USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 1 -
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CEO T O D A Y BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS 2024 VOTING OPEN Click here or visit www.ceotodaymagazine.com for more information Dedicated to highlighting the achievements of exceptional female business leaders worldwide. Our Business Women Awards celebrate these inspiring individuals who have not only achieved remarkable success but have also propelled their businesses to new heights. CEO T O D A Y
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 5 - CEO T O D A Y USA A W A R D S 2 0 2 4 Welcome to this special edition of the CEO Today USA Awards, where we celebrate and honor the visionary leaders who are driving innovation, growth, and success in their respective industries. Amongst others, we are proud to feature three remarkable individuals on our front cover—John Koudounis, CEO of Calamos Investments, Kirk Arthur, Worldwide Government Solutions Lead at Microsoft, and Greg Kunst, CEO of Aurion Biotechnologies. This edition also highlights many other exceptional leaders who are making significant impacts across various sectors. In this edition, you will find in-depth interviews and profiles that delve into the journeys of these extraordinary CEOs, alongside other influential leaders across the United States. We explore their strategies, challenges, and the impact they are making in their industries and beyond. We hope you find inspiration in the stories of these exceptional leaders and the innovative companies they lead. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the achievements of these trailblazers who are shaping the future of business. Best regards, Mark Palmer Editor-in-chief
FEATURED WINNERS JOHN KOUDOUNIS CEO Calamos Investments Page8 KIRK ARTHUR Worldwide Government Solutions Lead Microsoft Page14 GREGORY D. KUNST CEO Aurion Biotech Page18
In this fascinating interview, John Koudounis, CEO of Calamos Investments, shares his approach to leadership which has helped propel the firm to new heights. Since assuming leadership in 2016, John has not only boosted profitability but also expanded product offerings and wealth planning capabilities. He also speaks about his work with philanthropic organizations and what it means to him to make a positive impact beyond the financial world. - 8 -
CEO of Calamos Investments When you joined Calamos Investments in 2016 what were your goals and targets for your role as CEO? Having increased the firm’s profitability since you joined, can you tell us if this was an initial aim and how you managed to accomplish this? When I assumed the role of CEO at Calamos Investments in 2016, my vision was clear: to elevate the firm’s already renowned brand and reputation as a leading alternatives asset manager. Enhancing profitability was the cornerstone of my strategy. Since joining Calamos, we’ve achieved remarkable growth, more than doubling our assets under management from $18 billion to $37 billion as of March 31, 2024. This achievement was no accident. It resulted from strategic decisions like investing in our businesses and making pivotal executive appointments across operations, finance, marketing, and wealth management. But it hasn’t stopped there. In the last few years, we’ve expanded our investment capabilities, entering into private credit and sustainable investing. We’ve introduced new products that are reshaping the investment landscape today – a private credit closed-end interval fund brought in partnership with Aksia, a global leader in private markets, and a sustainable fund delivered by an innovative ohn Koudounis www.calamos.com USA Awards 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 9 - GLOBAL INVESTMENTS LEADER OF THE YEAR
- 10 - USA Awards 2024 - CEO TODAY - partnership with global professional athlete and philanthropist, Giannis Antetokounmpo. 2024 is off to an exciting start with two recently launched ETF products that draw upon the heritage and expertise of our firm, with several more in the pipeline for the year. For our wealth management business, we’ve sharpened our planning capabilities and have made strategic hires to lead the wealth management business. This includes a new Head of Wealth Management, a Chief Investment Officer, and a Chief Wealth Strategist to elevate the way we manage our clients’ investment portfolios and service our clients. My vision remains unwavering — lead the charge in innovation, deliver excellence to our clients and make Calamos the premier alternative management brand. How would you describe your leadership approach? After 35+ years of experience in financial services and executive leadership roles, what advice would you give to someone starting a managing role? Throughout my 35+ years of experience in financial services and executive leadership roles, my leadership approach blends a mindset of innovation and resilience. Leading with a mindset of innovation means the ability to manage uncertainty and actively invest both time and resources to understand factors of disruption, and to seize on opportunities that come with constant change. It is critical to be able to pivot and invest in your enterprise even when compelling arguments advise otherwise. As for advice to new managers, build strong relationships with your team members. Understanding their strengths and aspirations helps to build a strong and complementary leadership team. Celebrating wins is important because no achievement is too small, and small achievements add to profound change. Acknowledging milestones and recognizing individual and team contributions serve as great catalysts for a superior work environment and a strong organization. Leadership isn’t just about managing—it’s about inspiring and motivating those around you. As a leader, you have the power to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the confines of your role. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew President and CEO of Calamos Investments - John Koudounis Prime Minister of Greece - Kyriakos Mitsotakis President and CEO of Calamos Investments - John Koudounis
