Federal Contractors/Technology: GARY J. SHAPIRO 

In 2021, Shapiro was awarded France’s Legion of Honor in Paris, recognizing his service in spearheading the transition to a technology-forward society and for organizing CES, the world’s largest consumer technology trade event, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show. French President Emmanuel Macron conferred the rank of chevalier on Shapiro, who has led CTA since 1991.

The pandemic caused disruptions in the Las Vegas trade show, which was held virtually in 2021 and as a hybrid event in January, although big-name participants including Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Twitter Inc. pulled out of the in-person portion amid a COVID-19 spike.

Shapiro, writing in December 2021 on LinkedIn, said that CES, founded in 1967 and typically drawing 150,000 attendees, “will and must go on. It may be messy. But innovation is messy.”

A Binghamton University and Georgetown Law graduate with residences in Virginia and Michigan, Shapiro is an honorary member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council board.

SOMETHING I’D NEVER DO AGAIN: Enter an ice cream eating contest. My team won in college. It was gross, but I still love ice cream.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Snowmass/Powder Mountain