Strengthening America Through Innovation
Carhart Enterprises is building a new paradigm of purpose-driven enterprise — combining advanced materials technology, faith-based values, and community transformation to strengthen American prosperity.
The Team Behind the Vision
Carhart Enterprises is led by visionary leaders combining deep expertise in advanced materials, faith-based business, and community transformation.
Board of Directors
Matthew J. Carhart
Chairman | CEO
As a Marine Corps veteran, Matthew Carhart brings his unparalleled experience in leadership and team building to his role as Chief Executive Officer of Carhart Enterprises. He has worked in many fields, including real estate, capital placement, renewable energy, blockchain, and consulting. Matthew has held several executive positions such as VP of Marketing, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Executive Officer.
Read Full Bio →Gary Davis
Co-Vice Chair | President
Gary Davis comes to Carhart Enterprises with over twenty years of experience in the entertainment industry. Gary has specialized in marketing, licensing, branding, music management, commercials, tv, film, and many other areas in the entertainment world. Gary has had the opportunity to work with many well known companies and sought after artists to include, but not limited to FOX, ABC, Dancing With The Stars, T-Pain, StarBoy, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. Gary's passion for helping companies, artists, and actors achieve their career goals is unmatched by others in the industry.
Read Full Bio →Anabel Strobeck
Co-Vice Chair | CSO
Anabel Strobeck scaled the corporate ladder in the last three years after four years of independent work, amassing seven years of experience in creative arts, web development, project management, policies, business development, business strategy, and operations. She has held several key senior executive positions in multiple fields, such as Head of the Art Department, VP of Business Development, Executive Vice President at Grid Animation LLC, and VP of Business Strategy at Carhart Enterprises. A strong and visionary leader, she is imperative in business growth, interdepartmental cooperation, and exceeding corporate goal expectations.
Read Full Bio →Chelsey Preston
Secretary | CAO & HR Director
As the Chief Administrative Officer and Human Resources Director, Chelsey oversees all of the Administration for interdepartmental cooperation and relations as well as Human Resource Operations to include staffing, benefits & compensation, labor & employee relations, training & development. Chelsey brings over 15 years of professional human resource, administration, and leadership experience to Carhart Enterprises, having worked in a multitude of different industries to include Healthcare, Defense & Manufacturing, and Retail. She has an Associate of Science in Business.
Read Full Bio →Chris Rankin
Treasurer | CFO
Chris Rankin is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of finance and accounting industry experience. He has received double Undergraduate Degrees in Accounting and Forest Management. Chris has worked in various industries including Tax Preparation, Non-Profit Community Work, and the Defense Industry. He has held the position of Production Manager and Comptroller at various companies which has allowed him to gain unique and unmatched experience in combining finance and production to create custom business solutions.
Read Full Bio →Kevin S. Bemel
Board Member
Kevin Bemel is the President of The Bemel Company, Inc., which performs funding, consulting, and management services primarily in the real estate, fintech, food & beverage, and media industries. For 14 years, Kevin served as a chaplain in the United States Navy where he helped sailors and Marines in naval aviation, submarines, special operations, and other communities advance their careers and work through issues such as infidelity, criminality, and abuse. He advised senior leaders on issues including ethics, morale, administration, and readiness. His last position was as the Command Chaplain for a SEAL team. Prior to joining the navy, Kevin ran his own commercial real estate firm for 20 years. During that time his company brokered, consulted on, and managed over $1 billion of industrial, retail, hospitality, gaming, and residential income property.
Read Full Bio →Chris Bourne
Board Member
Christopher served as an infantry officer during a 28-year active-duty career. As a battalion commander in 2001, he led security and combat operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan in response to the attacks of September 11. During a 13-month tour in Iraq in 2008-2009, he led Police Advisor Teams across the province and served as Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Provincial Chief of Police. In his final active-duty assignment, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Experimentation for I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, CA. He subsequently served as National Director of Policy on the presidential campaign of Dr. Ben Carson. He joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development in June 2017 and served as the Department's first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Innovation. He left HUD in January 2021 and is currently providing business development and strategic planning consulting services to a number of innovative companies.
Read Full Bio →Christine Sanders
Board Member
Christine Sanders developed a passion for charitable work nearly 30 years ago volunteering in health care while working as a scientific investigator in public law enforcement. Her career continued onto university based medical research including utilizing grant writing and management which evolved into academic teaching. While in her recent position managing multi-state operations for a health and safety service company, she continued to be active with the non-profit sector in areas of K-12 education, human services, conservation and science, including running a junior service club exposing elementary students to hands-on charity work to grow volunteers for the future. She currently enjoys providing leadership and being a role model to girls in a female Boys Scouts of America troop. Joining Carhart Enterprises to guide the company's philanthropic mission, Christine brings her belief that non-profits and charitable individuals can transform lives, relieve suffering, and improve our world.
