Our Leadership Team
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Kevin C. Hodges
PRESIDENT
Kevin Hodges brings nearly 35 years of military and DoD contractor experience in security operations, training, risks assessment, and methodology development and implementation. Upon retirement as a Chief Master Sergeant/E-9 from the Air Force, Kevin has been involved in security assessment, security system design projects, major security master planning efforts, and business development and growth strategies for clients and Watermark.
Kevin led research and development teams responsible for developing unmanned systems and remote weapons for security forces and explosive ordnance operations in high-threat environments. Kevin co-authored the U.S. Air Force effects-based security doctrine and was a co-developer and program manager of the Integrated Defense Risk Management Process (IDRMP) and supporting software tool, ForcePRO. In additional to being President of Watermark, Kevin continues to support clients in developing cost-effective, risk-based security solutions by leading security risk and vulnerability assessment teams examining processes in security, emergency management, communications, and resiliency programs. -
Angela Hodges | Vice President
VICE PRESIDENT
Angela Hodges is Watermark’s Vice President. She is responsible for the program management of several of our contracts with both commercial and government clients. As part of the leadership team, she is responsible for developing and refining business processes and procedures to assist in the management and execution of daily operations. Her primary focus is ensuring contract compliance and streamlining business operations to prepare Watermark for future growth.
When Angela joined Watermark in 2012, she fulfilled the roles of Facility Security Officer (FSO), Security Analyst, and later as Director of Operations. She was responsible for managing the company security program, executing security and risk assessments, and managing contracts for our DoD contracts.
Angela has Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Grantham University, which she earned in 2012 graduating with magna cum laude. Angela is a certified Program Management Professional.
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Dr. Jennifer Hesterman
VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION SERVICES
Dr. Jennifer Hesterman is a retired Air Force colonel who served in three Pentagon tours and in multiple command positions in the field. Her last assignment was Vice Commander at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, where she was responsible for installation security, including the protection of Air Force One.Jenni currently designs and instructs graduate level security courses for a Watermark contract with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and the Department of Defense.
Jenni holds a doctoral degree from Benedictine University, Master of Science degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Air University, and a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University. In 2003, she was a National Defense Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. where she studied the terror-crime nexus. She is a 2006 alumnus of the Harvard Senior Executive Fellows program and was a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University from 2016-2018.
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Richie Rodriguez
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Richie Rodriguez is Watermark’s Director of Operations. Prior to his work at Watermark, he served as a corporate program manager for a cyber and information technology government contractor for over four years. He bridged the gap between employees and the corporate leadership team, leading the site leadership team, as well as working directly with partners and employees to ensure they were delivering with excellence and exceeding expectations across all programs. Richie brings more than 11 years of DoD government contracting experience and four years of Department of State experience with in-depth IT project management. Richie worked on and implemented corporate process improvement initiatives and has helped companies rollout various new programs for employees.Richie has a Bachelor’s Degree from West Virginia University in Criminology and Investigations with a minor in Spanish. He also holds a PMP and an ITIL v4 Foundations Certification.
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Emily Eskelsen
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND RECRUITING
Emily Eskelsen has over twelve years of experience providing highly technical recruiting and staffing solutions to organizations in the private and public sectors. With over a decade of experience specifically inside of the federal government marketplace, Emily is specialized at crafting and executing large scale recruitment strategies in support of the DOD special access and intelligence communities, where she has a built an expansive professional network and has a solid track record of performance. She has a proactive and consultative approach to talent acquisition with a focus on customer service and candidate experience. At Watermark, Emily is responsible for the development and delivery of a customer centric recruiting program.Emily has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Elon University and maintains a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification through Human Resources Certification Institute.
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Jaci Fisher
FINANCIAL ANALYST AND PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR
Jaci Fisher is the Financial Analyst and Payroll Administrator for Watermark. She grew up in Fredericksburg, VA and began working in the accounting field in 2015 and earned her bachelor’s degree from UMUC in 2017.Over the course of her career, Ms. Fisher has worked for large and small businesses, learning the different accounting concepts, and applying them to the task at hand. She performs bi-weekly payroll, including payroll taxes and maintain 401K for all employees, manages the general ledger, enters vendor invoices/invoice accruals daily, create customer invoices/receive customer payments and creates financial statements during month end process, among many other financial duties.
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Julie Moffett
PROPOSAL MANAGER & SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Julie Moffett serves as Watermark's Proposal Manager and Director of Social Media. In her role as Proposal Manager, she organizes and delivers compliant and professional proposals within defined timeframes. Julie has worked on a wide variety of proposals, from guard force to security education to biosecurity and threat and vulnerability assessments.As Watermark's Social Media Director, Julie creates and maintains a strong online presence for the company, developing targeted communications and recruiting content for various media platforms.
