Meet the Truth Trench Think Tank Leadership Team
Truth Trench Think Tank is built on the belief that meaningful societal change requires more than ideas—it requires experienced leaders willing to serve, investigate, educate, and act.
Our leadership team and Board of Directors bring together a diverse group of veterans, business leaders, researchers, educators, compliance professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community advocates united by a shared commitment to truth, accountability, and service. Collectively, they represent decades of experience spanning military service, federal compliance, intelligence support, entrepreneurship, public education, technology, communications, research, and organizational leadership.
From combat veterans and veteran advocates to legal and contracting experts, business strategists, artists, and researchers, each member contributes unique perspectives and professional expertise that strengthen our mission. These experiences enable Truth Trench Think Tank to approach complex challenges with discipline, critical thinking, and a commitment to evidence-based solutions.
As a working board, our directors are more than governance officials. They are active contributors who help shape strategy, guide organizational growth, support research initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and advance the mission of the organization. Their collective experience helps ensure that Truth Trench Think Tank remains focused on delivering meaningful societal benefit through research, education, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.
Together, we work to advance transparency, promote accountability, empower informed citizens, and develop practical solutions that create lasting impact for our communities and our nation.
We invite you to learn more about the leaders who guide Truth Trench Think Tank and help carry its mission forward every day.
Michael J. Penney – Founder/ CEO – Chairman
Truth Trench Think Tank was founded by Michael J. Penney, a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, entrepreneur, author, and creator of the 5 Paragraph Operating System.
To learn more about the organization’s founder, visit the Founder page.
Michael J. Anastasio – Chief Nerd
Born on July 5, 1974, in New Haven, Connecticut, I grew up in the towns of Wallingford, Meriden, and Durham within a family deeply rooted in service. My father, Joseph Francis Anastasio, served in the U.S. Air Force and later as a police officer in Hamden, Connecticut. My grandfather was a New Jersey motorcycle police officer. Law enforcement and military duty run deep in our family, shaping my early values of discipline, integrity, and service to others. From an early age, I learned resilience and the importance of standing up for what is right—even when the path is difficult.
My education included both private and public schools throughout Connecticut. I later served as faculty at Yale University, where the opportunity to attend classes tuition-free allowed me to pursue advanced studies in international tax and trade law, including PhD-level coursework. The knowledge gained through this experience has informed decades of strategic business and security-related decision-making.
My professional path began with a brief period of service in the United States Marine Corps, followed by work in intelligence-related capacities, operating in classified, high-pressure environments. Today, I collaborate with veterans from NSA and FBI circles in advisory roles and maintain an active CAGE Code (8UNM1) through FNMedia Ltd Co., a company I founded more than thirty years ago.
FNMedia is a leading-edge internet agency headquartered in South Carolina, specializing in reputation management, secure web development, Open Source Intelligence-driven marketing, Search Engine Optimization, public relations, and strategic storytelling for high-stakes public and protected environments. Our client history includes major brands such as Calvin Klein (via the Warnaco Group), Chaps Ralph Lauren, Polo, Unilever, Sara Lee, Sikorsky, Otis Elevator, and WCCC 106.9 FM. We operate exclusively stateside: no offshore labor, no shortcuts—only American-based operational security and measurable results.
On a personal level, I keep life straightforward. Playing bass guitar keeps me grounded; family and my dog come first; and I take pride in helping others quietly, without recognition. I enjoy service to others—staying steady and giving back has always mattered more than attention. Patriotism guides how I live and work. “For God and Country” is not a slogan to me; it’s a principle.
I am dedicated to community, veterans, and American values. Whether building digital assets or supporting fellow patriots, I remain committed to serving where I can.
Stephanie Nuzzolilo – Marketing/ Graphics
Graphic designer Stephanie Nuzzolilo was born and raised in Michigan, where her artistic talent was undeniable from an early age.
