Key Executives is pleased to announce The Top 25 Executives of Washington, D.C. for 2023. The United States Capitol is, above all, a center for politics, with a quarter of its employees working for the federal government, but the city is by no means limited to that sector. D.C. offers opportunities for professionals to rise to the top of industries as varied as media, telecommunications, finance, research, education, and consulting. The proof is in our list of D.C.-based awardees, who hold C-level executive positions at esteemed companies like Verizon, Fortune Magazine, Booz Allen Hamilton, and others in spaces like defense technology and education.
Among this year’s awardees are Susan Penfield, Chief Technology Officer at Booz Allen Hamilton, who helped advance the firm’s health business to provide transformational consulting and technology to its public- and private-sector clients; Verizon’s Chief Strategy Counsel, Duffy Knoll, who played an important role in educating seniors to safely take advantage of the internet more than a decade ago; and Jonathan Rivers, Chief Technology Officer at Fortune magazine, who has been successfully leading the magazine’s paywall efforts, and a team of more than 15, since he was hired in 2019.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Top 25 Executives of D.C. for 2023.
1. Erin Egan
VP and Chief Privacy Officer of Public Policy, Meta
Erin Egan leads the global privacy and data public policy team at Meta, formerly Facebook. She collaborates with policymakers, regulators, advocates, academics, and other experts on issues related to privacy and data protection, ensuring Meta’s products and features reflect input from people around the world. She also works with experts around the world to help shape legislation on data use issues, including AI, youth, and data localization. She previously served as the company’s VP of U.S. Public Policy, where she led federal and state public policy efforts. Prior to joining Meta, Erin was a partner and co-chair of Covington & Burling’s global data protection practice, where she represented technology and media companies on privacy and consumer protection matters.
2. Duffy Knoll
Chief Strategy Counsel, Verizon
Duffy Knoll is the Chief Strategy Counsel of Verizon. He first joined the company in 2006 as Associate General Counsel of Global Internet Strategy, Broadband, and Programming. As one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information, and entertainment products, Verizon’s goal is to transform the way people, businesses, and things connect. Here, it has the ability to learn and grow at the speed of technology, and the space to create within every role. It is a diverse network of people driven by their aspirations and shared purpose, committed to shaping the future.
In 2009, as an Assistant General Counsel for Verizon, Duffy gave a presentation on how seniors can safely take advantage of all the benefits of broadband and the Internet. He highlighted the online risks facing seniors today, and the ways to help avoid falling victim to Internet scams and other dangers.
Previously, Knoll was an Executive Director of Broadband Strategy and Business Development at AOL and before that an attorney at Wiley, Rein & Fielding. Earlier in his career he worked with the Federal Communications Commission as a Senior Attorney and Advisor. Knoll earned a JD in law from Georgetown University Law Center and an undergraduate degree in American government and politics from Georgetown University.
3. Matthew Gugino
Group CFO, Life Science Instruments Group, Danaher
Matthew Gugino began his professional career 19 years ago. Today, he is the Group CFO of Life Science Instruments Group at Danaher. Danaher is a global science and technology innovator committed to helping customers solve complex challenges and improve quality of life around the world. A global network of more than 25 operating companies, Danaher drives meaningful innovation in some of today’s most dynamic industries through its operating companies in four strategic platforms: life sciences, diagnostics, water quality and product identification. The engine at the heart of its success is the Danaher Business System (DBS), a set of tools that enables continuous improvement around lean, growth, and leadership. Through the ingenuity of its people, the power of DBS, and the impact of its meaningful technologies, Danaher helps realize life’s potential in itself and for those it serves.
Gugino first got his start in 2004 as an associate at KPMG. From there, he went on to Morgan Stanley, before eventually rising to become VP of Equity Research at Barclays, his most recent position prior to joining Danaher. Gugino graduated from Villanova University with a master’s in accountancy and professional consultancy, and an undergraduate degree in accounting.
