CORPORATE TEAM

Sonja N. Hines

CEO | President

Sonja Hines is President/CEO and Owner of Akata Global. She sets the company’s vision and strategic direction and is responsible for the management and oversight of Akata’s global operations. Sonja is based at Akata’s corporate offices in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Prior to founding H&S Resources Corporation (the predecessor company to Akata Global) in 2006, Sonja was responsible for Safety Hazard Program Development and Safety Hazard Mitigation Support for over 400 employees at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. From 1993 to 1996, she worked at Sandia National Laboratories as a Safety Engineer.

Sonja graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Occupational Safety & Health from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and a Master of Science degree in Safety & Systems Management from the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California.

Fun facts:

  1. I have twin girls.
  2. I enjoy researching historical events.
  3. In high school I placed 3rd on the balance beam for the state of North Carolina.
  4. I love jazz music and going to concerts!

Personal Quote : Believe In Change
Personal Core Values : God, Family and Service to all Mankind
Vacation Spot : Anywhere with Water and Culture
Book : Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson
TV shows : Billions

DEVIN SCOTT

Chief Operating Officer

Devin Scott is the Chief Operating Officer at Akata Global. He provides oversight and management for all of the company’s construction projects, and his industry experience includes over two decades as a contractor, executive and business owner, coordinating construction projects from conceptualization to completion. Devin is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Fun facts: 

  1. I drag race motorcycles at the race track
  2. I’m a published author and poet
  3. Staying fit and working out daily is very important to me
  4. I love sports

Personal Quote : God is for us, who can be against us?
Personal Core Values : Failure is not an option
Vacation Spot : Anywhere with Water and Culture
Book : The Holy Bible
TV shows : History Channel

KEITH MCMORRIS, PH.D.

Chief People Officer

Dr. Keith McMorris is the Chief People Officer at Akata Global, a role that is supported by over two decades of experience as a human resources professional in the government, non-profit and private sectors. He is based at Akata’s corporate offices in Columbia, Maryland.

Keith holds doctoral degrees in Organizational Psychology and Leadership Development and Management, as well as an MBA in Organizational Development and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Fun facts:

  1. Veteran of the U.S. Navy
  2. Volleyball enthusiast (played in university, during tenure with U.S. Navy).
  3. I’d like to be a professional student – enjoy learning and sharing knowledge – if only I could find a job that pays me to learn. 
  4. Have built a library of 50+ developmental courses, most of which have been accredited by the American Council on Education (ACE) & recognized by select College/University programs for credit hours and/or continuing education units (CEUs) for professional designations.

Personal Quote : Believe in one’s unique and capable self, and you are always a winner.
Personal Core Values : Integrity | Accountability | Diligence | Perseverance | Discipline
Vacation Spot : Greece or Spain
TV shows : Game of Thrones

Amy Wareham

Controller

Amy Wareham is the Controller at Akata Global and is based in Sandy, Utah. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in managing government contracts to her current position, and has held CFO and controller positions in the private sector for several companies.

Fun facts:

  1. I’m an Army Brat and lived all over the country and in Belgium for 3 years as a kid.  It was a great experience that I will always appreciate!
  2. I  never wanted a dog, but my husband and kids wore me down… now I can’t get enough and LOVE my English Lab named Drake.
  3. I have 3 girls that keep me on my toes and are always stealing clothes, makeup and shoes from my closet.
  4. I love to travel, but it’s all about the food. I basically eat my way through Europe.

Personal Quote : Let’s figure out a solution
Vacation Spot : Bear Lake, ID
Book: The Da Vinci Code
TV shows : Pioneer Woman on Food Network

Jim Harper

Fuels and Safety Officer

Jim Harper is Akata Global’s Fuels and Safety Officer, a position that is preceded by nearly 20 years’ experience managing primarily government and military refueling contracts. He joined H&S Resources Corporation, Akata’s predecessor, in 2009 as the Project Manager for Field Support Services at NAWS China Lake. Jim is based in China Lake, California.

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Edinburgh University in Scotland.

Fun facts: 

  1. I was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. I originally planned on coming to California for a year before heading back to Scotland however I met my wife to be Sandy and we are still here almost 40 years later.
  2. We had a family farm in Scotland and two of our four children have kept up the farming tradition running a small farm raising Nigerian dwarf goats and Kune-Kune pigs.
  3. While in college I built an original Mini Cooper (clubman) from the ground up. I now have a 1965 Austin Mini to restore at my house if I’m still capable. We shall see how that goes!
  4. In my spare time I enjoy photography,  particularly landscape photography.

Personal Quote : It’s Better to try and fail than never try at all
Personal Core Values : Treat everyone as you would like them to treat you
Vacation Spot :Lake Tahoe and anywhere on the Pacific coast
Book: The Bible and Tom Clancy book
TV shows : Jeopardy and old Monty Python / Fawlty Towers Shows