Read Full Bio →CREAD Executive Team
Kevin Bemel
CEO, CREAD (Carhart Real Estate & Development)
A seasoned leader with 37 years in real estate and 14 years as a Navy Chaplain (including SEAL team service). Kevin has brokered, consulted, and managed over $1 billion in real estate finance. His proven ethical leadership and deep understanding of both military and civilian housing needs make him uniquely qualified to lead CREAD's mission of purpose-driven real estate development.
Read Full Bio →Steven Fox
VP of Acquisitions & Construction, CREAD
With over 30 years of experience in technology and finance at Fortune 500 companies, Steven Fox brings expertise in affordable housing, sales, marketing, and finance to CREAD's acquisition and construction operations. He leads the identification and conversion of distressed commercial properties into high-value community assets.
Read Full Bio →Jon Smedley
VP of Operations, CREAD
A veteran with 20+ years in the US Navy and private sector, Jon Smedley has built global industrial operations and managed multi-billion-dollar risk systems while leading large teams. His operational expertise ensures CREAD's developments are executed with military precision and efficiency.
Read Full Bio →Carhart Industries Executive Team
Christopher Bourne
CEO, Carhart Industries
Christopher served as an infantry officer during a 28-year active-duty career. As a battalion commander in 2001, he led security and combat operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan in response to the attacks of September 11. During a 13-month tour in Iraq in 2008-2009, he led Police Advisor Teams across the province and served as Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Provincial Chief of Police. In his final active-duty assignment, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Experimentation for I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, CA. He subsequently served as National Director of Policy on the presidential campaign of Dr. Ben Carson. He joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development in June 2017 and served as the Department's first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Innovation. He left HUD in January 2021 and is currently providing business development and strategic planning consulting services to a number of innovative companies.
Read Full Bio →Blair Biggerstaff
President of Technology, Carhart Industries
Blair Biggerstaff's background includes extensive experience in manufacturing management, strategic business planning, international business services, business turnarounds, manufacturing consolidations, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain and logistics, process improvement, lean manufacturing and financial controls.
Read Full Bio →James Buckner
Head Engineer, Carhart Industries
James is an experienced engineer, designer, and project manager and has worked in multiple industries including Defense, Manufacturing, and Energy production. Through creative design and engineering principles, he excels in solution driven product development. In his role as Engineering Manager of a military equipment manufacturer, he led a team of engineers in successfully solving a multitude of complex challenges through innovative design and original application of new technologies. His core competencies include CAD design, textiles, ballistics, rapid prototyping, manufacturing, and T&E (Testing and Evaluation). He is an inventor on 8 US patents for military systems and is a graduate from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design and Development.
Read Full Bio →Ryan Mills
Advisor, Carhart Industries
Currently Ryan works for the Texas A&M University as a Research Security Office (RSO). Prior to this role, he worked as a Senior Technology Specialist where he collaborated with a variety of First Response professionals to identify and evaluate alternate ways to select technologies that have the potential to enhance public safety and improve homeland security. He managed various technologies under the technology transition program, contracted through the Department of Defense (DoD) Domestic Preparedness Support Initiative (DPSI). Designed and executed testing for disruptive and innovative technologies, to verify a technology performed reliably as intended under acceptable, repeatable and real-world conditions.
Read Full Bio →Jon Heard
Advisor, Carhart Industries
A senior executive with significant experience in managing and growing new and existing businesses. Specialties include identifying market needs, understanding competitive forces, price setting, establishing channel distribution, value chain analysis, and financial analysis and reporting. Specific technical experience lies in the specialty fibers and fabrics markets. Jon started and grew Milliken's Military and Protective Fabrics Business before accepting a position with Invista as their global leader of Nylon Staple and Military business. Jon ran a company that commercialized a unique fiber, TECGEN, making patented protective fabrics and garments.
Read Full Bio →Our Core Values
The principles that guide every decision at Carhart Enterprises — from product development to community partnership.
Integrity
We operate with transparency and accountability at every level — from the boardroom to the manufacturing floor.
Faith
Celebrating God in all things, our faith-based approach guides every decision and drives innovation in critical technologies.
Community
Strengthening America's workforce and preserving generational development through purpose-driven enterprise.
Harvest
Producing the fruits of our labor — creating tangible value for national security, medical innovation, and community resilience.