Alumni Spotlight is pleased to announce The Top 100 Chief Operating Officers of 2022. These executive team members are in charge of implementing strategy, managing change, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organizations they serve. This year’s awardees span across nearly all industries including education, information technology, food and beverage production, healthcare, civil engineering, tourism, financial services and more. While their responsibilities vary, their overall goal remains the same – to make the company’s vision become a reality. Two of the world’s most well-known COOs, Tim Cook formerly serving in the role with Apple and Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, are credited with being the key driving force behind their company’s successes. Their track records are an inspiration to many and provide proof that a highly proficient COO will propel a business forward.
Awardee Ana Corrales, a COO with Google, is responsible for bringing their consumer hardware products and services to life by leading every aspect of product development and delivery to their customers around the world. Hans Schroeder, EVP and COO of NFL Media, leads network distribution and manages the organization's relationships with its partners while juggling the strategy of how best to deploy live games across many media platforms. Meanwhile, Starbucks’ Group President for North America and COO, John Culver, has the responsibility of overseeing the business’s store development, marketing, global supply chain, technology and overall functions that drive the Starbucks experience.
This year’s awardees are the key drivers to growing, scaling, and improving their organizations. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of The Top 100 Chief Operating Officers of 2022.
1. Ana Corrales
Chief Operating Officer, Google
Stanford University
Ana Corrales is the Chief Operating Officer for Google’s Consumer Hardware & Services business. As COO, Corrales leads the development process for Google hardware products - the Pixel 6 with Google’s custom silicon, Google Tensor, Pixel Buds, Nest speakers, displays and cameras, Fitbit smartwatches and trackers and more - and manages getting those products into the hands of customers. Corrales also drives the end-to-end IT efforts and customer experience work across the Google Hardware business. Corrales previously led Google Hardware’s first-party retail efforts, including driving the growth of e-commerce channel, Google Store.
Prior to Google, Corrales served as COO and CFO at Nest. She also served as the SVP of product operations at Cisco Systems. In 2006, Corrales co-founded a startup solar company. As the acting CEO, Corrales sold the company in 2010. Corrales is a member of the Women@Google board and is an executive sponsor for HOLA, Google’s Latinx Employee Resource Group. She is also an advisor to Roli, a company reinventing instruments that extend the joy of music-making to everyone and previously served on the board of directors for Watermark, the Bay Area’s largest women leadership organization. Corrales earned a master's in engineering from Stanford University.
2. Jane Brown
Chief Operating Officer, UnitedHealth Group
Dartmouth College
Jane Brown is the Chief Operating Officer of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina. She first joined UnitedHealthcare in 2016 as a compliance officer for UHC’s Iowa Health Plan. UnitedHealthcare is a leader in the managed care space, serving millions of Medicaid eligible members across the United States. The North Carolina Plan in particular serves over 400,000 lives and is dedicated to the North Carolinian community it has the honor to serve.
Brown is a results-producing managed care executive with extensive operations and compliance experience, which has been instrumental in the Medicaid transformation efforts in North Carolina. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board for Vital Neural Networks, a Houston based health tech company developing innovative tools for individuals requiring in-home health services. Brown holds three degrees, including a B.S. from the University of Connecticut’s School of Business, a master’s degree from Dartmouth College, and JD from Tulane Law School.
8. Chris Skowronski
Chief Operating Officer, Munich Re
The University of Chicago
Chris Skowronski began his professional career 24 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Operating Officer of Munich Re Specialty Group NA. Munich Re Group is a multinational insurance company based in Germany. It is one of the world's leading reinsurers and the second largest primary insurer in Germany. As a pioneer in risk assessment, Munich Re drives the digital transformation of the global insurance landscape, expanding products and services as new forms of risk emerge.
Skowronski first got his start in 1998 as a consultant at Accenture. From there, he went on to several ecommerce startups including MVP.com, before eventually rising to become the VP of digital strategy & execution at CNA Insurance. Skowronski joined Munich Re as Chief Digital Officer in 2019 to design and implement a new target operating model and technology platform and later assumed broader operational responsibility as Chief Operating Officer. He graduated from The University of Chicago with an MBA and an undergraduate degree in economics.
