2026 Finalist Judges

Michael Cunniff

Chief Financial Officer, Retired, Skift, Inc.

Michael Cunniff founded and operated a boutique consulting firm offering business operations and CFO services to early stage companies. He brings more than twenty-five years of experience in finance, strategic operations and business development, skills he utilized at more than twenty early-stage and start-up ventures in his career. 

Most recently, Michael served as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Skift, Inc., a position held from the company’s launch in 2012 until he retired in September, 2024. He was also a director of Skift’s UK subsidiary. Michael led several companies through fund raising and acquisition, including ContentNext Media, a digital media company (acquired by Guardian News and Media), Waywire (acquired by magnify.net), Ludic Labs (acquired by Groupon), Truveo, a video search company (acquired by AOL) and Cognitive Networks (acquired by Vizio). Prior to working with these organizations, Michael held a number of senior leadership roles at Inktomi Corporation, the last of which was Vice President and General Manager of the software division, Content Networking Solutions. Michael also held a variety of financial and operations positions for Hitachi Data Systems over his ten-year’s there. Michael holds a BA in Business Management from George Mason University and is a first generation college graduate. 

Michael served six year terms on three separate non-profit boards over the last twenty-five years, the first of which was Hospice of the Valley, whose mission is to provide compassionate palliative, hospice and grief care. He was elected president of each board during his time there. Michael continues to volunteer in his community and is very active as a Little League Baseball umpire. Michael lives in San Jose, California with his wife of more than thirty years, Teri. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Anil Sharma

Chief Executive Officer, 22nd Century Technologies

Mr. Anil Sharma is a serial entrepreneur, a technocrat-business leader, an angel investor, and a philanthropist with a successful career in building and supporting multiple innovative companies. He is a successful first-generation immigrant with humble beginnings who came to the US in 1997 from India with $100. Anil is currently the Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Technologies, a government-focused IT Systems integrator and software solutions company. He has diligently nurtured this $ 2 million IT Consulting business into a $400M/6000+ employees Public Sector focused IT Systems Integrator, supporting the nation's digital transformation and protecting the critical infrastructure. He is an active angel investor, having invested in and mentored several startups and small businesses. Most recently, he sponsored Accelerate Program and TiE Global, committing $1M in seed money to young entrepreneurs building scalable, technology-driven solutions. 

Always keen to share his abilities and resources for the betterment of the communities, Anil has volunteered his time through mentoring, active participation in forums and associations, funding outreach initiatives, academic scholarships, paid internships, and sponsoring charitable events. Anil serves as Chairperson of the Advisory Board at Salvation Army Loudoun County and supports many other non-profits - the Missionaries of Charity, Special Olympics, FACETS, Feed the Hungry of Loudoun, and HOPE. Anil views education and skills development as the key driver to societal upliftment and well-being. He has instituted relationships with several schools to identify talented students and provide them with real-world learning opportunities. He is supporting the STEM program in Loudoun County Public Schools. With his contributions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and service to the community. He is also the recipient of several other awards, including TiE Gov Con Elite Leader and NVTC Top50. 

Anil Sharma holds a Masters in Computers Applications and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Anupama and their two children.

Jay Kaza

Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

Jay Kaza is an AI-enabled growth strategist with over two decades of technology and transformation experience, advising organizations on how to scale innovation and drive sustainable, tech-led growth. He is a frequent speaker, published author in leading journals including Harvard Business Review, and a recognized voice on artificial intelligence and technology-enabled business transformation. Jay serves as an Advisory Board Member for the NVTC Artificial Intelligence COI and is deeply committed to mentoring emerging talent across the Northern Virginia region while helping advance a vibrant, inclusive innovation ecosystem.

Terri Dunbar

CEO, Co-Founder and Director, Dunbar Consulting, Inc.

I'm an accomplished entrepreneur successful at driving business strategy, developing operational functions, managing complex corporate environments, and creating productive company cultures. 