- 11 - USA Awards 2024 - CEO TODAY - What is it about supporting and helping investors and businesses to succeed that drew you to the position you hold now, and what motivates you in your role? Calamos Investments has a legacy of excellence and a rich history spanning nearly five decades that has focused on delivering that excellence to its clients. Our founder, John P. Calamos, Sr., started the firm to achieve this goal and made great leaps in the investment world by pioneering the use of convertible bonds as an asset class to manage risk. His groundbreaking work, along with the two books he authored on convertibles, is still taught in business schools today. That legacy of innovation and commitment to growth resonated with me, and I am driven to uphold this tradition, particularly as Calamos continues to grow and expand. Can you explain how you and your team assist investors to avoid risk and provide solutions to build long-term success? In today’s complex environment, risk management is paramount. Our investment strategies are designed to address various market conditions that can impact performance. It starts with thoroughly grasping market dynamics and the impacts of economic factors, all while ensuring we meet the needs and demands of our clients. Each product is designed with a keen focus on the future. Our team is continuously evaluating its products and taking thoughtful steps to evaluate and manage risk in our investments, or in the case of Calamos Wealth Management, any risk present in our clients’ investment portfolios. Lastly, we communicate transparently, explaining complex concepts for our investors to provide a clear understanding of contributors and, where applicable, detractors of performance. Our regular client updates and personalized interactions foster a sense of partnership and enable clients to make informed investment decisions. You are on the board of various organizations that fuel your philanthropic interest. Why are these important to you, and does this interest ever merge with your position in Calamos Investments? My involvement in philanthropic organizations is driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact beyond the financial world. Philanthropy provides a sense of purpose that exceeds profit margins and allows me to contribute to causes that matter, whether it’s education, community development or healthcare, as examples. As a proud Greek American, I work to preserve the heritage of my ancestors and the future prosperity of Greece, serving as a founding board member of The Hellenic Initiative - a global non-profit organization that brings together Diaspora Greeks and Philhellenes to invest in the future of Greece through programs focused on crisis relief, entrepreneurship, and economic development. My philanthropic pursuits aren’t isolated from my role at Calamos; they enrich it. They remind me that leadership is about balancing impact and empathy to institute a legacy of positive change. What are some of the features of Calamos Investments’ Calamos Aksia Alternative Credit & Income Fund (CAPIX), and what are the benefits for clients who take this up with your firm? Calamos Aksia Alternative Credit & Income Fund (CAPIX) is a private credit interval fund that provides investors with access to an institutional-quality portfolio of private credit investments – not just direct lending like many other funds. “Celebrating wins is important, because no achievement is too small, and small achievements add to profound change.”
USA Awards 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 12 - Through CAPIX, investors may benefit from attractive risk-adjusted returns and high current income. The fund’s asset raise reinforces the demand for private credit investing, garnering over $150 million in assets. Has there been a recent initiative you can tell us about where you were able to support your clients? How are they succeeding today with the help from Calamos Investments? Calamos Investments initially began as a wealth management business, dedicated to managing the complex wealth management needs of high-net-worth individuals and families. This continues to be a growing and thriving business for Calamos, and we’ve actively advanced our wealth planning capabilities to support the needs of existing and future clients. We have the opportunity to manage the hard-earned wealth of our clients and see that responsibility as an honor. “My philanthropic pursuits aren’t isolated from my role at Calamos; they enrich it. They remind me that leadership is about balancing impact and empathy to institute a legacy of positive change.” Calamos Founder, Chairman & Global CIO, Calamos Investments - John P. Calamos, Sr., President and CEO of Calamos Investments - John Koudounis Global Philanthropist and basketball superstar - Giannis Antetokounmpo and his two brothers Alex and Thanasis Antetokounmpo
USA Awards 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 13 - Can you tell us what makes Calamos Investments stand out? How has the firm developed over time, and how have you adapted to changes in the industry? Calamos’ firm values and relentless focus on innovation have allowed it to differentiate itself over time. We’re not interested in being a firm that offers every investment type or strategy at a low cost. We’re a premium brand specializing in delivering sophisticated liquid alternative investments, convertible securities, and personalized wealth management capabilities that our clients need. Our status as a private firm contributes powerful benefits to our culture, including the ability to innovate with speed, retain talent, foster loyalty, and maintain a collective, long-term perspective. Calamos has a highly tenured 350+ person associate base with an average of eight years with the firm. It’s not uncommon, however, to find tenures of 20 or 25 years—a testament to our culture and the prioritization of our people. The Calamos Antetokounmpo Global Sustainable Equities ETF, mentioned earlier, was brought to you by a joint venture between Calamos and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This marks the first time an asset manager and professional athlete team together as 50%/50% co-owners to deliver a suite of sustainable investment funds. This isn’t a sponsorship or endorsement relationship; Giannis is a co-owner and we are committed to delivering positive societal returns by donating up to 10% of our joint venture profits annually to charities that support themes of financial literacy and empowerment. In fact, the ticker “SROI” is an acronym for societal return on investment. The Fund is managed by our seasoned sustainable equities team who have spent the greater part of 30 years applying their proprietary sustainable investing screening and analyses to uncover what we believe are high-growth opportunities for investment consideration. These funds create access for investors seeking a sustainable investing approach, while also striving for positive impact. Giannis often speaks about his desire to have started investing early. Through SROI, we’re enabling mass access to a product that advances the theme of financial literacy. Finally, what should businesses know about Calamos Investments before choosing a firm to work with? Aside from this award, what other accomplishments make you and your team the one to choose? We view our success and longevity as a reflection of our ability to meet the demands of investors through long-term performance, organic growth, and strategic acquisition. Through that lens, our assets under management have nearly doubled, and we have expanded our presence in New York and Chicago, grown our wealth management capabilities, and reinforced our position as a longstanding and leading liquid alternatives manager. For more than 45 years, we’ve concepted better ways to serve our clients and investors. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. Whether through Calamos Wealth Management or Calamos Investments, we remain steadfast in our commitment to put investors first, actively manage risk, and deliver innovation and excellence. “For more than 45 years, we’ve concepted better ways to serve our clients and investors.” President and CEO of Calamos Investments - John Koudounis Calamos Founder, Chairman & Global CIO, Calamos Investments - John P. Calamos, Sr. and American Financier and Chairman of the Milken Institute - Michael Milken
