The George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees comprises dedicated leaders who guide our organization towards achieving its goals. With diverse backgrounds in various fields, they bring valuable expertise and a shared passion for education while playing a pivotal role in shaping strategic decisions to advance the mission of the Foundation.
The George Mason University Foundation’s Board of Trustees is a diverse group dedicated to advancing the university’s mission. They provide strategic oversight, ensure fiscal responsibility, and champion fundraising to empower the GMU community.
Bob Amani holds more than 30 years of experience in the government contracting and consulting sector in Washington, D.C., including his current role as chief transformation officer at Edgewater Federal Solutions. His expertise is enterprise transformation, digital strategy, cybersecurity, and management consulting. Amani was previously a leader at Accenture, and he was instrumental in several George Mason initiatives such as the 2023 Accelerate Investor Conference and the College of Engineering and Computing Hackathon. He earned a BA in public administration and a Schar School of Policy and Government certificate from George Mason, as well as an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
Mark Atwood is a seasoned legal expert with more than 45 years in aviation regulatory law. He is senior counsel at GGH Air Law in Washington, D.C., where he represents clients including U.S. and foreign airlines, charter operators, airports, and manufacturers before U.S. government agencies and courts. Atwood is a dedicated philanthropist, serving as a trustee at Pender United Methodist Church, board member at Travelers Aid International, judge for the prestigious Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, volunteer with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, and co-founder and board chair of the Chris Atwood Foundation, an organization named after his son which offers substance use and mental health support. Atwood holds a BA from Loyola College and a JD from the University of Southern California.
Stefan Becker serves as the president, CGI Germany, where he is responsible for the strategic and operational activities of the business region, and has held multiple leadership roles with the global information technology and business consulting services firm over the course of his 30+ years in the global IT services industry. A member of the Costello College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, his expertise covers digital transformation, process optimization, and data analytics.
Sanam Boroumand leads the charge at Main Digital. She has a 20+ year track record of successfully developing new products and services, building innovative teams, and delivering results for clients. Boroumand specializes in product development, change management, agile methodologies, customer experience, and strategic planning. She has achieved Black Belt level mastery in the Six Sigma process improvement methodology and has held leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies and international consulting firms. Boroumand is most passionate about increasing effectiveness, productivity, and happiness in the workplace through business process transformation. This passion drove her to found Main Digital.
Jim Boyer is a medical oncologist and hematologist with more than 24 years of experience specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of familial colorectal cancer, thrombocytopenia, inflammatory breast cancer, and breast cancer. He is on staff at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville. A supporter of George Mason University Life, Boyer helped establish the Jeremy Lee Starns Memorial Scholarship Endowment in memory of a fellow fraternity member. Boyer is a board member of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation, the 1455 Literary Arts, Paramount Theater, and Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates. A Phi Beta Kappa Society member, he earned a BS in biology from George Mason and MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Nadeem Butler is and alumnus of the George Mason School of Business (now named Costello College of Business) and a former U.S. Army Ranger and service-disabled veteran with over 20 years of management and information technology experience. In 2000, he incorporated Technatomy, which specializes in healthcare solution development, data security and interoperability, system sustainment, and digital transformation initiatives for the federal sector. His professional experience includes CACI, Integic Corporation, and Info Tech Enterprises. Butler began his career by enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment, and graduated from the U.S. Army Infantry School, Airborne School, Ranger School, Airborne Jumpmaster School, Pathfinder School, and Expert Infantry. Upon honorable completion of his active-duty service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
Monica Davy is the senior vice president and chief culture, belonging, and impact officer at Vizient, Inc., the largest member-driven healthcare performance improvement company in the United States. She leads the organization’s culture and impact strategy, fostering belonging and overseeing corporate and social responsibility initiatives. With more than 30 years of experience, Davy is a dynamic change agent who values people as an organization’s greatest asset. As an inclusive leader, she mentors and coaches her team, leveraging diverse talents to fulfill the company’s mission. Davy holds a BA in English from George Mason University and a JD from Howard University School of Law. Her leadership is instrumental in driving transformative change and community enrichment within the organization.
