Introducing the Lead and Ignite Classes of 2026

July 8, 2025

Arlington, VA – The Leadership Center of Arlington is pleased to announce the members of the Lead and Ignite Classes of 2026.

“We look forward to welcoming the Lead and Ignite Classes of 2026 into our Leadership Center of Arlington network,” said Lisa Fikes, President and CEO. “These cohorts create a valuable space for leaders to connect and learn from one another while also opening doors for personal and professional community impact. We are excited to be on this journey with this remarkable group of individuals.”

The Lead Class of 2026 includes leaders from business, government, and nonprofit sectors and will begin on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The Lead program deepens connections with a diverse network of established leaders and inspires them to transform and support our community.

  • Faisal Aliyan, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
  • Catherine Ashby, Arlington Public Schools
  • Sara Barker, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Avant Bard Theatre
  • Sunny Blanco, United Bank
  • Jon Breeding, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
  • Connie Doyle, formerly with U.S. Office of Personnel Management
  • Anna Faulkner, Aspire Afterschool Learning
  • John Foti, Abilegroup
  • Beth Gorman, Arlington Free Clinic
  • Alvin Jackson, III, Strategic Engineering Solutions (SES)
  • Heather Jeff, Tacos Yes Please
  • Felicia Jordan, CNA Corporation
  • Jane S. Kim, Arlington Economic Development
  • Megan Krug, Accenture LLP
  • Jill Landefeld, Brown Advisory
  • Eva Loser, CRi (Community Residences, Inc)
  • Brian MacNair, Kitchen of Purpose
  • Brian Marroquin, Arlington Community Foundation
  • Jennifer Meder, hyve
  • Maria Milton, Rossana
  • SC Nealy, LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative
  • Danette Nguyen, Ballston Business Improvement District
  • Laurel Nishi, formerly with U.S. Department of Education
  • Dana Nyam, Lyon Hall
  • Mary O’Connor, George Mason University
  • Brigid O’Hearn, Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute
  • William Parish, Insigniam
  • Sheriff Jose Quiroz, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lauren Raizada, Deloitte
  • Lido Ramadan, Aminad Consulting
  • Melanie Reza, VHC Health
  • Tom Shannon, Phoenix Bikes
  • Kevin Sheffield, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
  • Tyler Smith, Arlington County Government, Department of Environmental Services
  • Elissa Staley, National Landing Business Improvement District
  • Briana Terry, Dominion Energy
  • LeoNard Thompson, Arlington Public Library
  • Adriana Torres-Sejas, Cafe Sazon, Cassiel’s Hair Salon, ATS Designs
  • Karen Turner, Groundswell
  • Laura Wagman, Arlington County Government, Department of Human Resources
  • Jessica Waymouth, FMP, LLC
  • Elizabeth Whitney, Meguire Whitney
  • Samantha Woellner, MetroStar
  • Robbi Woodson, Melwood

The Ignite Class of 2026 will begin in October 2025. The Ignite program allows leaders to hone skills and explore personal and professional leadership development as they create real impact with local nonprofits.

  • Pinky Advani, Ballston Business Improvement District
  • Lucas Alexander, Arlington County Government, Department of Management & Finance
  • Monte Ali, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
  • Gwyneth Alteneder, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
  • Luis Alvarado, National Parent Teacher Association
  • Josue J. Bastidas, Columbia Pike Partnership
  • DJ Batchelor, Arlington Chamber of Commerce
  • Leigh-Ann Carter Sinclair, Arlington Free Clinic
  • Heidi Cleric, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
  • Rebecca Cuba, CRi (Community Residences Inc)
  • Julee Doyle, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
  • Destiny Hall, Aspire Afterschool Learning
  • Donald Herndon, Phoenix Bikes
  • Jared Husketh, National Capital Treatment and Recovery
  • Derek Judd, Strategic Engineering Solutions
  • Chloe Koenen, The Craddock Group
  • Leah Martinez, Arlington County Fire Department
  • Aubrey Mason, CRi (Community Residences Inc)
  • Jenna McAllister, Washington Workplace
  • Saira A. Mehmood, formerly with National Institutes of Health
  • Sierra Moraven, Lexipol
  • Claire Morris, Read Early And Daily (R.E.A.D.)
  • Peter Nachtwey, The Craddock Group, LLC.
  • Thuy-Linh Nguyen, Arlington County Office of the Commissioner of Revenue
  • Jasmine Oates, Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute
  • Margaret Phalen, Arlington Public Library
  • Yonatan Pineda, Dominion Energy
  • Cassandra Ransome, Animal Welfare League of Arlington
  • Olivia Scheuer, NASA
  • Ana Schneider Jerez, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
  • Dawn Smith, Arlington Public Schools
  • Chrissy Wallace, Psychotherapist
  • Jessica T. Washington, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C.
  • Samuel Whippo, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
  • Percilla Wills, Flaherty Family Foundation
  • Calla Zane, Logistics Management Institute (LMI)

Alumni from the Leadership Center of Arlington will welcome the new Lead and Ignite Classes of 2026 at a special Homecoming event on Thursday, October 16.

Both programs will convene monthly through April 2026, culminating in a joint celebration at the Leadership Center of Arlington’s Leadership Summit on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

To learn more about Lead, Ignite, and other leadership development programs, please visit leadercenter.org/leadership.

About the Leadership Center of Arlington

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.

Media Contact

Jennifer Roeder
Communications Consultant
Leadership Center of Arlington
(703) 528-2522
jroeder@leadercenter.org

Posted in Press Releases