12. Essya Hanachi
Chief Operating Officer for Finance, Citi
Georgetown University
Essya Hanachi is the Chief Operating Officer for Finance of Citi, the global institution connecting millions of people across hundreds of countries and cities. Citi's mission is to serve as a trusted partner to their clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress. Their core activities are safeguarding assets, lending money, making payments, and accessing the capital markets on behalf of their clients. Hanachi began her career in 1994.
Before joining Citi, Hanachi was a CFO of Chase card services at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and before that a global controller at BGC Partners. Earlier in her career she worked with JP Morgan as an associate. Hanachi graduated from Columbia Business School with an MBA and from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
14. Justin Oppenheimer
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Strategy Officer, Hospital for Special Surgery
Princeton University
Justin Oppenheimer is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of HSS, the world’s leading academic medical center specialized in musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, ranked #1 in orthopedics globally and nationally and top-ranked for rheumatology and rehabilitation. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation, and education.
Prior to joining HSS in 2013, Oppenheimer was a management consultant at the Monitor Group (now Monitor Deloitte) where he served as an engagement manager for the strategy practice. Oppenheimer is a co-founder of EngagedHealth, an annual summit for national healthcare leaders. He also serves on the board of directors for Urban Dove, a New York-based charter school management organization. Oppenheimer graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA and from Princeton University with an undergraduate degree in political economy and finance.
15. Chris Salata
Industrial Commercial Properties LLC
University of Notre Dame
Chris Salata is the Chief Operating Officer for Industrial Commercial Properties LLC. Salata oversees the daily operations of the company and the work of its executives. In his role, he works closely with the owner to design and implement business strategies, plans and procedures. Salata is actively involved in all of the company’s investments, acquisitions, corporate alliances, financings and expansion activities. He also plays a key role in managing the company’s relationships with partners, tenants and vendors. During his tenure, the company’s value has more than doubled to $1.8B and the portfolio has grown to over 150 properties totaling 47 million square feet with more than 350 tenants.
Salata was formerly Senior Vice President of Development at DDR Corp. (DDR), where he oversaw nationwide development and redevelopment initiatives for the publicly traded real estate investment trust. Prior to joining DDR, Salata was a Principal at Fairmount Properties and served as Chief Investment Officer and General Counsel. During his time at Fairmount Properties, he served as the lead project executive on Pinecrest, a $240MM mixed-use development project in Orange Village, OH. Salata started his career as an attorney with McDonald Hopkins LLC, practicing in the firm’s business department, handling matters related to real estate, finance and corporate mergers and acquisitions. Salata earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
17. LuAnn Brady
Chief Operating Officer, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
LuAnn Brady is a seasoned senior healthcare executive with operational and strategic experience and a passion for convening and motivating interdisciplinary teams to drive and sustain outcomes. Currently, she is the Chief Operating Officer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, a 1,190 licensed bed teaching hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine. She is an experienced executive with leadership experience in community hospitals, multi-hospital systems and academic medical centers with a broad set of competencies in strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, operational management, service line development and team leadership. Her expertise is working collaboratively and effectively across complex health systems to align providers and administrative leaders to advance efficient and patient-focused care.
Brady has a master’s in public health with a concentration in health policy and administration from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an undergraduate degree in English and economics management from Salem College. She is a member of various health-care related associations and actively involved in the community and neighborhood groups that focus on improving health and wellness in underserved communities.
20. Leo Alaniz
Chief Operating Officer - Investments, Northern Trust
Yale University
Leo Alaniz is the Chief Operating Officer of Investments in Wealth Management at Northern Trust. He first joined the company in 2011 as Head of Strategy and Global Marketing, Corporate & Institutional Services. Northern Trust is a preeminent global financial institution that provides asset servicing, investment management and wealth management services for institutions, high-net-worth individuals and families. For more than a century, Northern Trust has built a legacy of outstanding service, expertise and integrity for its client franchise across its global network.
Previously, Leo was a VP of Strategy at BMO Financial Group and before that was a Consultant at McKinsey & Company. He earned an MBA in General Management from Harvard Business School, an MPhil in European Studies from the University of Cambridge, and a BA in Biology and International studies from Yale University.
