100 People to Meet in 2025: Go-Getters

A 10-year-old popcorn CEO, an Olympic swimmer and a defense contractor’s U.S. chief executive all have one thing in common: They don’t take no for an answer.

Heather K. Armentrout

U.S. president and general manager, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Alexandria

After serving as an intelligence fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and spending more than a decade at the CIA, Heather Armentrout took a job in congressional and government affairs at Northrop Grumman.

In both the public sector and the defense industry, Armentrout says, you’re driven by a mission to serve your country. What’s different about working at a company, she says, is that success is measured by creating value for shareholders.

In February, Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg tapped Armentrout to lead the company’s work in the United States. She sees her position as “creating U.S. jobs and delivering more capability, but also with the backing and security of a company that has operated successfully globally for two centuries.”

Darin Ely

CEO, president and founder, Virginia Asset Group, Virginia Beach

Darin Ely launched financial services company Virginia Asset Group in 2005, after having worked for PaineWebber — which was bought by Swiss bank UBS in 2000 — for four years. The company now has 23 employees and has locations in Hampton Roads, the Peninsula and Central Virginia, as well as in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Ely, a Radford University graduate, started his career as a mental health counselor in his native Southwest Virginia and now enjoys helping others plan their financial futures. He hopes to grow the company throughout Virginia and into Maryland. Ely is also passionate about his charity work; he is currently the treasurer for the Safe House Project, a nonprofit that works to end human trafficking and support survivors.

Ann and John Fox

Co-founders and co-owners, Fox Urban Farms, Winchester

After about 16 years of working up to 18-hour days seven days a week as owners of Greenwood Grocery & Deli, Ann and John Fox “reverse-engineered a job” with more flexibility. They are now running a vertical hydroponic container farm with two 320-square-foot industrial buildings in Winchester, a venture they started in 2022. The idea arose during the pandemic and the ensuing supply chain issues, and the two set out to combat food insecurity in their community.

The couple, who has four sons, grows lettuces and leafy greens, herbs, microgreens and edible flowers for sale directly to consumers or for restaurant and caterer clients. The farm can produce the equivalent of about a 5-acre farm’s output annually.

The Foxes are hoping to join the Virginia Farm-to-School program to supply veggies to their local schools, and in 2025, they hope to grow the business, including potentially adding more value-added products like salts and sugars. They also sell dried flowers via an Etsy store. In November, John Fox won a seat on the Winchester City Council.

Kai Walker

CEO, Kai Bear’s Popcorn, Henrico County

It was a love of Legos that set 10-year-old Kai Walker on the road to entrepreneurship.

The popcorn company he founded with his parents — they’re mere employees, Kai the majority owner — has done so well at events that Kai has been able to buy 35 new Lego sets since launching the business in May 2023. After he figures his profits, he donates to charity, adds to his savings and pays his parents for their time.

Next up are workshops at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Southside Richmond location. Kai Bear’s Popcorn’s first pilot program will allow children to experience entrepreneurship through improv, a program designed to help them build confidence and improve social skills.

Kai’s advice for other kids looking to make money is simple: “Just do it!”

Victoria “Torri” Huske

U.S. Olympics medalist, Arlington County

When Torri Huske started swimming at age 6, she didn’t like how cold she felt in the pool. But she stuck with it and grew to enjoy the sport. As a world champion swimmer, the 21-year-old Stanford University junior has reaped many benefits over the past decade and a half.

In August, hundreds of fans mobbed Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center in Arlington to welcome Huske home from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won three gold and two silver medals.

A month later, Huske met another fan: President Joe Biden, who invited U.S. Olympians and Paralympians to the White House. These moments of glory came four years after Huske lost an Olympic medal in the Tokyo games by a hundredth of a second. In September, Huske made the U.S. National Team for the fifth time.

Joy Jarrett

Chief marketing officer, Guidehouse, McLean

In less than six years, McLean-based consultancy Guidehouse has seen five-fold growth, and now has more than 17,000 employees and 55 offices worldwide. Joy Jarrett, the company’s chief marketing officer, has worked side by side with CEO Scott McIntyre to make that happen.

Under her leadership, the firm has seen increased proposal volumes, higher win rates and enhanced brand recognition. And one of her major wins came earlier this year.

In February, Guidehouse announced an official front-of-kit partnership with the D.C. United major league soccer team. As part of the deal, Guidehouse also received naming rights to a suite level at Audi Field, the team’s Southwest Washington, D.C., stadium. This is a major feather in Jarrett’s cap and aligns with her commitment to raising brand awareness.

T.J. Leonard

President, Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market, Glen Allen

After gaining additional experience with Safeway and Sprouts Farmers Market, T.J. Leonard has returned to his roots, the grocery store he grew up in. Leonard became president in October; his father, Tom Leonard, has transitioned to an advisory role. Leonard, his wife and his 1-year-old son moved from Atlanta to the Richmond region in mid-August. He is also the grandson of Stew Leonard, who founded the eponymous Northeast U.S. supermarket chain. 

A pilot, Leonard flies multiple times a week when possible. He’s also an avid gardener.

Coming up, the store is expanding from about 25,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space to about 40,000 square feet. Leonard anticipates starting construction by mid-2025 and hopes to have the $7 million project completed by Christmas 2026. Further down the road, he’s interested in opening additional locations.

William “Will” Palmer

Associate, Kaufman & Canoles, Norfolk

At Kaufman & Canoles, Will Palmer focuses on employment and labor law as well as the sports and entertainment industries, a growing legal field as college athletes now have the ability to make money off their names, images and likenesses.

A Chantilly native, Palmer grew up a Washington, D.C., sports fan and a “band kid.” He considered a career in music, but a debate coach exposed him to the idea of a career in law.

A legal career “appealed to the problem-solving part of my brain,” Palmer says. Now, while he’s helping solve problems for business, he’s also part of a team working with local universities, music production companies, festivals and more. Palmer has also spoken with local high school and university athletes, including at a summit at Hampton University focused on name, image and likeness.

Tara and Ben Wegdam

Co-owners, West Federal Retail, Loudoun County

While spending a year in France as a student at what was then Hollins College, Tara Wegdam met Ben Wegdam, a Dutchman studying at the Sorbonne. It was love at first sight.

Tara joined Ben in Holland. There, she opened a store selling fabrics and French pottery. After eight years, Ben’s employer, a food retail group, transferred him to Virginia. In 2000, the Wegdams opened Crème de la Crème, which offers French and Italian inspired furnishings and objects, in Middleburg, now their headquarters.

The couple has since added other brands to their retail empire: Lou Lou, an accessory boutique; Zest, a women’s clothing store; and Brick & Mortar, a gifts and goods store. All together, West Federal Retail now operates 25 shops on the East Coast, including locations in Alexandria, Charlottesville, Leesburg and Richmond. 

Check out the rest of our 100 People to Meet in 2025.