Mr. Arthur B. East is Chief of OA&L’s Business Development and Marketing Office. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing strategy for OA&L. He oversees a staff charged with promoting OA&L products and services and developing new business opportunities for OA&L to serve VA and other Government agency customers. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. East was the Primary Contracting Officer for the VA Subsistence Prime Vendor Program. While in this position, he was honored with the prestigious Hammer Award and VA Scissors Award. Mr. East served as Primary Contracting Officer for the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta’ he later received an invitation to the White House in recognition of his special efforts. He continues to provide support to VA’s annual National Rehabilitation Events, including the Winter Sports Clinic, which is co-sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans, and the National Wheelchair Games, co–sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Mr. East and his wife, Sherry reside in Denver and have one daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren. Mr. East may be contacted at (303) 421-4735 or via email at arthur.east@va.gov.
Thomas E. Davenport was selected in October 1994, to promote VA OA&L's mission, programs, policies, services and activities to VA and other Government agencies. Mr. Davenport has been extremely active in developing new business opportunities between OA&L and Veterans Health Administration, DoD, Indian Health Service, Immigrations, Public Health Service, Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice and Industry. Mr. Davenport has been directly involved in developing numerous programs and projects between OA&L and Other Government Agencies. The development of the OA&L contracting office at Ft. Detrick, Frederick, Md. has exceeded in 70 million dollars in annual sales resulting in millions of dollar savings to Air Force customers. Mr. Davenport has worked with several multi-million dollar new hospital projects to include: Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Kadena AB, Japan, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Tx and Womack Army Medical Center, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, supporting these facilities with VA contracting support. He is currently working with other OA&MM Business Development and Marketing Team members in developing Regional Summit Conferences to promote business opportunities between other Federal Government Agencies, OA&L, and VHA's. Before joining the VA, Mr. Davenport served as a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps, commanding and directing various hospital departments. He had served in positions as Hospital Commander, Administrator, and Director of Materials Management. Mr. Davenport has extensive experience in health care facilities management. In addition to healthcare management experience, Mr. Davenport has a highly technical background. He worked with NASA to support the space program, through the Air Force, in the early stages of the program. As a telemetry operator he covered all launchings from Apollo 12 through Skylab 4. His responsibilities were to relay voice and telemetry data back to NASA during Trans Lunar Injectory to the moon and supported reentry of the spacecraft to splashdown. He was assigned to several overseas locations to include Germany, Spain, and Okinawa, Japan. He had served in several Air Force Medical Staff Positions and retired from the Air Force in 1994, after 33 years of active duty service, from the Defense Medical Standardization Board, Ft. Detrick, Frederick, Md. Mr. Davenport holds an A.A. Degree in Advanced Electronic Technology, Los Angeles City College, Bachelor of General Studies from Rollins College, and a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management from Pepperdine University. He is a graduate of the Air Force Health Services Management program and Air Command and Staff College. He holds a California Community College Instructor Credential in Business and Industrial Management. Mr. Davenport resides in Florida with his wife, Eileen. They have three children and 7 grandchildren. Mr. Davenport may be contacted at (813) 991-7719 or via email at tom.davenport@va.gov.
Norbert P. Matyniak is a Program Analyst in the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OA&L) in Washington, DC. He is a recent addition to Federal civil service, being hired in November 1997. In his current capacity as a member of the OA&L Business Development and Marketing Team, Mr. Matyniak has been very active in developing new business opportunities between OA&L, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Defense (DOD) and Other Government Agencies (OGAs). Mr. Matyniak has been directly involved in developing or extending various multi-million dollar acquisition programs, revenue generating and partnering initiatives, most notably within the DoD and VHA arenas. He has worked extensively with Prime Vendor support programs/contracts for pharmaceuticals, medical surgical and subsistence commodities along with all levels of medical equipment technology and contracting support. He has also been greatly involved with regional business development summits/conferences, which facilitate Federal regional partnering logistically, clinically and from an acquisition basis. Before joining the VA, Mr. Matyniak served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, retiring from the Military as a Lt. Col. with 21 years of service. During his career in the Army, he was responsible for various hospital administration duties and has extensive experience in acquisitions and health care facilities management. Mr. Matyniak has 13 years of actual experience in hospitals, holding numerous positions/duties regarding all aspects of hospital logistics, maintenance (equipment and engineering), and hospital support services (housekeeping, linens/laundry, transportation, optical fabrication, waste mgt., etc.). For three years, he was the program manger of the Army's Medical Department centralized capital equipment acquisition program with expenditures of approximately $100million annually. His last position in the military was as the Commander of the Army's Medical Department Contracting Organization with a staff of approximately 400 procurement personnel supporting worldwide operations. Mr. Matyniak holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwestern University, La., and a Master's Degree in Management from Webster University, Mo. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College and of numerous military, logistics and contracting courses. Mr. Matyniak may be contacted at (803) 749-3648 or via email at norbert.matyniak@va.gov.