4. Susan Penfield
Chief Technology Officer, Booz Allen Hamilton
Susan Penfield is Booz Allen Hamilton’s Chief Technology Officer and a member of its Leadership Team. She accelerates growth through mission-centric innovation and infrastructure through incubating and exploring technology innovation, driving adoption of reusable solutions and new business models, empowering technical talent, and enabling enterprise technology.
Since Penfield began her tenure at Booz Allen in 1994, she has transformed numerous business units. Prior to her current role, she led its strategic innovation initiatives. She also led the firm’s billion-dollar digital business spanning the defense, national security, and civilian sectors. Additionally, Penfield led Booz Allen’s health business, advancing it to become the firm’s largest and fastest growing account and providing transformational consulting and technology to public- and private-sector healthcare clients.
Penfield is a dedicated philanthropist and serves on the board of several nonprofits. She chairs the board of The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health and serves on the boards of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and SEED SPOT, the globally recognized social good incubator. Penfield is a passionate advocate for the recruitment, retention, and the advancement of women in technology, and speaks routinely on STEM-related topics.
Penfield holds a BS in technology management from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania and a certificate in management from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business.
5. Craig Madden
President of Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC), Honeywell
Craig Madden joined Honeywell 17 years ago. Today, he is the President of its Advanced Turbine Engine Company. Honeywell is a Fortune 100 company that invents and manufactures technologies to address tough challenges linked to global macrotrends such as safety, security, and energy. With approximately 110,000 employees worldwide, including more than 19,000 engineers and scientists, it has an unrelenting focus on quality, delivery, value, and technology in everything it makes and does.
Madden graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with an MS in business administration and management and from Northern Illinois University with an undergraduate degree in marketing.
6. Angie Casper
EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, CACI International
Angie Casper is the EVP & CHRO at CACI International( originally California Analysis Center, Inc., then Consolidated Analysis Center, Inc.). Casper was previously the SVP & CHRO at LMI from December 2016 to October 2018. Prior to that, Casper was Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Cobham from June 2013 to December 2016. She started her career at Lockheed Martin in September 1999 as the Vice President Human Resources and held that position until June 2013.
Casper has a master's degree in international human resources from Rutgers University and a master's degree in business administration and management from Antioch University Santa Barbara. Casper also has a bachelor's degree in psychology from UC Santa Barbara.
7. Barbara McCann
Chief Industry Officer, Interim HealthCare
Barbara McCann is the Chief Industry Officer of Interim HealthCare. She first joined the company in 1998 as its Chief Clinical Officer. Founded in 1966, Interim HealthCare is a leading national franchisor of home care, hospice, and healthcare staffing. It is part of Caring Brands International which also includes U.K.-based Bluebird Care and Australia-based Just Better Care, both well-known franchise brands in their countries. With more than 530 franchise locations in seven countries Caring Brands International is a global healthcare leader. Interim HealthCare’s United States branch is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards that improve the delivery of service. Franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions, and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to 190,000 people each year, meeting a variety of home health, senior care, hospice, palliative care, pediatric care, and healthcare staffing needs.
Previously, McCann was a director at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and before that a director of hospice and home care accreditation at Joint Commission. She earned an undergraduate degree in social work from the University of California, Berkeley.
8. Steve Gibson
Chief Financial Officer, The Washington Post
Steve Gibson is the Chief Financial Officer of The Washington Post. He first joined the company in 2014. The Washington Post is an award-winning news leader whose mission is to connect, inform, and enlighten local, national and global readers with trustworthy reporting, in-depth analysis, and engaging opinions. The Post is as much a tech company as it is a media company, combining world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools so readers can interact with The Post anytime, anywhere. Its approach is always the same– shape ideas, redefine speed, take ownership and lead. Every employee, every project, every day.
Previously, Gibson was a CFO at Allbritton Communications Company and before that a controller at Plexsys International Corp. Earlier in his career he worked with Price Waterhouse as an audit manager. Gibson earned an undergraduate degree in commerce from the University of Virginia.
