They’re leaders in business, development, education, entertainment, government, health care, philanthropy, sports, and technology who are making a difference in Northern Virginia — and giving back to their community. Meet the people who made our list of The 50 Most Influential of 2024, including our Top 10.
By Amy Ayres, Colleen Kelleher, Michele Kettner, and Maggie Roth
All photos are courtesy of each individual’s company or organization unless otherwise noted.
Jump to: Top 10 | A–C | D–H | I–M | O–R | S–Z
Glenn Youngkin
Governor of Virginia
The commonwealth’s 74th governor has made national headlines throughout his term, from his sometimes controversial stance on schools to speculation about whether he’d run on the 2024 GOP presidential ticket — and more recently, when Virginia reclaimed its position as the No. 1 state for business in CNBC’s annual ranking.
That recognition is one Gov. Glenn Youngkin is particularly proud of, calling it “a reflection of the tremendous work that we have done to invest in our infrastructure, to build the nation’s very best workforce, to create a top five business-friendly environment, and to make sure that we have access to capital” for startup businesses.
Youngkin and his wife, Suzanne, raised their four children in Great Falls, and that’s where they spend their time when they’re not in Richmond. Youngkin cites investments in behavioral health and “big strides in education,” including increases in per-pupil spending and teacher salaries, as successes. In NoVA, he says, “One of the signature efforts that I’m really proud of watching unfold is the Lab School that is going to be launched in partnership with George Mason, which is our ACCESS Academy, and that has to do with accelerating college and employability skills for Northern Virginia students.”
With just over a year left in office, many wonder what he’ll do next, and whether we’ll see him on the national stage — but he says he is only focused on his current job.
Michelle Reid
Superintendent, Fairfax County Public Schools
The leader of the state’s largest school district lights up when she talks about the students at the center of Fairfax County Public Schools.
“My influence is making sure that at the heart of every conversation is the welfare and education of our students,” says superintendent Michelle Reid. Reid started in her role in 2022, when schools were struggling after two years of the pandemic, which resulted in chronic absenteeism and teacher shortages, among other issues.
In the past year, 188 FCPS schools improved their attendance year over year, and there’s been a significant decrease in the number of teachers leaving the division, Reid says. The system is adding electric buses to its massive fleet and more “scratch cook food” for student lunches at all schools, building on the middle school sports it added last year, and starting varsity boys volleyball and varsity girls wrestling. “When kids are excited about an activity, their mental health improves — that’s the point,” she says.
“The quality of the educational experience here in Fairfax County is a real asset to our county for recruiting businesses, and really a major driver in the engine of economic growth for the county,” Reid says. “I think that learning happens best in community, and we have a strong community here in Fairfax County.”
Dr. J. Stephen Jones
President and CEO, Inova
Inova is inherently familiar to anyone looking for health care across Northern Virginia. The nonprofit system has five hospitals and employs 24,000 people, making it the largest private employer in the Greater Washington area. Dr. J. Stephen Jones has been at the helm since 2018.
“The whole team here, I think, is second to none in the country,” Jones says.
Under his watch, Inova is expanding with two new hospitals (in Alexandria and Springfield) and a $161 million rebuild of its Fairfax emergency department, one of the four busiest in the nation.
No matter how much Inova grows, Jones’ goal is to ensure patients get the same level of care regardless of location — and that they don’t have to leave NoVA to get the complex care they need. That brings a huge benefit to residents and businesses in the area.
“If you’re a big employer … and you’re thinking about relocating things or expanding your work in this area, what do you want? You want to know that you’ve got great schools. You want to know that you’re going to have a safe environment. We’ve got that as much as anybody in the country. You want to know that you’ve got the health care that you need: You’ve got those three things in place. My gosh, there’s no limit to what you can do.”
Gerry Connolly
U.S. Representative, Virginia’s 11th District
Gerry Connolly’s name is almost synonymous with Northern Virginia. He served 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (including five as chair) and has represented Virginia’s 11th District in Congress since 2009. And, yes, there is that 41-mile trail named for him. “Getting consequential things done is never easy. You’ve got to have the political persistence to make it happen, and I hope I showed that kind of persistence,” Connolly says.
A joint initiative between the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University evaluated the effectiveness of each congressional member during the 117th Congress (2021–2023) in terms of the substantiality of policy proposals and how far bills advanced. Connolly took top billing as the most effective lawmaker in the U.S.
