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Professional Services 2025: LAURIE DE ARMOND

After about two decades with one of the largest public , tax, and business in the world, De Armond became market managing principal for the Washington, D.C., area in 2023. She had previously served in various roles, including Greater Washington, D.C., nonprofit and education practice leader.

In her role, she oversees a team of nearly 250 profes- sionals and is responsible for growth and people strategies in her market. She also serves as the executive director of BDO’s Institute for Nonprofit Excellence.

De Armond earned one of the 2013 Women to Watch awards from the Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA). She’s the immediate past chair for America’s Charities and past president of the University of Maryland’s Alumni Association (her alma mater). She has also served on the American Institute for CPAs’ Nonprofit Conference Planning Committee and as a board member for the GWSCPA.

HOBBY/PASSION: I love traveling! I also love gardening and cooking. One of my favorite ways to unwind in the summer is to pick whatever vegetables are ripe from my garden and think of something to make with them.

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Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: CHARLES D. ‘CHUCK’ HENDERSON

Henderson joined the American Diabetes Association in 2020 and was named CEO in 2022 after serving in the role on an interim basis for six months. He previously worked in the private sector for 24 years, most recently as president and CEO of Texas-based emergency services company Champion Fire & Security.

In 2023, the ADA partnered with health care tech company Abbott Laboratories to investigate how technology can help people with diabetes make more informed decisions about what they eat.

Earlier this year, the association lobbied Congress to preserve access to Medicaid for people with diabetes when voting on President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” warning the cuts would jeopardize health care access for millions with diabetes.

Since the ADA started its research program in 1952, it has invested more than $963 million in its studies to prevent and cure diabetes.

Henderson earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University, where he co-captained the basketball team. In 2022, Henderson joined angel investor StartUp Health’s Health Moonshot Impact Board, which advises the venture capital firm on its funding of health care innovations, including Type 1 diabetes treatments.

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Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: JESSIE KRAFFT

After first joining CAF America in 2011, Krafft was appointed as the organization’s president and CEO in September 2024.

During her nearly 15 years with the , Krafft played a significant role in supporting the organization as its contributions grew from $25 million annually to more than $900 million. She was most recently senior vice president of external affairs, where she designed and implemented grantmaking strategies and developed major partnerships.

CAF America works with philanthropists seeking to support around the world, providing back-office support for grantmaking and maintaining a network of vetted charity partners. Individuals, corporations, and their advisers use the organization to develop, manage and monitor their philanthropic endeavors. In 2024, CAF America distributed over 10,000 grants to over 3,900 grantees across 108 countries.

Krafft has bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University, along with a certificate of Spanish translation and interpretation. She also has a master’s degree in international development from American University.

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Professional Services 2025: RUTH ‘PAIGE’ CLAY

In 2024, Clay became global sales and client engagement leader for Marsh McLennan in addition to being a senior partner for its Mercer subsidiary. She develops sales and client engagement strategies for the Fortune 500 firm’s four businesses, which collectively have more than 85,000 employees in about 130 countries; Mercer is one of those businesses. In May, Mercer announced it had acquired Secor Asset Management.

Prior to joining Mercer in 2011, Clay was senior vice president of global human resources at Encore Capital Group and chief people officer for Capital One Bank. She also was vice president of operations for Capital One, running large customer service centers in Virginia and Florida.

Clay serves on the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s board, which she chaired in 2020, and on the advisory board for Virginia Tech’s Apex Center for Entrepreneurs.

She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Clay is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management as a senior professional in human resources, is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and earned an NACD Directorship Certification.

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Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: ELIZABETH A. MCCLANAHAN

A Buchanan County native, McClanahan has led the Virginia Tech Foundation since 2021. She was previously a state Supreme Court justice and

president and dean of the Appalachian School of Law. McClanahan also serves as an adjunct professor of finance at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.

In 2024, the Virginia Tech Foundation marked its 75th anniversary managing the university’s endowment and real estate holdings. It has more than $3 billion in assets. The foundation also owns the for-profit Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, for which McClanahan serves as president.

A Virginia Chamber of Commerce board member, she received her bachelor’s degree from William & Mary and a law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law. McClanahan was Virginia’s chief deputy attorney general before becoming a state appeals court judge.

She is a member of Tech’s Center for Economic and Community Engagement Advisory Board, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine’s board, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and Carilion Clinic’s board.

