2019 IRISH GUEST OF HONOR

Senator Aidan Davitt, Fianna Fáil representative to the Industrial and Commercial Panel

Senator Aidan Davitt has had a lifelong involvement in Fianna F·il and held most positions in his Cloughan Cumman in Mullingar. Aidan was elected to Westmeath County Council and Mullingar Town Council on his first attempt in 2009 and in 2014 he topped the poll and was elected on the first count to Westmeath County Council representing Mullingar and North Westmeath.

In 2016 Aidan was elected to represent Fianna Fáil on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, getting the highest number of First Preference votes with the Fianna F·il party. Aidan was heavily involved in the AILG Councillor Forum and served on their Executive and represented the Councillors (Councilman) of Ireland at the European Union, Committee of the Regions. He is currently the Fianna Fail, Spokesperson for Business, Enterprise and Innovation in Irelands Senate. Currently Senator Davitt is being hotly tipped to take a seat in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Aidan comes from a strong business back ground and is Managing Director of the National Award-Winning Sherry FitzGerald Davitt & Davitt Auctioneers. From their offices in Mullingar and Castlepollard they employ 15 people.

Sport is an integral part of Aidanís life and particularly GAA. Aidan formed the Westmeath Hurling Supporters Group which has raised over Ä100,000 for Hurling in Westmeath. Aidan was also Irish Language and Scor Officer for Westmeath GAA for 5 years. He was also elected as Vice Chairman of Westmeath Hurling Board for 7 years and served on several committees in Leinster GAA and Croke Park.

Currently Aidan is Chairman of St Lomans GAA and had previously served as Secretary of Clonkill GAA. On the home front, Aidan is married to Gillian and they have two girls.

2019 HONORARY PARADE MARSHAL

Kevin Short, Managing Partner and CEO of Clayton Capital Partners

Kevin Short is the Managing Partner and CEO of Clayton Capital Partners, a St. Louis-based investment banking firm specializing in merger and acquisition advisement. Beginning in 2007, Thomson Reuters, FactSet Mergerstat and Investment Dealers’ Digest all ranked Clayton Capital Partners as a top U.S. M&A firm.

Kevin is also the author of Sell Your Business For An Outrageous Price published by AMACOM. The book has received 11 awards.The book synthesizes Kevin’s experience in selling mid-size companies ($10MM – $250MM in value) for twice the industry average EBITDA multiple.

Mr. Short devotes his free time first to his family, and second, to the education of children from low-income families.He serves as: the Chairman of the Board for the Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation , the Chairman of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Vice-Chairman of the  Show-Me Institute , a board member of theMercy Hospital System and The Children’s Scholarship Fund.

In 2018, Mr. Short was a recipient of the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Education Association, honoring his lifetime commitment to the education of children in poverty. He is also a recipient of the FOCUS St. Louis “What’s Right With The Region” Award.

2018 MILITARY GUEST OF HONOR

Brigadier General Brian R. Bisacre

BG Bisacre’s key command and leadership assignments include: Commanding General,
U.S. Army Corrections Command (ACC) and Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC); Commander, 18th Military Police Brigade, Sembach, Germany; Commander 728th Military Police Battalion, Schofield Barracks, HI, and Commander, 728th Military Police Battalion, Task Force Iron (OIF 07-09), Tikrit, Iraq; Company Commander, 82nd Military Police Company, Fort Bragg, NC; Platoon Leader, 58th Military Police Company, Schofield Barracks, HI.

BG Bisacre’s key staff assignments include:  Deputy Provost Marshal General, Headquarters Department of the Army; Provost Marshal and G34 Protection Chief for U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, NC; Assistant Commandant, U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS), Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Deputy G3/5/7, U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), Wiesbaden, Germany; Security Director and later J34, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Colorado Springs, CO; Deputy Brigade Commander, 8th Military Police Brigade, Schofield Barracks, HI; Brigade S3, 8th Military Police Brigade, Seoul, Korea; Battalion XO, 728th Military Police Battalion, Daegu, Korea; Battalion S3, 728th Military Police Battalion, Daegu, Korea; Deputy Provost Marshal, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; Instructor and Military Police Branch Representative, Department of Military Instruction, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; Plans Officer, 16th Military Police Brigade (ABN), Fort Bragg, NC; Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Division Commander, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI; Battalion S4, Schofield Barracks Military Police Battalion (PROV), Schofield Barracks, HI.

BG Bisacre’s civilian and military education includes: BA, Criminal Justice, Norwich University, Northfield, VT; MS, Educational Leadership, Troy State University, Troy, AL; MS, Strategic Studies, Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; MS, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA.In addition, BG Bisacre is a graduate of the U.S. Army Military Police School Captain Career Course and Officer Basic Course, MIT Seminar XXI Senior Officer Fellowship, U.S. Army Air Assault School and the U.S. Army Airborne and Jumpmaster Courses.

BG Bisacre is married to his best friend Cyndi and they have one son, Craig 25, who is a graduate of George Mason University and currently the Head Photographer for the Indiana University Athletic Department, Bloomington, IN.