CEOs You Should Know - Washington DC

Linda Houk is President and CEO of Information Systems Solutions, Inc. (ISS). In 2005 ISS was restructured and she was selected to lead the company into the future. Since her arrival, the company has experienced steady growth, and has been identified for six consecutive years by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing privately held companies. She is recognized by the Montgomery County (MD) Chamber of Commerce as their 2011 Small Business Leader of the Year.
Prior to joining ISS, Linda served 21 years as an Air Force officer where, as part of her accomplishments she oversaw multiple contractors and organizations and coordinated with managers of other projects/programs and high-level Air Force decision makers, including the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force. She also served on the Air Force Program Review Committee, which reviews the Air Force budget submissions and establishes the annual Air Force Program Objective Memorandum (POM). Linda is a graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology, with a Master of Science in Systems Management, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Miami University.

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Brigette Wolf is the Chief Marketing Officer at My/Mochi where she leads marketing and innovation and the brand’s transformation for growth.Brigette is responsible for fueling the company’s innovation pipeline through the creation of beyond the core products and partnerships as well as building the brand’s equity and connection to consumers.

Previously she was VP, Global Head of SnackFutures, Mondelēz International’s innovation and venture hub which launched in 2018 as part of the global snack leader’s growth agenda. There she ran intrepreneurship on her team launching new start up brands, venture capital and and CoLab, the company’s start-up engagement program.

Brigette was with Mondelēz International for 10 years, and in that time served as the senior director of Global Platform Innovation for the Gum & Candy and Biscuits categories as well the senior brand manager for Global belVita innovation.

Prior to this Brigette was with Kraft Foods for almost 10 years having served as the Global Innovation Manager for Oreo and the Brand Manager of several of the pizza and meal brands.

Prior to being part of the food industry, Brigette worked for Credit Suisse First Boston and Morgan Stanley in investment banking.Brigette received her undergraduate degree from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.

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Beth Maser CEO | Knowledge Management Expert | Chief Bottle Washer

"HAI is adept at proactively reading our target markets, and we're continually raising the level of the value we deliver. We are agile, imaginative, and we respond to our clients' needs for solutions quickly and effectively.”

Work at HAI

Beth Maser is a veteran Knowledge Management expert and certified PMP, she leverages decades of experience with organizations like the National Archives and ABC News to transform complex historical data into innovative, tech-forward solutions for global clients. As CEO of History Associates, Beth leads the company's growth strategy focused on major industry segments including government, legal, commercial, and associations and nonprofits. Beth and her team are delivering distinct service offerings to clients with expanded capabilities in digitization, culture heritage, litigation research, and advanced uses of technology. Together with her HAI team and strategic partners, Beth helps clients leverage opportunities from historical information and analysis to find creative ways to engage audiences of all types and add value to top and bottom lines.

Path to HAI

Beth's experience includes managing high-profile projects for the National Archives and Records Administration, the Library of Congress, USAID Knowledge Services Center, ABC News, and Fortune 500 companies and law firms. Leading multi-skilled teams, she helped to source, organize, and apply information in strategic and innovative ways. Before joining History Associates, she was the Director of Records and Information Systems at PPC, a management consulting firm, where she quadrupled the firm's knowledge management services to $17M. As the Senior Director of Professional Services for an INC 500 Information Services firm, she led teams of professionals to win and execute corporate and government contracts valued at more than $15M annually.Beth also founded and managed two organizations—University Ventures, a consulting operation, and Semantic Staffing, a boutique information management services recruiting firm. She is an active member of several professional organizations and engages with the UMD iLEAD Council and the Corporate Council of the National Archives Foundation.

Beth is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Beth also holds an MA in History and Public Policy from George Washington University and a BA in History from Washington University. She maintains a strong network of industry contacts and is also active in several DC-area organizations and nonprofits.You can also read Beth's articles published on Inc.com here. Inc. is the premier media brand for American entrepreneurs, offering inspiration, insights, and practical advice through its award-winning magazine, website, and events like the Inc. 5000 Conference.