9. Andy Macdonald
Chief Executive Officer, Consilio
Andy Macdonald is CEO of Consilio, where he is responsible for all strategic and operational initiatives to ensure client satisfaction and grow the business. Andy holds more than 20 years of executive experience across many industries and functional disciplines.
Prior to Consilio, Andy was a founding member of First Advantage Corporation’s management team and from 2003 - 2011 served in many capacities at the company, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he was with The First American Corporation as President of Occupational Health Services. Andy joined First American in 2002 through the acquisition of Bethesda, MD-based Employee Health Programs, where he was President and CEO.
Andy lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and three children.
10. Lia Davidson
Chief Marketing Officer, EAB
As Chief Marketing Officer at EAB–a consulting firm specializing in educational institutions–Lia oversees all aspects of corporate marketing. Across her more than 15 years working in B2B marketing, she’s realized she loves every aspect of marketing things—storytelling, innovation, thought leadership, cultivating demand, brand strategy, analyzing and optimizing, partnering with sales, solving problems, and setting (and realizing) big goals. In Davidson’s opinion, the best part of marketing is learning from and leading teams—and she finds that EAB’s team is filled with creative, agile, and innovative marketing superstars.
Prior to joining EAB in 2012, Lia spent time in marketing and sales operations roles at Blackboard, Presidium (a startup acquired by Blackboard), and Monster.com. In her free time Lia enjoys running, playing with her two kids, and exploring D.C.’s restaurant scene.
Lia earned her MBA from the Darden School of Business at UVA and spent her undergraduate years at Georgetown University.
11. John Cuomo
CEO and President, VSE Corporation
John Cuomo was appointed CEO and President of VSE Corporation in April of 2019. Cuomo has 20 years of experience in the aerospace distribution and services market industry.
Cuomo previously served as Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Distribution Services Inc. Prior to Boeing's 2018 acquisition of the Aerospace Solutions Group of KLX Inc., John served as the Vice President and General Manager of its Consumables Management business beginning in July 2014. From April 2000 to 2014, John served in multiple roles and functions at B/E Aerospace (which was the parent company of KLX, Inc. until 2014), including Vice President & General Manager and Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Prior to joining B/E Aerospace, John served as an attorney at a large multinational law firm practicing commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, and litigation.
John has a bachelor of science in international business and real estate from Florida Atlantic University; a JD from the University of Miami; an MBA from the University of Florida; and he completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
12. Gihad Jawhar
Chief Technology Officer, Custom Ink
Gihad Jawhar is the Chief Technology Officer of Custom Ink. Custom Ink offers a better way to design and order custom t-shirts for a group, company, or event. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Northern Virginia, Custom Ink aims to be a dynamic and forward-thinking company. It strives to treat customers, vendors, and co-workers as they would want to be treated and have a strong sense of innovation and individual responsibility.
Previously, Jawhar was a VP of Digital and Head of Product Management for stores at Lowe's Companies, Inc., and before that a divisional VP & General Manager at Sears. Earlier in his career he worked at Circuit City as a Creative Project Manager for CircuitCity.com and rose to become the website’s Director of Merchandising.
Jawhar earned an undergraduate degree in finance from James Madison University.
13. Jonathan Rivers
Chief Technology Officer, Fortune Magazine
Jonathan Rivers is the current Chief Technology Officer at Fortune Magazine. He has previously served as the Interim Chief Technology Officer at Telegraph Media Group and as the Senior Director of Web Operations and Customer Support at Public Broadcasting Service. Rivers began his career as a Consultant at Ease Technologies in 1998 and has since held various positions at AdJuggler and 3Pillar Global. He attended the Motorcycle Mechanic Institute and received Harley Davidson Factory Certification in motorcycle mechanics.