I successfully earned an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management. A Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Graduated top 10 from the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management at The University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. I'm a member of the Leadership Fairfax Class of 2004. 

Proven executive leader with extensive experience in policy development, strategic planning, and analysis to drive growth within companies. I have decades of robust knowledge and experience in banking, technology, higher education, and people management. Skilled in direct communications strategy for corporate, product, product initiatives, sales campaigns, and internal programs to align with corporate goals. I am poised to lead corporate entities in a transformative change to achieve organizational initiatives. 

Strategy, Leadership, and Development are key components in striving to deliver client satisfaction.

Mike Ickowitz

Principal, Patdome Promotions

Mike Ickowitz is a George Mason alumnus (Communication, ’03) and founder of Patdome Promotions.  As the George Mason Patriots made their historic Final Four run in the 2006 college basketball tournament, Knoxville, Tennessee-based Pat Dome Enterprises began as a small alumni-owned business helping fans all over the country get officially licensed team gear and logo apparel at a time when selection and creativity was not available outside of the Johnson Center.  Why “Pat Dome”? – It’s an old nickname for the Patriot Center (Now Eagle Bank Arena). 20 years later, Patdome now works with organizations all over the world to provide promotional and marketing consulting, branded goods, and fulfillment services. Mike spent much of his career prior to Patdome in business development in the government contractor and education space.  He has a Master’s in Higher Education Administration and a master’s in political economy both from the University of Tennessee.

Martin Dunphy

Founder & Executive Chairman, Ascot Capital Partners

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards – Finalist (2012) 

George Mason University – Soccer Hall of Fame (2006) 

TOP 10 Irish Sporting gods turned businessmen (2016) 

Alumni of the Year, George Mason University (2016)

Paul Asel

Founding Partner, NGP Capital

Paul is a Venture Partner and the co-founder of NGP Capital and is based in the U.S. Paul has a successful investment track record of over 25 years. Paul has realized over 20 successful exits, including 5 IPOs and four exits exceeding $1 billion of which UCWeb and Ganji are two of the largest technology acquisitions in China. His investment in Ganji and subsequent sale for $3.6 billion received recognition as Deal of the Year in 2016. Other notable exits include KongZhong (KZ: NASDAQ), Gridsum (GSUM: NASDAQ), KPIT Technologies (KPITTECH.NS), DQ Entertainment (DQEN.BO), Morpho (IPO Japan), Madhouse (Blue Focus Group), Whistle (Mars Petcare), CityMaps (TripAdvisor), Intermedia (Madison Dearborn Partners) and Xnor (Apple). Current investments include Workfusion, Lime, Fetchr, Juvo, Next Trucking, Scoop, Zoomcar and Zum. Paul has completed acquisitions and IPOs valued cumulatively at over $25 billion. 

Prior to NGP Capital, Paul led technology investments in Southeast Asia at the International Finance Corporation. Previously, he was a Partner at Telos Venture Partners, oversaw M&A and investments at Cadence Design Systems and worked at Merrill Lynch in investment banking. Paul is a current member of the Global Corporate Venturing Leadership Society and an advisor to Garage Capital in Canada. 

He received an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Dartmouth College. He has taught International Entrepreneurship at the George Mason School of Public Policy and at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai and was a guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. 

Paul is a co-author to two books, including Upward Bound, which has been published in multiple languages.

Omar Soliman

Co-Founder, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving & Trash Butler

Omar Soliman is a published author, entrepreneur, and TV personality. He is the Co-Founder of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving, a national junk removal and moving franchise with over 200 franchises across the country. CHHJ was named one of the fastest-growing franchises in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine and currently employs over 10,000 people nationwide. 

Recognized for his entrepreneurial achievements, Omar was named 'Top 30 Entrepreneurs in America Under 30' by Inc. Magazine, awarded Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year, and honored as the International Franchise Association's Entrepreneur of the Year. Omar has also made TV appearances as a frequent guest on FOX Business News and MSNBC, and starred in the series premiere of ABC's Shark Tank as well as on CBS's Undercover Boss.

