CEOs You Should Know - Washington DC

Amir Vexler is president and chief executive officer of Centrus Energy Corp.  He also serves on the company’s board of directors.

Mr. Vexler has extensive experience in the nuclear fuel industry and a strong background in manufacturing, engineering services, commercial operations, and business development.  Prior to joining Centrus, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Orano USA, overseeing Orano’s U.S. sales of nuclear fuel, decommissioning services, used nuclear fuel management, and medical isotopes as well as engineering and technology services for the federal government. 

Previously, Mr. Vexler spent 20 years at General Electric Company, where he served in a number of leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Operating Officer of Global Nuclear Fuels (GNF), a joint venture of GE and Hitachi.  GNF is a global provider of nuclear fuel and related services.  He earned a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.

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Doug Riley is the President and CEO of Thos. Somerville Co., a leading plumbing and HVAC wholesale distributor in the Mid-Atlantic region. His career with the company spans nearly four decades, beginning in 1985 as a summer warehouse associate in Fairfax, Virginia, and rising steadily through the ranks—from inside and outside sales to branch and regional management—before assuming the role of CEO in 2015. Doug earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from George Mason University, where he also competed as a collegiate track athlete. He later completed his MBA at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in 2012. Throughout his tenure at Somerville, Doug has been recognized for his leadership and performance, including being named Salesman of the Year in 1988 and guiding multiple branches and regions to annual honors such as Branch of the Year and Region of the Year. Outside of Thos. Somerville, Doug has remained active in leadership and education. He served on the TW Perry Advisory Board from 2015 to 2020 and currently sits on the board of St. Anne’s School. He also taught graduate-level Negotiations as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland from 2014 to 2015. A certified group fitness instructor, Doug has coached track and field at both high school and middle school levels and completed seven Tough Mudder races across the country between 2012 and 2013. Originally from Newburgh, New York, and born in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Doug now resides in Gambrills, Maryland. He is married to children’s book author Cyana Riley and is a proud father and grandfather to a blended family that includes four children and three grandchildren.

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Dr. Elizabeth Gray serves as Audubon’s Chief Executive Officer, leading the organization toward its vision of a future where birds thrive. A champion of science-based conservation and a renowned expert in global conservation and climate change, she joined Audubon in March 2021 as President and Chief Conservation Officer and was named CEO later that year—the first woman since Audubon’s founding in 1905 to hold the role. She leads more than 800 staff working across the Americas to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss. Since her arrival, she has led a landmark $826 million campaign, the groundbreaking release of the Migratory Bird Explorer, and the unifying Flight Plan strategy, reinforcing Audubon’s commitment to hemispheric conservation through the power of birds. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, Audubon has embraced a multicultural, multigenerational approach, ensuring its work reflects and engages all the communities connected to conservation across the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to Audubon, she most recently served as Global Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Climate Change program, where she played a key role in securing a $100 million philanthropic gift—one of the largest in TNC’s history—and managed the natural climate solutions initiative it funded. A proven fundraiser, she has secured six-, seven-, and nine-figure gifts to advance conservation and climate solutions. Trained as an ornithologist, she has spent 30+ years as a conservationist, spending considerable time in the field nationally and abroad. She also led two of TNC’s most notable impact capital projects, the $130 million Cumberland Forest Impact Investment Fund, which supported sustainable forestry in the Appalachians, and a groundbreaking urban conservation program in Washington, D.C. She holds a PhD in ecology from the University of Washington and an AB with highest honors in psychology from Harvard University.

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Meet Katie Hooper, the spirited CEO of Notorious111, also known as The Optimist. In late 2023, Katie saw an opportunity to buyback Notorious111 (formerly HZDG) from BCW, a division of WPP. Her strategic refocusing of the agency's skill set, fueled by her relentless optimism, has positioned Notorious111 to better meet the needs of chief marketing officers and brand leaders with creative solutions that go beyond traditional advertising. 

Katie is driven by a desire to make her work meaningful and impactful; these are not just her values but those she shares with and instills in the team at Notorious111. She believes that every brand marketer should feel the weight of their influence and strives to partner with them to craft brand stories that resonate deeply and make a real difference in people's lives. This dedication is reflected in her impressive portfolio of past and present clients, including Hilton, Dollar General, State of Maryland, King Arthur Flour, Penn State Football, and National Aquarium, and the National Mall.

