The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 for 2020!

Alexandria, VA – They’re your neighbors, your friends, and they’re making Alexandria a better place. CEOs, realtors, attorneys, educators, healthcare advocates, and many more! The diversity of Alexandria’s young business leadership has always been impressive, and this year’s 40 Under 40, chosen by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, is a powerful group of self-starters.

“We have honorees from a wide range of fields working on both local and more global issues,” says Joe Haggerty, chairman and CEO of the Chamber. “Our 40 Under 40 program has really provided us with the chance to honor amazing up-and-coming individuals who are doing fantastic things in our community, and this 2020 class is no exception.”

The competition was stiff, as there were even more individual nominees this year. “We’ve seen momentum for this program grow year over year, and we received a record number of applications this year,” Haggerty says. “To get as diverse a group as possible, the program is open to anyone who lives or works in the Alexandria area. You don’t have to be a chamber member to apply.”

The 40 honorees for 2020 will be recognized in an award ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on October 29. The program is the cornerstone event of the Chamber’s Young Leader’s Network, which has the goal of identifying young leaders in the city. It will highlight each individual and his or her impact on the Alexandria community.

This year the event will involve virtual attendance with an in-person presence from only the honorees. For further details, see www.thechamberalx.com.

To the nominees, congratulations on making it to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 list for 2020!

Andrés Acosta II

Support & Intervention Specialist at TC Williams High School – International Academy

Andrés came to Alexandria in 2005 from Puerto Rico, via Massachusetts, and immediately pursued employment working with young and underrepresented populations. After working with the City of Alexandria’s DCHS and CSB, he earned a master’s in social work and eventually licensure as a clinical social worker. Andres reinvested this opportunity back into his work; moving into clinical roles to provide therapeutic interventions to Alexandria families. He is now in his second year at TC Williams High School, where he provides direct support services and access to resources to the city’s international students. Andrés is an active member of the Rose Hill Elementary PTA, Friends of Puerto Rico, and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. He co-advises the Minority Student Achievement Network, Hispanic Heritage and Black History months, and leads the International Academy’s Young Men’s Group at TC Williams.

Canek Aguirre

Councilman at City of Alexandria

Elected in November 2018, Canek is the first Latino ever to serve on the Alexandria City Council. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Canek is the son of Mexican immigrants who instilled in him the importance of hard work, education, and giving back to the community. He is committed to increasing housing opportunities, investing in our public schools and infrastructure, and eliminating health inequities. Prior to his election, Canek served in leadership roles on numerous boards and commissions. In 2019, he was named to El Tiempo Latino’s Powermeter 100 list. Canek leads the City’s 2020 Census Complete Count Committee and serves as Vice Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

Chelsea Anderson

Director of Marketing and Communications at HomeGrown Restaurant Group

Chelsea Anderson is a lifelong resident of the city of Alexandria. She is one of three daughters whose parents are both restaurateurs here in the city; entrepreneurship runs thick in her blood! When she is not in one of the six HomeGrown Restaurants, she runs their Community Impact Giveback Program, serves as a board member of the Alexandria Arts Initiative, on the fundraising committee for the Del Ray Music Festival, coordinates the “Stampede” events for ALIVE!, and runs her own freelance graphic design business. She lives in Alexandria with her rescue beagle Stogie.

Chris Arnold

Deputy Director, Academy & Futsal at Alexandria Soccer Association

Chris oversees the most comprehensive program at the Alexandria Soccer Association and the largest futsal league on the east coast. He also coaches a U15 Boys team in the Academy program, for which he was selected as the Kwik Goal Coach of the Year. Chris is also the head varsity coach for the girls high school team at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes school. He is passionate about positively impacting youth and adults through the power of sport and has spent his career dedicated to providing access to soccer for ALL kids in the community. Chris spends his spare time meeting with players individually to develop a timeline and action plan for applying to college. He also volunteers at Little Friend for Peace, a nonprofit that empowers children and adults to solve problems nonviolently.