Chris Durlak is a partner at Purple Strategies, where he provides strategic counsel to senior corporate, business, and communications leaders in the United States and globally. Durlak has developed and managed communications strategies in key international markets such as Brazil, China, India, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. Before joining Purple Strategies, Durlak served as a media consultant at McMahon Squier & Associates, where he crafted political campaign advertisements for a variety of clients. Durlak studied at George Mason and is actively involved with the university as a member of the Patriot Club Advisory Board. He has played a pivotal role in developing strategic and operational plans for George Mason Athletics, currently serving as the Chairman of the Patriot Nation Collective
Mr. Brian Drummond is a partner at Whitestone Young, PC, a criminal defense and personal injury law firm based in Fairfax City. He joined the firm while still at George Mason University School of Law (now named George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School). Prior to attending law school, Drummond was a deputy clerk in the criminal division of the Fairfax Circuit Court, where he was responsible for cataloging all criminal case evidence items, storing them in the Circuit Court vault, and safeguarding them until ordered for destruction. A published criminal law author, he has been a Northern Virginia Magazine “Top Lawyer” annually since 2018, and was recognized in 2024 as a Virginia Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law recipient, in 2021 as a “Top Lawyer” by Northern Virginia Magazine, and in 2015, he received the Golden Gavel Award from the Fairfax Law Foundation in recognition of his exceptional service to the Northern Virginia community. He is a past president of George Mason University’s Alumni Association Board (2002–2004).
Jeff Fissel is a distinguished leader and vice president of Technology at GP Strategies, where he drives innovation in learning technologies. He spearheads the development of AI-powered platforms like Content AIQ to enhance corporate learning and development. His leadership has established GP Strategies at the forefront of AI-driven learning solutions globally. Before GP Strategies, Fissel co-founded KZO Innovations, playing a key role in product development and guiding the company through successful fundraising and sale. He holds a BS in information technology from George Mason University and serves as president-elect of George Mason’s Alumni Association Board. Fissel’s career is marked by dedication to innovation, talent development, and social impact within the technology and learning sectors.
Michael Gallagher founded the Stevie® Awards in 2002, designed to honor innovative workplace excellence. Prior to founding the Stevie Awards, Gallagher focused his energy on marketing, sales, and product development, including serving as vice president of sales and marketing with the Hoover’s Media Technologies division of Hoover’s Inc., the leading provider of information on public and private companies worldwide and was vice president of sales and marketing with Amazing Media, an online advertising company. Gallagher holds a bachelor of arts from Fordham University in New York City and a master of business administration from George Mason. Gallagher was president of George Mason’s Business Alumni Chapter from 2011-13 and served as a director-at-large.
Gardner Gillespie is a distinguished legal professional and philanthropist committed to the arts and education. With a BA in history from Williams College and a JD from the University of Virginia Law School, he specializes in cable television and telecommunications regulation and litigation. As a partner at Sheppard Mullin, Gillespie has been recognized as a Telecommunications MVP by Law360 and named among Washington, D.C.’s Top 100 Attorneys. His dedication to the arts is reflected in his active role on the Mason Arts Board and foundational work with George Mason University’s School of Art Advisory Council. Together with his wife, Stevie Gillespie, he established the Gillespie Scholarship Endowment and named the Gillespie Gallery of Art. Their philanthropic efforts extend to multiple institutions, fostering educational and cultural growth.