View the complete list of awardees.
21. Mary Foster
Central Region Chief Operating Officer, Aon
Northwestern University
Mary Foster is the Central Region Chief Operating Officer of Aon. Aon, created in 1982, is a British-American professional services firm that sells a range of financial risk-mitigation products, including insurance, pension administration, and health-insurance plans. Aon's services include commercial risk solutions, reinsurance solutions, retirement solutions, health solutions, and data and analytic services. Foster has over 23 years in the financial services industry. She began her career in 1998.
Foster first got her start in 1998 with Aon as a senior accountant. She moved on in several leadership roles including financial planning advisor, VP of operations, financial officer, and portfolio leader. Foster graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with an MS in accounting and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in organizational studies.
22. Shelly Anderson
EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Georgetown University
Shelly Anderson began her professional career 27 years ago. Today, she is the EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Brigham and Women's Hospital. Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), a 793-bed teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is recognized internationally for its excellence and innovation in patient care, biomedical research, and education and training programs for physicians, scientists, and health care professionals. In addition, they are committed to health equity and reducing disparities locally and through its numerous global health programs. They are recognized for their expertise in heart and vascular care, cancer care, orthopedic and arthritis treatment, neurologic and neurosurgical care, women's health, and virtually every other area of adult medicine.
Anderson first got her start in 1995 as a partner at Stockamp & Associates. From there, she went on to Huron Consulting Group as managing director, her most recent position prior to joining Brigham and Women's Hospital. Anderson graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in public policy management and from Concordia College with an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration.
26. Raghu Krishnaiah
Chief Operating Officer, University of Phoenix
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Raghu Krishnaiah is an innovative leader experienced at turning transformative products and business concepts into successful global companies. His career as a seasoned change agent and strategist spans more than 20 years of progressive P&L management, strategy, sales and marketing, product development, operations, technology, and Board responsibilities. Krishnaiah currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at University of Phoenix, where he is instrumental in the transformation of the University and responsible for all operating strategy and results.
Before joining University of Phoenix, Krishnaiah held the role of chief operating officer at Western Governors University, where he led significant growth in student learning outcomes. Prior to Western Governors University, Krishnaiah worked as senior vice president at Kaplan Higher Education Group, and has served in a number of leadership roles throughout his career, overseeing large operational infrastructures at complex global organizations in financial services, management consulting, and technology industries. Krishnaiah earned both an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and computer science and a master’s in electrical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
27. Eric Beck
Chief Operating Officer, University Hospitals
John Carroll University
Eric Beck is the Chief Operating Officer of University Hospitals. Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 23 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Oxford University and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. Beck has over 21 years in the hospital & health care industry. He began his career in 2001.
Before joining University Hospitals, Beck was a president and CEO at University of North Texas Health Science Center and before that a CEO and executive committee member at Ascension At Home. Earlier in his career she worked with Willoughby Hills Fire Department as a firefighter and paramedic. Beck graduated from John Carroll University with an undergraduate degree.
29. Matthew Franz
Chief Operating Officer, Plastipak
Washington University in St. Louis
Matthew Franz is the Chief Operating Officer of Plastipak. Plastipak is a world leader in the packaging and recycling industries. It designs and manufactures high-quality, rigid plastic containers for the food, beverage, and consumer products industries. With innovation as a key driver, Plastipak operates at more than 50 sites across the globe. Their affiliate companies are Clean Tech, which recycles over 200 million pounds of plastic per year; and Whiteline Express, a trucking and logistics management company that logs over 25 million miles a year.
Franz first joined Plastipak in 2017 as SVP before moving on to become the VP of manufacturing. Previously, Franz was a director of operations at Amcor Rigid Plastics. He dedicated several years to the US Army where he was a captain stationed in Germany. Franz earned an MBA and an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
34. William Hahn
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Harvard University
William Hahn is the William Rosenberg Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School and, since 2020, serves as an Executive Vice President and the Chief Operating Officer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a world-renowned comprehensive cancer treatment and research institute and the founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. DFCI employs more than 6000 staff, faculty, and clinicians supporting more than 640,000 annual outpatient visits, more than 1,000 hospital discharges per year, and has over 1,100 open clinical trials.