Allen Carrington Brooks

Chief Operating Officer at Building Momentum

Allen leads a diverse team of creatives and engineers. Under his leadership, they won The Chamber ALX’s Veteran Owned Small Business of the year. Prior to joining Building Momentum, Allen worked at the Kennedy Center building their arts education online content through the Center’s ARTSEDGE program. Thousands of classrooms across the country have used the learning platform for arts education that Allen created. Allen has volunteered with the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, chartered the TheaterCNU Alumni Chapter and their Endowment Scholarship, and was elected to the CNU Alumni Board of Directors. Allen leverages Building Momentum to support many area organizations including Space of Her Own, which mentors young women, and the Nation of Makers. Allen and his wife Alissa have two sons, Liam and Elliot.

Virginia Bush

Project Manager at Association of American Medical Colleges

Virginia came to the DC area from Wisconsin in 2013 to pursue her passions – patient advocacy and public service – at a national level. As a caregiver, Virginia witnessed the problems many patients encounter, from not being taken seriously or treated with empathy, to being over-prescribed dangerous drugs. As a Project Manager at AAMC, Virginia has led medical education initiatives such as combating the opioid epidemic,

developing patient safety competencies, and relieving physician burnout through the arts. Virginia also serves as President of the Del Ray Citizens Association, where she advocates for her community and raises money for local charities.

Jessica Du Bois

Employee Benefits Advisor at Business Benefits Group (BBG)

Originally from a small farm town in Iowa, Jessica graduated college and joined the city life, after choosing a career in the benefits and insurance industry. In two years at BBG, she has developed a webinar series for HR professionals, evolved BBG’s marketing strategy and company brand, brought on 35+ new clients, and was named 2019 Broker of the Year. Jessica teaches boxing classes at Title Boxing Club and is involved in organizations such as LeanIn, Ellevate, and HackingHR. Jessica was named 2019 “Face of Change” by BenefitsPro magazine and a 2020 “Rising Star” by Employee Benefits Advisor Magazine, both highlighting advisers who are making their mark in the benefits industry.

Andrew D. Garrahan

Associate at Covington & Burling LLP

Andrew Garrahan is an Associate at Covington & Burling LLP, where he focuses his practice on political and election law and maintains an active pro bono practice. After graduating from T.C. Williams High School and the University of Virginia, Andrew worked on political campaigns in Virginia and nationwide before returning to UVA for law school. He lives in Alexandria with his wife and children. Andrew is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria and previously served on the board of the Trust for the G.W. Memorial Parkway.

Shawna Gary

Eligibility Worker (Public Benefits Specialist) at Arlington County Government

As a longtime resident of Alexandria, Shawna Gary meaningfully serves the Northern Virginia community in many ways, including as a Public Benefits Specialist with Arlington County. Shawna serves as the Scholarship Chair of the Project Discovery Advisory Board, leading their organization to award over $60,000 in college scholarships. Shawna also serves as the Chair of Friends of John Taylor Chapman, the Vice Chair of the Social Services Advisory Board, and enjoys volunteering with the Community Emergency Response Team. As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Shawna has led the Alexandria chapter in roles that support their scholarship program.

Marcy Giannunzio

Principal at DIAG Studios, PLLC

Marcy Giannunzio, AIA is the founding Principal of DIAG Studios, PLLC, an architectural firm that delivers innovative and creative architectural solutions and specializes in institutional, commercial, and residential projects. Her professional work, spanning over 15 years, includes numerous award-winning projects in the Washington, DC metro area. Marcy served on the city’s Beautification Commission and Alexandria Public Art Program Lake Cook Task Force. She is actively involved in the American Institute of Architects (AIA,) the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Capital Area Custom Residential Networking Committee and led the design for the Annual National Building Museum Big Build Festival. She is also a recipient of the AIA|DC Emerging Architect of the Year Award.

Ariana Gordillo

Director of Strategic Initiatives at National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

Ariana works daily with Free & Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies, as well as national partners. Her responsibilities include member relations, volunteer activation, partner relations, grant program management, community outreach, public speaking and committee support. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Latin American & Hemispheric Studies from the George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies from the American University in Washington, D.C. In her spare time Ariana volunteers at her local free clinic as an interpreter, providing critical translation services for the medical environment.

Adrianne Griffith

Director, Marketing & Communications at Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

Adrianne Griffith is an Air Force Veteran, Navy spouse, and mom to a precocious toddler; she’s also a weekend jogger, amateur baker, and good book lover. After moving to Alexandria with her husband, Rick, Adrianne worked part time at Georgetown University while completing her master’s degree. She then worked at World Bank before joining the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, where she is now the Director, Marketing and Communications. Adrianne is a member of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Old Town, a newly appointed Board of Director for the Alexandria-based nonprofit RunningBrooke, and a volunteer with several organizations in Northern Virginia.