14. Ken Fender
Vice President, Baker Concrete Construction
Ken Fender leads Baker’s Greater D.C. Region unit – a unit with $300+ million in annual revenue from projects as diverse as turnkey, high-rise frame projects, intricate design-build projects, and rehabilitation projects. Fender is vigilant in producing high-quality projects on time in a safe environment for crews, clients, and project partners. Fender also heads up Baker’s design assistance efforts with valued clients and is heavily involved in various preconstruction and constructability processes.
Born and raised in southwest Ohio, Fender interned with Baker during his senior year at Bowling Green State University. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in architecture from BGSU, Fender accepted a full-time position with Baker in January 1990. He worked his way through the Baker organization, eventually relocating from the Midwest to Washington, D.C., in 2009.
Fender has served on several local construction trade industry organizations’ boards, including Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI). He lives in D.C. with his wife and two children.
15. Adam Weers
Chief Operating Officer, Trammell Crow Company
Adam Weers serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Trammell Crow Company. In this role, Weers administers TCC’s investment committee and executive committee processes, and oversees TCC’s marketing, communications, people, legal/risk management and digital and technology activities. He is a member of both the TCC Executive and Investment Committees and leads TCC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion steering committee.
Prior to his appointment to COO in April 2021, Weers was a Principal in TCC’s Mid-Atlantic business unit. He played a valuable role in leading projects in Washington, D.C., including the McMillan Healthcare Campus, a 1,000,000-square-foot component of the multi-phased, mixed-use redevelopment of the McMillan sand filtration site, and Northeast Heights, a 1,500,000-square-foot multi-phase, residential, retail, and office development.
16. Matthew Albright
Chief Legislative Affairs Officer, Zelis Healthcare
Matthew Albright is Chief Legislative Affairs Officer of Zelis. He has over 15 years of regulatory, political, and public affairs experience. Prior to joining Zelis, Albright oversaw the certification program at the Center for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) and Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE) to ensure conformance with the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
He also served as Director of the Administrative Simplification Group for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In this role, Matthew was responsible for drafting the regulations that implemented Section 1104 of PPACA which specifies the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) administrative transactions.
Albright is a published author on bioethics, has written numerous state and federal regulations, and taught as adjunct faculty member at St. Martin’s University and Pierce College in Washington state. He earned a Master of Divinity from Harvard University with an emphasis in Bioethics, as well as a BA in Religion Studies from the College of Santa Fe and a BA in Print Journalism from the University of Southern California.
But his greatest achievement is a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s longest softball game.
17. Anuraag Chigurupati
Co-Chief Operating Officer, Devoted Medical
Anuraag Chigurupati is the Co-COO of Devoted Medical, a healthcare company that serves seniors. He first joined the company in 2017. Devoted Health’s mission is to dramatically improve the health and well-being of older Americans by caring for each and every person like they are family. It is devoted to the health and wellness of its members by helping them navigate the healthcare system with personal guides, by utilizing world-class technology to enable a simplified experience, and by partnering with top providers for better health outcomes.
Previously, Chigurupati was a Director of Policy for Cost Trends at Massachusetts Health Policy Commission and before that an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. Chigurupati earned an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and an MS in computer science and an undergraduate degree in biomedical computation from Stanford University.
18. Christian Brose
Chief Strategy Officer, Anduril Industries
Christian Brose is the Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril Industries, a venture-backed defense technology company. He is the author of “The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare,” and formerly Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
From 2014-2018, Brose was the staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He led a team of professional staff who supported Chairman John McCain and other majority Committee members in overseeing the national defense budget, programs, and policies across the Departments of Defense and Energy, and supervised the confirmation of all senior civilian and military officials in both departments. Brose managed the production, negotiation, and final passage of four National Defense Authorization Acts (Fiscal Years 2016-2019), which established policy and authorized spending for all U.S. national defense activities. From 2009-14, Brose served as senior policy adviser to Senator John McCain, supporting his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was Senator McCain’s principal advisor on all issues related to national security, foreign policy, intelligence, and trade. From 2008-09, he was senior editor of Foreign Policy. From 2005-08, he served as policy advisor and chief speechwriter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, working as a member of the Secretary’s policy planning staff.
