Board Brief 2007-12
Fellows Nominations
“Be it resolved that, Mary Kerber of the Space City/Houston Chapter, Andrew
Slizewski of the Norfolk Area Chapter, Marie D. Smith of the Los Angeles/South
Bay Chapter, and Thomas Wells of the Dayton Chapter, having made significant
contributions to the field of contracting and to NCMA, and having met the
standards for the award of NCMA Fellow in accordance with NCMA Award Policy
are hereby declared “Fellows”, the third highest award given by the Association,
and members of the Council of Fellows, with all of the rights, privileges, and
responsibilities bestowed on members of the Council.”
Fellow Biographies
Mary Kerber, CPCM
Space City/Houston
Mary Kerber is the Director of Contracts at Barrios Technology, a small woman-owned
business in Houston, Texas. In this capacity, she is responsible for contract negotiation
and administration, purchasing, and business management activities, as well as support to
new business and proposal activities. For more than 30 years, she has held different
positions within the areas of Finance, Contracts, and Business Management both at
NASA and at various JSC contractors, including United Space Alliance, Rockwell Space
Operations Company, Loral Space Information Systems, and Ford Aerospace. Mary
holds two degrees from the University of Houston at Clear Lake, a BBA in Management
and a MS in Finance. She is a member of the Space City/Houston Chapter of NCMA
(since 1979) and is a CPCM (since 1981) and has served as the Chapter Education Vice
President, Co-Chaired the 2005 NES, and has worked on many different chapter
committees over the years. In 2006, she co-presented a track session on Associate
Contractor Agreements at the NCMA World Congress in Atlanta and also presented the
same track session at the Program Management Challenge 2006 hosted by NASA.
Andrew Slizewski, CPA
Norfolk Area Chapter
Andrew J. Slizewski, CPA, CFE is currently Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer of Marine
Hydraulics International, Inc., a ship repair company located in Norfolk, VA. Mr.
Slizewski has been a member of NCMA since June 1, 1986. He has served on
committees for NES and the chapter. He is currently the Treasurer of the Norfolk Area
Chapter. He began his business career as an auditor for AAFES, Arthur Anderson & Co.
and Texaco. Was the Treasurer of a shipping agency; Controller of another shipping
agency; Vice President of a ship repair company, CFO of an environmental clean up
company and owner of his own tax and accounting practice. Mr. Slizewski has extensive
knowledge of the FAR as pertains to government contractors.
Dixon, Cathy
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Board Brief 2007-12
Fellows Nominations
Marie D. Smith
Los Angeles/South Bay Chapter
Marie Smith is currently employed by the Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo,
California, as a Contracts Director. She is responsible for managing Civil and
Commercial Contracts staff of contracting professionals.
Ms. Smith has been a member of NCMA since 1995. She served as chapter president,
national director & past president, and vice president of membership. On multiple
occasions, she has been a guest instructor at UCLA extension and The Aerospace
Institute teaching contracting best practices. She has demonstrated active support of her
chapter workshops and encourages her employees be active members of NCMA. For her
stellar contributions, Marie was awarded the Albert Berger Outstanding Chapter
Leadership and James Cravens Membership Awards. During her affiliation with the Los
Angeles South Bay Chapter, she mentored and groomed future chapter presidents. Ms.
Smith holds B.S. and M.A. degrees and was awarded a Masters Certificate in
Government Contracting.
Thomas Wells, CFCM
Dayton Chapter
Thomas S. Wells, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of
Contracting, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force
Base, Ohio. In this position he manages AFMC contracting policies, processes, people
and technology. The command contracting activity executes nearly half of the Air
Force’s total obligation authority to develop, produce and sustain the systems and
equipment that assure superior war fighting capabilities for Air Force, joint and allied
forces. The command’s contracting workforce procures emerging technologies, major
weapon systems, spare and repair parts, installation support, and a wide range of
contracted services.
Mr. Wells began his Air Force career in 1981 as a contract negotiator at Ogden Air
Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he supported the F-4 and F-16
weapon systems as a buyer of spare and repair parts, and modification and maintenance
services. As a graduate of the Copper Cap Intern Program, he completed rotational
assignments in a range of functional duties in air logistics. These included positions as
procurement analyst, price analyst, item management specialist, financial management
specialist, engineering technician and maintenance specialist.
Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Wells served as Deputy Director of
Contracting, Headquarters AFMC. He previously held several contracting positions at
Hanscom AFB, Mass., including Director of Contracting for the Electronic Systems
Center and contracting officer for the E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System.
Mr. Wells was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1999.
Dixon, Cathy
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