He says he takes a pragmatic approach to solving problems, whether it’s helping to bring Metro’s Silver Line to Dulles, developing policies to ensure Tysons’ stormwater gets treated, or building solidarity in NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly. “We have to be able to justify actions in ways that people understand they’re going to benefit,” he says.
“My constituents see me every day. They see me walking. They see me going to a restaurant. They see me picking up Starbucks. They see me dropping off dry cleaning. They see me at events in their communities,” he says. “I think showing up, being visible, connecting with people is really critical to one’s success.”
Dwight and Martha Schar
Philanthropists
If you’ve been to the campuses of Inova Fairfax Hospital or George Mason University, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Schar name on their state-of-the-art facilities.
Dwight Schar — who gained his wealth from NVR, the Reston-based homebuilding company he founded — and his wife, Martha, have donated more than $125 million to Inova over the last three decades. Those funds created Inova Schar Cancer, which offers comprehensive cancer care, and Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. Most recently, their $75 million matching gift attracted a wide range of donations from others. The couple also gave $10 million to GMU for what is now the Schar School of Policy and Government.
Schar says he admired others in the business community, such as the late real estate developer Milt Peterson, who made charitable donations.
“I started my business here. We were able to grow up to be the fourth-largest homebuilder in the country, but our basis was here in Virginia,” Schar says. “The business community and, obviously, the public, has been very good to us. One out of every four houses that gets built in the Washington area, we build, and it’s been an opportunity to give back. I think health care and education are two areas where you can really help improve the quality of life and the community that’s been very good to you.”
Victor Hoskins
President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
With his contagious enthusiasm, Victor Hoskins is known for bringing people and businesses across NoVA together. “We’re so much stronger when we’re united together,” he says. Hoskins, who helped Arlington land Amazon’s HQ2, says when he started in Fairfax in 2019, “companies were growing really fast. … That rapid expansion demanded that we do something in economic development different because it wasn’t just recruiting the companies and helping them expand or keeping the companies here and helping them grow. It was helping them get talent.”
To attract and reskill employees for NoVA’s $276 billion economy, Hoskins designed and implemented a digital hub that connects employers, workers, veterans, and colleges. An added component showcases careers to K-12 students. He worked with other counties to form the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance to cooperatively attract businesses and employees, even recruiting people who’ve been laid off in other parts of the country to move to NoVA. Ask Hoskins what is in Fairfax County’s future, and he’ll tell you: artificial intelligence, space commercialization, and quantum computing.
“We have the second highest number of artificial intelligence openings in the country, second only to Silicon Valley,” he says.
Next, he wants to see more collaboration with suburban Maryland and DC. “The kind of cooperation we have in Northern Virginia, I would like that to be across the entire region,” he says.
Sheila Johnson
CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Sheila Johnson took a chance when she opened Salamander Middleburg, and then added five more Salamander hotels. The 168-room luxury resort that sits on more than 340 acres in horse country has turned into a large Loudoun County employer and a huge tourism draw for NoVA.
“Undoubtedly, my proudest moment was the opening of Salamander Middleburg over a decade ago,” says the billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founding partner of Black Entertainment Television. “There were certainly doubters about my ability to develop, open, and run a successful resort, but it is now one of only five properties in the USA and 13 worldwide to hold three separate Forbes Five-Star ratings. It’s an incredible achievement.”
USA Today named the Salamander hotels the best luxury hotel brand in 2023.
Johnson, a principal stakeholder in the Washington Mystics, Wizards, and Capitals, also founded the popular nonprofit Middleburg Film Festival and The Family Reunion at the Salamander. The reunion celebrates racial and ethnic diversity and inclusion in hospitality, key tenets within Johnson’s business philosophy.
“I’m an optimist, so I see mostly strengths about the area in which I live, which is beautiful and surrounded by stunning countryside,” Johnson says of Middleburg. “It’s diverse, provides a great quality of life, and presents many economic opportunities. Virginia has a history of being a business-friendly state, as does our region.”
Lance Collins
Vice President and Executive Director, Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
With the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus opening next year in Alexandria, Lance Collins leads the effort to build a different type of graduate program for computer science and computer engineering. Students will work with businesses on real-world projects, while faculty research will focus on four key areas: artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing, intelligent interfaces (“how technology touches humans”), and wireless communication. The goal: Create the next generation of tech leaders.
