Pura Stalnaker is the CEO of Banner Quality Management, Inc (BQMI). Pura provides the strategic direction of BQMI as well as leading the day-to-day operations of the company and verifying effective execution of BQMI’s contracts. Pura’s goal is to have a great work environment for the team, whose focus is providing excellent service to our customers and their objectives.  

Pura has a background in large business and federal government, working previously with IBM and Allied Signal, before executing her own company’s business objectives starting in 2009 when she created BQMI. 

Pura graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors (Cum Luade) from University of Houston.

Lynn West is the Vice President, Corporate Resources of BQMI. She leads all contractual activities for the company. She also serves as the manager overseeing Human Resources and is the leader of the BQMI Quality Program.

Lynn held a number of technical and managerial roles before joining BQMI. She served as a program manager for NASA contracts that provided both technical and business support to the Agency. As a program manager she managed support at JSC, MSFC, SSC, WSTF, MAF, and NASA HQ.

Lynn also held roles including Vice President and Associate Partner at a global financial services company where she established and led a global strategic architecture committee, defined and implemented a formal project management organization, and led procurement and contracts organizations. Lynn served as leader of the company’s Technology Leadership Team and was instrumental in the integration required when the company acquired other firms. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Illinois State University.

Patricia Blevins is the Vice President (VP) of Finance. Patricia has over 18 years of Federal experience supporting large companies (>$B) and small disadvantaged businesses over that period. Patricia has held positions from Director of Finance at the corporate level to Business Operations Manager on contracts ranging from $275 million to $1 Billion. Patricia’s qualifications include support of NASA, NAVAIR, NAVY, FDA, DOJ and Army contracts involving all aspects of finance and project management from hands on financial entry to senior level management of finances. Patricia’s broad capabilities encompass all facets of business management, including financial management, customer relationship management, strategic planning, tactical planning, and software development.

Patricia possesses the ability to lead and motivate technical, multi-faceted projects and complex relationships in a sustainable and mutually beneficial manner. Patricia has an excellent reputation for dedication, drive, and energy level while maintaining a very personable management style with Customers, Peers, and Subordinates. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Liberal Arts and is ITIL Certified.

Rick Stalnaker is BQMI’s Vice President, Operations and Growth. In this role, he is responsible for strategic partnerships, positioning and planning for growth of the company. He is also tasked to improve BQMI’s operational performance through removing barriers and seeking ways to streamline cross-functional processes.

Rick has decades of experience supporting government and commercial programs in areas such as program management, system development, reliability engineering, safety, information technology and business development. He has held positions of all levels in large businesses and small businesses, up to and including CEO. His customers have included NASA, NOAA, DOD, HHS, and DOE.

He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from University of Florida and a Master’s Degree from Harvard University.

Gerald (Gerry) Schumann is the Senior Director of Safety Center of Excellence for Banner Quality Management Inc. (BQMI).  He supports the CEO in achieving a top ranked Safety Management program.

Gerry retired from the Federal Government as the NASA Mishap Investigation program executive. In this role, he provided advice, support, and oversight for NASA mishap investigations. Gerry also served as the Institutional Safety program executive and was responsible for preparing safety requirements and criteria for complex or high value projects and programs for construction or modification of facilities, systems, equipment or hardware.

Gerry has served in the safety profession in the federal government for more than 46 years and was with NASA for more than 28. Of those 28 years, 17 have been with the Launch Vehicle Processing, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Division as an operations safety professional. He served as the contingency manager in the SMA Directorate with responsibilities as the senior safety advisor to Kennedy Space Center senior management for all aspects of shuttle processing and contingency operations. He was also involved with over 33 Space Shuttle landings at both Kennedy Space Center and the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Gerry was the recipient of two NASA Exceptional Service Medals during his NASA career.  

Gerry has continuing education from the University of Eastern Florida and Associate Degree from Community College of the USAF.

Tony Johnson is the Sr. Director of Business Development for BQMI. He supports the VP of Operations and Growth in achieving sustainable business growth for the company. Mr. Johnson identifies and evaluates business development opportunities, develops business partnerships, manages proposal development, and contributes to the development and continuous improvement of BQMI business development processes. Mr. Johnson manages the operations and growth of our Navy SeaPort NxG program.

Mr. Johnson has over 20 years of experience in business development, providing support to seven different companies over his career. He has been a VP of Operations, providing oversight, guidance, and direction to multiple government contracts. Mr. Johnson has been both a program manager, a project manager and a safety manager on multiple contracts and projects.

Mr. Johnson received his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Trine University. He received his Master of Science in Operations Research and his Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

James Carr is the Chief Technology Officer for BQMI. He oversees the research and implementation of new technologies for the company, as well as the utilization of continuing education and technological research platforms.

James serves as the Technology and Innovation Officer on the PACE V contract at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio and oversees the company’s compliance with industry cybersecurity standards.

James is a proven leader in the engineering and cybersecurity fields. He has over 25 years of experience in systems engineering, software engineering, cybersecurity, IT management, and program and project management. He previously held positions in the defense industry and in industrial control system manufacturing industry.

James holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas-Arlington, and a Master of Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University. He is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional and holds multiple cybersecurity-related certifications including CISSP, CSSLP, CGRC, CCSP, CEH, GCIH, GCFA, GICSP, and GPEN.