Shy Pahlevani

Founder, President, Board Member, Oasis Hill | HUNGRY Marketplace

Shy Pahlevani is Ernst & Young's 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year winner. A successful D.C. based serial innovator who founded LiveSafe - a leading mobile safety communications platform that crowd-sources safety intelligence. He teamed up with brother Eman and business partner Jeff Grass to successfully grow LiveSafe into a global enterprise. The trio would raise $25 million dollars from 4 tech titan billionaire backers including Bob Hisaoka, Steve Case (AOL), Barry Diller (IAC), Dave Duffield (Workday), and Fred Smith (FedEx). LiveSafe has an esteemed advisory board with the heads of the intelligence community. LiveSafe was acquired by Vector Solutions via Golden Gate Capital in October 2020! 

In 2017, Shy, Eman and Jeff again teamed up to create food-tech platform HUNGRY - the first ever catering marketplace connecting local top chefs for office food. HUNGRY launched in several markets in 2021 and today operates in a $65 billion dollar catering market within D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Austin, California, and NYC. Notable investors include Sands Capital, Motley Fool Ventures, Bob Hisaoka, JAY-Z's Marcy Ventures, singer Usher, comedian Kevin Hart, Walter Robb the founder of Whole Foods, actor Terry Crews, actress Issa Rae, Seth Goldman founder of Honest Tea, Bravo's Top Chef Tom Colicchio, and a dozen NFL & NBA stars. Shy has been recognized as one of D.C.’s Top Young Entrepreneurs and Washington Business Journals’ 40 Under 40. 

Shy serves on the investment committees at James Madison University and Montgomery College. Shy holds 2 patents in mobile safety and security. Shy also currently sits on nonprofit boards including Inova Health Foundation, PathForward, JMU's Center for Entrepreneurship, & Oasis Hill.

Rachel Payne

Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy, Didlake

Dr. Rachel Payne serves as Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy at Didlake, where she champions policies and initiatives that expand opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in the workforce and their communities. She leads the organization’s strategy to advance policy outcomes that promote inclusion, independence, and long-term success. 

Dr. Payne brings a unique blend of frontline experience and executive leadership, having begun her career as an Employment Specialist and progressing into senior leadership roles. In her current role, she directs advocacy initiatives, shapes public policy engagement, and oversees training programs and Didlake’s Autism Center of Excellence. 

Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to expanding inclusive employment while also advancing systems that enable people with disabilities to engage meaningfully in all aspects of community life.

Larysa Kautz

President & CEO, Melwood

As the President & CEO of Melwood, I lead a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through employment, training, and support services, and fun! With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, I have a passion for empowering individuals and communities to overcome barriers, achieve independence, and thrive in an inclusive setting. 

I have a proven track record of success in transforming organizations, driving growth, and fostering partnerships across sectors. I have spearheaded initiatives such as the merger of Melwood with another nonprofit, the launch of a venture philanthropy fund, and the development of multiple tax credit projects. I am committed to advancing women's leadership and neurodiversity in the nonprofit industry.

Rodney Lusk

Lee District Supervisor, Fairfax County

Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk was sworn in as Fairfax County Franconia District Supervisor (formerly Lee District) in January of 2020 and is the first African American male elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. 

Supervisor Lusk currently serves as Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Safety and Security Committee, Vice-Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee, Vice-Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Housing Committee, Immediate Past Chairman and current member of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors, and member of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). 

Prior to being elected as Franconia District Supervisor, Rodney served 30 years as a Fairfax County employee. His accomplishments during that time include delivering human services along the Historic Richmond Highway Corridor, working for two former members of the Board of Supervisors, and serving as the National Marketing Director for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Rodney also served as a member of the Fairfax County Planning Commission and the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. 

