CEOs You Should Know - Washington DC

Larry Katzman
Larry's primary role as President and Chief Executive Officer is to architect and implement AIS' growth strategy, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure our reputation for service delivery excellence is never compromised. Joining AIS in 2000, Larry started his career as a Software Developer in our Commercial Practice. He helped create AIS' Federal Practice, leading our National Security and Intelligence work before becoming Vice President of Business Development, and later, Chief Operating Officer. Larry holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University and a Master's degree from George Washington University. Larry is married to his wife of 20 years and spends most of his time outside of work with her, their three children, and three Labrador Retrievers.

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Allison Stearns
Allison Stearns has dedicated her career to the health and welfare of people across the lifespan. She has more than 30 years of experience in community and behavioral health and nonprofit leadership. Since 2014 when she joined CaringMatters (formerly Hospice Caring) as Executive Director, Allison has grown the organization's visibility and created effective community partnerships and strategic alliances within the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. During her tenure, the agency's hospice support and bereavement programs have expanded significantly, and CaringMatters has become a recognized leader for community education on topics related to serious illness, end-of-life, loss and grief, and advance care planning. Allison serves on many community-wide committees and coalitions including several years as the co-chair of the Montgomery County Palliative Care and End-of-Life Coalition. Before joining CaringMatters, Allison served as the Deputy Director at The Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE), a nonprofit organization that provides education and counseling for families touched by foster care and adoption.

Prior to that, she was the Director of Kensington Wheaton Youth Services, a school-based prevention and early intervention program of EveryMind. (formerly the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County). Her professional experience also includes Prince William County Public Schools (Virginia) as the coordinator of substance abuse and violence prevention programs and The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (Baltimore) as a therapist and supervisor for their outpatient substance abuse and co-occurring disorders program. In the early 1990s, Allison was selected by the National Association of Community Health Centers for a fellowship in Community Health Administration, and through that, she spent two years working for a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Southern California. Allison holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University and a Master of Public Health from The Johns Hopkins University. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland and a graduate of the Leadership Montgomery Class of 2010.

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Rocky Thurston
Rocky is the Chief Executive Officer of DMI. Under his leadership, DMI develops innovative and differentiated digital offerings aimed at creating value for our customers, employees, and stakeholders. Rocky joined DMI in 2021 and served as Chief Operating Officer. In this role he was responsible for leading the company’s global business strategies that enable DMI to deliver solutions to meet the sophisticated needs of the company’s diverse customer base. Under Rocky’s leadership, DMI expanded and repositioned the company’s Commercial, Federal, and State & Local businesses to align with the company’s vision of becoming the leading digital services provider and the intersection of Public and Private sectors. Prior to joining DMI, Rocky served as the President for the $1.3B Peraton Citizen Security and Public Services business sector, where he led key initiatives that transformed IT performance across multiple Federal sectors. Prior to Peraton, Rocky held leadership positions of increasing responsibility at Perspecta, AT&T, Accenture, and Lockheed Martin. Rocky is a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the United States Air Force Academy. He also holds an MBA with a concentration in finance.

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Lauren C. Vaughan
Lauren C. Vaughan currently serves as the President and CEO of Samaritan Inns, a DC non- profit dedicated to combating homelessness and addictions. She joined Samaritan Inns in Fall 2020 after two decades of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Previously, Lauren served as Executive Director of MentorPrize, a non-profit that connects at-risk youth with adult mentors; and she served for four years as Secretary of the District of Columbia, after Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed her in January 2015.

Prior to entering government, Lauren served as Executive Director of My Sister’s Place (MSP), a decades-old, non-profit in Washington, DC that shelters, supports, and empowers survivors of domestic violence and their children. She oversaw completion of a multi-million dollar initiative to expand and renovate the organization’s emergency shelter, more than doubling its capacity. Lauren also helped create a citywide domestic violence hotline and managed 45 employees. In total, Lauren devoted 14 years to MSP, having previously served there as a volunteer and board member.

