Federal Contractors/Technology: BRIAN KENNER

In 2019, Amazon lured Kenner away from his role as Washington, D.C.’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development, after a little more than four years at his previous job.

As head of HQ2 policy, Kenner supports the massive e-tailer’s economic development throughout the region, including D.C., Maryland and Virginia. It’s a position that involves coordination with policymakers around housing, transportation, workforce, education and other matters, he told Washington Business Journal.

With Amazon’s $2.5 billion-plus East Coast headquarters taking shape in Arlington, Kenner told WTOP that the company has donated more than $34 million in monetary and in-kind donations to regional nonprofits, schools, business and community groups. It also created a housing equity fund to preserve and create affordable housing.

Kenner has spent time in and out of the private sector, including a stint as city manager for Takoma Park, Maryland, and management positions at Fannie Mae and Ernst & Young. He holds degrees from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and the University of Iowa.

FIRST JOB: My first job was as a corn de-tasseler for a local farmer in my Iowa hometown.