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With over 20 years of management experience in the oral healthcare industry, David Fox brings a strategic and seasoned perspective to the Willo leadership team. His extensive background spans leadership roles across early-stage ventures and global brands, where he has demonstrated a talent for scaling businesses and driving sustainable growth. David has successfully negotiated, integrated, and led the acquisition of more than 10 brands and companies, proving his expertise in strategic expansion and integration. Under his leadership, Willo is revolutionizing oral care for children.

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Lawrence Melton is the CEO & President of The Building People. With over 31 years of industry and federal executive experience, Lawrence established the company in 2013 and found early success in its global reach to drive greater efficiency, investment, and performance for its clients. The Building People integrates technology, buildings, and people to deliver the future of the built environment, today. He has successfully led the company into the federal sector and expanded into the commercial industry through creative partnering approaches and competitive service offerings. Since the founding in 2013, Lawrence has led a robust and diversified growth strategy that includes over 450 employees that have delivered more than $400M in revenue. The Building People is once again nationally recognized as one of America's Fastest-Growing Companies, which rarely occurs eight years in a row, ranking No. 1327 (2018), No. 472 (2019), No. 318 (2020), No. 511 (2021), No. 2504 (2022), No. 3464 (2023), No. 3602 (2024), and No. 2923 (2025). In August 2025, Lawrence was named a finalist by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce as Executive of Year, a prestigious selection that showcases the success and leadership among the top CEO’s in the Federal Government industry.

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Bruce Lowthers is the CEO and Executive Director of the Board at Paysafe, where he has led a successful transformation of the company since his appointment in May 2022. Under his leadership, Paysafe streamlined its operations, recalibrated its growth strategy, and returned to growth by focusing on innovation, customer experience, and a sales-driven culture. A former CPA and entrepreneur, Bruce co-founded multiple startups and payments industry associations, including ATPC and P20, and serves on the board of the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA). Prior to Paysafe, he spent 15 years at FIS, ultimately serving as President. He has been recognized with numerous industry awards and accolades for his leadership and contributions to the payments and fintech sectors. In addition, Bruce is an active philanthropist, supporting multiple causes, including cancer, education, and public health in the U.S. and in the UK.

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Mr. Steckel joined AMERICAN SYSTEMS in June 2018 as VP, Business Development, and has been instrumental in aligning the company’s business development and delivery of strategic offerings with customer needs. In April 2022, Mr. Steckel was promoted to VP, Corporate Development, adding oversight of the company’s legislative affairs and merger and acquisition initiatives to his business development responsibilities. In September 2023, Mr. Steckel was named President and CEO of AMERICAN SYSTEMS.Prior to joining AMERICAN SYSTEMS, Mr. Steckel held senior business development positions for several government contracting firms, including Vencore, Raytheon, and BAE Systems. Mr. Steckel served in the U.S. Navy as aNaval Flight Officer and is currently a Blue and Gold Officer for the U.S. Naval Academy Admissions Office. In addition to his role as AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ President and CEO, Mr. Steckel is Vice Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Mr. Steckel serves on the boards of the Professional Services Council and the Northern Virginia Technology Council. He is active with the Potomac Officers Club, the ArmedForces Cycling Classic, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), as well as other industry and community organizations. In 2022, Mr. Steckel was named to the “Top Business Development Executives to Watch” list by Washington Exec, and later that year, won Washington Exec’s Pinnacle Award as Business Development Executive of the Year, Private Company. Mr. Steckel received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

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Jerry Shapiro became President of Shapiro & Duncan in 1993, after mastering the economics of the mechanical contracting business as a member of our estimating team from 1978 to 1993. As President, Jerry oversees business development activities as well as operations of the Service, Design Build and Estimating Departments. He also reviews and approves final bids and job cost budgets. In addition, he takes a lead role in communication with subcontractors, vendors and general contractors. Jerry has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

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Jerry Shapiro became President of Shapiro & Duncan in 1993, after mastering the economics of the mechanical contracting business as a member of our estimating team from 1978 to 1993. As President, Jerry oversees business development activities as well as operations of the Service, Design Build and Estimating Departments. He also reviews and approves final bids and job cost budgets. In addition, he takes a lead role in communication with subcontractors, vendors and general contractors. Jerry has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

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