Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: JOHN WASSON
Since joining ICF International in 1987, Wasson has risen to become the global consulting and technology services provider’s chairman and CEO. During the past two decades, ICF has doubled in size every five years on average. It reported fiscal 2023 revenue of $1.96 billion, up 10% from the previous year. Wasson, who holds [...]
Economic Development 2024: WILL PAYNE
Payne and his team helped secure a 65,000-acre development deal in Southwest Virginia, announced in November 2023, with Fortune 100 energy company Energy Transfer as part of the Energy DELTA Lab initiative. His team is leading a 10-year strategy, developing the land with projects that could generate 1 gigawatt of power. The deal[...]
Media 2024: KELLY TILL
After 24 years as an advertising executive with Tribune Publishing’s The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Till became the first female publisher in the 172-year history of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2022. She also serves as regional vice president of sales for the newspaper’s parent company, Lee Enterprises. Till[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: RON ASH
On Sept. 1, Ash succeeded John Goodman as CEO and chair of the board of managers for Accenture Federal Services, an Accenture subsidiary that serves U.S. federal government clients. Goodman stepped down on Aug. 31 and will retire March 31, 2025. Ash previously served as chief operating officer at AFS since 2022. He joined Accent[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: CAREY A. SMITH
A six-time winner of Executive Mosaic’s Wash100 Award recognizing leading government contracting executives, Smith joined Fortune 1000 defense contractor Parsons in 2016 and quickly rose through its ranks; today, she serves as chair, president and CEO. Smith helped take Parsons public in 2019 and led its acquisition and in[...]
Federal Contractors | Technology 2024: DOUG WAGONER
LMI has experienced several changes since Wagoner became CEO of the government contracting and consulting firm in 2020. In 2021, LMI acquired Suntiva, expanding its digital and workforce solution offerings, and sponsored the establishment of the Space Force Association Space Center of Excellence, an effort that aims to foster co[...]
Law 2024: THE HON. S. BERNARD GOODWYN
It’s little wonder Goodwyn’s classmates at Southampton High School handed him the “most likely to succeed” superlative. Quarterback of the high school football team, Goodwyn was also president of the student body and valedictorian. Goodwyn headed to Harvard, where he played football and ran track. An economics major, Goodwyn graduated magna cum laude. After earning […]
Energy 2024: EDWARD ‘ED’ H. BAINE
Raised on a Lunenburg County tobacco farm, Baine attended Virginia Tech, earning an electrical engineering degree. Starting out as an associate engineer, Baine has worked for Fortune 500 utility Dominion Energy for nearly 30 years. Baine became president of Dominion Energy Virginia in 2020, responsible for all facets of a vertic[...]
Real Estate 2024: BENJAMIN SCHALL
Before becoming CEO in 2022, Schall joined AvalonBay as president in 2021. He’s also a member of the publicly traded real estate investment trust’s board of directors. AvalonBay acquires, develops and manages multifamily communities around the country, primarily focusing on metropolitan areas in New England, the mid-[...]
Government | Politics 2024: RYAN McDOUGLE
A 22-year veteran legislator, McDougle was tapped as minority leader after Republicans failed to regain control of the state Senate in the November 2023 elections. He’s served as an ally to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, pushing for tax cuts and to return Virginia to federal vehicle emissions standards rather than the California rul[...]
Manufacturing 2024: M. SCOTT CULBRETH
Culbreth joined American Woodmark in 2014 as its senior vice president and chief financial officer. He was promoted to president and CEO and joined its board of directors in 2020. American Woodmark’s cabinet brands include its namesake, as well as Shenandoah Cabinetry, Timberlake Cabinetry and Waypoint Living Spaces. It ha[...]
Real Estate 2024: DONALD D. GRAUL
In 2020, Graul joined Branch Group, an employee-owned heavy-highway and building contractor. He had nearly 40 years of industry experience, most recently with Centreville-based Parsons Corp., where he was president of construction and a senior executive for alternative project delivery. Founded in 1963, Branch has more than 1,00[...]




