Gresham W. Harkless Jr.

Owner at Blue 16 Media

Gresham “Gresh” W. Harkless Jr. is the founder of CBNation, a B2B brand focused on increasing business success through media, and Blue 16 Media, a digital marketing agency. Gresham is a proud graduate of Howard University and Georgetown University. He was an inaugural member of the SBDC Alexandria Amplify program, founder of BNI NOVA #1 Million Club. He is a member of the Evolutionary Business Council, the West End Business Association, Bath for Her, Better Educational Skills for Technology, and the Dream Queen Foundation. He provides support to the Northern Virginia Veterans Association, Arlington Thrive, the Potomac Rugby Foundation.

Amanda Hayes Rudolph

Associate Attorney at Redmon, Peyton & Braswell, LLP

Amanda is an Associate Attorney with Redmon, Peyton & Braswell, LLP, where she practices primarily in estates & trusts, real estate, and business. She is also an owner and manager of RPB Title, LLC, and conducts closings as one of the firm’s settlement attorneys. Amanda attended the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana (BA Sociology), George Washington University (MA Sociology), and the University of Illinois College of Law (JD). She is active in several organizations, including Daughters of the American Revolution, Junior Friends of the Campagna Center, and the Virginia State Bar, in addition to serving on the City’s Commission on Aging.

Beth Inglis

Managing Partner/Owner at Preting, LLC

Beth Inglis, Founder of Preting Consulting, is a four-time entrepreneur who also leads day to day operations for the 80+ person company. The mother of three does it all, balancing her time running the Alexandria based service-disabled veteran owned small business while also serving as a commander in the Air Force Reserve. Preting sponsors the Air Force Track and Field team and the Army Best Ranger competition and maintains a B Corp status, a rigorous certification based on social/environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. They are one of more than 1,000 companies in 34 countries to earn this distinction. Beth and her husband and business partner Cliff are raising their family in Del Ray.

Grant Alan Joiner

VP – Branch Manager at Charles Schwab

Grant is a Certified Financial Planner™ and is responsible for a staff of 25 employees including 13 dedicated Financial Consultants. Prior to joining the Charles Schwab team in 2007, Grant graduated from Arizona State. He manages the Tysons Corner and Alexandria complex, which is in the top five percent of Charles Schwab in both assets and employee count, was twice named to the Washingtonian’s Best Financial Advisors list, granted Charles Schwab’s Challenger Award, and is a two-time Chairman’s Club Winner. In his spare time, Grant partners with Junior Achievement and the Boys and Girls club to teach Money Education classes, sponsored the Rock the Block event, helped deliver over 15,000 meals to underfed kids through Generosity Feeds, and volunteers at the Children’s Inn at NIH.

Lisa Kiefer

President and CEO at Sightline Strategy

Lisa Kiefer is CEO of Sightline Strategy, a company that brings custom data together with the human element to help successful executives improve decision-making and better motivate and retain key employees. A former executive herself, Lisa helped scale a market research firm to triple its employee size while increasing project capacity and improving retention rates to unprecedented levels. She has consulted for some of the world’s largest businesses, including Capital One, Citi, Netflix, Procter & Gamble and UnitedHealthCare, and is currently the youngest president of the PRSA National Capital Chapter – the largest organization of communications professionals in the country.

Rachel Lazarus

Neuroscientist (Director) at AARP

Dr. Rachel Lazarus serves as the Neuroscientist (Director) for AARP’s Staying Sharp, an online platform with a holistic approach to cognitive aging and brain health. Born and raised in Virginia, Rachel earned a B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia, followed by a Neuroscience Ph.D. from the Uniformed Services University. Before joining AARP, she served as Research Portfolio Manager for the DoD’s Defense & Veteran’s Brain Injury Center. In her free time, Rachel has volunteered as a public science educator with several institutions, including the Smithsonian, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Virginia State Science Fair.

