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Kasie Hunt, Olivia Nuzzi, Ayesha Rascoe & Robert Costa

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YOUNG GUEST LIST Who’s Next in Washington

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SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DISTRICT WHARF

THE WASHINGTON LIFE 2019

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ach year we survey the landscape of young people doing cool things in Washington and, as always, never cease to be amazed at the ways they are moving the city forward in a myriad of endeavors.

From chefs putting the District on the national stage as a formidable food city to journalists fighting accusations of “fake news,” there is a wide range of occupations represented in this year’s list.As different as each here of the 300 plus individuals “Pull quote pull who are included may be, a common goal of making the quote here pull quote nation’s capital a better place serves as a running thread that

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JAMAL ABDI President, National Iranian American Council

CARLA BABB — Name name Pentagon Correspondent, Voice of America

JEREMY ADLER Director of Communications, House Republican Conference

RACHAEL BADE Reporter, The Washington Post

GERALD ADDISON Co-Executive Chef, Maydan and Compass Rose

SARAH BAKER Director of Booking, MSNBC MEREDITH BALENSKE Vice President of Communications, Revolution LLC

binds them all. The energy was especially palpable at this year’s photo shoots.With the exception of the journalists and actors among the 40 selected, there is no real methodology with regard to who was paired with whom in the various groupings. Half the fun is watching along as conversations unfold on their own—blockchain entrepreneur Michael Parker talking to chef Jerome Grant about profit margins, for example. It validates the notion that we are all connected by this great city we call home and we couldn’t be more pleased.

REBECCA BUCK Political Reporter, CNN

TRAVIS BOYD Forward, Washington Capitals

CHRISTINA BROWN Publicist, National Gallery of Art

CARMEN BERKLEY Managing Director, Organizing and Electoral Campaigns, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

QUINN BRADLEE Founder and CEO, FriendsofQuinn.com

EMILY BROWN Regional Director of Development, The Boys & Girls Club of America

BRADLEY BEYCHOK President, American Bridge

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Manager, EDENS President and CEO, National ARASH AZANI Children’s Museum DAN BERGER President, Bullitt Agency Founder and CEO, KATIE BOYD SARA AZANI Social Tables Director of Communications, Blogger, Style MBA P H O T O G R A P H E D AT L O C AT I O N N A M E Sen. H E RRoy E Blunt (R-MO)

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MARJORIE MEEK BRADLEY Chef, St. Anselm MARGARET BRENNAN Foreign Affairs Correspondent, CBS News SAWEDA BRIGHT M D Physician, Inova

ERIK BRUNER-YANG Chef and Owner, Maketto, Brothers and Sisters and Spoken English BRENDAN BUCK Partner, Blue Engine Message & Media

BROOKE BROGAN Founder, Brooke Brogan Public Relations FRITZ BROGAN Managing Partner, The Mission Group; MaverickPAC National Co-Chair ASHLEY TAYLOR BRONCZEK Co-Founder, Secretly Gifting MATTHEW BRONCZEK Managing Partner, Federal Building Group and Federal Home, LLC

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PAMELA BROWN Senior White House Correspondent, CNN

LARHONDA BURLEY Vice President, Partnerships and Marketing, National Fitness Foundation ALMA CABALLERO Director for Mexico, McClarty Associates DAVID CABRERA Owner, Suns Cinema JOHN CARLSON Defenseman, Washington Capitals

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“Have empathy toward your subjects, even if you don’t think they deserve it. You won’t understand them otherwise.”

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ROBERT COSTA National Political Reporter, The Washington Post; Moderator, PBS’ “Washington Week” Whether starting his day with an appearance on “Morning Joe,” or breakfast with a senator, Costa’s non-partisan approach to journalism has helped keep him as a trusted news source.

He credits his well-rounded perspective on national politics to a firm understanding of both the country’s big cities and small towns. The reporter also values time spent away from his computer and phone, citing walks around the city as an effective tool for focusing.

KASIE HUNT Capitol Hill Correspondent, NBC; Host of MSNBC’s “Kasie DC” In 2018, Hunt and her NBC News Capitol Hill team were recognized with the Joan Shorenstein Barone Award at the Radio and Television Correspondents Association Awards for their coverage of sexual harassment in Congress, which eventually led to reform making it easier for victims to report harassment. She credits her reporting chops to perseverance, calling it “9/10ths of success.” Her advice to up and coming journalists? “Make that one extra phone call, take that one additional risk.”

AYESHA RASCOE White House Reporter, NPR Before joining NPR last spring, the Howard University graduate covered energy and policy news, and eventually the White House, at Reuters. At NPR she has reported on everything from criminal justice reform to President Trump’s rhetoric toward African Americans on Twitter. The latter story was triggered

by Trump’s referral to former advisor Omarosa Manigault Newman as “a dog” and Lebron James as “dumb.” Rascoe combed through more than 900 of his tweets and conferred with political scientists and linguistics specialists about the implications of his language.

“Words matter,” she explains, “and I felt like it was important to look at why certain insults carry historical baggage.”

OLIVIA NUZZI Washington Correspondent, New York Magazine In the past year, Nuzzi has interviewed President Trump and Stormy Daniels, written an eyebrow-raising piece about former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks and won the American Society of Magazine Editors’ Next Award, which recognizes outstanding NAME HERE

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YGL KARA KRAUSE Vice President, Events Marketing & Communications, E.J. Krause & Associates As a third-generation executive at the event planning company that her father and grandfather founded 35 years ago, Krause carries on her family’s legacy executing major tradeshows, conferences and educational forums. “I grew up watching my dad create one of the largest privately held exhibition management companies in the world,” she explains. “It was important to me to continue to foster the growth that they created.”