Before leading Notorious111, Katie was the Director of Marketing at Ralph Lauren, where she spearheaded the integrated marketing program for the Rugby brand, from its initial concept to national rollout and e-commerce launch. This experience honed her exceptional talent for driving brand growth and engagement.

Katie Hooper's work at Notorious111 is not just a job, it's a calling, shaped by her enduring belief that great work matters. Through her vision and leadership, she continually pushes the boundaries of what's possible in advertising, leading Notorious111 into its next exciting chapter as an agency committed to making a difference through creativity.

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Dr. Elizabeth Gray serves as Audubon’s Chief Executive Officer, leading the organization toward its vision of a future where birds thrive. A champion of science-based conservation and a renowned expert in global conservation and climate change, she joined Audubon in March 2021 as President and Chief Conservation Officer and was named CEO later that year—the first woman since Audubon’s founding in 1905 to hold the role. She leads more than 800 staff working across the Americas to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss. Since her arrival, she has led a landmark $826 million campaign, the groundbreaking release of the Migratory Bird Explorer, and the unifying Flight Plan strategy, reinforcing Audubon’s commitment to hemispheric conservation through the power of birds. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, Audubon has embraced a multicultural, multigenerational approach, ensuring its work reflects and engages all the communities connected to conservation across the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to Audubon, she most recently served as Global Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Climate Change program, where she played a key role in securing a $100 million philanthropic gift—one of the largest in TNC’s history—and managed the natural climate solutions initiative it funded. A proven fundraiser, she has secured six-, seven-, and nine-figure gifts to advance conservation and climate solutions. Trained as an ornithologist, she has spent 30+ years as a conservationist, spending considerable time in the field nationally and abroad. She also led two of TNC’s most notable impact capital projects, the $130 million Cumberland Forest Impact Investment Fund, which supported sustainable forestry in the Appalachians, and a groundbreaking urban conservation program in Washington, D.C. She holds a PhD in ecology from the University of Washington and an AB with highest honors in psychology from Harvard University.

Chad A. Kim is an accomplished CEO and technology executive known for driving transformative growth and operational excellence across the national security and advanced technology sectors. Over two decades, he has earned a reputation for rapidly identifying strategic opportunities and decisively executing high-impact initiatives, leveraging targeted mergers and acquisitions to accelerate capability development, scale innovative solutions, and deliver measurable results.

Currently serving as the founding CEO of Bcore, a private equity-backed company delivering cutting-edge solutions to the U.S. intelligence and defense communities, Chad successfully spearheaded the rapid integration of four distinct legacy companies—Bridge Core, GeoYeti, teKnoluxion, and 2 Twelve Solutions—into one cohesive, high-performing entity. Under his leadership, Bcore drove significant operational efficiencies, enhanced resource utilization, accelerated revenue growth, and secured pivotal strategic partnerships.

Previously, as a founding executive and CTO at Avantus Federal, Chad helped scale the startup rapidly through aggressive organic growth and strategic acquisitions, culminating in its $600 million acquisition by QinetiQ. His leadership in identifying and integrating eight critical acquisitions significantly enhanced Avantus’s technical capabilities, expanded market presence, and enabled the development of innovative solutions in AI/ML, cyber, and intelligence—delivering exceptional returns and strategic value for stakeholders.

Chad’s leadership philosophy is anchored in integrity, relentless execution, accountability, continuous innovation, and human development. He uniquely combines strategic vision with tactical precision, empowering teams to confidently and swiftly tackle complex challenges. Deeply committed to 360-degree mentorship, Chad invests considerable time understanding and celebrating team members at all levels, ensuring everyone feels valued, motivated, and fully engaged in achieving the mission.

His expertise extends broadly across AI and machine learning, geospatial-temporal analytics, cybersecurity, HUMINT, counterterrorism, and counter-proliferation technologies. He is particularly adept at transforming service-driven businesses into agile, scalable, solution-oriented enterprises that deliver enduring value. Chad holds an MS from the University of Virginia and a BS from Middle Tennessee State University. Beyond his professional endeavors, Chad remains passionate about mentorship, strategic innovation, and forging impactful relationships that drive organizational and personal growth.