As a cancer researcher, Hahn has made numerous discoveries that have informed our current molecular understanding of cancer and have formed the foundation of new translational studies. The tools, models and approaches that his laboratory has developed are widely used worldwide to discover and validate molecularly targeted cancer therapies. Hahn received his undergraduate, medical and graduate degrees from Harvard University and has been a faculty member at DFCI and Harvard Medical School since 1999. He has been awarded the Ho-Am Prize in Medicine (2010), the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award from AACR (2015) and the Claire and Richard Morse Award (2019). He has been elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Association of Physicians and the National Academy of Medicine.
36. Bradley Campbell
President & Chief Operating Officer, Amicus Therapeutics
Duke University
Bradley Campbell is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Amicus Therapeutics and is also a member of the Board of Directors. He brings 20 years of experience in the Orphan Drug industry. Campbell joined Amicus in 2006 and leads the global organization responsible for the commercialization of Galafold®. He also oversees the technical operations, market access, program management, clinical operations, and regulatory affairs functions.
Campbell currently serves on a number of Boards including the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), and the Corporate Advisory Board for the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association. He previously served on the Board of ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp III, a healthcare focused Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle, as well as Progenics Pharmaceuticals from 2016 until its successful acquisition by Lantheus Holdings in 2020. Prior to Amicus, Campbell spent time in various commercial and business development roles at Genzyme and Bristol-Myers Squibb and as a strategy consultant for Marakon Associates. He received an undergraduate degree in public policy studies from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
View the complete list of awardees.
38. John Sheehan
Chief Operating Officer, UnityPoint Health
University of Wisconsin - Madison
John Sheehan is the Chief Operating Officer of UnityPoint Health. He first joined the company in 2019 as the VP of health operations. UnityPoint Health works together as a team to champion high-quality, low-cost care. With annual revenues of $4.4 billion, their providers and services span hospitals, clinics and at home settings across Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Their presence in metropolitan and rural communities allows them to innovate through partnerships with organizations outside of healthcare. Their family of more than 30,000 team members remains dedicated to shared values that put their people first.
Previously, Sheehan was a president and SVP at UW Health and before that an executive VP, COO, regional VP of UnityPoint Health. Over the span of his career, he has served in executive leadership roles with organizations like ThedaCare, Geisinger Health System and Centura Health. He is board certified in healthcare management and has a strong history in strategic planning, hospital and group practice operations, physician relations and alignment. Sheehan is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with an undergraduate degree in economics and from Saint Louis University with a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
39. Dominic N. Lacy
Chief Operating Officer, Gallaudet University
Southern Methodist University
Dominic Lacy is the first-ever Chief Operating Officer at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He assumed this role in January 2020, and almost immediately pivoted to a major role with the university’s COVID-19 leadership team. He oversees over 200 people in a myriad of units, including business development, campus services, campus design and facilities, human resources, information technology, American Sign Language interpreting, public safety, real estate, and local government affairs. He also serves on the university president’s executive leadership team.
As COO, Lacy ensures there is high-level administrative and operational support for the university community, including the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center for K-12 students, and providing strategic leadership and direction to assure agile and responsive infrastructure and personnel to fulfill the university’s mission. He oversees developing effective teams and operations throughout the university and strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship as part of the university’s culture. This includes supporting the university through its current undertaking; a large transformation of technology, operating models, and streamlining business processes to support the student experience. Lacy was previously Chief Innovation Officer at Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), based in Austin, Texas. He worked in the consulting industry across several sectors for 14 years. He received an undergraduate degree in finance from Southern Methodist University and is currently in the process of obtaining his EMBA from the program at IE Brown Executive MBA.
44. Mark Wagner
Chief Operating Officer, Moody Bible Institute
Northern Kentucky University
Mark Wagner is the Chief Operating Officer at Moody Bible Institute. Moody Bible Institute is an accredited college of higher education. They have been preparing students for ministry, with a combination of biblical knowledge and ministry experience. More than 40,000 students have graduated from Moody and serve in 110 countries. In addition to its college, Moody is America’s leading radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and book publishing company. Moody radio consists of 36 owned radio stations across the country.