CEO Today has been joined by Kirk Arthur, the Worldwide Government Solutions Lead at Microsoft. In this interview, Kirk shares with us what his role involves and how advanced technology is transforming government operations and being integrated for public safety initiatives. Kirk shared his strategic approach towards leadership and how the collaborations with governments function. Technology is continually advancing and there are more ways in which it can be used effectively. Kirk’s vision for technology within governments is centred on improving productivity and enhancing solutions, learn how this could be done and how Kirk and his team are managing this. USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 14 -
KIRK ARTHUR Worldwide Government Solutions Lead at Microsoft Kirk, could you start by telling us about your journey to becoming the Worldwide Government Solutions Lead at Microsoft? What inspired you to pursue this role - you’ve previously worked in the U.S. Secret Service’s Presidential Protective Division so your current role would appear to be a significant change of direction? I enjoyed a wonderful career as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. In addition to my time serving on the Presidential Protective Division, I also led Electronic Crimes Task Forces in Seattle and San Francisco. My teams were responsible for conducting data breach investigations and working with our global law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice. In this capacity, we worked with Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit and I was always impressed with their expertise and capabilities. Could you share with the reader what Microsoft’s vision is within the scope of your role? I am part of Microsoft’s Worldwide Government Industry team. We are a group of former government workers whose roles are to showcase how Microsoft’s incredible technology capabilities can help governments deliver more efficient and secure services to the people and communities they service. This is through our Microsoft Office Suite, as well as with our Business Applications and Azure cloud platforms that can support every aspect of a government’s mission. With such a vast scale to your role what does a typical day look like for you? This is one of the most exciting parts about working at Microsoft. With my team’s global remit, I get to interact with colleagues across the globe, meet with government customers, and engage with our great network of partners who are incorporating our platform capabilities into their solutions. I have the privilege of hosting government delegations here in Redmond, Washington; or meeting with them at conferences and events around the world. What are some of the most significant challenges you face in developing and implementing government solutions on a global scale? Are there common obstacles that you encounter that run across all implementation initiatives? As we all know, the role and responsibilities of governments are vast and complex – whether national ministries or departments focusing on the safety and LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 15 -
health of the entire nation, or local and regional government focusing on delivering effective local services to the people and communities they serve. Some of the biggest obstacles is understanding where to start when thinking about adopting new, cloudenabled technologies; and understanding the required security, governance, and compliance to deploy these services. Given the sometimes antiquated and diverse systems in government operations, how do you approach integrating Microsoft’s modern technology solutions with these existing infrastructures without causing significant disruption and push back? For me, developing a strong public-private partnership is critical to the success of any government. The conversations we have is centred around maximizing the performance and capabilities of what you’ve invested in, but collaborating on the art of the possible with an eye towards the future where cloud-based workloads can be implemented to further optimize service performance, as well as improve cyber resilience and improve uptime availability of critical system How has the integration of advanced technologies like AI and cloud computing transformed government operations and public safety initiatives under your leadership? AI has been around for decades but has really evolved over the past 10 years. I couldn’t be more excited about what AI already means for governments by helping to provide better public services such as call automation and optimization, better efficiencies for coordinated social care, and helping to identify, mitigate, and investigate program fraud. Now with Azure OpenAI Service and our Copilot, the enhancements are going to be dramatically improved and really impact the productivity and efficiency of government. Can you describe how Microsoft collaborates with different governments? What does the process of tailoring solutions to meet diverse governmental and cultural needs entail? In addition to my group, we have dedicated teams around the world focusing on helping them to digitally transform. This is very much a never-ending journey for us and we want to always meet our government customers where they’re at in their digital maturation. We very much like to share best practices between governments because no matter what country you’re in, governments have a very common mission. Could you share a particularly successful project or initiative that Microsoft has undertaken for a government entity under your leadership? One of the most exciting engagements I’ve been a part of over the years has been our continued engagements with court systems around the world. Courts have historically relied on in-person hearings and procedures to conduct their business. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to change their approach. Today, some of the world’s largest judicial systems have either adopted, or are adopting, a hybrid hearings capability that can accommodate remote proceedings. This has been amazing to watch and the Orange County Superior Court in California embodies the importance of adopting new technologies to ensure access to justice for everyone. As a leader, what core principles guide your approach to managing such a dynamic and critical sector within Microsoft? I have always been a mission-focused person and this drives me today. Our technology, and the solutions we USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 16 - “For me, developing a strong public-private partnership is critical to the success of any government.”