“This computer science need stretches across virtually every part of our economy,” says Collins. “It’s not just that Amazon needs talent. The defense contractors need talent, and the banks need talent, and retail needs talent. Computers are everywhere.”
Collaboration is Collins’ secret to success. “I’m a real believer in teams,” he says. “One really brilliant person can do amazing things, but if you connect that person with four or five other people, they bring other perspectives. It’s unbeatable.”
Look for Virginia Tech to remain on the cutting edge as the U.S. needs more tech-savvy workers with advanced skill sets. “It really is a national imperative, in my opinion. It’s something that we as a nation, if we’re going to continue to be the leading nation, will have to stay ahead of other nations that are very much growing the same kind of talent. It’s a race, basically.”
Arvind Manocha
President and CEO, Wolf Trap
Arvind Manocha sees music and arts strengthening society every day. As the one directing Wolf Trap’s performing arts programming and overseeing its foundation since 2013, he says the arts and culture institution strives to be reflective of NoVA.
“As Northern Virginia changes, we change,” he says. “Something I’m very proud of is we spent a lot of time over this last decade to really make sure that we are representative of the community around us, to always be broadening the palette, so to speak, to create more breadth, and to create more opportunity for artists and different traditions to have a home at Wolf Trap.”
While concerts are Wolf Trap’s big draw, Manocha says its educational programs give even more people the opportunity to experience the arts, whether that’s through children’s theater or Fairfax County Public Schools or training for schoolteachers and artists who teach.
“The Campaign for Wolf Trap has yielded so much fruit already. We’ve made so many changes at the park, at The Barns. We’ve really looked at improving the experience of the artist and the audience members in every way when they come to the park,” says Manocha about the 50th anniversary fundraising campaign that raised $75 million total ($25 million more than its goal). “The effort and the impact of that effort was designed and will be felt for generations.”
Kathy Warden
Chair, CEO, and President, Northrop Grumman
Kathy Warden leads Falls Church–based Northrop Grumman, one of the world’s top defense contractors and a Fortune 500 company. The global aerospace, defense, and security company employs 100,000 worldwide.
Warden, who strongly believes in making the world safer for future generations, chairs the Greater Washington Partnership, a nonprofit alliance of influential DMV leaders who collaborate to find ways to attract talent, stimulate growth, improve regional mobility, and close the area’s wealth gap. She came in at No. 38 on the 2023 Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful Women.
As a key partner with the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Northrop Grumman made a $12.5 million commitment to support research and teaching in quantum information science and engineering.
“Our partnership with Virginia Tech will help support their vision to solve the world’s most pressing problems with ground-breaking technologies. Through partnerships like this, we can build on a ‘better together’ approach to prepare future talent — to help build the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technologists — while driving innovative critical research.”
Warden is active in Arlington’s Aerospace Industries Association and on the board of Catalyst, a global nonprofit that promotes gender equity and workplace inclusion.
In 2021, Warden and her husband, who are James Madison University alums, matched renewable, need-based scholarship donations of up to $1.25 million. The campaign raised more than $3 million.
Jonathan Allen
Defensive Tackle, Washington Commanders
Before Jonathan Allen became an NFL Pro Bowler, the former Stone Bridge High School star spent nearly a year of his childhood in homeless shelters and foster care. That experience inspired Allen and his wife, Hannah, to work with Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a nonprofit that helps homeless youths across the DC area find safe homes. The two-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee has made numerous contributions over the years, including donating $3 million to area charities.
Greg Baroni
CEO, Attain Enterprises
Greg Baroni is a McLean entrepreneur and philanthropist with a strong belief in giving back to the community. His businesses include Attain Partners, a management and technology consulting firm; Attain Capital, a private equity firm; and Attain Sports, which owns Loudoun United FC and Maryland minor league baseball teams. In 2022, he and his wife gave George Mason University’s business school $7 million for a first-in-the-nation center to address business, policy, and regulatory issues in government contracting, a key NoVA industry.
Irma Becerra
President, Marymount University
In the six years that Irma Becerra has served as president of Marymount, a private Catholic university in Arlington, she’s made some big differences. Becerra, whose family immigrated to Puerto Rico from Cuba when she was infant, has sought to increase enrollment and raise the four-year graduation rate. The school has now been designated as the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in Virginia, been recognized on lists of top colleges from Forbes and U.S. News & World Report, and has developed a new property in Ballston.