Before joining Moody Bible Institute, Wagner served 40 years in various positions at Walgreens, including president, treasurer, and president of Walgreens real-estate investment company. Wagner graduated from Western New England University with an MBA in hospital and health care management and from Northern Kentucky University with an undergraduate degree in marketing.
45. Joseph Diaz
Chief Operating Officer, Didlake
Rutgers University
Joseph Diaz is the Chief Operating Officer of Didlake. He first joined the company in 2020. Didlake is an internationally accredited nonprofit agency with the mission of creating opportunities that enrich the lives of people with disabilities. It provides rehabilitative services including supported employment and day support services for individuals with disabilities living and working in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. In addition to its rehabilitative services, they provide administrative and IT support services, facilities support services, and logistics on 37 contracts serving federal, state, county, and city governments.
Previously, Diaz was an SVP of operations at SourceAmerica and before that he served as an executive director for the East region. Diaz earned a master’s degree in clinical and medical social work from Rutgers University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Rowan University.
50. Troy Dunmire
EVP & Chief Operating Officer, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
University of South Florida
Troy Dunmire began his professional career over 26 years ago. Today, he is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the largest nonprofit dedicated to creating a world without blood cancers. Since 1949, they’ve invested more than $1.3 billion in groundbreaking research, pioneering many of today’s most innovative approaches. They work tirelessly to find cures and ensure patients can access the lifesaving treatments they need. When someone experiences the fear and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis, they provide hope, compassion, education, and support.
Dunmire first got his start in 1996 in various retail store leadership positions at Gap. From there, he went on to Banana Republic and Old Navy before eventually rising to Senior Vice President of Stores & Operations for Gap North America prior to joining The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dunmire graduated from the University of South Florida, Muma College of Business with an undergraduate degree in marketing and is currently pursuing an MBA at Purdue University Global.
53. Donovan Campbell
Executive Vice President & General Manager, Accolade
Princeton University
Donovan Campbell is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Accolade Care Solutions, an innovative virtual care service providing patients access to integrated primary and mental health care via app or web. Previously, Campbell was COO of 2nd.MD from 2018 through its acquisition by Accolade in 2021. In that role, he led 2nd.MD through a period of significant growth as it expanded its unique, real-time expert medical specialist video consultation service to cover over eight million people.
In addition to his roles with Accolade, Campbell serves as a co-founder and board member of NextOp, a Houston-based non-profit that recruits, trains, and mentors veterans to place them into meaningful careers in industry. Since inception, NextOp has placed nearly 3,000 veterans into well-paying jobs post-military. Before entering the business world, Campbell served as a Marine Corps infantry and intelligence officer, completing three combat deployments with the United States Marine Corps in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Campbell was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his time in Iraq and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his time in Afghanistan. He is also the author of two memoirs, Joker One and The Leaders Code, detailing his military experience. Campbell graduated with high honors in history from Princeton University and holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar for finishing in the top 5%.
58. Baljeet Sangha
Chief Operating Officer, San Francisco Department of Public Health
University of California - Berkeley
Baljeet Sangha began his professional career over 12 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Operating Officer of the San Francisco Health Network, the City of San Francisco’s only fully complete and integrated healthcare delivery system. He also currently serves as the Vaccine Executive Sponsor and as an Incident Commander for the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s covid pandemic response.
Previously, Sangha was VP of operations and support services at Alameda Health System. Earlier in his career, he worked as an executive administrator in the San Francisco Health Network and also as the inaugural deputy COO and chief patient experience officer at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Sangha earned a master’s in public health with a focus on health policy and management, and a specialty in multicultural health from the University of California - Berkeley. He also earned an undergraduate degree in history from the University of California - Berkeley. Sangha is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Fellow of America’s Essential Hospitals.
View the complete list of awardees.
60. David Pines
Chief Operating Officer, CanopyLAB
The Johns Hopkins University
David Pines began his professional career 49 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Operating Officer of CanopyLAB. CanopyLAB is a Danish EdTech company founded in Copenhagen in 2015. Their vision to change the way we learn was conceptualized based on CEO Sahra-Josephine Hjorth's Ph.D. research at Aalborg University, focusing on virtual learning environments, social media, and empowerment through learning. CanopyLAB currently services 200+ companies and educational institutions with remote and blended learning solutions in more than 20 countries.