The area native and Georgetown-graduate specializes in producing large-scale events like MetroCookingDC and the M-Enabling Summit.

JUSTIN SCHUBLE Food Blogger When he is not “eating for the Insta”nationally and internationally, the 24-year-old food influencer behind the popular @dcfoodporn handle is staying active. He was able to turn his love for food into a career after graduating from Georgetown University in 2017 and has since amassed 300,000 followers on Instagram and collaborated with many Fortune 500 companies.

Dining experiences that have wowed him over that last year? “The omakase experiences at Kōbō and Sushi Nakazawa ... the augmented reality dinner experience at Artechouse ... The seafood paella at Del Mar at The Wharf.”

GREGORY CENDANA President and CoFounder, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Counseling

Co. and Call You Mother Deli

FRANCESCA CHAMBERS White House Correspondent, Daily Mail PETER FRANKLIN CHANG Co-Founder, No Kings Collective KEO CHEA Assistant Director, Office of Community Affairs, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau KEVIN CIRILLI Chief Washington Correspondent, Bloomberg Television

ANASTASIA DELLACCIO Director, Global Community and Career Engagement, Creator Awards and Public Affairs, WeWork TARA DIJULIO Director, Global Public Affairs, GE

ERIN COMO Traffic Anchor/Reporter, Fox5 KAT CONLON Executive Director, Friends of the American University of Afghanistan

JESSICA DITTO Deputy Director of Communications, The White House MARTIN DITTO CEO, Ditto Residential CHRISTIAN DJOOS Defenseman, Washington Capitals

PHEONIX COPLEY Goaltender,Washington Capitals

JASON DONNER Capitol Hill Producer, Fox News BOBBY DONOHOE President and Founder, Strength in Our Voices

REP ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ U.S. Congresswoman, (D-New York)

MATTHEW DORNIC Vice President of Communications, CNN

ROBERT COSTA National Political Reporter, The Washington Post; Moderator, PBS’ “Washington Week”

AMELIA DRAPER Meteorologist, NBC4 A J DRONKERS Associate Publisher, Edible DC

RACHEL COTHRAN Senior Content Strategist, HZDG

AMY DUNKI Bartender, The Red Hen

JORDAN COTTON Co-Founder, Cotton & Reed Distillery

LAUREN DUNNE Co-Founder,Varnish Lane

REP DAN CRENSHAW U.S. Congressman, (R-Texas)

NICOLAS END Economist, Middle East and Central Asia Dept., IMF

WALTER L CRONKITE IV Director, FTI Consulting NICOLE CROWDER Furniture Designer and Upholsterer LAUREN CULBERTSON Public Policy Manager, Twitter

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MICHAEL DARNER Executive Director, Congressional Progressive Caucus VERNON DAVIS Tight End, Washington Redskins

KAITLAN COLLINS White House Correspondent, CNN

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ASHLEY DARBY Owner, Oz Restaurant; Cast Member, “The Real Housewives of Potomac”

GREG ENGERT Beer Director, Neighborhood Restaurant Group TREVER FADEN Founder, Atlas Lane

TOM CUNANAN Chef, Bad Saint

JOHN FALCICCHIO Chief of Staff, Mayor Muriel Bowser

ANDREW DANA Co-Owner, Timber Pizza

LENA FAROUKI Founder, Curio Concept Store

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RICHARD HUDOCK Director of Communications, NBC In his role at NBC News, Hudock relishes in having a position where every day is different and full of new challenges. It also helps that his admiration for NBC goes way back to his childhood. The communications director jokes that he still pinches himself when visiting the “Meet the Press” set.

Hudock first moved to Washington three years ago to take a job with CNN. He credits his success to relationship-building, boiling it down to “Follow up, make time for coffee meetings, stay in touch.”

He adds: “Don’t underestimate the importance of a handwritten note or thank you card.”

SARA BECKSTEAD Communications Manager, EDENS “Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I’ve always understood the value of small business and community,” Beckstead explains. Her family’s jewelry business Liljenquist & Beckstead is one of the most trusted names in the area and her experience working there after college taught her the importance of giving voice to a brand’s philosophy. At retail real estate developer EDENS, Beckstead helps share stories from the company’s portfolio of properties and retail partners. “Telling these stories gives meaning to who we are and what we do in our shared purpose to enrich community,” she says.

PEGGY SPARKS Director, Artist’s Proof At the fine art gallery in Georgetown, Sparks strives to serve as a conduit connecting local emerging creatives with prospective clients. Advocating for artists is at the crux of her job, she explains, citing her ability to translate their visual narratives to new collectors. “One of the great perks of my job is that I am able to be intimately acquainted with the producers of art,” she says. “When I speak to an artist and am able to listen to what motivated them to create a piece of artistic work, that moves me.”

The Singapore-raised gallerist also consults on hotel, residential and commercial projects globally.

BOBBY DONOHOE President & Founder, Strength in Our Voices Born and raised in Richmond, the University of Virginia-graduate moved to the District to work in federal consulting for Deloitte. After struggling with anxiety, Donohoe founded the nonprofit organization Strength in Our Voices (SiOV) with the intention of building a community of “acceptance, positivity and selfhelp.” The vision of the group is to destigmatize mental health issues, which they achieve through peer-led training programs in schools. SiOV hinges on creating “environments of trust and support for those impacted by mental health through open dialogue, education, empowerment and positive change,” he says.

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CARA KELLY Enterprise Reporter, USA Today As an entertainment reporter at USA Today, Kelly covered Holllywood at the height of the #MeToo movement, doing in-depth reporting on sexual harrassment in the industry. The experience led her to join the newspaper’s investigations team last year.

