People who have lived the encore transition — and now help others design it.

Tavi Meketon is a business leader, strategist, and coach with more than four decades of experience guiding individuals and organizations through growth, transition, and reinvention. A former Chief Operating Officer and trusted advisor to executive teams, she has built and led businesses across complex industries — aligning people, strategy, and execution to measurable results.

Having navigated multiple career transitions herself, including leadership roles, business ownership, and reinvention later in life, Tavi understands the emotional and practical challenges high-achieving professionals face at inflection points. Her work blends coaching, facilitation, and strategic frameworks with real-world business judgment.

Bob Sofge leads The Next Mission program at Encore Career Lab alongside founder Jack Calhoun. A retired Major General of the United States Marine Corps, Bob brings more than four decades of experience leading complex, high-stakes organizations and guiding leaders through transition, reinvention, and purpose-driven next chapters.

The Next Mission is Encore Career Lab's dedicated cohort for senior leaders — particularly those coming out of highly structured, mission-driven careers — who are redefining identity, impact, and contribution after their primary career is complete. Bob draws on deep experience helping accomplished leaders translate their expertise into meaningful civilian, advisory, board, and portfolio paths.

Bob's final active-duty assignment was Commanding General, U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa. He previously served as Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Pacific; Assistant Chief of Staff, J5 for U.S. Forces Korea; and Deputy Commanding General, Combined Joint Operations Center Baghdad during Operation Inherent Resolve. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, holds a Master of Science in Strategy from the U.S. Army War College, an MBA from TUI University, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

James "Jimmy" Dickey brings decades of C-level experience to Encore Career Lab. His career began at Trust Company Bank (now Truist) as an executive in factoring and commercial banking. He later led an internal acquisition at Home Buyers Warranty, then served in marketing, business development, and subsidiary management roles.

Jimmy became a founding member of DBD & Associates, a private equity fund, where he oversaw fundraising, investment selection, and board work across portfolio companies. He later served as CEO of Ovations Management Solutions — a technology company serving Fortune 500 customers with their entertainment assets — leading an internal restructuring that culminated in acquisition by Cendyn Corporation. Jimmy joined Cendyn as CFO, responsible for legal, tax, investments, M&A, business development, strategy, and accounting.

At every level, Jimmy has scaled businesses across industries and guided them through their most defining moments. He brings to Encore Career Lab a combination of financial acumen, operational expertise, and deal-making judgment sharpened by decades of leadership.