Helen Lee

Environmental Program Manager at City of Alexandria’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services

Her strong passion for the environment led to her career in public service to reduce, reuse, and recover resources. She manages the City’s recycling division and is responsible for implementing the City’s 20-year WasteSmart strategic plan. She holds an MBA from American University and a B.S. in Environmental Science and Technology from the University of Maryland, College Park. On her weekends, she runs her small business capturing photos for couples and families. Helen has volunteered as Treasurer and on the Finance Merger team at her church, serves as the co-chair of the policy committee for the Virginia Recycling Association, and on the policy committee for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission’s Waste Board. Helen and her soon to be husband live in Alexandria.

Garrett McGuire

Regional Director, External & Legislative Affairs at AT&T

As the Regional Director for External and Legislative Affairs for AT&T in Virginia, Garrett helps advocate for company priorities at the state and local level, while also promoting AT&T’s work in the community. Prior to AT&T, he led state government relations for a trade association representing American manufacturing. Garrett has also worked for elected leaders in a legislative and campaign role at the local, state, and federal level, including the current Speaker of the House of Delegates. He’s a board member of United Community, Mt. Vernon District representative to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Alexandria chapter, and volunteers at the City’s dog rescue. He holds two degrees from Virginia Tech and lives in Alexandria with his wife.

Catherine Miller

Integrative Healing Practitioner at Four Directions Wellness

Catherine Miller works as an integrative healing practitioner at Four Directions Wellness, serving as a Reiki Master Teacher and Practitioner and a Nutritional Coach. She is a huge advocate of living well, and values seeing peoples’ state of health improve. As a health and wellness professional and a brain tumor survivor, she knows firsthand how a variety of holistic modalities can lead to long-lasting health results. She earned her degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of Bridgeport with additional certifications in Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, and Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery from the Veterans Yoga Project. She is also a Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Certified Appreciation at Work Facilitator.

Katelin Moomau

Partner at Family First Law Group

With over 12 years of litigation experience in Family Law, Juvenile Court, and General District court matters, Katelin is also a trained Family Law mediator. She was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2020. She chairs the Alexandria Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service Committee, and is a member of the VWAA and FBA. She has been on the Board of the Campagna Center, and Board of the Junior Friends of the Campagna Center for eight years. Her activities with the Campagna center have included chairing the JF organization, other events, and sponsoring events. In 2020, they awarded her the Barbara Pratt Lee Heart of Gold Award. She has mentored through the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows and volunteers at Mount Vernon.

Jeremy Ryan Moss

Vice President of Investments at Bonaventure

Jeremy Moss is responsible for the development and implementation of rezoning and entitlements strategy for all Bonaventure real estate development projects. Jeremy’s responsibilities involve far more than just an understanding of the law, such as mastery of the technical requirements of a rezoning application and the ability to advocate on behalf of a proposed project. Jeremy oversees an integrated entitlements approach rooted in the culture and principles of Bonaventure: Growth, Attitude, Collaboration, Impact, Accountability, and Reputation. He is an AV Preeminent rated lawyer, the youngest Fellow inducted into the College of Community Association Lawyers, a two-time published author, and a Virginia and DC Super Lawyers nine-time Rising Star, among many other accolades. Jeremy serves on the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee, the Director of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, a House Captain for Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria, and began Intercede; a nonprofit that empowers individuals to fight the opioid crisis.

Courtney Overton

Owner & Founder at Speech of Cake, Inc.

Courtney is a nationally certified pediatric speech-language pathologist that specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating orofacial myofunctional disorders, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, developmental delays, reading/writing disabilities, and social skills. Courtney regularly attends the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention to remain abreast on evidence-based practices in pediatric speech-language pathology. She is also a doctoral student in literacy, culture, and language education at Indiana University with a minor in educational leadership. She established the Speech of Cake Foundation to mentor high school and college students on their quests to become teachers and speech-language pathologists and recently won The State of Black Educators’ Courageous Educator of the Year Award.

Clinton Page

Chief Accountability Officer at Alexandria City Public Schools

Clinton was born and raised in Alexandria, and the opportunity to work for ACPS fulfilled a lifelong dream of working in a capacity to improve outcomes for children within his hometown. As Chief Accountability Officer, Clinton drives organizational improvements through program evaluation, strategic planning, and instilling a data-based decision-making culture. In his spare time, he mentors students through the Charles Barrett Elementary Mentorship program. Clinton lives in Alexandria with his wife Katie and their son and Yorkshire Terrier.