MARKETTE SHEPPARD TV Host and Author Sheppard, host of WUSA’s “Great Day Washington,” says she values the art of storytelling because she gets to “fill in the blanks in a meaningful and impactful way” for viewers. The Los Angeles-native used that same passion to write a children’s book last summer, “What is Light?” Her take on work-life balance? “Work is what I do, being a mom, wife and friend is who I am.”

JENNIFER FELDMANBRILLEMBOURG M D Anesthesiologist

ALLEN GANNETT Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, Skyword

ANGIE FETHERSTON CEO, Drink Company

MATTHEW GARDINER Associate Artistic Director, Signature Theatre

J P FETHERSTON Beverage Director, Columbia Room

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HEATHER LOUISE FINCH Founder and CEO, HLF, LLC MEREDITH FINEMAN CEO and Founder, FinePoint

JOSH GENDERSON President, Schneider’s of Capitol Hill; Founder, Holistic Industries

REP ABBY FINKERAUER U.S. Congresswoman (D-Iowa)

DONNIE GERALD Photographer

KELLY FLANIGAN President, Live Nation DC, MD & VA

LISA GILBERT Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Public Citizen

JADE FLOYD Vice President of Communications, Case Foundation and Revolution

MARK GILLESPIE General Manager and Creative Director, The Orchestra of the Americas

ASHLEY FORRESTER Corporate Director, Communications and Marketing, EventsDC

SEAN GLASS Chairman and CEO, Advantia Health

DESIRÉE VENN FREDERIC Founder and Executive Director, Combing Cotton Co. MIKE FRIEDMAN Chef and Owner, The Red Hen and All Purpose GLENDA FU Executive Director, Dreams for Kids LANI FURBANK Freelance Food Writer JOELLE FIRZLI Co-Founder, Tribute MORGAN FYKES Director of Strategic Engagement, We the People DC REP TULSI GABBARD U.S. Congresswoman (D-Hawaii) ALEX THOMPSON Political Reporter, Politico The 29-year-old reporter got his start in the field working as Maureen Dowd’s editorial assistant at The New York Times. After a stint as a politics editor at VICE News, Thompson is now on the 2020 presidential campaign beat at Politico. Advice to young journalists?

“Sourcing is everything. Call, text, grab coffees. Tweet less.” FUN FACT: Thompson was on the “Tonight Show” when he was 13 to perform a double-jointed human body trick.

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DAYNA GELDWERT Politics and Government Outreach, Instagram

JOCELYN GAILLIOT Co-Founder, Tuckernuck REP MIKE GALLAGHER U.S. Congressman (R-Wisconsin) REP RUBEN GALLEGO U.S. Congressman (D-Ariz.)

JENNIFER PAQUETTE GALLOWAY President, Wolcott Hill Group LLC

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SHANA GLENZER Principal, Upright Consulting AUTRIA GODFREY Anchor and Reporter, ABC7 News ANGIE GOFF Journalist MONICA GOMEZ Co-Owner, Cera Wax Studio REP ANTHONY GONZALEZ U.S. House of Representatives (R-Ohio) MARCUS GOODWIN Acquisitions Associate, Four Points SARAH GORDON Founder, Gordy’s Pickle Jar NEIL GRACE Senior Communications Advisor, Federal Communications Commission JEROME GRANT Executive Chef, Sweet Home Cafe RICHARD GRAVES Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer, CleanChoice Energy YUDU GRAY JR CEO, House Studios CHLOÉ GRAY-LE COZ Senior Global Brand Manager, W Hotels Worldwide

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2019 MADELINE GRAYSON Co-Founder, Tuckernuck SCOTT GREENBERG Director of Marketing and Media, The Washington Ballet RACHEL GRINNEY Co-founder,Wylie Grey JESSICA GROUNDS Co-founder, Mine the Gap

KATHRYN TKEL Actor Tkel is currently preparing for a role in “Doll’s House, Part 2” at the Round House Theatre. One of the best parts of being an actress, she says, is the places she has been able to travel for shows.

As for challenges, she references risk.”Whether it’s financial uncertainty or the act of being vulnerable with strangers,” she says. “It shows up everywhere.”

ALINA COLLINS MALDONADO Actor Maldonado most appreciates roles that address the “root of the human condition.” Last year she acted in the world premiere of “Digging Up Dessa” at the Kennedy Center – a play that touches on death and PTSD, all while encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science. When she’s not performing, the actress teaches the art of storytelling to high school refugee students through Imagination Stage’s Oyeme program.

GARRETT HAAKE Correspondent, MSNBC DANIEL HEIDER Vice President, TTR Sotheby’s RYAN HACKNEY Executive Chef, District Restaurant Group MICHAEL HAFT Co-Founder, Compass Coffee DANNIA HAKKI Co-founder and Principal, MoKi Media MAHA HAKKI Partner, MoKi Media BLAKE HALL Founder and CEO, ID.me BILL HAMID Goalkeeper, D.C. United JENNIFER HANSLER State Department Producer, CNN KATHLEEN KIERNAN HARNDEN M D Assistant Director, Inova Breast Medical Oncology Program LAURA HAYES Food Editor, Washington City Paper ERIC HEIDENBERGER Managing Partner, Madhatter, Front Page, Shaw’s Tavern and 801 Restaurant & Bar and Epic Yoga KYLE HENDRICK Managing Director, AAF Management AUDREY HENSON Founder and CEO, College to Congress JUSTIN HERMAN Public Sector Director, Twilio, Inc. BRANDON HILL Co-Founder, No Kings Collective SONDRA HOFFMAN Head Booker, T.H.E. Artist Agency

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JAYSEN WRIGHT Actor This year Wright has enjoyed challenging himself and “testing his range,” as he calls it, taking on versatile roles that run the gamut from Shakespeare to farcical comedy and musicals. Regardless of the casting, Wright acknowledges that each come with its own set of “physical, intellectual and emotional demands,” which he is constantly trying to balance with his personal wellbeing.