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Michael McDermott, founder and former CEO of Kona Grill, is a seasoned restaurant industry leader with a track record of creating and growing successful concepts. His portfolio includes the development of Tavern23, Rojo Mexican Grill, and Sushi on Shea. With extensive experience and a passion for innovation, Michael is now leading Chi-Chi’s into its next chapter.

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Carla Briceno is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bixal, a mission-driven organization working at the intersection of human-centered design, technology, and data to help federal agencies deliver more accessible, effective and efficient public services. She leads an unparalleled team of strategists, designers, technologists, and communicators dedicated to solving complex challenges, removing barriers to access, and creating solutions that truly serve the people they’re intended to reach. Carla holds a master’s degree in International Policy Studies and Advanced Spanish from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, a certificate in Business Programming from the Chubb Institute, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from California State University, Long Beach.

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Clement Pappas is the CEO and a Co-Founder of Stateside Brands, the maker of Surfside Iced Tea + Vodka / Lemonade + Vodka, Stateside Vodka Sodas and Stateside Vodka. In 2015, Stateside Vodka launched as a premium, American craft vodka brand and distillery in the heart of Philadelphia, PA. Under Clement’s leadership, Stateside Vodka was ranked the top-selling Pennsylvania Distilled Spirit in 2018. The company then launched its first ready-to-drink canned cocktail brand in 2021, Stateside Vodka Sodas, and experienced immediate success in the Philadelphia metro area. Following this success, Clement and co-founders Zach Pappas, Matt Quigley and Bryan Quigley identified an opportunity to create a flavorful, high-quality, vodka-based hard tea with 100 calories or less. This led to the launch of Surfside Iced Tea + Vodka in late 2022 and the brand took off like a rocket ship from the very beginning. In just two years, Surfside has become the #1 fastest growing brand across all alcohol beverages at scanned retail and has expanded its distribution nationwide across all 50 states and internationally to the Bahamas, Grand Cayman and St. Thomas. The brand was named VinePair’s “2024 Rising Drinks Brand of the Year” and earned a “2024 Hot Brands” award by Shanken IMPACT, recognized for the #1 growth spirits brand sales performance worldwide from 2022-2024. Before the start of Stateside Brands, Clement was CEO of Clement Pappas & Co., a leading national supplier of private brand juices. The company was founded in 1942 by his grandfather Clement, a hardworking U.S. immigrant who exemplified the American Dream. Growing up, the business played a central part in Clement's life, and he later worked in an executive capacity for the company for 15 years. Clement led the sale of the business to Lassonde Industries in 2011 and served as CEO until his exit in 2014. Before Clement Pappas & Co. he worked for Arthur Andersen Business Consulting in New York. Clement was also honored as Ernst & Young’s 2023 Regional Entrepreneur of the Year for his leadership with Stateside Brands.

Clement and his wife Lauren reside in Haddonfield, NJ with their two sons, Paul and Joseph. After tragically losing their premature son Peter in 2015, Clement and Lauren founded the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund with a mission to cure preeclampsia by 2050. Clement is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, and has served on numerous charitable and corporate boards. He earned his BSE from Duke University cum laude and MBA from The Wharton School, where he was designated a Palmer Scholar. *Source: Nielsen IQ Total US xAOC + Liquor Open State for Beer, Wine and Spirits L52 weeks ending 12/28/2024, brands with minimum 100,000 cases sold a year ago in 2023 **Source: Impact Databank

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From a teenage gym employee to a powerhouse entrepreneur, Eric Casaburi has spent decades shaping the fitness and wellness industry. At just 23, he launched his first business, setting the stage for his breakout success as founder and CEO of Retro Fitness—a fitness franchise that redefined the high value, low-cost gym space becoming a major player in the market and expanding to over 150 locations nationwide. Never one to settle, Casaburi set his sights on the next frontier: longevity. As the founder of Serotonin Centers, the fast-growing anti-aging med spa franchise, he’s leading a movement in health optimization, merging leading science-backed services with elite wellness offerings and medical aesthetics all under one roof.  His influence spans beyond business, with media appearances, a spotlight on Undercover Boss, and his podcast Aging Backward, Growing Forward, where he unpacks the ways to achieve vitality and peak performance. With a legacy built on innovation and an unrelenting drive to deliver best-in-class brands, Casaburi is not just shaping industries—he’s redefining what it means to live better, longer.

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