Supervisor Lusk’s achievements while in office include 1) launching the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (W.I.S.H.) in the Hybla Valley Community Center, 2) authoring the Board Matter that led to the creation of the Co-Responder Program, which pairs a police officer with a trained clinician to assist 911 calls involving individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse disorder, and 3) supporting the creation of affordable housing for qualifying residents and seniors. He also authored the Board Matter that established the Accelerate Breakfast, which connects early-stage companies in Fairfax County with capital investment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his office coordinated with Fairfax County government agencies and local non-profits to distribute over three million pounds of food, the largest food distribution to date in Fairfax County. 

Now in his second term, his policy objectives remain unwavering. Rodney continues to prioritize police reform, providing economic mobility opportunities for residents of the Franconia District, improving manufactured housing communities, initiating the revitalization of Springfield, and addressing the County’s affordable housing crisis.

Stacy Hall

Councilmember, Fairfax City

Stacy R. Hall is serving her first term on the City Council. A city resident since 2011, she served on the City of Fairfax School Board from 2023-24, during which time she represented the school board on the city’s Environmental Sustainability Committee. 

The longtime Providence Elementary School PTA member served as its president and its vice president of membership and also ran the PTA book fair for several years. She served as an at-large member of the Cobbdale Civic Association from 2011-22 and has been its treasurer since 2022. 

She has worked as an accountant in the private sector and currently works as a controller at ACI Biosciences. 

She earned a bachelor's degree in finance and minors in economics and biology from the University of Delaware. She has been a member of DECA, a nonprofit organization that prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, and management. 

She and her husband Russ have two sons and two dogs.

Michael Gallagher

Executive Chairman | Co-Founder | The Stevie® Awards | ImageShield

To honor the millions of business executives and workers worldwide who quietly accomplish innovative and extraordinary things in the workplace every day, Michael Gallagher founded the Stevie® Awards in 2002. The name Stevie comes from the Greek name Stefanos, which means "crowned." Prior to founding the Stevie Awards, Gallagher focused his energies on marketing, sales, and product development, including serving as Vice President of Sales & Marketing with the Hoover's Media Technologies division of Hoover's Inc., the leading provider of information on public and private companies worldwide. Most recently, he was vice president of Sales & 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 University. Gallagher was president of the alumni chapter in 2011-13 and was also a Director at Large.

Sid Banerjee

Chief Strategy Officer, Medallia

Technology Founder and Executive, Over a nearly 30 year career Sid Banerjee has amassed deep skills building companies and solutions based on customer experience (CX), business intelligence (BI), and AI-powered technologies. He serves as Chief Strategy Officer of Medallia, a customer experience (CX) software company that uses AI and machine learning to help businesses improve customer satisfaction. He also serves as Chairman at Prolific, a high growth technology company providing a platform for high-quality, human-derived AI and research models. Sid Banerjee was Founder, and served as CEO, Chairman, and Chief Strategy Officer at Clarabridge, acquired by Qualtrics in September 2021 for $1.125 billion, and he served as Chief XM Strategy Officer at Qualtrics until January 2024. He was a founding employee of Business Intelligence vendor MicroStrategy, and founder/CEO of BI services company Claraview (acquired by Teradata in 2008). He also held executive and management positions at Ernst & Young and Sprint. He holds a BS/MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT. He presently lives in Washington DC with his wife, and has two college age children.

Nancy Collins

Board Chairman and Principal, Everest Care Management

Senior executive with extensive general management, sales, and finance experience. A proven track record of building and leading high growth businesses. Excels in a collaborative work environment and is passionate about building sustainable long term businesses. 

Specialties include building teams and executing high growth strategies, P&L management, M&A and business development, Telecommunications, Financial Services, Public Sector and High Tech Industries, Prepaid and Payment solutions, financial systems implementations, business process solutions, IT and Network Services, and Big 4 audit and consulting.