Leadership

Mike Doner is the President and CEO of Flagger Force, a leading provider of short-term traffic control services across the eastern United States. As co-founder of the company in 2002, he has led its growth from a local startup into a nationally recognized industry leader known for safety, innovation, and workforce development.

Mike is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and operational performance, guiding both internal growth and market expansion. His leadership is grounded in a strong commitment to a Safety-Driven® culture that equips team members with the training, tools, and support needed to perform at a high level and deliver safe, reliable work zones.

A dedicated advocate for work zone safety, Mike actively engages with industry groups and policymakers to advance protections for roadway workers and the traveling public. He serves on the board of Construction Angels, which supports families of fallen construction workers, and is a member of the Advisory Council for the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), where he supports efforts to expand second-chance employment opportunities.

Mike was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 – Greater Philadelphia in recognition of his leadership and sustained company growth. Under his direction, Flagger Force has earned multiple industry honors, including placement on Engineering News-Record’s Top 600 Specialty Contractors list, as well as recognition from the INC 5000 and the Central Penn Business Journal.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time on the water, boating along the Chesapeake Bay, the Florida coast, and the Bahamas.

Karen Parody serves as the Vice President of Human Resources at Flagger Force, where she leads the organization’s HR initiatives to support a dynamic workforce of nearly 2,000 dispersed frontline employees. With a commitment to fostering a culture of high performance and professionalism, Karen plays a key role in shaping the company’s HR strategy and driving its continued success.

Joining Flagger Force in 2022, Karen brings more than 20 years of expertise in organizational growth, workforce recruitment and retention, and legal compliance programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a minor in Social Work from Elmira College in New York, as well as a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Development from Chapman University in California.

Outside of work, Karen is a devoted wife and mother of four children, a passionate supporter of their college sports teams, and an active volunteer in the community. She dedicates her time to Special Olympics events and local charity initiatives, embracing her belief that giving is more rewarding than receiving.

Kevin Grant brings over two decades of distinguished leadership experience across the military, energy, and utility sectors to his role as Vice President of Field Operations. He joined Flagger Force in January of 2024 and is leading the company’s expansive field operations.

Before joining Flagger Force, Kevin spent more than 16 years at UGI Corporation, where he held progressive leadership roles at UGI Energy Services and UGI Utilities. He was responsible for building and safely operating a variety of energy infrastructure assets, including power plants, natural gas and propane facilities and various renewable energy assets across the Mid-Atlantic. Kevin is a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served as a combat engineer office in Operation Iraqi Freedom and held various leadership and staff positions during his tenure. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq.

Kevin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and he also holds an MBA from Drexel University and a Master of Arts in International Diplomacy from Norwich University.

Craig Connell joined Flagger Force as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in January 2025. He oversees a dynamic team of professionals, supports the company’s critical operations, including proprietary software, and collaborates with other executive leadership team members to develop technological strategies for organizational objectives.

Before joining Flagger Force, Craig was the CTO of Learnsoft. He has previously served as the CTO of RevContent, CTO, and SVP of Engineering for STAQ (acquired by Operative). He serves various advisory and consulting roles for venture-backed technology-based companies. Additional previous experience includes serving as the VP of Engineering for Content Analyst Company / kCura, as CTO for Leverege, LLC, and as Vice President of Engineering at Lotame Solutions, a SaaS-based data management platform (DMP). Craig also has experience working with energy organizations such as Unistar Nuclear Energy, where he architected and managed the development, deployment, and support of a comprehensive SaaS platform for the next generation of nuclear power plants. He was a manager and enterprise architect for Constellation Generation Group and Baltimore Gas & Electric.

Craig is a member of the International Association of Software Architects (IASA) and an expert at designing and building complex analytical systems and big data platforms for large enterprise settings. He graduated from the College of William & Mary with a dual Environmental Science and Economics degree.

With over 30 years of experience in safety consulting across diverse industries, Luke Lazar, CSP, serves as the Vice President of Risk & Safety at Flagger Force, a leader in traffic control services. Luke is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of employees and clients through comprehensive safety programs and policies.

In his role, Luke oversees a team of safety professionals across the eastern United States, providing mentorship and guidance to foster a culture of safety excellence. He also manages in-house training programs, including in-person and digital course curriculum, equipping both new and current field employees with the skills necessary to prevent incidents and maintain high safety standards.

Luke is actively engaged in the broader safety community, contributing his expertise to industry committees and councils. He is a member of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), where he serves on the Safety & Public Awareness Committee and the Risk Management Council, collaborating with industry leaders to enhance roadway safety and risk management practices. Additionally, Luke is involved with Nexus HSE, an organization dedicated to advancing health, safety, and environmental practices, demonstrating his commitment to continuous improvement in the field.

A graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Luke is also an active member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). His professional affiliations reflect his dedication to staying at the forefront of safety practices and contributing to the advancement of the industry.

Mark A. Bender is the vice president and CFO. He joined Flagger Force in June of 2014, after working for various accounting firms and serving 10 years in the United States Air Force. He still enjoys flying today and recently obtained his private pilot license. Mark is a youth soccer coach and an avid fan of his three sons who play at both the college and academy level.

Sean Lightner is the Vice President of Sales at Flagger Force. As a member of the executive leadership team, Sean is responsible for defending and growing our core business, development and execution of new and emerging market strategies, joint ventures with strategic partners and managing the company’s competitive position in the marketplace.

Sean joined Flagger Force in December of 2013, after 14 years of senior and executive leadership at TransUnion, LLC a global information and insights company, where he led growth initiatives over the eastern half of the US. He received his Bachelor of Art degree from Syracuse University and completed a 6-month Executive Leadership Program from the Harvard Business School Executive Education program called Leadership Direct, a program developed in collaboration with Advent International, a leading global private equity firm, TransUnion and Harvard Business Publishing.

As a husband and father of three children, Sean is very passionate about his family and helping people achieve their goals both professionally and personally. He has served on multiple boards of directors in his community and spent over a decade coaching youth and travel lacrosse.