Sarah Phillips

Editor & Owner at The Scout Guide

Sarah Phillips was born in Alexandria, raised on a horse farm in Warrenton, Virginia and holds a degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandizing from Radford University. Sarah is the founder of Fifty-Two Thursdays a fashion + lifestyle brand, the Style/Beauty Editor for Strong Fitness Magazine, an Airbnb superhost, and the Editor/Owner of The Scout Guide Alexandria, a yearly publication dedicated to promoting local businesses and causes. Dedicated to her community, Sarah volunteers for the Seaport and National Breast Center foundations and lives on Dogue Creek with her husband Casey and two rescue mutts, Hank & Blanqui.

Emma Quinn

Events & Marketing Manager at Port City Brewing Company

Emma started her journey at Port City as a Beer Guide and in her current role, creates and manages all public events. She is a leader in the craft beer industry both locally and nationally for her dedication and commitment to giving back to our community, including Priday Night for the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Dogtoberfest for the Animal Welfare League, Conservancy Day, and monthly food drives with ALIVE! Emma also coordinates restaurants for the Alexandria Pub Crawl, which sees 1,000 attendees annually. Emma received her degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a born and raised Northern Virginian.

Megan Ritter Judt

Development Manager at National Council for Adoption

Fueled by a passion for public history and a commitment to nonprofit excellence, Megan serves a variety of local nonprofits. In her professional life, she oversees foundation and corporate fundraising, development events, and donor communications for the National Council for Adoption. In the community, she is a board member for the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Friends of Carlyle House, and an officer of the John Alexander Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A native of Westminster, Maryland, she holds a degree in history and political science from Seton Hill University. She and her husband Randall make their home in Old Town Alexandria.

Sam Silverlieb

Partner at McChrystal Group

Sam is passionate about helping people be their best. As a Partner at McChrystal Group, he specializes in unlocking individual and team potential to realize bottom-line results, including enhancing organizational effectiveness for a Fortune 10 healthcare company and advising the world’s premier cancer treatment and research hospital system. Before McChrystal Group, Sam held professional roles in venture capital, investment banking, government, and management consulting with organizations that include Morgan Stanley, the State of Israel, and Oliver Wyman. Sam earned a Master of Business Administration from Yale University’s School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard University.

Josh Simon

President of Lee & Associates

Specializing in middle market investment sales and office landlord representation, Josh has been working in the Commercial Real Estate field for 12 years. Previously he was a Partner and Principal at NAI KLNB, a National Real Estate Firm with over 65 offices across the Country. Josh has worked on many notable mixed-use development transactions, with such clients as Wells Fargo, Avanti Holdings Group, Rooney Properties, CAS Riegler, and EYA amongst many others. Josh is a member of the Society of Industrial & Office Realtors and the Urban Land Institute. He serves on the Mount Vernon Underground committee and as a soccer coach at Gunston Soccer U7. Josh is a native Washingtonian and has made his home in Northern Virginia with his wife Brittany and their two children.

Christopher Suarez

School Board Member at Alexandria City Public Schools

Christopher has been serving on the Alexandria City School Board since 2019, where he advocates for educational equity and opportunity for all students in Alexandria. He is also a co-founder of Learn Together, Live Together, an area nonprofit that supports the movement for diverse, equitable, and inclusive schools. In his day job, Chris is an associate attorney with Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he works on patent, trade secret, and other technology cases and performs pro bono work, including litigation on behalf of students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Christopher earned his degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dominican University, and Yale Law School.

Natalie Ivana Talis

Population Health Manager at Alexandria Health Department

Natalie Talis is Alexandria Health Department’s first Population Health Manager. In this role she leads the Department’s health equity and community engagement work. In her free time, Natalie canvasses for political candidates from City Council to President and volunteers as an Academic Advisor for adult English language students at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia. She received her Master’s in Public Health from GWU and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute’s Political Leadership Program at UVA. Natalie lives in the West End with her partner Mike and their ginger cats, Biscuit and Sage.

John Taylor

General Manager at Alexandria Toyota

John Taylor is the General Manager at Alexandria Toyota. A recognized, lifelong resident in Alexandria, John attended Alexandria Country Day School, and graduated high school from The Field School in Washington D.C. After graduation, John attended Christopher Newport University. John has been actively involved in Alexandria Toyota since he was old enough to be employed. Gaining hands on experience throughout the Service and Sales Departments, he helps to manage approximately 200 employees and the everyday operations of the business. John currently lives in Old Town Alexandria and is part of the Old Town Business and Professional Association. He supports the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, fundraised for the Run for Veterans, guest bartends at T.C. Williams Annual All-Alumni Happy Hour, and personally delivers children’s bikes to Firefighters & Friends to the Rescue during the holiday season.