deliver with our partners, must have a material impact for our government customers in how they deliver core services within their community. Their responsibilities are so vast, and the demands on them so great, that we must work with them to meet their goals and the expectations of those who rely on them. Finally, what is your vision for the future of Microsoft’s Government Solutions, and what impact do you hope to achieve in the coming years? These are incredible times in technology as Large Language Models (LLMs) rapidly mature. My vision is to see governments at all levels incorporate these capabilities into their day-to-day operations. The ones who do will see an incredible increase in the productivity and efficiency of their staff, as well as improved scalability to deliver solutions that help to improve the lives of those they serve. www.elevatedconsulting.net “I couldn’t be more excited about what AI already means for governments by helping to provide better public services such as call automation and optimization, better efficiencies for coordinated social care, and helping to identify, mitigate, and investigate program fraud.” USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 17 -
GREGORY D. KUNST CEO of Aurion Biotech BIOTECHNOLOGY CEO OF THE YEAR Gregory D. Kunst, the Chief Executive Officer of Aurion Biotech, brings a wealth of experience and a unique vision to the forefront of ophthalmic innovation. With a career that has seamlessly transitioned through significant roles in the biotech industry, Kunst’s leadership is driving Aurion Biotech toward groundbreaking advancements in treatments for eye diseases. This interview explores his journey to becoming a pivotal figure in biotech, the cutting-edge developments at Aurion Biotech, and the strategies employed to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the sector. Join us as we delve into the insights of a leader who is not just shaping a company but potentially transforming the future of ophthalmology. www.aurionbiotech.com USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 18 -
Greg, reflecting on your path to becoming CEO of Aurion Biotech, what specific experiences or milestones do you believe were pivotal in preparing you for leadership in the biotech industry? I think the most important experience for me was during my time at Glaukos. This is where I cut my teeth into what it takes to build a successful start-up. During my time at Glaukos, I was very fortunate to work for a fantastic CEO and Founder, Tom Burns. I got to watch him build the company from a free-standing start to a $350m company over 6 years. What an amazing learning lab for me and many things we do at Aurion are emulated by the things I learned at Glaukos and from Tom Burns. Aurion Biotech is at the forefront of transformative therapies in ophthalmology. Can you discuss any recent breakthroughs or developments that you believe will significantly impact the field? What we are doing will likely be one of the most transformation products in our lifetime in ophthalmology. We think about big step changes in ophthalmology and we generally think about things like modern cataract surgery or Anti-VEGFs used in retinal disease as examples of this. What we are doing by addressing corneal blindness could have the same impact to ophthalmology. In an industry as dynamic as biotech, staying innovative is crucial. Could you highlight some strategies Aurion Biotech employs to foster creativity and innovation within your teams? Well our three values is grit, stewardship, and transformation. Transformational work is at the heart of what we do. We only work on things that are first in kind and address major areas of untreated or undertreated disease. We only hire people that buy into this vision. Leading a company focused on life-changing therapies comes with its challenges. What do you consider the biggest challenge in your role as CEO, and how do you address it? Biotech is hard. There are a lot of ups and downs. There are a lot of near-death experiences. We have very dedicated scientists and employees at Aurion Biotech. I find one of my important roles at Aurion Biotech is as Cheerleader in Chief and Chief Motivation Officer. I have learned that when you hire very smart, motivated people and you get out of their way, get them the resources they need, and have their backs, the potential of the company is frankly infinite. Since we are addressing untreated or undertreated disease, it is always important that we stay focused on helping patients. If we do this, everything else will come. As CEO, you’re tasked with steering Aurion Biotech through various phases of growth. Could you share your insights on leadership strategies that have been instrumental in guiding your team through scaling and market challenges? Have a strong culture rooted in your key values and reward people based on those values. Culture always trumps strategy. The human potential for success when you put together the right people working on the right things is remarkable. Every day, we face challenges, but we always get through them because we have the right team of people who are highly motivated to cure blindness. Corporate social responsibility is increasingly important for companies in all sectors. How does Aurion Biotech integrate CSR into its business practices, particularly in relation to patient access and affordability of treatments? Well, very early in the history of the company, we decided we were developing a global treatment. Often, companies only think about Western markets. Not Aurion Biotech. We think we have the first mass-market cell therapy that we can take to every corner of the world. We will address corneal blindness not only in the US and Europe but also in places such as India, China, and Africa. This is important in how we think about our scaling, our logistics, our pricing, etc. Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for Aurion Biotech in the next 5 years, and how do you envision the company shaping the future of ophthalmic care? First and foremost, we need to get our corneal endothelial program approved and launched around the world. My expectation is that we will bring this to every country in the world, as corneal blindness is a worldwide problem. Second, we have built the finest group of scientists, clinicians, regulatory experts, manufacturing experts, quality experts, logistics experts, and commercial experts in cell therapy and ophthalmology. We would be amiss if we did not use our experience for other untreated, blinding diseases and we full expect to dramatically increase our R&D throughout during the period. USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 19 -
