Washington Business Hall of Fame Raises Record-Breaking $1.8 Million to Benefit Junior Achievement of Greater Washington

Image caption: 2025 Washington Business Hall of Fame Laureates, Business Partners, and Event Chairs

Washington, D.C. — November 19, 2025 — The Washington Business Hall of Fame shattered fundraising records at its 2025 gala, raising more than $1.8 million to support Junior Achievement of Greater Washington (JA), far surpassing its original goal of $1.4 million. This historic achievement marks the largest amount ever raised in the event’s nearly 40-year history, and comes during JA’s 60th anniversary year.

The milestone was made possible through the leadership and vision of the JA Board of Directors, the 2025 Event Chairs Cassius and Jacqulyn Priestly, and the commitment of our business community to honoring the leaders who have made a lasting economic impact on our region – the Washington Business Hall of Fame Laureates.

“The Washington Business Hall of Fame carries forward a legacy that celebrates success, invests in possibility, and empowers young people with leadership skills and opportunities,” said Cassius and Jacqulyn Priestly. “The contributions of our Laureates and the Greater Washington business community provides thousands of students - our future leaders - with the mentorship, financial literacy, education, and the confidence they need to live out their fullest potential in an ever-changing world.”

The Washington Business Hall of Fame honored four distinguished Laureates whose leadership and impact have shaped this area:

• Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, Interim President, Howard University
• David Kay, Co-Founder, CrossCountry Consulting
• Susan Lacz, Principal and CEO, Ridgewells Catering
• Todd Stottlemyer, CEO, Acentra Health

Each Laureate shared remarks during the evening, underscoring the values that define their success:

• Wayne Frederick, "I am deeply grateful to Junior Achievement of Greater Washington for the honor of being inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Laureates. The Celebration of Leadership and Legacy reminds me that every meaningful contribution begins with someone investing in your potential. Howard University did that for me. This institution shaped my character, sharpened my purpose, and fortified my commitment to lead with integrity and compassion. The lessons poured into me here—as a student, a physician, and a leader—continue to guide my resolve to create pathways for others to succeed. This recognition strengthens my determination to ensure that the doors opened for me remain open for generations to come. At Howard and beyond, I will continue working to build environments where excellence is cultivated, equity is advanced, and every young person is empowered to realize their fullest potential."
• Susan Lacz, “Junior Achievement of Greater Washington is an unbelievable organization. I wish I had experienced Junior Achievement when I was growing up. When I first got involved, I was so excited to learn about the mission. I think financial literacy is so important, and our schools aren’t teaching it.” She also spoke to resilience and collaboration: “The most rewarding part of leadership is lifting others as you climb. I feel so honored to be a Laureate. I have been to many Hall of Fame events, chaired two of them, catered dozens of them, and to finally be honored with such a class of business leaders is very humbling for me. To have my name in this group for the rest of my life is amazing because it is a very special honor, and I couldn’t thank you enough for it.”

• David Kay emphasized the power of mentorship: “If you look at business, there’s been three major revolutions: The agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution, and the technology revolution, and we’re on the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution. But over those 200 years, one thing has been constant, business is directed and moved by people, and people will always need mentorship and development. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to mentor the next generation in order for businesses to succeed.” He also described how Junior Achievement of Greater Washington is helping fill the void in our public schools around financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
• Todd Stottlemyer highlighted community impact: “True success is measured by how we serve and strengthen the communities we call home.” He also shared, “I think Junior Achievement has had a profound impact on the Greater Washington region and our future business community. The advice I would offer to Junior Achievement Students is to build a career with purpose and find where your passion and energy are. We’re good at things – those are our skills, but combining skills with passion and energy, you're going to show up really well day in and day out, but you have to discover that, and to discover that, you really have to expose yourself to all sorts of different situations. So, I would encourage young people to say yes to a lot of things, uncomfortable things, and be curious because it opens you up to a lot of opportunities.”

Dr. Monica Goldson, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, celebrated the record-breaking achievement:
“Tonight was a reminder that our business community, our entrepreneurs and philanthropists, are deeply invested in the future. By showing up and supporting JA and our Laureates, they are saying to the world, “The Greater Washington area is only getting stronger, and our next generation will be prepared to ensure it continues to thrive.” Together, we are building a future where every young person has the skills to succeed. Thank you for showing up and showing out. We couldn’t have done this without you!”

Kevin Smithson, Board Chair for Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, added:
“The Washington Business Hall of Fame is more than an event; it’s an investment in our students and the region’s future. Tonight’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of our business community to invest in the next generation of leaders.”

Proceeds from the event fuel JA’s mission to equip students to be future-ready, to pave a path that allows them to thrive in a career they can build their desired lifestyle around, rooted in essential skills like financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. JA is preparing students for every dimension of life and work.

Looking Ahead
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington is proud to announce the 2026 Washington Business Hall of Fame Event Chairs: Evelyn Lee, Executive Vice President at EagleBank, and her husband, Djindo Lee, Head of Technical Program Management, Chainlink Labs. Their leadership and dedication to youth empowerment will help carry this legacy forward into another impactful year.

About Junior Achievement of Greater Washington
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington empowers young people to own their economic success through experiential programs that build financial capability, work readiness, and entrepreneurial thinking. Learn more here.