Pines first got his start in 1973 as a teacher at Friends School of Baltimore. From there, he went on to The Breakthrough Foundation, before eventually rising to become the executive director at The Foundation for the Future of Youth, his most recent position prior to joining CanopyLAB. Pines graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a master’s degree in psychology and education and from Lake Forest College with undergraduate degrees in sociology, anthropology, and education.
61. Raj Singhal
Chief Operating and Financial Officer, IPG Health
University of Michigan
Raj Singhal is the Chief Operating and Financial Officer of IPG Health. He first joined the company in 2021. IPG Health is home to FCB Health and McCann Health agencies - some of the world’s most celebrated and awarded health marketing agency brands. They are a collective of over 45 agencies and 5,000+ people across six continents, all singularly focused on creating game-changing marketing solutions that accelerate progress in health for good and for all.
Previously, Singhal was an acting global CEO at Huge and before that, a VP of investment banking at J.P. Morgan Investment Bank. Earlier in his career he worked with Ford Motor Company as an advanced design and product engineer. Singhal earned an MBA in finance and corporate strategy and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, both from the University of Michigan.
63. Tom Block
Chief Operating Officer, Foley Hoag
University of Chicago
Tom Block is the Chief Operating Officer of Foley Hoag. He first joined the company in 2003. Foley Hoag is a dynamic law firm that represents public and private clients in a wide range of disputes and transactions worldwide. They have expertise in industries such as life sciences and healthcare, technology, energy and renewables, investment management, professional services and education. The company also offers their clients market-leading international litigation and arbitration and corporate social responsibility services.
Previously, Block was a president and COO at IF! and before that a COO at Ingalls, Quinn & Johnson. Earlier in his career he worked with Bain & Company as a consultant. Block earned a PhD in sociology from the University of Chicago, a master’s in sociology from SUNY Stony Brook and an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
65. David Albers
Chief Operating Officer, US Department of Education
Florida Institute of Technology
David Albers is the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the US Department of Education. He first joined the organization in 2019. The United States Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. They establish policies on federal financial aid for education and distributing as well as monitoring those funds, while focusing national attention on key educational issues
Previously, Albers was a president at Revenue Connections and before that a VP of enterprise sales, business development and global account management at Altisource. Earlier in his career he worked with Barnett Bank as a senior commercial lender and branch manager. Albers earned an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in finance from Florida State University.
66. Jon Hoch
Chief Operating Officer, NRS
University of Virginia
Jon Hoch began his professional career nearly 23 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Operating Officer of National Retail Systems (NRS). NRS is an asset-based third-party logistics company founded in 1952. To cover supply chain needs from end-to-end, NRS partners with their clients to understand their specific requirements and to provide innovative, customized solutions that meet both current and future needs.
Hoch first got his start in 1999 as a manager of operations at Abercrombie & Fitch. From there, he went on to The Home Depot before eventually rising to become the VP of transportation at TBC Corporation, his most recent position prior to joining NRS. Hoch graduated from the University of Virginia with an undergraduate degree in economics.
69. Jim Augustine
Chief Operating Officer, Zuckerberg Media
Harvard University
Jim Augustine is a media entrepreneur whose career has spanned theater, film, publishing, technology, and business consulting. Most recently, Augustine served as COO of Zuckerberg Media, where he oversaw and built partnerships, new companies, and venture funds in publishing, kids technology and entertainment, streaming media distribution theatrical productions, venture capital, consumer tech, and more. Augustine is Co-Founder of Sue's Tech Kitchen, a Co-Founder of the Zuckerberg Institute, and a Co-Founder of Assemble Stream Inc., which he incubated from its inception to a skyrocketing valuation, packaging agreements with international private equity partners, overseeing contracts with all early partners including regional, Off-Broadway and Broadway theaters, and launching in the process the company's beta platform, and on it, the first-ever commercially successful simulcast run of a Broadway show (Lynn Nottage's Clydes, 2022).
