About
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Sam Polakoff
Chairman of the Board
Sam Polakoff
Chairman of the Board
Sam Polakoff is the Chairman of the Board and third-generation owner of Nexterus Inc. Sam has played an integral role in transforming Nexterus into a supply chain engineering and technology firm, helping small and mid-sized companies to position themselves for growth since his start in 1975. During his tenure with Nexterus, Sam has expanded the company’s service portfolio by launching the following divisions: Information Technology, Sales & Marketing, International Transportation Management, Freight Payment, and Supply Chain Services.
In 2022, DC Velocity Magazine recognized Sam as a “Logistics Rainmaker” in the Lifetime Achievement category. In 2023, Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine recognized Sam as a “Supply Chain Pro to Know.”
Sam has spoken and conducted workshops around the country. He has been a guest lecturer at many area colleges, including York College, Salisbury University, Shippensburg University, The University of Baltimore and Towson University. Sam is a former adjunct faculty member at Penn State – York and his alma mater, Towson University. At Towson University, Sam served as chairman of the Advisory Board for the College of Business & Economics and taught “The CEO Simulation,” a course he designed for advanced business students aspiring to run a company after graduation.
Sam graduated from Towson University in 1986 with a degree in Marketing.
In his spare time, Sam enjoys writing. He is the award-winning author of thrillers, Hiatus, Shaman, Escaping Mercy, and An Inch from Oblivion. In 2024, Sam released the first book in a historical fiction trilogy entitled The Diary of Essie Lassiter. In 2007, Sam wrote a children’s book entitled “A Christmas Tale,” 100% of the proceeds of which support glaucoma research and education.
Ryan Polakoff
Vice Chairman of the Board
Ryan Polakoff
President & CEO
Ryan Polakoff serves as President & CEO of Nexterus and represents the fourth generation of the company’s ownership family. Since joining the organization in 2003, Ryan has worked across virtually every area of the business, developing a deep understanding of customer needs, operations, and supply chain solutions from the ground up.A strategic and forward-thinking leader, Ryan is known for asking, “What is possible?” He excels at tackling complex business challenges, designing innovative solutions, and translating strategy into measurable results. In his role as CEO, Ryan works closely with the Nexterus leadership team to shape the company’s vision, drive growth initiatives, and ensure strategic objectives are successfully executed throughout the organization.
Ryan is an active voice within the supply chain industry and a frequent speaker at conferences, universities, and professional organizations. He has served as a moderator, panelist, guest speaker, and subject matter expert for organizations including York College of Pennsylvania, Towson University, Loyola University Maryland, the Baltimore World Trade Center Institute, the York County Economic Alliance, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, and the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association. His insights have been featured in leading industry publications, including Inbound Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, The American Journal of Transportation, and Food Logistics.
His leadership and industry contributions have earned significant recognition. Ryan completed the World Trade Center Institute’s EDGE (Emerging and Developing Global Executives) leadership program in 2019. In 2024, he was named a Supply Chain Pro to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and a Rock Star of the Supply Chain by Food Logistics. In 2025, he was recognized in the Central Penn Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 program and joined the Baltimore chapter of the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO), a global network of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Ryan studied at Shippensburg University, concentrating in Supply Chain Management with a secondary concentration in Marketing. Outside of work, he enjoys attempting to play golf, 80’s rock karaoke, and spending time with his wife, Rischelle, and their daughters, Sophia and Sienna. He remains proud of his Maryland roots and continues to call the state home today.
Stephen J. Pimpo
Managing Principal, Double Eagle Consulting
Stephen J. Pimpo
Managing Principal, Double Eagle Consulting
Steve Pimpo is the managing principal of Double Eagle Consulting, a service-disabled veteran owned small business that provides consulting, business development and strategic relationship management services to companies desiring to do business in the defense and federal market. He has 30 years federal consulting experience as a former senior executive/leader working for some of the world’s largest management consulting firms (KPMG, BearingPoint, Deloitte, Accenture and BDO). He has particularly deep experience in the areas of strategy, business development, supply chain, change management, foreign military sales, performance improvement, program and financial management, acquisition support, coaching and training.
He served as a Supply Officer in the United States Navy working in logistics, financial management, acquisition, retail sales and food service management. He retired from the U.S. Naval reserves after serving as the officer in charge of a naval contracting unit supporting the United Kingdom, Italy and Bahrain.
Steve holds an M.S. degree in Business/Finance from the Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. degree in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife, Cindy, and their six children. He enjoys golf, fishing, playing guitar, football, theatre, and spending time with his family.