The Washington-born actor has been on the theater circuit for the last seven years and counts his role in “Wig Out” at Studio Theatre in 2017 as a work that changed the way he viewed himself as a queer person of color.

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ZACK POWELL Actor Last year you may have seen him play an Elvis impersonator turned-dragqueen-superstar in “The Legend of Georgia McBride” at Round House Theatre. The role was a departure from Powell’s usual castings in classics

by Shakespeare, Ibsen and Checkhov.

Most recently he played Robin Hood at a theater in Cleveland. His words of wisdom to young actors: “Work leads to work, and it always helps to meet as many other artists as possible. You never know who will work with you in a play reading, and then bring you in for an audition for a lead role at a major regional theater.” Look out for Powell later this year performing in “Shear Madness” at the Kennedy Center.

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YGL DEVIN LEE HOFFMAN Director of Brand Experience, HEIST DC

MAURA JUDKIS Reporter, The Washington Post NICHOLAS KARNAZE Founder, stubble & ‘stache

MISTY HOLBERT Lead Associate for Media Relations, Booz Allen Hamilton

ALEC KARAKATSANIS Founder and Executive Director, Civil Rights Corps.

KRISTEN HOLMES National Correspondent, CNN News Source

BETHANY KAZABA Co-Founder and CEO, Neighborhood Retail Group

RACHEL HOLT Head of New Mobility, Uber Inc.

CHRYS KEFALAS Vice President of Brand Strategy, National Association of Manufacturers

BRADEN HOLTBY Goalie, Washington Capitals STORM HORNCASTLE Manager, Public Affairs & Events, Public Policy, Netflix KERRA MICHELE HUERTA Blogger, Apartment Envy

“The biggest challenge is trying to get people who work in the system re-sensitized to the everyday brutality of our criminal system. We inflict unspeakable harm against people’s bodies and minds inside our courtrooms and jail cells, but because we do it every single day, it feels normal to a lot of us who have worked in that bureaucracy.”

–Alec Karakatsanis

KASIE HUNT Capitol Hill Correspondent, MSNBC; Host, MSNBC’s “Kasie DC” JACK INSLEE Executive Producer, Full Service Radio ELAHE IZADI Reporter, The Washington Post HALLIE JACKSON Chief White House Correspondent, NBC News JUVEN JACOB Special Assistant to the President, The Kennedy Center

ALEC KARAKATSANIS Founder and Executive Director, Civil Rights Corps Asking the passionate civil rights advocate to name a few work highlights from the last year is a challenging question as there are many to choose from. Karakatsanis mentions winning a landmark federal lawsuit against Houston, Texas for its unconstitutional cash bail system, which, as a result, freed 13,000 inmates in just the first year after the law’s enactment.

The underlying goal of the non-profit is to use effective lawyering to fight the mass incarceration issue in the U.S.

LAURA JARRETT Correspondent, CNN BRAD JENKINS Founder, Enfranchisement Productions LLC ALEXA JOHNSON Co-owner, Ella-Rue ANDRA ‘AJ’ JOHNSON Co-Founder, DMV Black Restaurant Week; Founder, White Plates, Black Faces BRIAN JOHNSON Principal, The Vogel Group KRISTA JOHNSON Co-owner, Ella-Rue

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RICHARD HUDOCK Director of Communications, NBC News

JOSHUA JOHNSON Host, WAMU’s “1A”

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BRIANNA KEILAR Anchor, CNN CARA KELLY Enterprise Reporter, USA Today REP JOSEPH P KENNEDY III U.S. Congressman (D-Mass.)

RYAN KERRIGAN Linebacker,Washington Redskins SIM KHAN Attorney and Founder, Brimble & Clark Custom Clothiers SUZANNE KIANPOUR Capitol Hill and Foreign Affairs Producer, BBC News SERY KIM Food and Travel Writer SEUNG MIN KIM White House Reporter, The Washington Post KATE KIZER Policy Director, Win Without War RYAN KIBLER Creative Director, Foreign National AJAY KORI Co-Founder, UrbanStems DANIEL KRAMER Managing Partner, Duke’s Grocery and Duke’s Counter JUDY KURTZ “In the Know” Columnist, The Hill JARED KUSHNER Senior Advisor, U.S. President JEREMIAH LANGHORNE Chef and Owner, The Dabney FRANCES LANZONE Chief of Staff, Global Entrenpreneurship Network

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2019 MICHAEL LAROSA Director of Communications, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources MICHAEL LASTORIA Co-Founder, &pizza ANAIS LAURENT Event Marketing Specialist, Discovery Education CAROL LEE Political Reporter, NBC News MONING LEE Architectural and Urban Designer SVETLANA LEGETIC Co-Founder, Brightest Young Things JOHN LEGITTINO CEO, Advoc8

CRYSTAL BOWYER President and CEO, National Children’s Museum After business school, the Missouri-native bounced around the world for children’s service work in Brazil and China, and cultural outreach in numerous other countries.

Previous leadership roles at the Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Children’s Choir prepared Bowyer for her move to Washington, where she is speaheading redevelopment of the National Children’s Museum, slated to open in the fall of this year.

It will be an “innovative experience for the whole family,” Bowyer promises.

MELISSA LEONSIS Director, Global Partnerships, EverFi ZACH LEONSIS Senior Vice President and General Manager, Monumental Network, Monumental Sports and Entertainment AVERY LEWIS Assistant Vice President, Linda Roth and Associates DANIEL LIPPMAN Co-Author “Politico Playbook,” Politico

JOHN LEGITTINO Co-Founder and CEO, Advoc8 Legittino used the skills he gained working on major televised award shows and presidential debates to create a full-service brand experience and content production agency. With clients like Google and CNN, the 40 person, almost three-year-old shop “helps companies cross the digital divide to tell their stories and connect with customers through experiences they’ll never forget.”