CEO T O D A Y USA A W A R D S 2 0 2 4 USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 21 - INTRODUCING THE WINNERS.... Arun Kumar Kerika LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN SOFTWARE 28 Bill Frame Kidder Mathews LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 30 HOSPITALITY CEO OF THE YEAR Adam Romo Eatzi’s Market & Bakery ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CEO OF THE YEAR Adrienne Cole The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce CIVIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION LEADER OF THE YEAR Allison Murrell Quality Enterprises FIBER OPTICS INNOVATION LEADER OF THE YEAR Allison Woody Luna Innovations MEDICINE CEO OF THE YEAR Amir Jafri Immunicom, Inc. CONSULTANCY / TRAINING CEO OF THE YEAR Bret Farrar Sendero Consulting
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 22 - FINTECH CEO OF THE YEAR Colby Ross Project Finance ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING SOLUTIONS LEADER OF THE YEAR Corey Troutman Susquehanna Accounting & Consulting Solutions, Inc. PUBLIC RELATIONS CEO OF THE YEAR Dana Lewis VALERIE ALLEN PR ENGINEERING CHAIRMAN OF THE YEAR Dean Mackin Mackin Engineering MILLING SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Deborah Barbose Belrick IMMUNOTHERAPIES RESEARCH CEO OF THE YEAR Dennis Lanfear Coherus BioSciences BENEFIT SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Donovan Ryckis J Donovan Financial PR & MARKETING LEADER OF THE YEAR Emily Rios Trevelino/Keller LEGAL TECHNOLOGY CEO OF THE YEAR Eric Friedrichsen DISCO FOOD & BEVERAGES CEO OF THE YEAR Fernando Castillo Better 4 You Meals MESSAGING SOLUTIONS SOFTWARE CEO OF THE YEAR Ford Blakely Zingle MANUFACTURING FOR INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY LEADER OF THE YEAR Georg Bartosch Intech Powercore Corporation Christopher Barnett ABA Centers 34 LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN SPECIALISED THERAPY SERVICES David B. Burritt United States Steel LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN STEEL MANUFACTURING 38 Drew Marsh Entergy Corporation ENERGY LEADER OF THE YEAR 40 Earl C. Austin, Jr. Quanta Services LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN INFRASTRUCTURE 42
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 23 - BUSINESS ADVISORY CEO OF THE YEAR Gordon Bell The Midland Group JANITORIAL SUPPLIES CEO OF THE YEAR Grace Café C&C Janitorial Supplies, Inc. DISTRIBUTION LEADER OF THE YEAR Hande Meissner IDEA COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT & SOLUTIONS CEO OF THE YEAR Holley Masch 49er Communications CFO OF THE YEAR Ibrahim Guldiken RMK Merrill-Stevens TAX, ACCOUNTING & BUSINESS CONSULTING LEADER OF THE YEAR Ivan Sotomayor Sotomayor CPAs ASSOCIATION SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR James Balda Argentum MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CEO OF THE YEAR Janice Huang NEUROPREX INC. PLUMBING SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Jay Scott CLEAN RIGHT SOUTHEAST LLC GREGORY D. KUNST CEO BIOTECHNOLOGY CEO OF THE YEAR 18 Hans Vestberg Verizon TELECOMMUNICATION LEADER OF THE YEAR 44 James W. Chang Ponderosa Land Development ENVIRONMENT & LAND DEVELOPMENT CEO OF THE YEAR 46 James Radford Trust Consulting Services CONSULTING SERVICES LEADER OF THE YEAR 50
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 24 - ANIMAL HEALTH CEO OF THE YEAR Jon Lowe Axiota Animal Health AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT SERVICE CEO OF THE YEAR Josh Rosen EMG USA INSURANCE CEO OF THE YEAR Juliann Bryant Modern Woodmen of America HEALTH INSURANCE CEO OF THE YEAR Justin Brock BOBBY BROCK INSURANCE BROKER SERVICES LEADER OF THE YEAR Ken Wichman Liberty Capital Services APPLIANCE MANUFACTURING CEO OF THE YEAR Kevin Nolan GE Appliances WHOLESALE LEADER OF THE YEAR Krista Schindler BlackBurn Mfg MENTAL HEALTHCARE CEO OF THE YEAR Kristian Ranta Meru Health MANUFACTURING CEO OF THE YEAR Lee Nottingham Nottingham Tactical, Inc. GLOBAL INVESTMENTS LEADER OF THE YEAR 8 JOHN KOUDOUNIS CEO Jim Taiclet Lockheed Martin Corporation LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN AEROSPACE DEFENCE 54 Joe Pham QSC LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN AV TECHNOLOGY 56 Kylie Van Luyn Elevated Coaching & Consulting HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR 60
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 25 - BANKING SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Len Williams Alta Bank PRECISION ENGINEERING LEADER OF THE YEAR Mark Stever OAV Air Bearings FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT CEO OF THE YEAR Mary Clark Bartlett Epicurean Group DIAMOND COMPARRISON CEO OF THE YEAR Mehul Sompura Diamond Hedge IDENTITY INTELLIGENCE FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE LEADER OF THE YEAR Michael Reitblat Forter RECYCLING CEO OF THE YEAR Mike Buzard Beverage Destruction Service, Inc SOFTWARE CEO OF THE YEAR Mitchell Nguyen WebBadge, LLC KIRK ARTHUR Worldwide Government Solutions Lead LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY 14 Leslee Deanes UltraCare Services SENIOR CARE HEALTH SERVICES OF THE YEAR 64 Lorenzo Simonelli Baker Hughes LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY 68 Melissa Smith WEX Inc. FINTECH LEADER OF THE YEAR 70 Dr. Michael Skolnick Abra Health Group LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE 72 Michel A. Khalaf MetLife, Inc. LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN INSURANCE 76
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 26 - LOGISTICS CEO OF THE YEAR Nicholas Isasi M Transportation Management Services NOT-FOR-PROFIT LEADER OF THE YEAR Phil Wijmer Western Pacific Pulp & Paper EDUCATION SOFTWARE CEO OF THE YEAR Reetu Gupta Cirkled In HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS CEO OF THE YEAR Riadh Zine Akumin Inc DATA COLLECTION SOFTWARE CEO OF THE YEAR Richard Gastineau assisTek ROOFING SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Rob Cooper 5 Star Roofing and Restoration, LLC ACCOUNTING SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Sandra Finch Finch Exit Stretegies PLLC MEDICINE SOFTWARE & DEVELOPMENT CEO OF THE YEAR Sankesh Abbhi ArisGlobal INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM OF THE YEAR Scott Dahnke LCatterton TAX COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE CEO OF THE YEAR Scott McFarlane Avalara BRANDING & PR CEO OF THE YEAR Scott Signore Matter Communications SEARCH SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY CEO OF THE YEAR Shay Banon Elastic Paula Field Lucrum Legal Accounting SPECIALIST ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE YEAR 78 Peter Richards Gulftainer LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN SHIPPING & LOGISITICS 82 Robert A. Bradway Amgen LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 88 Robert G. Clark Clayco CONSTRUCTION LEADER OF THE YEAR 90