Brose began his career in government as a speechwriter for Secretary of State Colin Powell, from 2004-05. He graduated from Kenyon College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is a member of the Aspen Strategy Group.
19. Benjamin McKee
CFO, The Atlantic
Benjamin McKee is the CFO of The Atlantic and has been with the company, and its former parent Atlantic Media, for the last 13 years. In his role, he oversees the finance, accounting, real estate, strategy, and print production divisions. During his career he has built and scaled multiple new brands including Quartz, Long Dash, Ballast Research, and CityLab, and has also charted transformational growth trajectories for the legacy companies under management: The Atlantic, National Journal, and Government Executive. Over the last several years, he led the sale of The Atlantic, Quartz, Long Dash, Ballast Research, CityLab, and Government Executive to both strategic and financial buyers.
Benjamin earned his MBA from Georgetown University and BA from the University of Rochester.
20. Amir Hudda
CEO, Qu (formerly Gusto POS)
Amir Hudda is the CEO of Qu (formerly Gusto POS), an enterprise POS company focused on the fast casual and quick-service restaurant industry. Prior to Qu, Hudda was the CEO of Nomi, a company he had originally founded in 2000 as Brickstream, the leader in sensors and customer analytics for large retailers. Hudda has also been the CEO of Apptix, a cloud-based email, collaboration and voice solutions and the Founder & CEO of Entevo Corporation, an enterprise security pioneer for the Microsoft platform.
Hudda is a technology entrepreneur who has founded and grown four startups in the past 20 years. During that period, he has raised more than $100M in equity (public and private markets) and debt transactions; acquired, scaled, restructured, and sold several businesses, and invested in and mentored young entrepreneurs and companies.
Hudda’s passion is to create and bring new technologies and products to market – and that’s exactly what he’s doing at Qu with the restaurant industry’s first unified commerce platform. His technology depth and business skills have helped launch data-driven solutions with modern architecture that addresses legacy software challenges.
Amir has an MS in computer science from Georgia Tech and a BE in computer engineering from PICT, University of Pune, India.
21. Nick Salis
COO, Catalogue
Nick Salis is a Partner and COO at Catalogue. Catalogue is a house of brands, which includes some of today’s most magnetic consumer brands including Ted’s Bulletin, Michelin Bib Gourmand Winners Federalist Pig and Honeymoon Chicken, Kramers, Sidekick Bakery, and Ensemble Digital Kitchen. Each brand is a local favorite defined by its own unique character and cult following. As diverse as they are, they share one thing in common; to make the everyday exceptional. Catalogue is driven by a belief that the modern consumer deserves better. That's why these brands take the classic things people love and make them the best they can possibly be through great products, design, and experiences- they like to call it, premium-approachability.
Nick is a hospitality executive who enjoys both the process of ideating and building new concepts like Honeymoon Chicken and, targeting great brands for acquisition and growth, such as Ted’s Bulletin. Nick is passionate about building teams, thoughtful growth, and leadership development. After starting his career in healthcare, Nick enjoys the culture of internal promotion within the hospitality industry and is motivated to grow those around him.
Previously, Salis was a head of operations at &pizza. During his time the brand saw hypergrowth from just two locations to over 45 locations in 5 states. Salis earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Sacred Heart University and an undergraduate degree in athletic training and sports medicine from Marist College where he was captain and all-conference defensive back for the Red Foxes.
