BERNARD GAGNON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Bernard Gagnon brings an abundance of professional experience to the Lithuanian Trade Council. During the 1990’s, Mr. Gagnon owned Paramount Broker’s in Annapolis, Maryland. The company represented several brands including J.A. Henckles Cutlery, Thermohauser GmbH, Wilton Industries (Rowoco) and Norpro in all fifty states to the Food Service industry.
During the early days of internet retailing, Bernard developed an exclusive relationship with Walmart Stores, Inc. (“Walmart”) to successfully place more than 20,000 products onto Walmart.com. In 1997, he represented more than 40 major catalog companies to Walmart accelerating their vendor direct program and online product offerings.
From 2002 to 2010, Gagnon transitioned into supply chain management. Employed by Kuehne-Nagel, a $65 Billion Swiss logistics provider and later Expeditors International, an $8 Billion freight forwarding company where he led Expeditors aerospace sector as Corporate Manager, Global Aviation and Aerospace. Currently, Mr. Gagnon operates a commercial maintenance company and is Corporate Advisor to the Nation Marketplace.
Mr. Gagnon’s illustrious achievements are the driving force behind the growing success of the council. He welcomes you and your company to connect with him on LinkedIn
PETER MELCAVAGE, CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL
Mr. Melcavage’s profession as an appeals and regulatory attorney and political science college lecturer began in 1997 in the State of Maryland. He spent the first nine years of his career working in the regulatory environment handling enforcement cases for the Maryland Insurance Administration. He also taught classes at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (“UMD”/”UMBC”) where he was voted Teacher of the Year twice by the students majoring in Political Science.
In 2006, he was hired as the first Director of the Political Science Program at the Universities at Shady Grove (UMD) where he was responsible for all aspects of the program. After teaching full time for three years, he returned to the practice of law in 2009 and in December 2009, he was selected to judge cases for the Lower Appeals Division of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. In addition to adjudicating cases, Mr. Melcavage has a private practice where he handles all types of cases and even took a case to Maryland’s highest Court in 2016 where the Court changed Maryland law due to Pete’s efforts. Mr. Melcavage and the team of lawyers he works with stand ready to assist all merchants working with the Lithuanian Marketplace with any legal issues they face in the United States.
LORI V. GAGNON - BOARD MEMBER
As founder and CEO of the Nation Marketplace, Lori brings a wealth of leadership, knowledge, and proven passion for excellence to the company. During the last 25 years, Lori has established many long-term personal relationships and is professionally admired for her achievements in the areas of technology, finance, sales, and customer service operations.
From 1997 to 2000, Lori worked with Paramount Brokers in Annapolis, Maryland. As co-owner, Lori was instrumental in partnering over forty drop ship suppliers with Walmart.com to increase the company’s online revenue. In late 2000, she joined Kmart.com, as Executive Director of Customer Service and Operations. Within two years, she directed and managed over 8,000 customer care associates in multiple call centers all around the world. In 2002, Lori was promoted to Vice President of Customer Care and Operations for the Kmart Corporation (NYSE:KM).
Gagnon was then recruited by W.C. Redmon Company as Vice President (a vendor partner and-supplier to Walmart, Kmart, J.C. Penney, QVC, HSN, Costco, Boscovs and several other major retailers in the United States) to direct their corporate sales and marketing efforts. She stayed in the role for over nine years.
Lori’s deepest devotion is to her family. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Commercial Real Estate Women Washington, D.C. (CREW), and a Career Counselor for the homeless at the HALO Organization. She enjoys developing and mentoring young professionals and gets much joy in watching our youth succeed.
CHARLES JEWETT – BOARD MEMBER
Charles Jewett is a business executive and expert in leadership with experience in technology, consulting, and associations. He is currently the Chief Administrative Officer at the American Society of Interior Designers, a national association of 25,000 members. He serves the ASID community at the intersection of people, processes, and financials.
A graduate of Loyola and Georgetown universities, Charles’ early career in engineering laid the groundwork for his systemic approach to working on projects and in organizations. He further enhanced his skillset by working on change management and team culture initiatives for the CFO of a global research company. Relocating to Washington, D.C. in 2001, Charles directed operations for the Global Services division of Blackboard, helping to grow the startup into a multinational firm.
Having spent a number of years living and working in Oman, India, and Singapore as a business consultant and leadership coach, Charles brings his natural passion, curiosity, and sense of adventure to the Lithuanian Trade Council.
DONNA (DANUTE) HOFFMAN – BOARD MEMBER
Donna has been an active member of the Baltimore Lithuanian community since the late 1980’s having moved to the area from Worcester, Massachusetts. As a child of Lithuanian immigrants, Donna grew up in a strong and active Lithuanian community, making a seamless transition to the D.C. and Baltimore Lithuanian communities while attending college.
Donna has been engaged in many aspects of community life ranging from leadership positions with the Lithuanian Scouts organization, dancing with and supporting the Malunas folk dance group, to teaching Lithuanian language classes, organizing Lithuanian cooking and Christmas ornament classes, or stepping in as needed to support the Lithuanian Hall activities and events. She is currently on the Lithuanian Hall’s Board of Directors. Donna recently retired from the United States Federal Government after 34 years of service in systems engineering, technology and project management of information technology and infrastructure systems. She is committed to the Lithuanian Trade Council as a volunteer while fulfilling the role of Project Manager and Board Member for the Lithuanian Trade Council.
EGLE BAUBLYTE NOETH – PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
Egle was born and raised in Lithuania. A graduate of the Agricultural University of Lithuania, Egle spent her early career in the agricultural field working at the National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture located in Vilnius. In 1991, Lithuania passed a national law requiring all property disputes from land seized during the Russian occupation be resolved and lands returned to their rightful owners. Egle’s was instrumental in land remediation by fielding property claims and disputes, performing archival reviews with land management, investigative research and policy development. During her ten years in the field, she travelled to every corner of the country assisting land owners, lawmakers and government agencies to ensure accurate property reclamation.
After arriving in Baltimore, she became deeply involved in the local Lithuanian American Community events and activities. Egle was hired to manage the day to day operations of the Baltimore Lithuanian Hall since 2015. She currently serves in this position as well as on the Lithuanian Hall Board. Egle is also the creative force behind many cultural programs that highlight Lithuanian heritage.