Stephanie Berkowitz
President and CEO, Northern Virginia Family Service
Helping those in need is Stephanie Berkowitz’s forte. She leads the 100-year-old Northern Virginia Family Service, which she’s been a part of for more than 25 years. The group assists more than 35,000 individuals and families annually with needs such as early childhood development, mental health support, and emergency housing. Berkowitz also led the Survivors’ Fund Project (a $25 million program to support victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks) and has been on several boards focused on improving the region and the lives of families.
Don Beyer
U.S. Representative, Virginia’s 8th District
Don Beyer is a former car dealer, lieutenant governor, and U.S. ambassador. He worked for 14 years as chair of Jobs for Virginia Graduates, was chair of the Virginia Economic Recovery Commission, and co-founded the Northern Virginia Technology Council. He’s now in his fifth term representing Virginia’s 8th District, which covers Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County. He tackles issues like artificial intelligence, tax policy, and energy. Beyer is on the Joint Economic Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Barry Biggar
CEO, Visit Fairfax
Fairfax County’s tourism economy has doubled since Barry Biggar became CEO of Visit Fairfax in 2008, bringing in over $3 billion annually to county businesses. He helped secure Fairfax as the site of the 2015 World Police and Fire Games, the world’s second-largest multi-sport amateur sporting event, which had an $86 million economic impact in 10 days. Visit Fairfax’s marketing and sales campaigns attracted 795,000 visitors who spent $211 million in nine months last year. Biggar serves on a regional tourism consortium and the ArtsFairfax board.
Sheyna Burt
Executive Board Chair, Hylton Performing Arts Center
Sheyna Burt is energized by causes that lift up young people and the community. As a lawyer, she advocates for charitable nonprofits and community associations. As the first woman and person of color to chair the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s board, she sees advocating and performing intertwined and works to build relationships. She’s a violinist herself, as well as president of the Onyx Project and Youth Orchestras of Prince William, and she serves on a number of boards, including the ACLU of Virginia.
Bruce Caswell
President and CEO, Maximus
In his role at Maximus, a government services company with its U.S. headquarters in Tysons, Bruce Caswell leads efforts to partner with governments and help them implement and manage requirements for health programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and CDC pandemic vaccinations. He’s been with the company since 2004 and became CEO in 2018. Regionally, Caswell serves as chair of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and is on the boards of Wolf Trap Foundation and the Greater Washington Partnership.
Bill Cuttler
Northern Virginia District Engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation
Bill Cuttler ensures complex transportation projects like the Route 7 corridor and I-66 improvements inside the Beltway are completed. He and his staff of almost 800 oversee 14,000-plus miles of roads, sidewalks, trails, bridges, signal systems, and stormwater features in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties. Cuttler sits on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, which does long-range planning, and the regional Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Transportation Planning Board.
Kevin Davis
Chief, Fairfax County Police Department
Kevin Davis’ department protects over 1.1 million people. Known as a leader in police reform, he started in Fairfax County in 2021 and works to strengthen partnerships with other police agencies and improve transparency. An Open Data Portal provides the community with police statistics, including use of force. The department mandated several cutting-edge best practice training procedures. It became the first in the region to use a Spider Man–like device that restrains suspects in a safe manner and now has a new team specializing in stopping auto theft crimes.
Beth Erickson
President and CEO, Visit Loudoun
A longtime Loudoun resident, Beth Erickson is positioning the county as a key tourism destination, drawing on assets such as its 50-plus wineries, charming local shops, and events like the Fall Farm Tour. It’s working: Loudoun County accounted for 13.5 percent of all Virginia tourism spending in 2023, the highest of any county in the state. Erickson also serves on the Economic Development Advisory County, Rural Economic Development Council, the Loudoun Chamber, and the Middleburg Film Festival board of directors.
Greg Fairchild
Campus CEO and Dean, UVA | Northern Virginia
Greg Fairchild, an experienced professor of business administration, became the inaugural dean of the University of Virginia’s NoVA presence in 2021, and he’s helped the university continue to innovate and expand in the region. The satellite campus allows learners in Northern Virginia to take master’s programs in topics like data science, information technology, and business in a region where those skills are in high demand. The school’s presence will continue to grow in 2025, when a new 55,000-square-foot facility opens in Fairfax.
