McLean-based ARG announces new president, CEO

McLean-based IT consulting firm ARG has made several changes to its executive leadership, as its president and CEO retire and move to board memberships.

ARG co-owner and former CEO Greg Praske is now chairman of the 2024-25 board of directors, and Steve Praske, ARG co-owner and former president, is vice chairman of the board, according to the company’s Tuesday announcement.

Mike Shonholz, previously ARG’s chief revenue officer, has been promoted to CEO, while former Chief Operating Officer James Larsen has been promoted to president.

“As pioneers of the agent channel, Greg and Steve have played a significant role in shaping and influencing our industry,” Shonholz said in a statement. “Our executive team is strong and focused on the experience for our team, our partners and their customers and the results we can achieve together.”

Before becoming chief revenue officer in January 2019, Shonholz was a principal at ARG, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to joining ARG, he served as director of aggregation, infrastructure and managed services at IT company CDW. Before that, he was general manager at iTEMize Technologies. Shonholz holds a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University.

Larsen was CEO of telecom expense management firm Cost Management Group before joining ARG. Prior to that, he co-founded iTEMize Technologies and served as its president until CMG bought the company in 2012. In 2001, Larsen co-founded NetGain Communications and served as its COO until ARG bought the company in 2009. Larsen has a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and management from James Madison University.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we built as a team at ARG and the results we’ve achieved for our strategic partners,” Greg Praske said in a statement. “Mike Shonholz is the most talented leader I’ve met in my career. … Working alongside James Larsen, who has successfully built and exited multiple businesses in our industry as a founder and CEO, and backed by a seasoned executive team, ARG is poised to become an even more powerful force in the industry under Mike’s leadership.”

ARG stands for Association Resource Group. Founded in 1991, the company was one of Virginia Business’ Best Places to Work in 2017.