From humble beginnings as an emancipated minor, Stephanie learned early on the importance of being a self-starter. Despite early accolades and an art scholarship, her unique circumstances resulted in the loss of financial aid to the private art college she had been accepted into. Learning to advocate for herself, she applied her voice and determination to gain placement in an advanced, competitive curriculum at Lansing Community College—an opportunity granted after presenting her portfolio, experience, and clear intention to pursue a professional art career. During this time, she was also introduced to an alternative artistic career path: professional tattooing.
Young and driven, Stephanie joined the Michigan Army National Guard in 2008 to cultivate discipline and financial stability in pursuit of her goals. Even in uniform, her talents stood out. During basic training at Fort Jackson, she was tasked with painting multiple murals and earned the title of Expert Marksman, becoming one of only two females in her company to achieve this distinction.
While attending AIT at Fort Eustis as a 15J (Armament Avionics Electrical Systems Repairer for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior), Stephanie continued to be recognized for her artistic abilities. She painted a custom dog bone displayed in front of Bravo Company 1-222, paired with matching basketball hoops adorned with the Bravo Bulldog logo. She also created company signage for sporting events and screen-printed over 1,000 T-shirts for soldiers and their families. Additionally, she received a Sky Master’s Battalion Coin from the Command Sergeant Major for singing the National Anthem at a battalion boxing match.
In 2009, an unfortunate hip injury brought Stephanie’s military career to an abrupt end, resulting in an honorable discharge with medical disability. While challenging, this marked the beginning of a growing network and deeper involvement within military and veteran communities.
Her path later led her to life as a military spouse at JBLM/Fort Lewis, where she expanded her network through social media communities for military wives. In 2010, at age 21, Stephanie launched her first business—establishing a brand, designing her own logo, and creating custom order forms for crocheted goods and hats. After reaching her capital goal, she reinvested in tattoo equipment and used her network to launch her career as a professional tattoo artist.
Stephanie’s tattoo career began at a veteran-owned and operated shop just outside JBLM. Alongside tattooing, she designed logos and graphics for local sports teams, built digital assets for businesses, and continued creating personal artwork displayed in local shops and her own gallery between 2014–2015. Her expertise in design, digital creation, and color theory earned her over 13 awards between 2017 and 2019 across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Following the 2020 lockdown, Stephanie’s career goals shifted. She gradually stepped away from her public role as a renowned tattoo artist and leaned fully into graphic design. Today, she is a proud team member of veteran-owned businesses Door Kicker SEO and FNMedia, while also operating as an independent contractor specializing in graphic design and art.
Stephanie has self-published four volumes of the Body Art Coloring Book series. Her artwork is available in multiple local businesses, making her work accessible to her community. She remains an active member of her local art scene, regularly attending and participating in events that highlight local artists and small businesses.
She is also the owner of Rabbit Bubble and Blood & Burrow—brands built on original artwork inspired by her tattooing career. Both brands are committed to expressing individuality while upholding integrity and the core values rooted in her military background.
Stephanie’s ability to restart, assess, and reroute through life’s hardships—including domestic violence, divorce, and business ownership during the pandemic—has given her an instinctive edge in helping companies rebrand and evolve.
A disabled veteran, Stephanie is deeply grateful for the military community that has supported her artistic journey. She is also a proud mother of four and resides in Olympia, Washington, where she values the flexibility her career provides—allowing her to balance her roles as both provider and mother.
Stephanie believes that the gifts God grants us, combined with faith and purposeful pursuit, open the door to the dreams placed in our hearts. Through persistence, faith, and perseverance, she hopes to continue helping others by sharing her unmistakable creative spark—one that never goes unnoticed.