Ingrid Guerra-López is the dean of the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University, previously serving as interim dean and professor at Wayne State University. She founded the Institute for Needs Assessment and Evaluation, enhancing human performance systems globally through strategic alignment and sustainable impact. Guerra-López has held leadership roles in the International Society for Performance Improvement, earning the ISPI Distinguished Service Award in 2017. She has authored eight books, including award-winning titles on performance improvement and needs assessment, contributing over 100 publications to the field. Her work spans 40 countries, focusing on evidence-based performance improvement practices. Guerra-López earned her PhD and master’s from Florida State University, receiving the Gagne/Briggs Outstanding Alumnus award in 2014 for her scholarly contributions.
Colin Hart is a graduate of the Schar School of Policy and Government, Mr. Colin Hart is the co-founder and managing director of Freedom Development, a commercial real estate investment company. Prior to establishing Freedom Development, Hart owned Vanquest Capital Advisors, also serving as the CEO of Vanquest Investments Limited. From 2005 to 2006, Hart was interim president and CEO of the Dyneff S.A., the largest independently owned French petroleum storage and distribution company. He was a principal at Milestone Merchant Partners and served as chief operating officer of the Romania and Moldova Direct Fund, L.P. From 1994 to 1997, Hart served as an associate with The Carlyle Group and was a member of Carlyle’s Economic Offset Advisory Team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. From 1993 to 1994, Hart was an international business analyst at Reed Smith Shaw & McClay. Hart received his masters of arts in international commerce and policy from George Mason in 1993, and served as the president of the alumni chapter of George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government. In 2024, Hart was recognized as the Schar School Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
Deepak Hathiramani is a founding partner and executive chairman of SteeleHarbour Capital Partners. Hathiramani serves as a trusted advisor, helping to execute the firm’s vision and strategic plan. He is also a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Hathiramani is the founder and managing director of Hathi Partners LLC, a family office investment firm focused on alternative investments. Previously, Hathiramani founded Vistronix Intelligence and Technology Solutions, a national security solutions provider, later acquired by Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Federal Holding Company. During his tenure at Vistronix, he served as chairman, CEO, and president, and was a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. Before founding Vistronix, Hathiramani worked with high-tech start-ups.
Craig Havenner is president of Commonwealth Development Solutions LLC and retired president, now partner, of the Christopher Companies, a respected Northern Virginia-based residential and commercial development firm. Over a career spanning decades, he has led land planning, development, design, construction, and customer service for projects across Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, and Sussex County, Delaware, overseeing the development of thousands of homes in the Washington, D.C. region. A longtime industry leader, Havenner is a past president of both the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association and the Home Builders Association of Virginia, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. Deeply engaged in civic and professional service, he also served on the City of Fairfax Economic Development Authority and continues to support George Mason University through the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship Executive Committee.
Jenny Herrera is a partner at Citrin Cooperman. She has 30+ years of public accounting experience and provides auditing and a wide variety of consulting and management advisory services to not-for-profit clients. Herrera’s service experience includes financial statement audits, internal and operational controls, management structure, business processes and procedures, unrelated business income tax, and compliance with government regulations under the Uniform Grant Guidance. She has served as an interim and permanent chief financial officer for outsourced accounting engagements. Herrera is a speaker, presenter, and lead in-house trainer on topics related to the concerns facing nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Citrin Cooperman, Herrera was a shareholder at Rubino & Company. Herrera is a graduate of the School of Business (now named Costello College of Business) and a member of their Prominent Patriots group.
Greg Hoffman is the vice president at Rooney Properties, a real estate development company in Arlington, Virginia. Hoffman oversees Rooney’s development activities and its portfolio of real estate assets in the Washington, D.C., region. Prior to his career at Rooney Properties, Hoffman worked in the construction industry, managing high-profile design/build, institutional, and government projects throughout the Washington, D.C., area. He held numerous positions as a project manager, using his experience and development expertise to successfully execute construction proposals. A graduate of the School of Business (now named Costello College of Business), he currently serves as the Advisory Board chair for the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship at George Mason University.