Libby Garvey
Chair, Arlington County Board
Libby Garvey has worked for 28 years as an elected Arlington official. This year, she retires from the five-member county board where she’s been active since 2012, three times as chair. Garvey, who spent 15 years on the school board, supports regional cooperation, improving equity, and strengthening the safety net for the county’s poorest residents. She received the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Elizabeth and David Scull Metropolitan Public Service Award in 2022 for her contributions to the region.
Shashikant and Margaret Gupta
Founders, Gupta Family Foundation
The Guptas founded and ran global IT company Apex CoVantage from 1988 until it sold in 2021. Through the Gupta Family Foundation, they support secular organizations that help disadvantaged people across the globe and promote the importance of ethics among youths. Shashikant serves on the board of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, which invests in Virginia-based startups, and Margaret is on the board of the Wolf Trap Foundation and is a member of Loudoun-based 100WomenStrong.
Ashley Hatch
Forward, Washington Spirit
Ashley Hatch has integrated herself into the DMV community. She’s a board member of DC Scores, a nonprofit that teaches students how to engage on the field and in the classroom, and raises thousands for it through her soccer clinics. The veteran player initiated Boots from Pros, which delivers new and gently used soccer cleats from professional athletes to young players in need. Hatch also started The Ditto Podcast with Matt Moore, a mental performance coach, to open discussions on mental health and well-being.
Robert Hisaoka
Chair, Inova Health Foundation
The Inova Health Foundation supports the mission of nonprofit Inova to provide world-class health care in Northern Virginia. Investor Robert Hisaoka, who has raised millions for Inova Life with Cancer, chairs the foundation’s board of trustees. The philanthropist, whose sister died of cancer, educates potential donors on Inova’s major projects and goals. His current priority is raising funds for the $161 million renovation of the Fairfax ER, but 100 percent of contributions can go to any cause the benefactor designates.
Brian Huseman
Vice President, Public Policy, Amazon
Brian Huseman, a former justice department lawyer, is the leading Amazon executive at HQ2 in Arlington. Amazon’s Metropolitan Park has changed the city’s landscape with its buildings, an urban park, and new restaurants. Amazon’s mark locally includes committing funding to create and preserve thousands of DMV homes, increasing Arlington’s affordable housing stock, and working with more than 100 area nonprofits. Huseman sits on a number of boards, including Signature Theatre’s.
Tim Kaine
U.S. Senator
Tim Kaine is a relatable politician with seats on important Senate committees that impact NoVA: Armed Services; Foreign Relations; Budget; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Getting the Silver Line to Dulles International Airport — one of Kaine’s most challenging long-term projects — started when he was the commonwealth’s governor and ended when he was in the Senate. NoVA has received more than $100 million in transportation related funding from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with more funding expected in coming years.
Matt Kelly
CEO, JBG Smith
For JBG Smith, placemaking is the name of the game. Under Matt Kelly’s leadership, the commercial development company has redeveloped parts of Arlington’s Crystal City and Pentagon City, creating National Landing, with a blend of housing, retail, and public spaces, including the open-air food hall concept Water Park. Maintaining affordable places to live is another big focus: Impact Pool, JBG Smith’s affordable housing investment platform, has created or preserved more than 3,000 units in the DC metro area since 2020.
Anne M. Kress
President, Northern Virginia Community College
A fierce advocate for equitable access to affordable, high-quality higher education, Anne M. Kress presides over Northern Virginia Community College, the state’s largest community college system. During her tenure, NOVA launched an LPN program to address the nursing shortage, a workforce development program to provide free career training to Manassas residents, and an initiative that gives students real-world experience in tech jobs. Kress serves on boards including the Capital Area Food Bank and Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
Stephanie Landrum
President and CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership
Some of the region’s biggest economic developments have come to fruition thanks to Stephanie Landrum, whose organization works to diversify Alexandria’s economy and attract new businesses. Chief among them is the introduction of the $1 billion Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, which is expected to open in 2025. In her position since 2015, she also played a role in Northern Virginia landing Amazon’s HQ2 and in the 2023 opening of the Potomac Yard-VT Metro station. Both are key to the area’s future economic development.