Lauren’s business experience includes leading and managing a DC-based business consulting firm and supporting the establishment of a DC-based project and construction management company in 2001. She applied her expertise to both companies simultaneously. She has served on numerous boards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for DC Vote and the Vestry of her church, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Southwest Washington, DC.

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lauren moved to the metropolitan DC area to attend graduate school at The George Washington University where she earned a Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media from Hampton University and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington, Class of 2002. Lauren was recognized in 2023 as a “Woman Who Means Business” by The Washington Business Journal. Lauren resides in Upper Marlboro with her husband Horace Fauntleroy.

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Karl Hofmann
Karl Hofmann is the President and CEO of Population Services International (PSI), a non-profit health enterprise working in over 40 countries worldwide, with programs in family planning and reproductive health, malaria, water and sanitation, HIV, and non-communicable diseases.

PSI works in partnership with local governments, ministries of health, and local organizations to create health solutions and health systems built to last.

Prior to joining PSI, Hofmann was a career American diplomat. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, Executive Secretary of the Department of State, and Deputy Chief of Mission (senior career diplomat) at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. He also served on President Clinton’s National Security Council staff.

Hofmann is Vice-Chair of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a Director of the One Acre Fund, a member of the CSIS Commission on American Health Security, and of the American Academy of Diplomacy. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and the National Defense University.

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Anuj Khanna
Anuj Khanna is Founder & CEO of Service 1st Financial where he is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company, including building a world-class team that thrives on serving the residential home services industry with integrity and passion.

Prior to Founding Service 1st, Mr. Khanna was a Partner at CapitalView Investment Partners and a Principal with American Capital Special Situations, having joined in 2007 as a Senior Associate. He has over 20 years of investing and other relevant experience and has sat on the board of directors of nine companies. Previously, Mr. Khanna was an Associate in the Restructuring Group at Evercore Partners and an Investment Banking Analyst at UBS Los Angeles.

Mr. Khanna received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a J.D. from Northwestern University’s School of Law, and a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He currently resides in Bethesda, MD, with his wife, two children, and dog, Teddy!

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Angela Franco
Angela Franco is the President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce. Her commitment to support and advocate for Chamber members demonstrates passion and vision to grow the organization. Franco joined the DC Chamber of Commerce during civic unrest and a global pandemic and continues to move the organization forward. By working with its executive team and board of directors, Franco creates programs and services that position the Chamber as a valuable resource and leading advocate for businesses throughout DC. She has made strides in stabilizing the organization and is laser-focused on the budget re-forecasting based on the impact of the pandemic. In addition, by cultivating key partner relationships, the Chamber is seeing increased funding from public and private sectors and member engagement.
Prior to joining the DC Chamber of Commerce, Franco was the Senior Advisor for Business Development at the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (DCHBX). She was responsible for collaborating with the Hispanic and business communities and local and Federal governments.
Before joining DCHBX, Franco was President and CEO of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, she strengthened and revitalized the organization, as evidenced by membership growth and a 500 percent increase in operating revenue. In addition, because of her passion and commitment, more than 70 percent of the Chamber’s members experienced business growth and ROI. Franco has received many prestigious honors, including:

• 2022 Washington Business Journal Power 100 List
• 2022 Capital Region Minority Supplier Diversity Council MBE Hall of Fame
• 2021 Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award
• 2016 Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship Award
• 2015 Local Leader Making an Impact Award, NBC4 Washington
• 2015 American Airlines Extra Mile Award
• 2014 NFL Hispanic Leadership Award, Washington Redskins and Verizon
• 2014 Champion of Character and Scouting Vale La Pena Service Award, Boy Scouts of America
• 2013 Hispanic Business Community Award for Nonprofit Leadership, Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
• 2013 DC Illuminator Award, DCTV
• 2012 Minority Business Leader Award
• 2012 Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine 50 Most Powerful US and International Business Executives

