Announcing the 2026 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honorees
Arlington, VA – The Leadership Center of Arlington and Leadership Fairfax are pleased to announce the 2026 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 honorees.
The 2026 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 honorees will be celebrated during a virtual event on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and at an in-person reception from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. at Caboose Commons in Fairfax, VA (tickets are $35).
“In a quickly evolving world, this year’s honorees shine a light on the values of curiosity, innovation, empathy, and service. Through both their professional and personal lives, they are meeting the moment and making a positive impact in our region,” said Lisa Fikes, President and CEO of the Leadership Center of Arlington.
“We are pleased to recognize this year’s group of exceptional honorees. Their leadership and civic engagement stand out as stellar examples of inspirational leaders working to build thriving communities,” stated President and CEO of Leadership Fairfax, Kia Cole-Hines.
2026 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 Honorees
Ijeoma Agbaraji, Booz Allen Hamilton
Camila Alfonzo Meza, Tysons Community Alliance
Alen Amini, C3 AI
Anthony Amos, City of Fairfax Government
José Aramayo Pefaure, Arlington County, Department of Human Services
Christine Baker, Arlington County, Department of Transportation
Sara Bellakbira, AstraZeneca
Aden Beyene, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Emily Braxton, Arlington County, Department of Parks and Recreation
Christina Burrow, Fairfax County Police Department
Ashley Cantatore, The Arc of Northern Virginia
Charlin D. Caster, Southern Poverty Law Center – Learning for Justice
Andres Curtin Campos, Second Story
B. Kerem Demirci, Orr Partners
Mahathi Devulapalli, Salesforce
Taylor Frech, Hilton
Laura Genovese, Manufactured Housing Institute
Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen, George Mason University, Costello College of Business
Jacob Harrer, Fairfax County Public Schools
Alli C. Henry, Rosslyn Business Improvement District
Jamee Hood, Arlington Community Foundation
Steve Inch, TriVistaUSA Design + Build
Melat Johnson, Arlington County, Department of Human Services
Ashley Jones, VHC Health
Jonathan Keenan, RPCVnexus
Joseph Kornhoff, The Pentagon Memorial Fund
Leah Martinez, Arlington County Fire Department
Valery Maya, Zocalo Health
Brian Meiggs, MeiggsMedia
Ebenezer Nii Martey, American Pharmacist Association
Katherine O’Hare, Points of Light
Alex Sakes, Alex Sakes Photography LLC
Lourdes Sandoval, Prince William County Public Schools
Tom Shannon, Phoenix Bikes
Binita Sharma, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Kevin L. Sheffield, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
Dr. Paul Singleton II, The Potomac School
Jerusalem Solomon, Arlington County, Department of Parks and Recreation
Victoria Velez, Pearson / GED Testing Service
Dr. Melissa L. Villodas, George Mason University
To register for the 2026 Northern Virginia 40 Under 40 virtual and in-person celebrations, visit leadercenter.org/40-under-40.
About the Leadership Center of Arlington and Leadership Fairfax
The mission of the Leadership Center of Arlington is to connect, develop, and inspire leaders for personal growth, civic engagement, and community impact. For more information, visit leadercenter.org or call (703) 528-2522.
Leadership Fairfax develops, connects, and inspires leaders of diverse backgrounds and experiences to engage in building a better community. To learn more, call (703) 752-7555 and visit leadershipfairfax.org.
Media Contact
Jennifer Roeder
Communications Consultant
(703) 528-2522
jroeder@leadercenter.org