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 27 - BIOPHARMACEUTICALS CEO OF THE YEAR Sohail Zaidi ANANDA Scientific Inc PRIVATE EQUITY CEO OF THE YEAR Steve Murray Revolution Growth EQUIPMENT SUPPLY PROVIDER CEO OF THE YEAR Steven Jacob Odzer BT Supplies West Inc. TRADING SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Susan Estes OpenDoor Securities HEALTHCARE MANUFACTURING CEO OF THE YEAR Susana Robledo Cube Care Company Steve Booth Robert W. Baird & Co LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES 92 MINING CEO OF THE YEAR Timothy A. Leach Concho Resources BILLING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS CEO OF THE YEAR Timothy Bavosi RevSpring PHARMACEUTICALS CEO OF THE YEAR Tom Sellig Adare Pharma Solutions DRONE DELIVERY CEO OF THE YEAR Tom Walker DroneUp ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR Vickie Yanjuan Chen AviaGames PHYSICIAN SERVICES CEO OF THE YEAR Waqas Ahmed American TelePhysicians OUT NOW
ARUN KUMAR LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN SOFTWARE ABOUT ARUN KUMAR Arun Kumar is the founder and CEO of Kerika, a privately held software firm that has developed a task management and team collaboration app that’s designed specially to meet the needs of distributed teams. Kerika is used by people around the world, ranging from children in middle schools to global manufacturers and government agencies, to manage their work and get more done. Mr Kumar is also an inventor, who has been awarded two US patents for inventing nested collaboration spaces. At Kerika he leads the product design and customer success efforts, while also overseeing a distributed workforce with team members in the United States and India. Prior to founding Kerika, Mr Kumar had a long and successful career in the software, consulting, and financial services industries. He led Morgan Stanley’s efforts to create the Jiway stock exchange in London, which was the world’s first crossborder exchange with an integrated back office that brokers across Europe were able to use to drastically lower the cost of buying and selling shares across borders. He has also served as a non-executive director of a software firm based in Stockholm. Mr Kumar started his career in the software industry, as a user interface developer at storied Bell Labs, before moving into consulting. He has built and led teams in New York, London, Stockholm, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Mr Kumar was educated at The Doon School, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Washington State University. Founder & CEO of Kerika USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 28 -
FIRM PROFILE Kerika is a privately held software firm, based in the Seattle suburb of Issaquah, that focuses exclusively on helping distributed teams get more done. Its app is the only task management app that was designed from the beginning to meet the collaboration and coordination needs of teams that are distributed across multiple locations -- Kerika’s focus on distributed and remote teams long predates Covid. We want to bring modern, effective methodologies from industries like software and manufacturing to the more general white-collar world of knowledge workers in corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Kerika has popularized the use of Kanban boards, which originated with automobile manufacturing, to environments as diverse as school classrooms, professional services firms, and even government agencies. In nearly all cases, our customers had never used a visual task management and collaboration tool before; they came from a world of overflowing email inboxes and spreadsheets. Our product has the best user experience in the industry, and this has made it easy for non-technical people to quickly come up to speed with the idea of Task Boards. It’s not often that you will find an app that’s useful and usable enough to cover the needs of people as diverse as school children in the Canary Islands, global automotive manufacturers, and government officials. Kerika is headquartered in the United States and relies upon a global team that spans several countries, with software development based in India. Over 80% of our users are from non-English speaking countries so we started an AI-based program to create versions of our app in dozens of languages. We have always believed in the idea that all high-performing teams will eventually become global teams, and so from the start we organized ourselves as a distributed team that spans many time zones and languages. And from the beginning we have believed in the concept of “eating your own dog food” and we used the Kerika app to run our entire business, effectively “using Kerika to build Kerika”. As a small company with dozens of larger competitors, Kerika relies very much on great product design to differentiate itself in the increasingly crowded market, and nearly all of its user growth has come from word-of-mouth: until recently, we did no marketing at all. What we hear consistently from our users is that Kerika is the easiest project and task management app that they have ever tried. And that’s what we are all about. CONTACT Kerika, Inc. PO Box 514 Issaquah, Washington 98027 United States +1-425-200-4185 info@kerika.com www.kerika.com “From the beginning we have believed in the concept of “eating your own dog food” and we used the Kerika app to run our entire business, effectively “using Kerika to build Kerika.” USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 29 -
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 30 - BILL FRAME CEO and Chairman of the Board at Kidder Mathews Bill Frame has navigated a distinguished path in the commercial real estate sector, culminating in his current role as CEO and Chairman of the Board at Kidder Mathews. Beginning in the early ‘90s and progressing through a series of strategic roles, his insights have helped shape the company’s trajectory. In this interview, we explore Frame’s journey, his perspective on leadership, the distinct characteristics of the West Coast market, and the essence of success in a highly competitive industry. Join us as we delve into the professional ethos and strategic vision that Frame brings to one of the leading commercial real estate firms on the West Coast. www.kidder.com