22. Dan Hewitt
Chief Communications Officer, Gearbox Entertainment
Dan Hewitt is the current Chief Communications Officer at Gearbox Software. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing innovative strategies to meet business objectives, while positioning the studio and its products for success. This has resulted in the acquisition of Gearbox by The Embracer Group for $1.3 billion. Furthermore, they oversee Gearbox's Diversity Task Force by serving as Executive Team Sponsor to provide strategic leadership and advocacy. Moreover, they steer all operational activities of committees to confirm Gearbox has a collaborative employee environment and that its products can be enjoyed by all consumers. Also, Gearbox was nominated as Best Place to Work by the Dallas Morning News and Dallas Business Journal.
Prior to his current role, Hewitt served as Head of Communications at Gearbox Entertainment, where he oversaw Gearbox's media work, online engagement, event management, and customer support activities using best-in-class standards, technology, and measurement processes. Hewitt also launched an executive reputation management campaign, including securing speaking engagements, generating earned media coverage of those events, and implementing SEO strategies. Hewitt has also been responsible for employee engagement, bridging the gap between leaders and stakeholders, and delivering strategic analysis of communications implications of corporate deliberations by streamlining all aspects of internal communications.
Hewitt has more than 20 years of experience in the communications field. He holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Texas at Austin.
23. Kevin Rogge
President, Harvey-Cleary Builders
Kevin Rogge is the President of Harvey-Cleary Builders, a leading full-service general contractor headquartered in Houston, Texas. It provides general contracting, preconstruction, design-build, and construction management services for a variety of commercial projects nationwide. It takes pride in taking great care of its clients. It treats clients as partners with a common mission, and honors their role as stewards of their time and money. Its philosophy is based on three guiding principles: innovation, quality, and integrity. It believes its people are its best resource, and recognizes that it’s only through their experience and determination that they are able to effectively adhere to these principles as well as efficiently meet clients’ needs. Rogge, who began his career in 1998, has 25 years of experience.
Rogge graduated from University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business with an MBA in finance and holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Houston.
24. Derek Gaskins
Chief Marketing Officer, Yesway
As CMO, Derek Gaskins’ primary responsibility is to direct all marketing, merchandising, and procurement efforts for the Yesway brand, as well as to develop relationships with Yesway’s supplier partners. He leads its efforts to establish a marketing and merchandising playbook to improve the organizations go to market strategic plan. He also helps to further cultivate the growth and stewardship of the fast-growing Yesway brand with a keen focus on ensuring the organization’s social, mobile, and loyalty initiatives are best.
Prior to joining Yesway,Gaskins most recently served as Chief Customer Officer for Rutter’s convenience stores and dairy business. He was instrumental in developing their award winning customer engagement programs and positioned the brand as one of the best in the retail industry. Before Rutter’s, Gaskins was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising for Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores (MACS) and led the development of the Circle K brand. Prior to MACS he served as Vice President of Marketing at NACS - The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing, and positioned the organization for unprecedented digital and global growth. His other prior experiences include leading brand marketing for Giant Eagle where he led the development of the GetGo chain of convenience stores, and launched the Fuelperks fuel rewards loyalty program.
His other prior experiences include a number of major companies including Nabisco Foods, Goldman Sachs, and Procter & Gamble. He is an experienced brand developer, chief marketer, merchant, and innovator that has launched numerous packaged goods, CRM and retail brands, and store formats.
Gaskins holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa and an MBA in Finance, Marketing, and Real Estate from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
25. Joel Reiser
Chief Financial Officer, AEM
Joel Reiser is the CFO of AEM, a source for environmental insights. He first joined the company in 2021. A family of innovative brands, AEM combines global technology leaders to empower communities and organizations to survive and thrive in the face of escalating environmental risks. By deploying intelligent sensing networks, operating a secure and scalable data management infrastructure, and delivering high-value analytics through a suite of end-user applications, AEM aims to serve as the essential source for environmental insights. AEM’s technologies enable positive outcomes, helping reduce environmental impact and creating a safer world.
Previously, Reiser was a CFO at Nathan Associates and before that a VP of Finance at Earth Networks. Earlier in his career he worked with PwC as an Audit Manager. Reiser earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from Georgetown University.