INTERESTING PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: The Diamond Beach in Iceland

PERSONAL MOTTO: The 4-H motto: “To make the best better”

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Professional Services 2025: MARK BOWLES

Bowles was one of the founding senior vice presidents when McGuireWoods formed in 1998, and he became chairman of the 120-employee public affairs firm in 2018. He’s also a partner with law firm McGuireWoods, the consulting firm’s parent company and Virginia’s largest law firm.

As a lawyer and consultant, Bowles focuses on government relations and public affairs. He works on varying issues, including those related to health care, energy, technology and higher education.

Before McGuireWoods, he served as chief of staff to Democratic U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne and was counsel for a multistate utility. He also served as an assistant attorney general in Virginia after graduating from the University of Richmond’s law school. Bowles earned his bachelor’s degree from James Madison University.

Bowles also served on the finance committee for former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s campaign and was finance co-chair for his inauguration, as well as co-chair of former Gov. Ralph Northam’s inaugural committee.

A former University of Virginia Board of Visitors member, Bowles serves on the foundation advisory board for U.Va.’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the advisory board for The Center for Politics at U.Va.

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Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: LT. GEN. JAMES B. LASTER (USMC, RET.)

While the Toys for Tots program is closely associated with Christmas, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has expanded its efforts and now provides year-round support for children in need, including children affected by natural disasters, kids in the foster care system and Native American children. In 2024, the organization distributed more than 30 million toys, books and games to nearly 13 million children. The spends 97% of its budget on programs and only 3% on support functions such as fundraising.

Laster took the helm of the foundation in 2020 after serving as executive vice president. He was in the Marine Corps for 38 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant general and serving as chief of war plans on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from the service in 2018. The Marine Corps presented Laster with the Leftwich Trophy for outstanding leadership in 1989.

The Texas native is a graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute, Southwest Texas State University and the National War College. He is a senior fellow with the National Defense University.

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Professional Services 2025: HARVEY L. JOHNSON

Having joined PBMares in 2003, Johnson had nearly two decades of experience at the and firm when he took the helm from co-founder Alan S. Witt in January 2021; to date, Johnson is only the second person to lead PBMares.

Before becoming CEO, Johnson served as practice leader for the firm’s financial institutions team and the cyber and control risk services team, as well as regional market partner for Hampton Roads.

PBMares is ranked the nation’s 75th largest accounting firm by Accounting Today. In October 2024, the company announced a merger with Fairfax accounting and tax firm BSB CPAs + Business Advisors, which added five partners for a combined roster of 60 partners, almost 400 employees and more than $90 million in annual revenue.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Old Dominion University, Johnson serves on TowneBank’s Peninsula region board and the boards of Greater Peninsula Now and RVA757 Connects

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Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: KERRY ALYS ROBINSON

Robinson, who assumed her role in 2023, is only the second layperson and second woman to lead the domestic humanitarian work branch of the Catholic Church in the United States. She followed Sister Donna Markham’s eight-year tenure.

A member of the Leadership Roundtable — a network of lay people and Catholic clergy that supports leadership and management in Catholic organizations — Robinson has dedicated her professional life to the church. Her work has focused on helping the church use the expertise lay members can provide.

According to the organization, Catholic Charities has 168 member agencies and 3,900 locations across the United States. It served more than 16 million people in 2024. Last year, the organization’s agencies provided 28 million meals. Other services provided included shelter, financial services and behavioral and wellness services.

Robinson also served as director of development for Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University, leading a $75 million fundraising campaign. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and Yale Divinity School.

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Professional Services 2025: JEREMY BLANK

With nearly three decades under his belt at Deloitte, Blank was promoted in January 2024 from head of the Big Four global firm’s Greater Washington market to a national role as U.S. tax chief strategy officer.

Blank oversees services for national and global tax clients, including specializations such as tax planning, tax research and analysis, and mergers and acquisitions. He previously served on the Deloitte U.S. Board Council and its U.S. Board Risk Committee. He currently serves as the audit and compliance chair for The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.

Blank also serves on the advisory council for the Wolf Trap Foundation and on the boards of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the District of Columbia College Access Program. He’s also an alumnus of Leadership Greater Washington. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Florida.

For fiscal 2024, Deloitte reported record revenues of $67.2 billion, a 3.1% increase over fiscal 2023.

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