Jason J. Howell is the president of Jason Howell Company, a family wealth management firm focused on transitioning first-generation wealth into enduring prosperity. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered SRI Counselor, and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, he has been recognized as a Prominent Patriot by the George Mason University Costello College of Business. Howell’s accolades include recognition as a TOP Wealth Adviser by Washingtonian Magazine and inclusion in the Investopedia 100 Top Financial Advisors. Author of JOY of Financial Planning, he teaches at George Mason and at American University, sharing his expertise in financial planning. His career spans retail banking, corporate accounting, politics, personal finance, and the music industry.
Mary Sanders Jones retired after an impressive 40-year career with the Union Pacific Corporation, the largest freight railroad company in the United States. Her last role as vice president and treasurer involved significant interaction with shareholders, debt investors, and financial institutions. She is a trustee of the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust and is involved in community organizations in Nebraska and Virginia. Jones is an active supporter of George Mason’s arts programs and is a member of the Mason Arts board. She holds a BA in English from Carleton College and MBA from Columbia University.
Michael Ly is a CPA and auditing professional with over 16 years of experience between public accounting and private industry with extensive accolades. He is a team leader and team player who thrives under pressure and utilizes creativity, analytical skills, and an impactful coaching style to achieve results. Michael leads audit engagements with international teams on privately held companies with revenues up to and in excess of $1B+. Michael is also the Ascend Greater Washington Treasurer for the last seven years. Previously, Michael was a Director on tour at PwC’s National Office, specifically working in the Inspections group to facilitate PwC’s internal inspections programs. While at George Mason University, he was both the VP at Beta Alpha Psi and the Financial Manager at George Mason’s Chapter for Habitat for Humanity.
Boz Malik is a dynamic executive renowned for driving profitable revenue growth and enhancing shareholder value. A top corporate officer, Malik excels in P&L leadership, strategic sales and marketing, and transformative operational improvements. His cross-functional background spans industries such as building materials, OEM manufacturing, and consumer goods, fostering teamwork and managing change effectively. Since joining H.B. Fuller in 2019 as senior vice president of Global Construction Adhesives, Malik has driven growth and value creation through his extensive industry experience. His expertise is well-suited for roles within investment committees or finance sectors, aligning with George Mason’s strategic direction. Over his distinguished 34-year career, Malik has orchestrated eight successful acquisitions, generating over $500 million in value and achieving consistent revenue growth of 30-60 percent. His well-rounded and comprehensive success highlights his status as a business leader.
Rafael Martinez is a seasoned banker with more than 15 years of experience in commercial and nonprofit treasury management and lending. As a certified treasury professional, he excels in risk management and capital preservation, offering working capital and treasury solutions that fuel local business growth. Martinez builds strong banking relationships through proactive dialogue, ensuring efficient and effective service. Specializing in treasury management, SBA lending, and commercial lending, he provides tailored financial solutions to help businesses thrive. Beyond his professional achievements, Martinez actively engages with his community, serving on boards like the Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Association Institute and the Stroke Comeback Center. His role as treasurer of the Community Business Partnership underscores his commitment to economic growth and community development.
During his career, Mr. Mark Monson led comprehensive multi-million-dollar public sector financial management programs. At the Virginia Department of Health Professions, he provided executive leadership for all financial, administrative, and support services. Prior to joining the Virginia Department of Health Professions in 2002, Monson served as deputy superintendent for administration and finance at the Virginia Department of Correctional Education, chief of administrative services at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (now the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources), and assistant director for administration at the Virginia Department of Economic Development. He served in various managerial roles at the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget and the Virginia State Water Control Board. Monson was a Board Member for the Virginia Board of Nursing from 2015 – 2022.