Daniel Teka

Director of Supply Chain at Inova Alexandria Hospital

Daniel moved from his native country of Ethiopia in 2008 and quickly made the DMV area his home. He holds degrees from Bahir Dar University and the University of Maryland Global Campus. He has worked in the healthcare supply chain management field for more than six years; serving in a previous role at the George Washington University Hospital. In his role at INOVA Alexandria Hospital, he directs a team of 15 in all supply chain functions involved in purchasing, planning, receiving, and distribution of daily assets. Daniel volunteers with Compassion International, a holistic child development program.

Nathan Toews

Director of Meal Programs at Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA)

In his role at SSA, Daniel oversees the delivery of meals to the city’s most vulnerable older adults. Their meals programs deliver meals 365 days a year with a cadre of over 500 volunteers. He led the introduction of the Mobile Meals App and has become an industry expert having presented at two national conferences. Prior to joining SSA in 2017, he worked with Hunger Free Alexandria, Carpenter’s Shelter, and as an analyst with the Federal Government. Nathan is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He and his wife, Phoebe, live in Del Ray.

Marisa Tordella

Director of Development at Friends of Guest House

For four years Marisa had dedicated her professional career to helping formerly incarcerated women successfully reenter the community and reunite with their families. Marisa believes in women, families, and second chances—envisioning a world where your past does not define your future. She volunteers on the planning committee of the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation’s Annual Walk and Family Festival, Arcadia, and participates in the Jonathan Wildes Memorial Tournament to raise money for First Tee of Greater Washington. In her free time, Marisa teaches Pilates classes, enjoys yoga, and walks with her dog.

Steven Ulrich

Financial Planner at Cassaday & Company, Inc.

Steven is a Financial Planner at Cassaday & Company, Inc. and has lived in Alexandria since 2014. Steven graduated from Bob Jones University (BS in Financial Management), the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MBA), and Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies (Certificate in Financial Planning). Steven also maintains the Certified Financial Planner® designation as well as the Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant certification. Steven is the board treasurer for the Townes of Hillwood Homeowners’ Association, serves in his church community, regularly volunteers at S.O.M.E. in Washington, DC, and presents financial planning and literacy workshops in communities throughout Northern Virginia.

Adrianna Vallario

Realtor at McEnearney Associates

Adrianna Vallario is a native Texan and military spouse. The Marine Corps first relocated her family to Alexandria in 2014, where they now permanently reside. As a military spouse, Adrianna stays connected to the military community through volunteer work. She is a board member on the Marine Aviation Spouses’ Club, an organization that supports Toys for Tots, Semper Fi Fund, and The Wingman Foundation. Adrianna is a Realtor at McEnearney Associates and has volunteered during COVID distributing food to Alexandria City Public School children and donating to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health, is the mother of two children, and loves running.

Dr. Joshua William Walker

President and CEO at Japan Society

Dr. Joshua W. Walker is President & CEO of Japan Society and has held positions of leadership at Eurasia Group, the USA Pavilion of the 2017 World Expo, and APCO Worldwide. He has served in the State Department and the Defense Department; is a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress; co of International Affairs; and attended the University of Richmond, Yale and Princeton Universities. Joshua is one of the youngest active members of George Washington’s Chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, serves on the board of Sister Cities International, and is working with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress as a Senior Fellow focused on Geo-technology.

Kayla Yingst

Communications Programming Specialist at Alexandria Renew Enterprises

Kayla moved to Alexandria three years ago after successfully working in the Chicago sports industry, where she programmed large scale events and fundraisers. At AlexRenew she has been able to expand on her passion for community engagement, communications, and events. She serves on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Donation’s Young Leaders Committee, Chair of the Young Professional’s Committee for the Virginia Water Environment Association’s WaterJAM Conference, and a member of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and the Campagna Center’s Junior Friends. Kayla resides in Alexandria with her husband, Stefan, and their rescue Pomeranian, Sasquatch AKA Squashy!

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