Woodrow A. (Woody) Harper, Sr. is a Program Analyst in the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OA&L) in Washington, DC. In his current capacity as a member of the OA&L Business Development and Marketing Team, Mr. Harper primarily serves as a business development and logistics liaison to Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration. He has worked extensively with Veterans Integrated Service Networks and individual VA Medical Centers in providing facilitation and leadership for decentralized asset management, marketing and customer service initiatives. In addition, Mr. Harper is a specialist in VA resource sharing, revenue generation and clinical and logistical partnership opportunities with the Department of Defense and other Government agencies. Mr. Harper has been with OA&L his entire VA career holding increasingly responsible positions in contracting, information systems development, centralized distribution management, product marketing, small business development and logistics strategic policy and planning. Mr. Harper is a graduate of West Virginia University and is the recipient of numerous VA and OA&MM outstanding achievement and special contribution awards. Mr. Harper and his wife, Nancy reside in Maryland. Mr. Harper may be contacted at (410) 643-2505 or via email at woody.harper@va.gov.
Ardene “Dene” Nichols joined the Business Development team in July 2005. As a retired Air Force Lt Col Nurse, Dene brings a clinical view point to acquisitions and logistics. Dene’s nursing experience includes the Operating Room (CNOR), Medical Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Flight Nursing. For the last 7 years of her AF career, she was actively engaged with DoD’s Standardization initiative to included the position of Chief, TRISERIVE Regional Business Office in San Antonio. In this role, Dene made VA partnering a goal and was successful in two major joint acquisitions, vital signs monitors and surgical instruments in addition to leading her team to lout pace all other regions resulting in an award from DLA. In her VA role, Dene is working on identifying initiatives and partnerships that are win-win situations and hopefully providing acquisition solutions before our Federal customers have a problem.
Dene is a graduate of University of Texas in Austin (BSN) and University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (MSN – focus on Perioperative care, Minors in Education and Administration and a Focus Area of Study in Medical IT). Dene and her husband, Dr. Mark Nichols, live in the Houston area. She can be reached at 936 494-1890, 936 232-2658 or by e-mail at dene.nichols@va.gov.
John E. Carr joined the Business Development team in June 2005 to further support and enhance initiatives with other Federal agencies. From August 2001 thru June 2005, Mr. Carr directed national contracting programs that impacted users VA-wide and supported actions with other Government agencies. Mr. Carr has held a number of progressively more responsible positions within the Federal Government spanning 25 years, 6 departments and 6 career fields. Mr. Carr has extensive private sector experience as the past owner of 3 widely-varied and successful enterprises.
He holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Maryland and a Masters from Samford University. Mr. Carr is designated a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) by the National Contracts Management Association.
Mr. Carr and his wife Millicent live in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Carr may be contacted at 501.366.0380 or via email at john.carr@va.gov.