LaTanya McDade
Superintendent, Prince William County Public Schools
LaTanya McDade was unanimously nominated for Superintendent of the Year by her peers in Region 4 — Northern Virginia. She started in her role in 2021 and implemented a four-year strategic plan to improve the district’s test scores, graduation rates, and community engagement. A former teacher, principal, and chief of schools, McDade is the first woman and first African American to lead PWCS, which is the second-largest school district in the state with more than 90,000 students.
Jeff McKay
Chair, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
At the helm of Virginia’s largest county since 2019, Jeff McKay helped guide the county through the challenges of the pandemic years. With two children in Fairfax County Public Schools, he’s a strong advocate for FCPS, affordable housing, and equity. He serves on the DMVMoves Task Force (an effort to find sustainable funding for public transit regionwide), as well as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and the Virginia Association of Counties board of directors.
Radha Muthiah
President and CEO, Capital Area Food Bank
The Capital Area Food Bank is based in DC but also supplies more than 20 million meals per year in Northern Virginia, where the need skyrocketed during the pandemic and has continued at an increased level. Radha Muthiah joined the group in 2018, and, under her leadership, the organization undertook a $35 million expansion of its Lorton facility. The new space, with modernized and upgraded equipment and technology, is nearly four times as large as the previous facility and is slated to open this fall.
T.J. Oshie
Right Wing, Washington Capitals
For nearly a decade, T.J. Oshie has been an integral part of the community both on and off the ice. Oshie is a Stanley Cup champion who’s played in over 1,000 career NHL games. Away from the game, Oshie founded Warroad Original Hockey Co. Its cut-resistant designs help protect players of all ages on the ice. Following his father’s diagnosis, Oshie became an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. He also supports the Capitals’ Hockey Fights Cancer campaign and its Canine Calendar, which benefits Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.
Troy Paino
President, University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg’s University of Mary Washington, a public liberal arts university, received the largest gift in its 115-year history in 2023: a $30 million donation for undergraduate research and scholarships from a 1959 alumna. Troy Paino, who’s led the university since 2016, is nationally recognized for his commitment to his students’ success and student affairs initiatives. The National Science Foundation awarded the university major funding for STEM teacher training. It’s working on a Lab School with Stafford County Public Schools and has plans for a new theater building.
Melissa J. Perry
Dean, George Mason University’s College of Public Health
Melissa J. Perry, a trained epidemiologist, educator, and academic leader who has published more than 150 works and lectured at over 25 American universities, is working to guide a new generation of health professionals from George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. At Virginia’s first college of public health, which enrolls over 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students, students and faculty tackle tough questions that impact the community and the world, from mental health to nutrition to opioid misuse.
Peterson Family Foundation
Philanthropic arm of Peterson Companies
Fairfax-based Peterson Companies is known for its real estate developments, and the Peterson Family Foundation, started by the late Milt Peterson and his wife, Carolyn, is known for its giving. This year, it committed $20 million to Inova, including $15 million going to Inova Life with Cancer and $5 million to the Fairfax emergency room, NoVA’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. George Mason University received a commitment for $5 million to modernize its Center for the Arts. (Rick Peterson and Lauren Peterson are pictured above.)
John E. “Jack” Potter
President and CEO, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Jack Potter actively looks for ways to improve the passenger experience at Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports — and to position both for future growth. He’s been instrumental in guiding the strategy that’s resulted in $1 billion in DCA improvements, initiated plans for IAD’s new 14-gate concourse, and modernized concessions at both airports. During Potter’s tenure, Dulles broke ground on the largest solar farm ever built at a U.S. airport, and the airports authority managed Metro’s Silver Line extension to Dulles.
Phyllis J. Randall
Chair, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
Phyllis J. Randall, now in her third term as chair, has served during rapid growth in Loudoun. In that time, the county rewrote its land use plan and updated its zoning ordinances for the first time since 2003. A mental health therapist by profession, Randall makes mental health a top priority. She made history in 2015 when she became the first person of color to be elected chair of a county board in Virginia. She is chair of the full Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and a member of The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments board of directors, among other board positions.
Buddy Rizer
Executive Director, Loudoun County Department of Economic Development
In 2007, Loudoun County tasked Buddy Rizer with growing the commercial tax base to make it less dependent on residential real estate taxes. Today, commercial uses account for 49 percent of the tax base. Rizer’s team has brought in more than $50 billion in new commercial investment and over 50,000 new jobs. Data centers account for one-third of county revenue, something Rizer predicts will rise to $1 billion by decade’s end. The former radio DJ sees Metro’s Silver Line as the real estate market’s next game changer.