TIFFANY DENA LOFTIN Director,Youth & College Division, NAACP VICTOR NGUYEN-LONG Freelance Creative Strategist ADAM JOSEPH LORENZETTI M D Physician, Inova KELLY LOVE Deputy Press Secretary, Department of Energy WESLEY LOWERY National Reporter, The Washington Post TIM MA Chef, American Son and Kyirisan CHASE MAGGIANO Founder, Bravo Score ANNE MAHLUM Founder and CEO, Solidcore HEATHER MAHONEY Founder, Haute Haus Agency

NICOLE CROWDER Furniture Designer and Upholsterer Using inspiration from fashion, interior design, the colors of fresh fruit and her dreams, Crowder built a design and upholstery business that has blossomed from custom pieces for individual clients to full-scale collaborations with restaurants, hotels and textile designers.

The former photo editor recently opened a colorful studio, which will serve as her work space, showroom and community gathering place. NOTE: Nicole is sitting on one of her custom chairs in this photo.

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YGL ALINA COLLINS MALDONADO Actor

JESSICA MOORE Director of Government Relations,Walt Disney Company

ANNA MASON Partner, Revolution’s Rise the Rest Seed Fund

DANIELA MOREIRA Chef, Timber Pizza Co. and Call Your Mother Deli

REP BRIAN MAST U.S. Congressman, (R-Florida)

CHRIS MORGAN Co-Executive Chef, Maydan and Compass Rose

PHIL MATTINGLY Conressional Correspondent, CNN

“The message I hope to convey to listeners through my music is one of truth, empowerment, spiritual upliftment and healing.”

— Maimouna Youssef on what drives her music

MICHAEL MORONEY Vice President, FleishmanHillard

CARL MAYNARD Founder, Walk With Locals

ASHLEY MURPHY Dancer, Washington Ballet

JOHN MCCARTHY Chief of Staff, Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)

SARA MURRAY Correspondent, CNN RHANA NATOUR Reporter/Producer, PBS NewsHour

KEVIN MCCARTHY Entertainment Reporter, FOX 5 SARAH MCCLELLAN Founder, Sarah’s Charities AMANDA MCCLEMENTS Owner, Salt & Sundry

MAIMOUNA YOUSSEF Singer and musician “My music is soul music in its most authentic form,” Youssef (also known as “Mumu Fresh”) explains.

It only takes one listen to the Grammy-nominated musician’s work to feel her description ring true. In addition to headlining her own shows internationally, the Afro-native singer, songwriter has provided vocal support for The Roots, Sting, Erykah Badu, Femi Kuti and Nas, to name a few. In May she will release her eighth collaborative album with DJ Jazzy Jeff. To up and coming musicians she advises “Figure out what makes you unique and what gives you purpose and illuminate and magnify those qualities in your art.”

JOHN MCCONNELL M D Physician, Inova ALEX MCCOY Chef and Owner, Lucky Buns TOMMY MCFLY Co-Host, “The Tommy Show” podcast; Contributor, NBC4

DJ NEEKOLA DJ and Producer, Neekola Entertainmentt ELIZABETH NORTH President, Curiosity Studios OLIVIA NUZZI Washington Correspondent, New York Magazine SHIZU OKUSA Co-Founder and CEO, JRINK Juicery; Founder and CEO, Wellthy & Co.

ERIN MCPIKE Partner, Swann Street Strategies KATHRYN MCQUADE Communications Director, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

STEVEN OLIKARA Co-Founder and President, Millennial Action Project

SPIKE MENDELSOHN Chef and Restaurateur, Good Stuff Eatery and We, the Pizza; Chef,Vim & Victor HEATHER SHAW MENIS Principal, Fifth and Main PR

KELLY O’MALLEY Regional Director, The Vinetta Project FIG O’REILLY Datanaut, NASA

ALEX MILLS Actor, SyneticTheater

REP ILHAN OMAR U.S. Congressman, (D-Minnesota)

DIANA MINSHALL Real Estate Agent, TTR Sotheby’s

LAUREN OSHIE Blogger T J OSHIE Right Wing, Washington Capitals

JENNIFER MISHORY Senior Fellow/Senior Policy Advisor, The Century Foundation

CANDACE OURISMAN Co-Founder, Secretly Gifting

RYAN HUNTER MITCHELL Owner, Suns Cinema NAVROOP MITTER CEO, ArmorText P H O T O G R A P H E D AT L A V I E

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RAFAEL NÁVAR National Political Director, Communications Workers of America

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CHRIS OURISMAN President, Ourisman Automotives ALEX OVECHKIN Left Wing, Washington Capitals

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2019 ANNA PALMER Co-Author, Politico Playbook TARA PALMERI White House Correspondent, ABC News MONICA PAMPELL Founder, Pentafit; Personal Trainer HOLLY PAN Fashion Blogger NICK PAPADOPOULOS Retail Leasing, Papadopoulos Properties

RYAN HACKNEY Executive Chef, District Restaurant Group In 2013, you could find the chef in the “trenches of Robert Wiedmaier’s premier fine-dining destination, Marcel’s,” living out two years of “culinary bootcamp,” as he calls it.

Now, Hackney oversees Valor Brewpub and The Ugly Mug on Capitol Hill. He is also a Food Network regular, having appeared on “Beat Bobby Flay” and the upcoming season of “Bite Club” with Tyler Florence. Hackney succinctly sums up his culinary career: “I originally went to school for Economics and Political Science and would cook bagged ramen for Howard University undergrads,” he explains.

“Four years later I was cooking for the Obama family.”