Mr. Arthur B. East is Chief of OA&L’s Business Development and Marketing Office. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing strategy for OA&L. He oversees a staff charged with promoting OA&L products and services and developing new business opportunities for OA&L to serve VA and other Government agency customers. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. East was the Primary Contracting Officer for the VA Subsistence Prime Vendor Program. While in this position, he was honored with the prestigious Hammer Award and VA Scissors Award. Mr. East served as Primary Contracting Officer for the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta’ he later received an invitation to the White House in recognition of his special efforts. He continues to provide support to VA’s annual National Rehabilitation Events, including the Winter Sports Clinic, which is co-sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans, and the National Wheelchair Games, co–sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Mr. East and his wife, Sherry reside in Denver and have one daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren. Mr. East may be contacted at (303) 421-4735 or via email at 
Thomas E. Davenport was selected in October 1994, to promote VA OA&L's mission, programs, policies, services and activities to VA and other Government agencies. Mr. Davenport has been extremely active in developing new business opportunities between OA&L and Veterans Health Administration, DoD, Indian Health Service, Immigrations, Public Health Service, Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice and Industry. Mr. Davenport has been directly involved in developing numerous programs and projects between OA&L and Other Government Agencies. The development of the OA&L contracting office at Ft. Detrick, Frederick, Md. has exceeded in 70 million dollars in annual sales resulting in millions of dollar savings to Air Force customers. Mr. Davenport has worked with several multi-million dollar new hospital projects to include: Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Kadena AB, Japan, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Tx and Womack Army Medical Center, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, supporting these facilities with VA contracting support. He is currently working with other OA&MM Business Development and Marketing Team members in developing Regional Summit Conferences to promote business opportunities between other Federal Government Agencies, OA&L, and VHA's. Before joining the VA, Mr. Davenport served as a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps, commanding and directing various hospital departments. He had served in positions as Hospital Commander, Administrator, and Director of Materials Management. Mr. Davenport has extensive experience in health care facilities management. In addition to healthcare management experience, Mr. Davenport has a highly technical background. He worked with NASA to support the space program, through the Air Force, in the early stages of the program. As a telemetry operator he covered all launchings from Apollo 12 through Skylab 4. His responsibilities were to relay voice and telemetry data back to NASA during Trans Lunar Injectory to the moon and supported reentry of the spacecraft to splashdown. He was assigned to several overseas locations to include Germany, Spain, and Okinawa, Japan. He had served in several Air Force Medical Staff Positions and retired from the Air Force in 1994, after 33 years of active duty service, from the Defense Medical Standardization Board, Ft. Detrick, Frederick, Md. Mr. Davenport holds an A.A. Degree in Advanced Electronic Technology, Los Angeles City College, Bachelor of General Studies from Rollins College, and a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management from Pepperdine University. He is a graduate of the Air Force Health Services Management program and Air Command and Staff College. He holds a California Community College Instructor Credential in Business and Industrial Management. Mr. Davenport resides in Florida with his wife, Eileen. They have three children and 7 grandchildren. Mr. Davenport may be contacted at (813) 991-7719 or via email at 
Norbert P. Matyniak is a Program Analyst in the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OA&L) in Washington, DC. He is a recent addition to Federal civil service, being hired in November 1997. In his current capacity as a member of the OA&L Business Development and Marketing Team, Mr. Matyniak has been very active in developing new business opportunities between OA&L, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Defense (DOD) and Other Government Agencies (OGAs). Mr. Matyniak has been directly involved in developing or extending various multi-million dollar acquisition programs, revenue generating and partnering initiatives, most notably within the DoD and VHA arenas. He has worked extensively with Prime Vendor support programs/contracts for pharmaceuticals, medical surgical and subsistence commodities along with all levels of medical equipment technology and contracting support. He has also been greatly involved with regional business development summits/conferences, which facilitate Federal regional partnering logistically, clinically and from an acquisition basis. Before joining the VA, Mr. Matyniak served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, retiring from the Military as a Lt. Col. with 21 years of service. During his career in the Army, he was responsible for various hospital administration duties and has extensive experience in acquisitions and health care facilities management. Mr. Matyniak has 13 years of actual experience in hospitals, holding numerous positions/duties regarding all aspects of hospital logistics, maintenance (equipment and engineering), and hospital support services (housekeeping, linens/laundry, transportation, optical fabrication, waste mgt., etc.). For three years, he was the program manger of the Army's Medical Department centralized capital equipment acquisition program with expenditures of approximately $100million annually. His last position in the military was as the Commander of the Army's Medical Department Contracting Organization with a staff of approximately 400 procurement personnel supporting worldwide operations. Mr. Matyniak holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwestern University, La., and a Master's Degree in Management from Webster University, Mo. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College and of numerous military, logistics and contracting courses. Mr. Matyniak may be contacted at (803) 749-3648 or via email at 
Woodrow A. (Woody) Harper, Sr. is a Program Analyst in the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OA&L) in Washington, DC. In his current capacity as a member of the OA&L Business Development and Marketing Team, Mr. Harper primarily serves as a business development and logistics liaison to Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration. He has worked extensively with Veterans Integrated Service Networks and individual VA Medical Centers in providing facilitation and leadership for decentralized asset management, marketing and customer service initiatives. In addition, Mr. Harper is a specialist in VA resource sharing, revenue generation and clinical and logistical partnership opportunities with the Department of Defense and other Government agencies. Mr. Harper has been with OA&L his entire VA career holding increasingly responsible positions in contracting, information systems development, centralized distribution management, product marketing, small business development and logistics strategic policy and planning. Mr. Harper is a graduate of West Virginia University and is the recipient of numerous VA and OA&MM outstanding achievement and special contribution awards. Mr. Harper and his wife, Nancy reside in Maryland. Mr. Harper may be contacted at (410) 643-2505 or via email at