Jenny Bedard
OnPoint, Chief Financial Officer
Jenny Bedard
OnPoint, Chief Financial Officer
Jenny Bedard joined OnPoint Group in July, 2025 as the Chief Financial Officer. Bedard has 25+ years experience spanning the Logistics, Automotive, Medical Software, Telecommunications, and Human Resource Services industries. She has worked in various types of environments from start-ups to fortune 50 companies. Bedard has 25+ years experience spanning the Logistics, Automotive, Medical Software, Telecommunications, and Human Resource Services industries. She has worked in various types of environments from start-ups to fortune 50 companies. Prior to joining PLA, she spent ~3 years at Lazer Logistics where she co-led the company’s culture initiative and was a key contributor to company initiatives including rebranding, expansion into new services through 3 acquisitions and investments in EV’s, creation of a data governance function and data lake, and the successful sale to their 4th Private Equity sponsor (EQT Partners).
Prior to her time in Logistics, Bedard spent 13 years at Cox Automotive where she was a founding member of their new Mobility Solutions business unit, was part of the Strategy Group that unified all automotive assets under one brand, led the company’s largest acquisition and subsequent integration efforts, and contributed to high growth businesses like Autotrader.com and Kelley Blue Book. Bedard started her career at MCI, now Verizon Business, during an era of disruption and innovation in the telecom space. During her 10 years at the company, she supported their Global, Reseller and Consumer Markets divisions with largely Financial Planning & Analysis.
After Verizon, Bedard partnered with the Sales organization at McKesson Provider Technologies to restructure their organization and processes to drive additional productivity and contract profitability. Bedard also worked for Adecco, a $20B global HR firm, as the SVP of North American Finance and focused on transformation and regaining market share.
Bedard has a BA in International Trade/Business & Spanish and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Auburn University. She later pursued a BS and MAcc in Accounting from Mercer University. She earned a Six Sigma Green Belt from Emory and completed the Cox Executive Leadership Program. For her community, she serves as Treasurer on the Boards of non-profit organizations PAWS Atlanta and formerly for Senior Connections. She is also a member of the Auburn University Business School Advisory Council and Entrepreneurship Council and participates in the CFO Leadership Council and CFO Roundtable organizations. Bedard lives in downtown Atlanta with her husband and 3 rescue dogs and in her spare time, enjoys volunteering, running, traveling and cooking.
Stephen Auvil
Chief Federal Engagement Officer, TEDCO
Stephen Auvil
Chief Federal Engagement Officer, TEDCO
Stephen is currently TEDCO’s Chief Federal Engagement Officer. In this role, he oversees TEDCO’s programs supporting technology transfer from federal laboratories. He also works to identify and to secure federal funding to support Maryland’s innovation ecosystem. During his tenure at TEDCO, he has created and/or managed multiple programs for university and federal technology transfer, early-stage investment funds, entrepreneurial support, and ecosystem building. Prior to TEDCO, Stephen served as the Assistant Vice President for Research at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) where supported the university’s research enterprise and its economic development mission as it relates to research, technology transfer, and new venture creation. He was one of the architects of UMBC’s ACTiVATE® and INNoVATE™ programs and served as a co-principal investigator on the National Science Foundation grants that supported these programs. He also served as the Director of UMBC’s Office of Technology Development (OTD). During his tenure, he oversaw significant growth in OTD’s active license agreements, intellectual property portfolio, and licensing revenues. He actively promoted UMBC’s research capabilities and helped to build ties with Maryland companies.
Before joining UMBC, Stephen worked as an Assistant Director in the Office of Technology Licensing at Johns Hopkins University where he evaluated inventions and negotiated license agreements for a variety of technologies. Stephen graduated with a BS in Biology and Engineering Science from Loyola University in Maryland. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Baltimore and an MS in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.
Eric T. Nass
Founder & CEO, Roundtop Strategic Advisors, LLC
Eric T. Nass
Founder & CEO, Roundtop Strategic Advisors, LLC
With more than 35 years of leadership experience, Eric has expertise in the areas of finance, strategic planning, corporate development, private equity and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the healthcare, life sciences, government contracting, B2B outsourcing, financial services, manufacturing and distribution industries.
Over the course of his career, Eric has worn many hats and held many titles including:
- CORPORATE EXECUTIVE: From an entry-level financial management trainee to CFO of a $200 million European division at General Electric (GE)
- INVESTMENT BANKER/TRUSTED ADVISOR: Founder/CEO/President/Partner at a succession of boutique investment banking/strategic growth advisory firms serving privately-held, lower middle-market clients ($5-250 million in revenue)
- PRIVATE COMPANY CEO: CEO/President/Shareholder/Board Member of two high growth, multi-state healthcare companies, each with $75-100 million in revenues and 500+ employees
An active member of the community, Eric is a former board member and current co-chair of the annual golf event committee of the Bright Minds Foundation (Howard County Public School’s Educational Foundation) and past president of the Maryland Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. He is a former board member of the Alliance of International Corporate Advisors, Howard County Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Central Maryland, and the International Network of M&A Partners (IMAP).
Eric earned a BS with Honors in Commerce and Engineering Sciences from Drexel University. He also completed executive programs at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, and numerous leadership and financial programs at the GE Management Development Institute.