Franco is a Board Member at Large for the United Way of the National Capital Area, the Advisory Board of the Pan American Development Foundation, Board Member at Boys Scouts of America, Board Member of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and appointee to the DC Workforce Investment Council (by the DC Mayor). She is also a graduate of Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Greater Washington. Franco’s earlier career includes roles with Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) and the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Before relocating to the US from Bogotá, Colombia, Franco held management positions for the Santander Pension Fund, the Institutional Relations for a Banco Popular del Ecuador division, and the American International Group (AIG). Franco holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. She is also a Certified Life Coach and a John Maxwell certified trainer, coach and speaker.

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Rachna S. Krishnan
Rachna S. Krishnan is a results-oriented executive with over 30 years of strategy, business development, and operations management experience in the nonprofit, hospital, healthcare, and management consulting industries. She currently serves as the CEO and Executive Director at The Women's Center. Rachna is a strategist and leader with a proven track record of delivering growth, new programs, insights, and overall success.

The mission of The Women’s Center is to significantly improve the mental health and well-being of all members of the community through counseling, education, support, and advocacy. Rachna's leadership during the pandemic has been widely recognized, and she was honored with the 2021 Northern Virginia Leadership Covid-19 Hero Award by Leadership Fairfax. This prestigious accolade highlights her exceptional leadership skills and commitment to making a difference in challenging times.

Before The Women's Center, Rachna held the position of Growth Officer at Inova. Throughout her career, she has served in senior management roles for various companies including Ernst & Young, America Online, and Amgen.

Rachna earned both her Bachelor’s and Master of Business Administration at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded a Gruss Fellowship in Public Policy, Director’s list honors, Magna Cum Laude, and Dean’s List honors.
Rachna is actively engaged in the community through leadership and participation on several councils and boards. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and is the proud parent of two young adults. She enjoys traveling, volunteering in the community, and hiking.

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Neal Beggan
With the professional designations as Certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified CSF Practioner (CCSFP), and Certified in Risk and information Systems Controls (CRISC), and Provisional Assessor for CMMC, Neal has over twenty years of risk management, IT audit, consulting, and compliance experience.

Neal is an active speaker at conferences and seminars across the country and was granted a Top Secret Security Clearance by the DSS. He is an active member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and the Information Systems Audit Control Association (ISACA). In addition, Neal sits on the Executive Board for the Autism Society of America, the Executive Committee of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)/Light The Night as well as the School of Accounting Guiding Executive (SAGE) board for James Madison University.

Risk Management/Advisory Specialties: Governance Risk Compliance (GRC), SOX 404/Internal controls consulting,, Internal Audit, Cybersecurity, Internal Audit, SSAE18 SOC1 2/3, Risk Assessments, System Implementations (IV&V/Project Risk Reviews), Business Impact Analysis, Disaster Recovery Planning, FISMA/FedRAMP/DFARS/CMMC (NIST 800-53/171), IT Governance, Social Engineering, Security Awareness, FISCAM and HIPAA/HITRUST Privacy Reviews.

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Tarandeep Bawa is the President & CEO of ITegrity, Inc. He provides direction and leadership towards the achievement of ITegrity’s company culture, mission, vision, strategy, and long-term goals and objectives. Tarandeep is a seasoned management executive in the Federal and Commercial sectors with over 20 years of success in consulting, program/project management, quality improvement, and business development. Tarandeep has worked in management and operational capacities with SAIC, Motorola, and other small businesses supporting the public sector.

He possesses a Bachelors of Science from the University of Maryland and a Masters Degree in Information and Telecommunication Systems from The Johns Hopkins University. He also possesses PMP, ITIL, ISO20000, MCSE, CCNA, and Six Sigma Black Belt certifications. Tarandeep is a graduate of the nation’s first 8(a) Accelerator Program from the Small Business Administration and the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program.

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