Additionally, at Zuckerberg Media, Augustine helped to package the company's participation as a General Partner in Surround Ventures, an entertainment, media and technology fund operating between Tel Aviv, NYC, LA, and San Francisco. Augustine also Co-Founded and served as managing director of Broadway Beta Ventures, a fund dedicated to live entertainment and the technologies and services that fuel it. He credits his success to early learning differences, including a struggle with dyslexia and a speech impediment. Augustine has supported countless students with diverse learning styles, first as an independent academic consultant, then as a resident tutor, non-resident tutor, guest lecturer and guest artist at Harvard, NYU, the University of Colorado at Boulder, RIT, and other academic institutions. He graduated from Harvard College and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
72. Nicholas Holmes
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego
Georgetown University
Nicholas Holmes is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego. He first joined the hospital in 2007 as the chief of pediatric urology. Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego is a nonprofit and the largest children's hospital in California that provides services to the San Diego, southern Riverside and Imperial counties. The hospital has 524 beds and provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to patients aged 0–21. In 2020, Rady Children's Hospital was ranked in all 10 specialties by U.S. New and World Report.
Previously, Holmes was a VP and medical director of surgery at Children’s Specialist of San Diego. Earlier in his career he worked with Naval Medical Center - San Diego as a chairman of the department of urology. Holmes earned an MBA from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, an MD from Georgetown University’s School of Medicine, and an undergraduate degree in biology from Georgetown University.
View the complete list of awardees.
73. Jennifer Whitten
Chief Operating Officer, Heritage Ministries
University of Massachusetts
Jennifer Whitten's career in healthcare and senior living began more than 17 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Operating Officer for Heritage Ministries, headquartered in Gerry, NY. Heritage Ministries operates a full spectrum of senior services, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, short- and long-term rehabilitation and pharmacy services across 4 states.
Whitten has held many roles throughout her career, including sales, marketing and operations, for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Whitten's career has included leadership roles in senior living, home health care, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Whitten received her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts and her MBA in healthcare management from Saint Leo University.
75. Kevin White
Deputy Director of Athletics & Chief Operating Officer, Northwestern University
University of North Carolina
Kevin White is the Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer at Northwestern University. He first joined Northwestern in 2017, after serving in the same COO capacity at Southern Methodist University. At Northwestern, he is responsible for overseeing the coaches' contract negotiations, finance and business operations (an annual budget of $110M), human resources, information technology, and purchasing. He serves as the sport administrator over the football and men’s basketball programs at Northwestern, where he works with each head coach to oversee each aspect of those programs. He serves as a trusted member to the Vice President of Athletics and Recreation, as he is instrumental with helping direct the day-to-day operation of the department.
Over the course of his career, White has also worked at Southern Methodist University and Georgia State University. He has led and developed strategic plans and crafted finance deals worth over $550 million in sports related capital projects. White graduated from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He also completed his masters in sport administration from Georgia State University and earned an MBA from Kennesaw State University.
80. Mélange Matthews
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, Public Health Institute
University of California - Berkeley
Méange Matthews is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Public Health Institute. She first joined the organization in 2009. The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization, and one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California and around the world. Matthews brings a wealth of expertise in management, planning, organizational support, and policy analysis to PHI. She is focused in part on ensuring PHI’s operational excellence and internal efficiency. The organization has more than doubled in size and funding as a result of the pandemic, which has increased the operational lift. Matthews has overseen and implemented every change and had a direct positive impact on patient outcomes.
With over two decades of public health experience, Matthews has served as the director and board chair of a number of local and statewide organizations. Her previous roles include acting director and chief operating officer for the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Community Development, senior legislative planner for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, board member of the Regional Poison Control Center and member of the California Senate Medicaid Blue Ribbon Committee. As a consultant, Matthews has provided strategic planning and organizational support to foundations and nonprofits nationally. She has also taught critical thinking and contemporary health issues at San Francisco State University. Matthews holds master’s degrees in public health and city regional planning, both from the University of California - Berkeley.
