Executive Management
Anita B. Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Anita B. Williams is the CEO and owner of Logistics & Environmental Support Services Corporation (LESCO), a Minority, Woman-Owned Company. As the CEO, she is responsible for the daily operations of the company within the guidelines of the corporate policy manual, establishing policies and objectives of the company and adapting to the environment changed over time. Her previous experience includes working as the Logistics Analyst with the government for ten years and as a Logistics Specialists/Task Leader with a small minority owned business in Huntsville, AL. She has worked for a variety of Federal Agencies including: the Department of the Army, Department of Navy, and the Department of State’s Agency for International Development (AID).
The Huntsville-based firm was incorporated in 1992 as a Woman-Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB). In January 1995, they received a Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 8(a) certification with a primary focus on providing logistics, engineering, information technology, base and facility support and environmental support services to Government and commercial clients. LESCO graduated from the 8(a) program in January 2004 as a well rounded, diversified mid-size business. They presently have a staff of 700 professionals located throughout the United States and in the Middle-East. The company has experienced growth in a number of areas that provide a foundation for strong functional and contract management capabilities. The company’s sales grew 42 percent in 2004 and have continued to grow at a steady rate every year. That kind of growth earned LESCO a No. 53 ranking on Black Enterprise magazine’s B.E. Industrial/Service 100 list for 2006. LESCO had a No. 49 ranking last year and No. 66 in 2004. The B.E. 100 list includes the largest black owned businesses in the country. As a successful graduate of the Small Business Administration 8(a) program, LESCO is doing for small companies what other large businesses did for them in their early years. They are assisting many companies in trying to help them grow their businesses and win contracts either in formal Mentor-Protégé programs or by organizing informal consortiums of small, disadvantaged companies and helping to market their capabilities.
Lanona Sykes
President
Mrs. Lanona Sykes has over 35 years of Business Management and Federal Contracting experience. Mrs. Sykes is a native of Michigan and a former U.S. Army Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). She served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1975. She is a Vietnam Era Veteran and was one of the first of three female soldiers to serve on Redstone Arsenal (1971). In addition, she was one of the first female soldiers to graduate from the 101st NCO Academy at Fort Campbell, KY. Mrs. Sykes graduated 3rd in her class of 50 rangers and Airborne soldiers. During her relationship with the military, Mrs. Sykes resided for ten years in Germany, where she served in the Army and as a Civil Servant. She later taught at Central Texas College and the University of Maryland European Campus (Nuremberg) teaching Accounting, Business Management and Business Law. Following several tours of duty at Redstone Arsenal, Mrs. Sykes and her husband decided to settle in Huntsville, AL in 1983.
Mrs. Sykes was featured in Who's Who in Huntsville Magazine Fall/Winter 2004, Spring/Summer 2005, and Fall/Winter 2005 issues. She was named Who’s Who in Executive Businesses for the years 2000 – 2001. Mrs. Sykes is an Honorary Chairman of the U.S. Business Advisory Council (BAC) in AL. Following her service in this position, Mrs. Sykes was named Business Woman of the Year 2005. She is on the Board of Directors Alabama Better Business Bureau as well as being a member of the Madison County Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, International Society of Logistics (SOLE), Association of U.S. Army (AUSA), Minority Business Development Association, National Notary Association, and The North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Sykes is a member of several national organizations -- Rotary, Women in Defense, founding member of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, and The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME).
Joseph F. Yearta
Executive Vice President
Mr. Joseph F. Yearta is a dynamic executive with exceptional technical, business development, and operational management expertise. He has over twenty-five years of experience in project and personnel management, client interaction, business development, and state-of-art technologies. His prior assignments include serving both commercial and government sectors. Mr. Yearta has designed and developed project management techniques, consulting service programs, and has an extensive working relationship with senior level executives. His responsibilities have included management of several hundred senior professionals and budgets of $394M. Mr. Yearta has in-depth technical knowledge and experience in IT, IA, C4ISR, LEAN, and Logistical applications. He is experienced in government procurement, contracting, standards and specifications, as well as commercial best-practices. He has the ability to motivate personnel at various levels and has demonstrated ability to successfully lead highly technical, matrix organizations. Mr. Yearta is a proven leader with strong influence capabilities with both internal staff and external partners and has demonstrated strong visionary thinking and the ability to marshal corporate resources to execute that vision. Mr. Yearta manages the expansion of all customer related activities as well as future use of LESCO solutions within government and commercial sectors.
Mr. Yearta has received many honors and awards, including the Leading Edge Executive of the Year Award, for outstanding achievements in Program and Business Development. His education includes Business Management – Project Management at Columbia Southern University. Mr. Yearta is an active participant of national civic and professional organizations, including active support of civic-service to our war fighters
Mr. Yearta is a Huntsville native. He has been married for over 25 years and has two sons, one of whom serves in the U.S. Navy
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