richmond.

Russell Koch

Director,
Human Resources
Mr. Russell Koch serves as the Director, Human Resources with Copper River Shared Services. Mr. Koch has over 15 years of Federal contracting experience and joined the Copper River Family of Companies in 2015. In his role, he leads the organization’s highly skilled Talent Acquisition and Human Resources Business Partner teams. Russell focuses on establishing strong relationships across the organization to help deliver support that meets both the employee needs while understanding the unique business challenges of the Operating Companies. He and his team provide strategic direction and support throughout the employee lifecycle, and human resources operations. Additionally, Mr. Koch facilitates and administers various education sessions and communication workshops across the family of companies.