ALI PARDO National Press Secretary, GOP Conference MICHAEL PARKER Owner and CEO, Illumen, Inc.; Founding Partner, Jang Capital

“Show up when others won’t. Be the first in, be the last out.

Ask questions.

Nothing that is easy to achieve is worth it. ” — Chris Morgan’s advice to young chefs JOHN PARKINSON White House & Congressional Reporter/Producer, ABC News SCOTT PARKINSON Vice President, Government Affairs, Club for Growth TATI PASTUKHOVA Co-Founder, Artechouse ALAN PAUL Associate Artistic Director, Shakespeare Theatre ANGELA PEOPLES Director, GetEQUAL GIAN CARLO PEREZ Dancer, The Washington Ballet MEGAN PEREZ Vice President, The Petrizzo Group OLIVIA PEREZ-CUBAS Communications Director, Winning for Women

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CHRIS MORGAN Co-Executive Chef, Maydan and Compass Rose As co-executive chef (with Gerald Addison) at one of Washington’s most celebrated new restaurants, Maydan, the Northern Virginianative has his hands full helming a spot that has received national acclaim from established food critcics across the board. (No. 2 “Best New Restaurant in America”

by Bon Appetit, “Top 10 Best New Restaurants” by Food & Wine). He and Addison also head the kitchen at Maydan’s sister restaurant Compass Rose in Logan Circle. Can’t miss dishes?

Dango (Omani stewed chickpea dish) at Maydan and tako poke (lightly poached octopus over warm rice) at Compass Rose.

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TIM MA Chef, American Son and Kyrisian If you find yourself at the recentlyopened Eaton Hotel on K Street, you would be remiss not to sample Ma’s tofu gnocchi with sunchokes, apples and black truffles. Since its opening Ma has been tasked with the massive undertaking of running the full food and beverage program at the hotel. Ma, who jokes that he didn’t know how to handle a knife until his first day of culinary school at age 30, also owns Kyrisian (Chinese/ French inspired cuisine) in Shaw.

The chef advises newcomers to the culinary industry to savor the ride.”The worst thing that can happen is to get on the big stage and not be ready.” he notes. “Enjoy the process.”

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YGL ALEXANDRA PETRI Columnist,The Washington Post ADRIAN PETERSON Running Back, Redskins

LINDLEY THORNBURG RICHARDSON Public Relations Consultant, Heather Freeman Media & Public Relations

ASHLEY PETERSON Founder and CEO, Elizabella Cosmetics ABBY PHILLIP White House Correspondent, CNN

DAN ROBERGE Dancer, Washington Ballet

TOD PLOTKIN Principal, Green Buzz Agency TIERNEY PLUMB Senior Associate Editor, Eater DC

SOFIA ROYCE Public Relations Director, The Brand Guild

DREW PORTERFIELD Director and Curator, Long View Gallery

ROB RUBBA Chef, Oyster Oyster

SARAH POTTS Retail Leasing, Papadopoulos Properties

MARISSA RUBENSTEIN Events and Experiential Marketing Director, Brightest Young Things

ZACK POWELL Actor

ALI RUBIN Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Axios

LAUREN PRATAPAS Senior Director of Communications, CNN

REEM SADIK Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals

MICHAELA PRATT President and CEO, Mentor Foundation

ISOKE SALAAM Founder, Isoke Salaam PR

ROSE PREVITE Owner, Compass Rose and Maydan

KELLY FLANIGAN President, Live Nation DC, MD & VA When Flanigan looks out at the audience from the stage of a sold out concert, it’s the “euphoric faces” in the crowd that make her position with the live music company so rewarding. She joined the team right after college (13 years ago) as a talent buyer, steadily rising in the ranks. Flanigan has helped double her territory’s show volume and provided crucial support to its regional portfolio of venues. Most memorable concert experience? Prince at the Warner Theatre, where Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance.

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ALI ROGIN Reporter, PBS RYAN ROSS Chief Information Officer, Halcyon Incubator

MONICA POPP Co-Founder, Marshall & Popp, LLC

STORM HORNCASTLE Manager, Public Affairs & Events, Public Policy, Netflix Horncastle stayed in Washington after graduating from American University with a master’s in strategic communications, accepting a position as a public relations, events and outreach advisor to the ambassador of Norway. At Netflix, the Norwaynative is constantly dreaming up new ways to “showcase, celebrate and connect policy stakeholders to Netflix’s diverse stories and storytellers both on and off camera.” Horncastle built her worldly outlook living in five different countries before landing in the District.

HELENA RICHARDSON Director of the Young Leaders Program, Heritage Foundation

STEVE SALIS Real Estate Entrepreneur; Owner, Kramerbooks and Ted’s Bulletin

NED PRICE Director of Policy and Communications, National Security Action ANDREW RAFFERTY Senior Political Editor, Newsy MANU RAJU Senior Congressional Correspondent, CNN

BORIS SANCHEZ White House Correspondent, CNN SARAH SANDERS Press Secretary, The White House SAMANTHA SAULT Author, “Moon Washington DC” Hatchette

JACLYN MASON RANDALL Realtor, Jack Realty AYESHA RASCOE White House Reporter, NPR

KYLE SCHMITZ President & Chief Creative Officer, KONNECTED Media Group

RYAN RATINO Chef and Owner, Bresca

JUSTIN SCHUBLE Food Blogger, DCFoodPorn

JORDAN REED Tight End,Washington Redskins

NIKKI SCHWAB Washington Reporter, New York Post

STEVE RESSLER President, Callyo; Founder and Advisor, GovLoop

HUNTER SCHWARZ Politics Reporter, CNN

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2019 RYAN SEELBACH Founder and CEO, Seelbach Entertainment Group PRINCE CHRISTIAN SELASSIE Filmmaker PRINCE RUFAEL SELASSIE Writer RINA SHAH Co-Founder, Women’s Public Leadership Network SULTAN SHAKIR Executive Director, SMYAL

PHEONIX COPLEY Goaltender, Washington Capitals The 6-foot-4 goaltender from North Pole, Alaska has made a home in Washington since joining the Capitals amid a deadline trade in 2017. He earned his first NHL win in a 4-3 shootout win over the Calgary Flames last fall and recorded his first career shutout against the Ottawa Senators a few months later.