Julie has also worked as a senior technical editor on government documents and supported Watermark with research and development of graduate-level courses for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency Center for the Development of Security Excellence (CDSE).
Julie holds a Master's of Education degree (M.Ed) and an MA in Russian and East European Studies. She is a best-selling author of twenty-eight fiction novels and audiobooks, and has received several national writing awards.
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Allegra Mendenhall
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST
Allegra Mendenhall is Watermark’s Human Resources Specialist. She assists in administering human resources policies and procedures related to compensation and benefits, employment authorization, new employee onboarding, employee off-boarding, employment verification, performance management, security, education, training and other areas, as needed. She also provides administrative and project control support for Watermark, helping the company manage and execute the numerous tasks required to run Watermark efficiently. Ms. Massey-Elim ensures Watermark is compliant with contractual and government requirements such as timekeeping, training, and contract deliverables. She will also be taking on the role of serving as Watermark’s Alternate Facility Security Officer helping the company maintain an effective and compliant security program.Allegra attended college at the University of Mary Washington earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Economics. She began her career in 2018 providing administrative and financial management support to a small business. She enjoys supporting the growing, family-owned business of Watermark.
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Chloe Helm
TECHNICAL RECRUITER
Chloe Helm is a Technical Recruiter for Watermark and is responsible for attracting and recruiting top talent to join the Watermark family. Chloe works with inbound candidates who have applied for open positions, as well as sourced candidates she finds amidst various job boards and resume databases. She also formats, posts, and maintains open job requisitions in our Applicant Tracking System. Chloe is a Certified AIRS SearchLab Internet Recruiter.Chloe was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in northern New Jersey. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Spanish from Elon University in 2017. After five years of working in the education field, Chloe transitioned into government contracting with a wide range of experience including talent acquisition and development, project management, and data analysis. Chloe enjoys hearing about candidates’ passions and experiences, and loves helping them find a position that is right for them and their family.
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Ashley Anderson
JR. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ANALYST/SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Ashley Anderson has been with Watermark Risk Management since 2022. Since transitioning to her full-time role in mid-2024, Ashley has taken on a new role as Jr. Business Development Analyst alongside being Watermark's Social Media Coordinator.
In her role as a Jr. Business Development Analyst, she works closely with leadership to identify growth opportunities, analyze market trends, and support proposal development for new government contracts. Her strategic insights help drive key business initiatives, and her ability to communicate effectively ensures strong partnerships. Additionally, Ashley manages Watermark’s social media presence, enhancing brand visibility and engagement across platforms to align with business objectives.
Ashley attended college at James Madison University where she received a bachelor's degree in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Journalism as well as a minor in Cultural Communications.
The History of Watermark
In 2007, a team of seasoned security professionals with a passion for protecting others set out on a mission. Watermark Security International, LLC, a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), was born. We started by leveraging our deep knowledge of DoD security programs to help businesses navigate the ever-changing landscape of security threats.
Growth Through Expertise:
Our early success with Fortune 500 companies and security-focused firms solidified our reputation for excellence.
Recognizing the evolving needs of our clients, we expanded our services and became Watermark Risk Management International, LLC in 2008.
The same year, we relocated to Fairfax, Virginia, to better serve a wider range of clients.
A Leader Emerges:
Kevin Hodges, a security veteran himself, joined us in 2011 as VP of Security Services. His leadership and strategic vision were instrumental in our growth.
By 2014, under Kevin's guidance, Watermark secured its first international contract and established itself on two GSA schedules.
A Legacy of Excellence Continues:
In 2019, Kevin acquired Watermark, ensuring the company's core values of exceptional service and unwavering commitment to client success remained at the forefront.
Today, with over 80 dedicated employees, Watermark offers a comprehensive suite of security and risk management solutions.
Why Choose Watermark?
We are a team you can trust. Many of our employees are veterans, bringing a unique perspective and dedication to their work.
We're passionate about exceeding expectations. Awards like Washington Post's Top Places to Work and Inc. 5000's Fastest Growing Businesses are a testament to our commitment.
We believe in tackling complex challenges head-on. From comprehensive risk assessments to biosecurity and information assurance, we have the expertise to keep you safe.
Ready to build a strong security foundation for your organization? Explore our website and discover how Watermark can become your trusted partner in navigating the ever-changing security landscape.