Dr. Margaret Myers earned her Ph.D. from the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University. She is the director of IDA’s Information Technology and Systems Division, leading more than 60 IDA researchers in addressing significant national and global cybersecurity and cyberspace challenges. From 2000 to 2008, she served as principal director for the Department of Defense deputy chief information officer. Prior to that assignment, she served as director of information technology acquisition and investment for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I). Additionally, she acted as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for C3I Acquisition. She was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1992. Myers served on active duty in the U. S. Army and continued her service in the Army Reserve, retiring in 2005 in the rank of colonel. She received the DoD Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Presidential Rank Awards of Distinguished Executive and Meritorious Executive (twice), and the Distinguished Alumni an Outstanding Alumnus Awards from the George Mason University Volgenau School of Engineering.
Dr. Tamara Nall is the CEO of TLN Worldwide Enterprises, Inc. (dba The Leading Niche), an award winning and internationally recognized company known for using data and cutting-edge consulting to deliver data analytics, cybersecurity, and actionable intelligence in public health and financial services within the United States, Europe, and Africa. Nall has been recognized extensively, including The Network Journal’s 40 Under Forty Award; Black Enterprise 40 Under Forty Award; and Vyne Weekly’s “Top 10 Women to Watch”; “Big Time Operator” Award; two-year Winner of the New York Enterprise Reporter Small Business Award, and many more. Besides these awards, TLN client results have been highlighted in media channels, including the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Reuters, and the New York Post.
Serving as director of Campus Life Ensembles and Collaborative Arts, and as an associate professor of music, Dr. Michael W. Nickens (a.k.a. Doc Nix) is most recognized as the leader of the “Green Machine,” which in 2015 was named the #1 pep band in college basketball by the NCAA and commended by the Senate and House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Nickens was named the 2016 Faculty Member of the Year by the George Mason University Alumni Association. He has served as a faculty representative to the George Mason University Board of Visitors, chair of the faculty of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, chair of the CVPA Diversity Committee, and as a member of the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music’s Graduate Committee.
Laura Odell serves as deputy director, information technology and systems division, at the nonprofit Institute for Defense Analyses. She is a recognized leader, trusted White House advisor, and frequent speaker on topics related to information technology-enabled data analytics, acquisition procurement regulation, and compliance. For her pioneering work with artificial intelligence-enabled decision making, Odell won the Andrew J. Goodpaster Award for Excellence in Research; she also was honored with a Spark Award by the Society of Women Engineers for her contributions to the advancement of women in engineering. Odell holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota, as well as MS degrees in contract acquisition management and in business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Anne Osterman is George Mason’s dean of libraries and university librarian. She holds more than 20 years of academic library experience including roles at Virginia’s academic library consortium, VIVA; American University; and University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has published widely about cooperative acquisitions and collection development, collection assessment, and e-resource management. Osterman is the chair of Washington Research Library Consortium Library Directors and secretary-treasurer of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English, classical civilization, and religion from Florida State University; a MS in library science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and a MS in statistics from American University.
Marcus Perry is an accomplished banking professional, currently serving as senior vice president and commercial group leader at Atlantic Union Bank. With more than 30 years in the banking industry, Perry’s expertise is commercial banking, corporate lending, strategic leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and regional market development. A member of the Thumbs Up for Adam Advisory board and involved with the George Mason Alumni Association, he earned a George Mason BA in government and politics and an MBA with a concentration in banking, finance, and securities law. Perry is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
Dave Petersen is a principal at Arbor Strategies, a firm that provides IT and sales management consulting, government relations, and lobbying services. Prior to being the principal at Arbor Strategies, Petersen served as the senior executive in Accenture’s Washington, D.C. for over 26 years, serving in various leadership positions. Petersen has served on numerous boards since his retirement from Accenture’s, one of those boards being the George Mason University Board of Visitors. He also served on various committees within George Mason, chaired the Audit and Finance and Land Use committees, and was a member on the executive committee for two years.