TRAVIS BOYD Forward, Washington Capitals The Capitals picked up Boyd in the sixth-round of the 2011 NHL draft. In late 2018 he scored his first goal in the NHL against the Columbus Blue Jackets and recorded his first career multi-assist game versus the Edmonton Oilers. Before joining the professional league, the 25-year-old played at the University of Minnesota.

KATIE SHANNON Managing Partner, 2622 Events JEFF SHEELY Co-Founder, UrbanStems MARKETTE SHEPPARD Host, WUSA 9’s “Great Day Washington” ERIKA GUTIERREZ SHERIDAN Director of Marketing, Compass Real Estate JAKE SHERMAN Co-Author, Politico Playbook STUART SICILIANO Partner, Hamilton Place Strategies HAFSA SIDDIQI Senior Account Executive, MoKi Media JESSICA SIDMAN Food Writer, Washingtonian AARON SILVERMAN Chef and Owner, Rose’s Luxury and Pineapples & Pearls HOLLEY SIMMONS Owner, She Loves Me ALEX SKATELL Founder and CEO, IJR FARRAH SKEIKY Creative/Culture Manger, The LINE DC REP XOCHITL TORRES SMALL U.S. Congresswoman (D-New Mexico) ALEX SMITH Quarterback, Washington Redskins MOIRA BAGLEY SMITH Communications Consultant PEGGY SPARKS Director, Artist’s Proof Gallery P H O T O G R A P H E D AT M E D S TA R C A P I TA L S I C E P L E X

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YGL JOHNNY SPERO Chef and Owner, Reverie

“Ballet is simply a means to delight, inspire and serve... make this your focus and your work will always be fueled by magic and purpose.”

ERICA SPEVACK Associate, Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP ANNA SPIEGEL Food Writer, Washingtonian NICK STEFANELLI Chef and Owner, Masseria and Officina

— Katherine Barkman’s advice to young dancers

REP ELISE STEFANIK U.S. Congresswoman (R-New York) REP BRYAN STEIL U.S. Congressman (R-Wisconsin) SAM STEIN Political Editor, The Daily Beast CARLIE STEINER Co-Owner and Beverage Director, Himitsu FREDERIQUE STEPHANIE Head of Public Relations, TAA Public Relations; Owner, The Pop Up House SOPHIE STICH Owner, Toastworthy ELI STOKOLS White House Reporter, LA Times STEPHEN STRASBURG Pitcher, Washington Nationals HARRISON SUAREZ Co-Founder, Compass Coffee HEATHER DARAZS SULLIVAN Creative Services Manager, CBS Corporation REP ERIC SWALWELL U.S. Congressman (D-Calif.)

GIAN CARLO PEREZ Dancer, The Washington Ballet The young dancer became a household name after his lead role performing in last year’s John Cranko’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Before joining TWB in 2014, the Cuban-native began his professional career with the National Ballet of Cuba, dancing under the direction of renowned prima ballerina Alicia Alonso.

KATHERINE BARKMAN Dancer, The Washington Ballet Whether it’s during warm ups, rehearsals or strength and conditioning exercises, the 22-year-old ballerina tells us that she is living out her dream everyday.

Before joining The Washington Ballet officially last fall, Barkman was awarded consecutive Silver Medals at two major International Ballet Competitions over the summer. Advice to novice dancers? “Stay true to yourself. Work hard and live fearlessly in your own unique pursuit of excellence.”

JONATHAN SWAN National Political Reporter, Axios DANIEL SWARTZ Photographer MARTIN SWIFT Artist ALEXANDRA TALLULAH Blogger, “In My Bowl” KARIN TANABE Novelist KAYLA TAUSCHE Washington Correspondent, CNBC

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2019 STEVE TAYLOR Principal Software Engineer, Sophos KEVIN TIEN Chef and Co-Owner, Himitsu VICKY THEODOROU Founder, Heirloom Catering SHAUNNA THOMAS Co-Founder, WeAreUltraViolet.org SHAWNA THOMAS Washington Bureau Chief,Vice News ALEX THOMPSON National Political Reporter, Politico ARIENNE THOMPSON Director of Public Relations, MoKi Media CHRIS THOMPSON Running Back, Washington Redskins KATHRYN TKEL Actor ELLIOT TOTAH President, Oxbridge Group IVANKA TRUMP Advisor to the President, The White House TIFFANY TRUMP Law Student, Georgetown University CLAUDIA UCEDA Correspondent, Univision REP LAUREN UNDERWOOD U.S. Congresswoman (D-Illinois) JENNIFER VASQUEZ Senior Producer, NBC JAYNE VISSER President, Montana State Society SEPTEMBER RINNIER VOTTA Co-Founder, Tuckernuck JAKUB VRANA Forward, Washington Capitals REED WALKER Co-Founder, Cotton & Reed Distillery JOHN WALL Point Guard,Washington Wizards READ WALL President, Read Wall LINDSAY WALTERS Deputy Press Secretary, The White House

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MATTHEW GARDINER Associate Artistic Director, Signature Theatre The theater buff calls himself “a product of the D.C. arts community,” having studied at the Washington School of Ballet for a decade and acted in various gigs around the city.