82. Edward Huang
Chief Operating Officer, Avenues: The World School
Cornell University
Edward Huang is the Chief Operating Officer of Avenues: The World School, an international system of private schools for toddler to 12th grade. Huang joined Avenues in 2016 as a VP of information systems and technology and CIO where he successfully led the development and implementation of critical digital infrastructure and practices to support Avenues global expansion. In 2021, Huang was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, leading information systems and technology, marketing, admissions and enrollment management, creative, and the communications functions. Huang is a strategic executive leader and an experienced technologist with over 20 years of results building successful teams from startup to growth.
Prior to joining Avenues, Huang worked at global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman, where he led the firm’s Project Management Office and developed their global IT infrastructure, systems and information security. Prior to that, Huang was recruited to Walt Disney World, where he was awarded a service excellence award for leadership. Huang graduated from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in operations management and marketing and attended the University of Pennsylvania where he earned an M.Sc. engineering degree in the management of technology, co-sponsored by the Wharton School and the School of Engineering.
85. Jenny Santiago
Chief Operating Officer, Crozer Health
Cornell University
Jenny Santiago began her professional career over 13 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Operating Officer of Crozer Health. Crozer Health is the major health care provider in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It provides a full spectrum of wellness, prevention, acute care, rehabilitation, and restorative care to the community. The system is made up of four hospitals, several outpatient facilities, and a comprehensive physician network of primary-care and specialty practices.
Santiago first got her start in 2009 as a data analyst at Advantage Management Solutions. From there, she went on to Passages Addiction Treatment Center before eventually rising to associate hospital administrator at Southern California Hospitals, her most recent position prior to joining Crozer Health. Santiago graduated from Cornell University with a master's degree in health administration and from Penn State University with an undergraduate degree in journalism.
87. Mario Cernadas
Chief Operating Officer, Ojos Locos Sports Cantina
University of Alabama
Mario Cernadas has been in the restaurant industry for more than 30 years. He started his career washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms while attending the University of Alabama. Over the years, Cernadas worked his way up through the industry and was later entrusted as the COO and CEO of various national brands. Cernadas currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Ojos Locos Sports Cantina. Founded in 2010, Ojos Locos Sports Cantina was built to cater to the Latino community, bringing them a comfortable laid back experience. Ojos Locos Sports Cantina is a chain of Mexican-themed sports bars and restaurants based in Dallas, Texas, with locations throughout the American Southwest.
Cernadas is visionary and an industry expert. He believes that transformation management will always start with the people and “it does not matter how robust or creative a strategy may be, the success of the implementation of that strategy will always depend on the people you can inspire to see your vision and to execute your mission.” Cernadas has previously held executive leadership roles with companies like Roy’s Restaurant, Applebee’s, and Sun Holdings. Cernadas earned his MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
88. Lorena Tule-Romain
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, ImmSchools
The University of Texas at Austin
Lorena Tule-Romain is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of ImmSchools. ImmSchools is an immigrant-led nonprofit organization that partners with K-12 schools and educators to support undocumented students and families by leading professional development, immigrant-centered workshops, and organizing for immigrant-friendly policies. Tule-Romain has over 14 years in the education services industry. She began her career in 2007.
Before joining ImmSchools, Tule-Romain was a managing director at Teach For America and before that an assistant English teacher at Colegio Nueva Granada. Earlier in her career she worked with Longhorn LULAC and served as the president and board member. Tule-Romain graduated from Southern Methodist University with a doctorate in education and master of education, and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in political science and government.
93. Donna Jonas
Chief Operating Officer, Museum of the Bible
Georgetown University
Donna Jonas is the Chief Operating Officer of the Museum of the Bible. She first joined the organization in 2017. Museum of the Bible’s 430,000-square-foot building is located just three blocks from the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. It aims to be among the most technologically advanced and engaging museums in the world. Showcasing rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 3,500 years of history, the museum offers visitors an immersive and personalized experience with the Bible, and its ongoing impact on the world around us.
In addition to her current role, Jonas is a founding member of CHIEF, the private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. She is also a legislative liaison with the US Army Reserve and a participant in the National Security Fellows Program with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. She was active in the US Army for over 12 years as an army aviation officer. Jonas graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s in policy management with concentration in public policy analysis, and from the University of Missouri - Columbia with an undergraduate degree in French language and literature.
View the complete list of awardees.