Learn About The 2025 Laureates: Todd Stottlemyer

Image caption: Photo of Todd Stottlemyer

The Greater Washington region has a long history of influential business leaders powering the growth of our region and the strength of their communities. On November 18, the Washington Business Hall of Fame will welcome four such leaders to receive our region’s signature lifetime business achievement award. The Hall of Fame brings these visionaries (the best in business) to the table with the next generation of leaders (the next in business), through an experience that connects and inspires us all.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Laureates are names you’ve likely seen in headlines for years. But this series offers something different: a rare, personal look at their journeys—told in their own words. Through candid reflections, hard-earned lessons, and timeless advice, these leaders share what it truly means to lead with purpose and leave a lasting mark.

WASHINGTON’S BEST IN BUSINESS: TODD STOTTLEMYER

Whether driving innovation in healthcare or investing in the next generation through education, Todd Stottlemyer has a legacy marked by impact and vision.

Get to know this dynamic leader and community builder—one of this year’s Laureates.

What inspired you to pursue your current career path?

Todd Stottlemyer: My career all started because of an internship for U.S. Senator Paul Trible from Virginia. I did a research project for Senator Trible’s state director, Judy Peachee. It was Judy who told me about an opening at BDM International, a technology company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia. I spent the next 13 years working at BDM. It was a fabulous place to grow up professionally. BDM was one of a very small number of companies that was a publicly traded company, on two separate occasions. The company was also one of the Carlyle Group’s first management buyouts and private equity transactions. I was fortunate to move up in the company and become a member of the executive team reporting to the CEO, first Earle Williams and then Phil Odeen, until the company was sold to TRW in 1997.

BDM was a diversified technology company working for government and commercial clients in both the U.S. and internationally. This gave me exposure and insights into the exciting possibilities of how new technologies could accelerate better outcomes, improve productivity, and lower costs.

My career in many ways is non-traditional in that I have moved across industry sectors. For most of the past 15 years, I have been working at the intersection of technology and healthcare, an exciting area with enormous potential to help individuals live longer and healthier lives.

Did you have a mentor or a role model over the course of your career? Who was it, and how did they impact your career trajectory?

Todd Stottlemyer: I have been blessed throughout my life to have outstanding mentors, starting with my athletic coaches in high school and college. One of my earliest mentors, George Newman, an executive at BDM, suggested that I build what he called a personal board of directors, individuals who would help me develop as a leader and who would give me advice and feedback as I progressed in my career. I took George up on his advice. My personal board of directors has included fellow Laureates such as Earle Williams (BDM), Ed Bersoff (BTG), Mike Daniels (SAIC), and Milt Peterson (Peterson Companies). It has also included Frank Atkinson (McGuireWoods), Bill Mims (retired Virginia Supreme Court justice), Phil Odeen (BDM), Bill Conway (Carlyle), and Donna Morea (my current board chair at Acentra Health). I am incredibly grateful to all of them for their support of me personally and professionally.

What impact do you hope to leave on your industry and the broader community?

Todd Stottlemyer: Before I became a CEO myself, I worked for three CEOs who built successful companies and who were leaders in the community as well. They believed building great companies and great communities were mutually inclusive objectives, and they asked their executives to serve in leadership roles for industry, civic, and philanthropic organizations.

I have always tried to be a strong servant leader, someone who leads by example and works to build high-performing teams with engaged employees. I have also tried to follow the path of my mentors and find meaningful ways to serve my community and the communities where my companies worked. I hope I will be remembered for both.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from a failure or setback?

Todd Stottlemyer: Like for everyone, life has its obstacles and setbacks, personally and professionally. I learned this early in high school when I suffered a serious knee injury playing football that required surgery, and then injured my knee again. I had set a goal to play football in college and earn a scholarship. My knee injuries put this in doubt. I was fortunate to receive a letter from a former coach who really challenged and inspired me to overcome my injury. He told me then that this was just one of the many setbacks I would face in life and that when you get knocked down, you just need to keep getting back up. I did so through a lot of hard work and rehabilitation and later earned that scholarship. I was grateful for that coach’s support.

My younger sister suffered from depression at a young age and later died by suicide. It made me realize at a young age how fleeting life can be and probably gave me a greater sense of urgency for my own life. I think of my sister every day, and I am grateful that we are much more open today, talking about mental health as a disease that needs to be treated just like any other disease. I have also had my share of professional challenges and setbacks. The early life advice from my coach still holds true today. You just need to keep getting back up and stay at it.

What role has innovation played in your career, and how do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization?

Todd Stottlemyer: Innovation is the heartbeat of growth for any individual or organization. Innovation isn’t a one-time thing – it’s a mindset. Whether you are a CEO or a student, fostering innovation means staying open to new ideas and ways of doing things, being curious, and asking probing questions. It is about being agile, creative, and always asking, "How can we do this better?" Importantly, innovation thrives on diverse viewpoints. That’s why it is critical to build teams with diverse backgrounds, expertise, and thinking to unlock creative solutions. Personally, for me as a leader, it is important to be a continuous learner and create an environment where it is safe to fail quickly, learn, and then try something different.

What advice would you give to students about managing stress and maintaining mental health while preparing for their careers?

Todd Stottlemyer: Preparing for your career can be exciting but also overwhelming at times, and you will face highs and lows throughout your career journey. I have several thoughts, based on my own so-called “scars of experience.” First, prioritize and maintain balance in your life. Always put your family first and make time for friends and your own personal hobbies. Mine are reading, hiking, and skiing. Second, manage your time and practice saying no. There is only one you, and your best you requires that you say no at times. I wish I had done this more often. Third, as author David Brooks notes, focus on living a life of significance. If you do this, success will come with it. Finally, always be willing to ask for help, whether personally or professionally. This is a strength, not a weakness.

Invest in the Future — Honor Todd Stottlemyer

Support Todd Stottlemyer's induction into the Washington Business Hall of Fame and help advance the mission of Junior Achievement of Greater Washington. Your contribution directly fuels experiences that equip local students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in a competitive world. 

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