After attending Carnegie Mellon University, Gardiner returned to the area to take a position at Signature Theatre. Thirteen years later working alongside his twin brother (James runs creative content and public relations) Gardiner’s role has evolved, but the Shirlington, Va. theater continues to keep him interested. “[Signature’s] commitment to producing musical theater (both new and classic) at the level it does in a theater that seats less than 300 people– that’s unheard of.”

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RACHEL GRINNEY Co-founder, Wylie Grey After 10 years with Intermix, Grinney took her retail experience to the e-commerce space in 2016 with the launch of Wylie Grey alongside her business partner Nikki Yazdanian. The online clothing boutique carries current trends for women at an approachable price point. It was an idea derived from years of frustration shopping online.

“We always said we wished there was an online store that carried an edited selection from cool up-and-coming brands,” Grinney explains. As for the challenges of building a boutique without the benefit of a physical space, the duo harnesses the power of social media (@wyliegrey).

YUDU GRAY Founder, House Studios Beyond simply hosting talent at he and his wife Davina’s fullservice music studio in Hyattsville, Md., Gray’s mission is to create a home for budding musicians “designed to nurture, guide and support the artist’s journey,” he says. It is a platform the Liberianborn refugee does not take for granted.”Our philosophy is rooted in the power of unencumbered creativity and that the arts in all of its forms is the great connector of humanity.” The couple’s passionfueled mission has attracted big name collaborations with the likes of Logic, Wale, Post Malone and Kendrick Lamar.

Up-and-comers we should keep on our radar? Mannywellz, Luke James Shaffer, BOOMscat, Sydney Franklin and SHAED.

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YGL KATE WARREN Photographer, GoKateShoot MORGAN HUNGERFORD WEST Founder, A Creative DC; Creative/Culture Director, The LINE DC ALEXIS WILLIAMS Executive Vice President, The Stagwell Group ANTONIO WILLIAMS Senior Director of Government and External Affairs, Comcast WENDI WALLACE Director, Political Outreach, Planned Parenthood KELSIE WENDELBERGER Director of Scheduling, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson GARY WILLIAMS Co-Founder, Creative Theory RAFFI WILLIAMS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development JUSTIN WILSON Mayor, Alexandria,Va. TOM WILSON Right Wing, Washington Capitals BEN WIKLER Washington Director, MoveOn.org JAYSEN WRIGHT Actor ANN YANG Co-Founder, Misfit Foods LAURA JARRETT Justice Correspondent, CNN The Harvard Law graduate practiced privately as a litigator before moving into a full-time media role covering the Department of Justice at CNN. Jarrett points to a story she reported on last year that served as validation for her career switch: “We covered the takedown of a scam operation that falsely acted as a non-profit charity in order to fleece veterans,” she explains.

“We were able to highlight a tangible harm facing veterans who were defrauded.” She counts her mother Valerie Jarrett, one of former President Obama’s top advisors, as a role model. “She’s always pushed me not to be afraid of taking chances,” says Jarrett.

NIKKI YAZDANIAN Co-Founder, Wylie Grey KEVIN CIRILLI Chief Washington Correspondent, Bloomberg Televison; “Sound On” host, Bloomberg Radio Cirilli grew up in an Irish-Italian Catholic home outside of Philadelphia, went to Penn State and got his start freelance reporting during the Jerry Sandusky trial. He went on to write for Politico, The Hill and Bloomberg News before transitioning to an on-camera role with Bloomberg TV, where he conducts market-based political reporting. Cirilli most enjoys asking politicians quirky questions during mic checks. “Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, told me he listens to Meatloaf.

And Sen. Elizabeth Warren talked to me about how she loves the show “Ballers,” he recalls. FUN FACT: “When I can’t sleep, I watch old political interviews on YouTube.”

MAIMOUNA YOUSSEF Singer and Musician SHIREEN ZAMAN Program Director, Rise Together Fund, Proteus Fund JARRED ZUCCARI Associate Producer, Hamilton Insurance Agency JASON ZUCCARI Vice President of Business Development, Hamilton Insurance Agency

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JEROME GRANT Chef, Sweet Home Cafe Next time you visit The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) leave time for lunch at Grant’s cafeteria-style eatery, which serves up food showcasing the rich culture and food traditions of African Americans. (Don’t miss the pan roasted trout with cornbread and mustard green stuffing, he tells us.) Last year the chef published “Sweet Home Café Cookbook” and in 2019 he was named a finalist in the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category. FUN FACT: He taught himself how to swim by watching Michael Phelps videos on YouTube.

NICOLAS END Economist, International Monetary Fund At the IMF, the French-born economist works with countries in the Middle-East, where he helps “governments and central banks design virtuous economic policies.” When he’s not drawing inspiration from IMF Director Christine Lagarde or his four-year-old daughter (“Life and the world are not that complicated from her viewpoint!” he muses), End is practicing on the grand piano he treated himself to when his wife was away on business.

HOLLEY SIMMONS Owner, She Loves Me Expect immediate zen upon entering Simmons’ new flower and plant shop on Upshur Street, NW in Petworth. “My aim with the shop is to have people lose track of space and time when they’re in here,” she says. The New-Jersey native finds inspiration from her travels, offering patrons a Country of the Month subscription based on flowers from a particular region. Before her botanical career, Simmons wrote about food for The Washington Post. FUN FACT: Simmons unabashedly loves carnations.

MICHAEL PARKER Owner and CEO, Illumen, Inc.; Founding Partner, Jang Capital Running a blockchain company and investing in great ideas keeps the young entrpreneur learning from people he describes as much smarter than him. Advice for others on how to keep the internal flame burning? “Let go of worry, fear and doubt.

Creativity and inspiration are a kind of divinity, something we all have within us,” he says. Parker references his mother who started a successful business at the age of 50. “It is never too late to find that inspiration inside of you or to help someone else find theirs.”

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