Melissa Peterson is the CEO of Blue Sky Innovative Solutions, and has more than 20 years of experience leading organizations in IT and business strategy, organizational design, and business analysis. Her hands-on leadership delivers high-impact solutions across diverse sectors. Previously, Peterson served as CSC’s general manager for National Intelligence Agency Accounts, providing high-value solutions to agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Her expertise spans financial services, telecommunications, retail, and public sector clients, including the Department of Defense and IRS. Peterson holds an MBA and JD from Columbia University and a BS in finance from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, showcasing her strong academic foundation and leadership in driving innovation and strategic growth. Her commitment to excellence and transformative solutions continues to propel organizations toward achieving their strategic objectives efficiently.
Timothy Peterson is a co-founder of Pike Hill Capital Partners. Prior to Pike Hill, Peterson served as managing director and chief investment officer at SunBridge Capital Management. He led sourcing, execution, and management of acquisitions and investments across public and private markets. He was responsible for investing and managing $1B in capital and assets to include: real estate, operating companies, seeded funds, and majority/minority-controlled securities. Peterson held leadership positions at SunBridge affiliates including vice president of Realty Investment Company and director of corporate development and finance of Choice Hotels International. Prior to joining SunBridge, Peterson led the corporate development activities for the services business unit of Rockwell Collins.
John Pleasants has spent his entire career at Navy Federal Credit Union, where he has served in various leadership roles with particular expertise in internal audit, finance, strategic planning, and project management. In addition to his current role as vice president for cloud and IT financial strategy and operations, he also served as a vice president for areas encompassing business processes and accounting in the strategy management, human resources, and comptroller departments. Earlier, he was an assistant vice president for accounting-related functions in Navy Federal’s lending and comptroller units. A George Mason accounting alumnus, he began his career at Navy Federal as an internal auditor. He is a founding member of the credit union’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Chris Preston is a distinguished leader in nonprofit development, with more than 20 years of experience, notably with United Way, where he served as chief development officer in Chicago. An alum of George Mason University’s Costello College of Business, he earned a bachelor’s degree in management and received the 2022 Alumni Service Award. In 2024, he joined BlueSKY Collaborative Partners as chief strategic partnerships officer and launched the Chris Preston Partnership, offering consulting in leadership and fundraising. Preston actively supports George Mason, and was recognized as the 2021 Alumnus of the Year. His community involvement includes board service with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium and global United Way initiatives. Together with spouse Kelli M. Kreps, Preston passionately drives positive change through NeighborShare and local philanthropy.
Ms. Pallabi Saboo co-founded Harmonia Holdings Group in 2006, providing information technology services and training to customers in the federal sector. Perennially ranked among Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States, Harmonia was named “Business of the Year” in 2021 by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. Earlier in her career, Saboo was a director at Installation Included and a vice president at CST Inc. Saboo was honored as “Asian Business Leader of the Year” in 2020 by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and was recognized by the Washington Business Journal in 2020 among its annual list of “Women Who Mean Business.”
A distinguished attorney, Jaqueline Scott is the co-founder and president of Washington, D.C.’s FortneyScott, LLC. Many of her clients are federal government contractors, and she is a frequent lecturer on international labor and employment law issues. She is the immediate past president and current revenue director at Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers). Scott is aa former U.S. member and first vice president of the United Nations (UN) Administrative Tribunal, an independent appellate forum for UN employees’ claims. A member of the American Employment Law Conference, she earned a BA in English language and literature/letters and JD from Vanderbilt University, a LLM in taxation from New York University School of Law, and a LLM in international law, international arbitration and international taxation from Georgetown Law.
Mr. Anil Sharma has served as CEO of 22nd Century Technologies since 2008. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, 22nd Century is an IT services integrator and workplace solutions company with more than 5,500 employees and consultants throughout the United States, developing relevant competencies ranging from cybersecurity to cloud, application modernization to AI / ML solutions and niche software products such as IDPBot, which is driving the IRS’s Digitalization Initiative to Managed Services. Previously, Sharma was chief operating officer at the software development firm Outline Systems and served as an IT infrastructure director at Amdocs. He began his career as a systems analyst at India’s National Informatics Center.