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 31 - Bill, can you start by giving us a brief overview of your journey in the commercial real estate industry leading up to your role at Kidder Mathews? I started as an agent in the Seattle market with Cushman & Wakefield in 1990. I then went to Kidder Mathews with a team of three in 1993. During my tenure as an agent in 2000, I became the managing director of our South Puget Sound office and a member of the Kidder Mathews board of directors until I took over the presidency role in October of 2016. Then in 2020, I assumed the role of CEO and Chairman of the Board. What inspired you to pursue a career in commercial real estate? I started my career in finance and accounting in 1987 working for Evergreen International Airlines. One of my responsibilities was securing real estate at various airports around the world, which led to an introduction to Trammell Crow of the Trammell Crow development company. He opened my eyes to the dynamic commercial real estate industry, which motivated me to make the career change. As CEO of Kidder Mathews, how would you describe your leadership style, and how has it evolved over the years? My leadership style is all about decision-making, efficiency, trust, and accountability. I achieve this through instilling confidence in our leadership by recognizing our successes and failures. We celebrate the successes and work relentlessly on taking corrective action toward our failures. When managers are given the flexibility to problem solve and make decisions, their confidence grows, and with that comes accountability and a more efficient organization. Leaders often have a mix of innate qualities and learned skills. Which leadership traits do you believe you were born with, and which did you consciously develop over time? I am not sure I was born with these traits, but I certainly learned about decision-making, a strong work ethic, focus, clear communication, fairness, determination, and an aggressive “will to win” from my parents (Bill and Nancy) at a very early age. The number one trait I have consciously developed over time is effective communication. People respond much better when you talk “with” them, not “to” them. CEOs often speak about the loneliness at the top. How do you handle the pressures and isolation of the CEO role? Yes, it is often lonely at the top, especially when you have almost 1,000 people and their families relying on you every day to do the “right thing.” However, it is not nearly as lonely when you surround yourself with very capable senior leadership (most notably Brian Hatcher, our President & COO) and empower them to problem solve and make decisions. “When managers are given the flexibility to problem solve and make decisions, their confidence grows, and with that comes accountability and a more efficient organization.”
USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 32 - which generates commercial real estate opportunities not only for those markets but also for the surrounding regions on the West Coast. How has the West Coast commercial real estate landscape transformed during your tenure with Kidder Mathews? The advancement of technology, life sciences, e-commerce, and the influx of foreign and institutional investment have transformed West Coast commercial real estate. The rapid development and corresponding expansion of technology and life sciences has created a need for intellectual capital, resulting in an enormous appetite for employment for both urban and suburban office space. E-commerce, in addition to employment, has created a major uptick in the need for strategically located warehouse space. The significant increase in foreign and institutional funds has greatly enhanced investment across the commercial real estate landscape in multifamily, Class A office, and industrial space. Lastly, with your vast experience in the industry, how would you summarize the essence of your success in commercial real estate, particularly in the vibrant and competitive West Coast market? Kidder Mathews’ and my success is directly related to the performance of our people, be it in revenue generation or administration. On the revenue generation side, we have brokerage, property management, and valuation consulting. Those three revenue streams have obtained success through employee/agent retention and recruiting as well as geographic, product type, and client diversification. On the admin/management side we have achieved success through our conviction of accountability, delegation, empowerment, analysis (inspect what you expect), clear direction, communication, financial responsibility, decisionmaking, fairness, and being solution-oriented all inside a professional, fun, and respectful work environment. The bottom line is that our employees/agents and clients want to work with people that they know, like, and trust, and that is the culture that we strive for every day at Kidder Mathews. “Our employees/ agents and clients want to work with people that they know, like, and trust, and that is the culture that we strive for every day at Kidder Mathews.” In what ways do you actively foster a culture of growth and continuous learning within your team? We have a high priority toward succession planning at Kidder Mathews. In turn, that fosters a culture of learning as much as possible about your area of responsibility, which results in striving to become a more comprehensive manager and eventually leading to career advancement. From your perspective, what are the unique challenges and opportunities of the commercial real estate market on the West Coast compared to other regions? The major drivers of West Coast commercial real estate are the Pacific Northwest and the State of California. To that end, our challenge is to continue to draw interest from the industry to locate and invest in these markets to remain competitive amongst regions beyond the West Coast such as Texas, the Carolinas, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York. When you have major employment and investment in certain areas, it leads to economic growth,
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ABA Centers is a vertically integrated behavioural healthcare organisation that provides applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy services to children of all ages with autism spectrum disorder through a play-based approach rooted in positive reinforcement through a tech-centric model. The company is disrupting the autism care industry by demolishing wait times traditionally experienced by those in search of a diagnosis or treatment. “If you’re paying attention when you make a mistake, you learn from it, and you turn that failure into the foundation on which to launch your next venture.” USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 34 - www.abacenters.com