Christopher L. Buday – General Counsel
Legal Compliance Consultant | B&B Consulting Group Christopher L. Buday is a highly accomplished Legal Compliance Consultant with more than 40 years of experience in federal acquisition management, regulatory compliance, and strategic contracting support. As a principal at B&B Consulting Group, Mr. Buday provides expert guidance to government and defense organizations on complex matters involving federal procurement, legal strategy, cost analysis, and mission-critical program execution.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Buday has led numerous initiatives supporting the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, focusing on Federal Contracting, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, construction contracting, facilities and project management, and corporate governance compliance. His work is characterized by a deep understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and related DoD directives, ensuring that operations align seamlessly with federal oversight requirements and mission objectives.
A hallmark of Mr. Buday’s federal service was his leadership in the formulation and implementation of Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) and security policy for the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). He was responsible for developing programs and procedures to preserve combat forces within the USCENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR), reviewing Force Protection waivers, and preparing recommendations for general officer approval. His efforts ensured compliance with Force Protection Construction Standards according to USCENTCOM OPORD 05-02, Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-010-01, DoD Security Engineering Planning Manual (4-020-01), and related DoD and Department of State directives.
Mr. Buday also played a central role in establishing the Operational Protection Working Group (OPWG), a multi-command coordination body responsible for integrating Force Protection (FP) and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) operations within the AOR. His expertise in planning, coordination, and regulatory compliance has made him a trusted advisor for defense and government contracting initiatives requiring both strategic and operational alignment.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. His combined legal and engineering backgrounds equip him to navigate complex technical and regulatory challenges with precision, serving as a bridge between compliance, contracting, and mission success across the federal landscape.
Mark S. Maiville, PhD. – Data Science
Mark is a Michigan native and member of the 16th North American generation of a Swiss family that settled in French speaking Canada. The family stressed the value of learning, listening to both sides of an argument, and community. Mark’s great-grandfather moved to Michigan in the 1880’s to develop agricultural and lumber interests. The family still owns the original family farm in Lake County. His Father and 3 Uncles served during World War II and the Korean Conflict, which contributed a sense of perspective and an interest in other places and cultures. By the time Mark was 10 he had visited over 30 states and a number of other countries.
Mark left Michigan after high school to attend the University of Utah. After graduation he spent several years working in resort operations within the ski industry. He returned to Michigan and earned an MBA from Michigan State, followed by several years as an agency analyst and planner in the consumer-packaged goods industry. He worked on behalf of clients that included S.C. Johnson, Kraft Foods, and Nestle.
In 1993 Mark earned a PhD, also from Michigan State, and developed a small consulting practice. He became a contract employee with several start-ups, developing work processes and procedures that were implemented in software platforms. One of those start-ups was MediaPlan, a platform for managing media assets. MediaPlan was acquired by A.C. Nielsen in 1999, and Mark spent 4 years working with Nielsen to scale the information products to cover Nielsen’s footprint. After leaving Nielsen Mark returned to his consulting practice and has worked with national clients including Comcast, NBC Universal, Time Warner, and with former employer Nielsen.
Mark was a multi-sport athlete in high school, where he developed a lifetime interest in endurance athletics, and winter sports. Over the past 40 years Mark has been an active competitor and volunteer for numerous events. Currently Mark is an active volunteer with Traverse Area Recreation Trails, (TART), Norte Youth Cycling, and the Vasa Ski Club.
Connect With Our Leadership Team
The mission of Truth Trench Think Tank is carried forward by a leadership team and Board of Directors committed to service, accountability, and meaningful societal impact.
The individuals featured on this page are not only responsible for governing the organization, but also play an active role in shaping strategy, supporting research initiatives, developing partnerships, and advancing programs that benefit communities across the country.
Whether you are interested in research collaboration, strategic partnerships, speaking engagements, media inquiries, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships, donations, or participation in one of our programs, we welcome the opportunity to connect.
Truth Trench Think Tank is always seeking to build relationships with individuals and organizations who share a commitment to truth, transparency, accountability, and constructive civic engagement.
Together, we can strengthen communities, empower informed citizens, develop future leaders, and create solutions that serve the public good.