In 1992, Mr. Fred Thompson Jr. joined his brother, Warren Thompson, and his sister, Benita Thompson-Byas, at Thompson Hospitality. He is now partially retired from his role as its chief administrative officer. He is the cofounder and vice chair of a nonprofit called Opportunity Scholars, a Winchester-based organization that provides educational and employment opportunities to underserved high school students. He served as the 2022 chair of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and has been a member of that board since 2015. Thompson started two non-profits, the Global Good Fund Foundation and Opportunity Scholars, and serves on the Virginia Chamber of Commerce board.
A George Mason School of Business (now named Costello College of Business) graduate, Ms. Robin Valentine is a Partner at KPMG LLP, currently working in the Audit, Learning, and Development Group. She has over 25 years of experience providing accounting, audit, and advisory services to governmental, non-profit, and commercial organizations. Approximately 16 years of her experience was focused on financial statement audits and pre-audit services for federal government entities. Prior to joining KPMG, Valentine worked as a staff auditor for a small CPA firm and as an accounting supervisor for a law firm. She is a CPA licensed in Virginia and the District of Columbia and is a certified government financial manager. She currently is a board member of the Community Business Partnership, a nonprofit organization that promotes small business growth.
Ms. Lourdes Venes is an attorney and president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Inter-American Bar Association. Her previous professional roles include serving on the Board of Directors and Development Committee at Airline Ambassadors International. She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the New York State Bar, and the Lima, Peru Bar. As former chief of staff to the Peruvian Minister of Labor and Promotion of Employment, Venes was responsible for the establishment of a government entity to manage human resources and led a team to design new civil service legislation. Early in her career, Venes served as the Peruvian National Ombudsman’s chief of staff, as a law clerk to the justices of the Peruvian Supreme Court, and was a legal advisor to the president of the Justice Commission of the Peruvian National Congress.
Vijay Venkateswaran is the Chief Business Development Officer at NextNav, where he leads business and technology ecosystem development, strategic partnerships, and go-to-market initiatives across terrestrial positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), resilient timing, advanced sensing, and wireless spectrum solutions for 5G and 6G networks. With more than 25 years of executive leadership in telecommunications, wireless, cloud, and critical infrastructure, Vijay has driven strategic growth across mobile services, broadband infrastructure, private wireless networks, spectrum investment, and emerging technology commercialization. Previously, he held senior roles at Charter Communications, Verizon, Ligado Networks, Accenture, and GE Ventures, and served as CEO of Viventum, advising Fortune 500 and private equity-backed companies. An inventor with five U.S. patents, Vijay holds an MBA and M.Eng. from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from George Mason University, and serves on the George Mason University Foundation Board and engineering advisory boards.
Ms. Tina Williams is the founder and principal of Informed XP (IXP), a company that focuses on transforming and innovating digital solutions for organizations large and small. Prior to founding IXP, Williams directed user experience design, content strategy, and visual design teams for Fortune 500 companies and institutes of higher education. She has worked across many industries including telecom, non-profit, health, cybersecurity, gaming, media, finance, healthcare, and higher education. Williams holds a BA in psychology and a minor in art from the University of Virginia and an MBA in marketing and technology from George Washington University.
Kathleen Wills is a distinguished lawyer specializing in intellectual property, recognized in 2025 by Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch. She clerked for Judge Jimmie V. Reyna and interned at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. International Trade Commission. A George Mason University alum, Wills earned her JD while leading the Trial Advocacy Association and contributing to the Civil Rights Law Journal. She has published extensively on the intersection of intellectual property, AI, and tattoos. Holding a BS in neuroscience, she previously conducted neuroimaging research at the National Institutes of Health. In 2024, Wills was elected director at large for George Mason’s Alumni Association, championing alumni engagement as a double alum. Her commitment to bridging law and technology continues to drive innovation in her field.
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