Horacio Rozanski
Chairman, CEO, and President, Booz Allen Hamilton
Horacio Rozanski started as an intern and worked his way up Booz Allen Hamilton’s corporate ladder. He now sets the direction for the global information technology and management consulting company headquartered in McLean. The federal government contractor is one of the region’s largest employers, with about 15,000 of its 34,200 workers in the area. Rozanski chairs the Children’s National Medical Center board of directors and is part of The Kennedy Center’s Corporate Fund board.
Abigail Spanberger
U.S. Representative, Virginia’s 7th District
The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy named Abigail Spanberger the most bipartisan member of Virginia’s delegation and the fifth most bipartisan in the 117th Congress. She’s helped secure funding for NoVA projects including $4.6 million for Spotsylvania County for Interstate 95/Route 1 interchange safety improvements and a 1-million-gallon water tower, and emergency operations center funding for Fredericksburg. A former CIA case officer, Spanberger is running in Virginia’s 2025 race for governor.
Aaron Spence
Superintendent, Loudoun County Public Schools
When Aaron Spence came to Loudoun County from Virginia Beach in 2023, the school system was embroiled in controversies ranging from the alleged mishandling of student sexual assaults to student overdoses. He brought with him nearly three decades of experience in education and is now working to foster strong relationships with the community, coordinate with the county school board, and create a culture where students and staff at the district’s 100 schools and centers feel valued.
Jennifer Taylor
President and CEO, Northern Virginia Technology Council
One of the largest regional tech trade associations in the nation, NVTC and its leader, Jennifer Taylor, help attract tech companies to NoVA at a time when the region’s focus is shifting to be a home for data centers, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. Taylor advocates for alternative pathways to tech careers, like high school internships and apprenticeships. She has an MBA from George Mason University and now sits on the advisory board for its School of Management.
Toni Townes-Whitley
CEO, SAIC
A year ago, Toni Townes-Whitley became CEO of SAIC, a Reston-based tech company that employs over 24,000 worldwide and generates $7.4 billion annually, making her one of only two Black female Fortune 500 CEOs. She quickly got to work rolling out a new growth strategy and reorganizing the company into five business groups. Townes-Whitley is a longtime supporter of the Women’s Center of Northern Virginia and previously served as president of Women in Technology, which presented her with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mark Warner
U.S. Senator
Virginia’s senior senator, who was first elected in 2008, hails from Old Town Alexandria. A former governor of the commonwealth, Mark Warner is the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence and sits on the Finance; Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs; Budget; and Rules & Administration committees. Known for working across the aisle, he refers to himself as a “bipartisan Senate gang member.” He has been a key author and negotiator of several pieces of important legislation to rebuild infrastructure and protect national security.
Gregory Washington
President, George Mason University
The leader of Virginia’s largest public research university is Gregory Washington, who became its first Black president in 2020. In fall 2024, the school enrolled its largest and most diverse freshman class yet. Last year, its total enrollment exceeded 40,000 — a record-breaker for the state. The university continues to expand with construction projects in Arlington and Manassas, a new recreation facility planned in Fairfax, high-profile projects including one to build an artificial star with NASA, and programs that offer pathways to four-year degrees to anyone in Virginia.
Christina Winn
Executive Director, Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
In Christina Winn’s five years with Prince William, the county has attracted $10.7 billion in capital investment and close to 8,000 jobs. It now has the potential to become the world’s largest data center hub. Winn’s goals: Bring in higher paying jobs and encourage more entrepreneurship. Her budget currently has funding to grow agritourism and to study how to make its 20 miles of waterfront a tourism destination. Winn came to Prince William after leading Arlington’s efforts that brought Amazon’s HQ2 there.
Renée Byng Yancey
President and CEO, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
Renée Byng Yancey, a seasoned nonprofit executive, uses philanthropy to advance positive change across NoVA. Those changes may be in equity and racial justice, social and economic mobility, or increased access to resources for minority-owned businesses. Yancey took over at the foundation, which has been supporting the region since 1978, this year. Last year, the foundation awarded more than $7.1 million in grants and scholarships across NoVA, as well as to national and even international organizations.
Index
Gupta, Shashikant and Margaret
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