You have mentioned in the past that your career in autism care was established in part because of the inadequate treatment received by your daughter, whose autism was not correctly diagnosed when she was young. Can you share more about this and how it ultimately led you to founding ABA Centers? My wife, Julie, and I have five amazing daughters and we suspected that one of our older girls might be on the autism spectrum, but she had been assessed previously and was simply diagnosed with speech and language issues. We later received the correct diagnosis that our daughter was, in fact, on the spectrum. She spent years dealing with a misdiagnosis and missing out on the proper treatment that she desperately needed. I was able to see what was available in the space for autism care from a parent’s perspective. The lack of services available was infuriating and the long waiting lists that families were experiencing were just unacceptable. So, I set out to design autism care that would genuinely strive to make a difference in the lives of families when those families need it the most and that is exactly what ABA Centers is doing. How did you incorporate your experience and lessons learned from your previous ventures while establishing ABA Centers? I learned that sometimes failure is out of your control, so you can’t be afraid to fail. I was in real estate earlier in my career, then in 2008 the market crashed. I knew what I was doing; I identified the right projects, I built the right team, I knew how to manage for maximum efficiency, and I made a lot of really good, right decisions. But it still all disappeared overnight. And what I learned is that no matter how smart you are or how hard you work, there are influences beyond your control that have the potential to derail your plans. CHRISTOPHER BARNETT Founder & CEO LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN SPECIALISED THERAPY SERVICES USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 35 -
While these unforeseeable circumstances were out of my hands, the failure of these projects was still mine. But my failures have taught me more than my successes. If you’re paying attention when you make a mistake, you learn from it, and you turn that failure into the foundation on which to launch your next venture. I draw from my past learnings to forge the best path forward. In your opinion, what mindset is needed to succeed in the healthcare sector? When working in healthcare, you have to align yourself with something bigger than yourself. For me, that something is all of the children across the United States that are languishing on waitlists for autism diagnosis and treatment. For me, that something is providing hope to families in what is usually an unexpected and exasperating situation. The mission is everything. As I sit here at this point in my career and I look at what motivates me to work at the level that I do, it’s the mission. There are children desperately needing care and parents who just want to help their kids, and I won’t rest until every child has the opportunity to get the autism care that they deserve. In October 2022, you donated $1 million to Temple University for the creation of a new autism lab. Can you tell us more about this and your other charitable activities? I am a passionate supporter of my alma mater, Temple University. I sit on the university’s College of Public Health Board of Visitors and that $1 million donation to develop USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 36 - “There are children desperately needing care and parents who just want to help their kids, and I won’t rest until every child has the opportunity to get the autism care that they deserve.”
the ABA Centers of America Autism Lab will allow the school to conduct autism research, offer diagnostic services, train students to become clinicians to meet the needs of the autistic community and to make a difference for the general public. With the rate of autism in children seeming to increase each year, it’s important that the autism care workforce continue to strengthen in numbers. I am committed to making sure that individuals who would like to pursue a career in autism care have a path and the support that they need to achieve the certificates, degrees and experience necessary to become high-caliber clinicians. My wife and I also personally endowed Temple’s ‘Cherry Pantry’, which combats hunger within the university community by supplying nutritious emergency food and equal treatment to all who visit the pantry. During the course of your work to date, what achievements have you marked that you are most proud of having accomplished? I become prouder of what we are accomplishing at ABA Centers as each day passes. At the time of this interview, we have already doubled the number of children that we are serving, year to date. Those children aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet to us – they are children that have learned to brush their teeth on their own, they are children that no longer shrink away from hugs or high-fives, and they are parents and caregivers that get to hear their child say ‘I love you’ for the first time. Every day, we are working to provide children with the tools to better navigate their autism journey and set themselves up to lead robust and fulfilling lives. Can you share anything about your development plans for ABA Centers for 2024 and beyond? ABA Centers is charging forward with its expansion plans. We are currently providing autism care in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida. By the end of the year, we will also be serving Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. Our company is in hypergrowth mode and we have our eyes set on the West Coast, so our advancement across the United States will continue into and throughout 2024. We are also continuing to leverage and build out a robust and astute team of technology and artificial intelligence experts at our offices in both the US and Medellin, Colombia. We are eager to explore emerging technologies and how they might amplify the efficiency and effectiveness of autism care that kids receive, so that more children can get the care that they need – quickly. USA AWARDS 2024 - CEO TODAY - - 37 -
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