2023 Winners

2023 Nonprofit COO of the Year

Justin Waller, EVP & COO
US Chamber of Commerce

Justin Waller is executive vice president and chief operating officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Waller manages the operations and marketing of the quarter-billion-dollar advocate for the American business community, overseeing the Chamber’s finances, strategic planning, digital initiatives, events, and corporate partnerships.

He leads strategic initiatives across the organization focused on building the Chamber’s brand, creating digital-first member value, enhancing convening power, and growing and diversifying the organization’s revenue. In addition, Waller oversaw the extensive restoration of the Chamber’s historic headquarters building, designed by the architect of the U.S. Supreme Court.

For over 20 years, Waller held executive positions in the media and digital information sectors, leading operations and strategic planning for business operations ranging from boutique startups to the Fortune 500. He held senior leadership roles at Atlantic Media, publisher of The Atlantic and Quartz, running the operations, finances, and strategic planning divisions of the company as well as serving as chief of staff to Atlantic Media’s chairman and CEO.

Waller led strategic planning for Gannett, a $6 billion international media and marketing solutions company with a vast portfolio of broadcast, digital, mobile, and publishing brands. He also ran the business operations of Potomac Research Group, an Inc. 500 startup, and guided its acquisition by a leading financial services company.

Waller is a senior executive fellow of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., a NACD Certified Corporate Director, and was named by AdAge as a 40 under 40 leader in the marketing industry. He is chair of the board of directors for the Stuttering Association for the Young based in Washington and New York and a board member of the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District in downtown Washington. Waller graduated with honors from Duke University and has an MBA from Georgetown University.


2023 Association CFO of the Year

Ann Bittman, EVP & COO
Healthcare Distribution Alliance

As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ann Bittman provides strategic leadership and direction for HDA, ensuring operational excellence in areas of finance, human resources, information technology and facilities, diversity, equity and inclusion, and meetings and conferences.

She serves as a member of the association’s executive management team, which is responsible for overall strategy and direction. Ann is the staff lead for HDA’s board-level Audit, Finance and Governance Committee and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and is also the treasurer of HDA and the HDA Research Foundation.

Prior to joining HDA in 2008, Ann spent ten years at the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) as Vice President, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer and before that at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now the Consumer Brands Association).

Ann earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Georgetown University. She is a licensed certified public accountant, a chartered global management accountant, a certified association executive and a certified financial planner.


2023 Philanthropic CFO of the Year

Rick Robinson, COO/CFO
Independent Sector

Rick Robinson is the chief operating officer/chief financial officer of Independent Sector (IS). In this role, he oversees finance, people & culture, marketing, technology, building management and partnerships efforts at the organization. Rick is about distilling clarity in organizational vision and translating that into value. He works with the IS team to ensure its efforts, products, and services are engaging with and delivering compelling value to members and external partners, and that IS is building long-term value that is financially sustainable.

Rick brings a diverse background in strategy development, organizational transformation, finance and customer experience. He most recently served as COO of a large national medical association, leading a four-year strategic transformation. Prior to that, he was a management consultant with PwC, working with Fortune 500 leadership teams in the retail and consumer products sector. Like his colleagues, he has a passion for impact work, particularly when that work involves managing growth and change. He credits this to early career work with The Carter Center’s global health programs, during an eight-year period of international growth from $5M to over $40M annually. Rick counts his family, friends and life experiences as his greatest, most compassionate teachers, and also has an MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

2023 Class of Rising Stars

Jessica McClain, CFO
Girl Scout Council of Nation’s Capital

Jessica E McClain serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital. In this role she has strategic responsibility for finance and accounting, property, product program, retail merchandise, and business operations. Prior to transitioning to the not-for-profit industry, Jessica spent 11 years in public accounting.

Jessica represents Maryland as an AICPA Council At-Large Member. Locally she is a Board member of the Maryland Association of CPAs Foundation, the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, and the Towson University Accounting Advisory Board. Jessica gives back to the community as the National Treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. Lastly, she previously served on the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee, the AICPA Foundation Board of Trustees and the AICPA Student Recruitment Committee. Lastly, 

Jessica’s accomplishments include being named a 2023 CPA Practice Advisor Most Powerful Women in Accounting, a 2022 Washington Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, the 2022 NABA DC Chapter Outstanding Accounting Leader of the Year, a Maryland Association of CPAs 2021 Women to Watch- Emerging Leader, a Black CPA Centennial’s 40 Under 40 Black CPA Award honoree, a 2021 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award recipient, and a 3x CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 Professional. Jessica is also a graduate of the highly competitive AICPA Leadership Academy.

Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Towson University and her master’s degree in accounting from George Washington University. Jessica is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Virginia. 

 

Chase Warden, CFO/COO
Land Trust Alliance

Chase Warden has served the non-profit community for nearly 20 years. He is currently the Chief Operating and Financial Officer at the Land Trust Alliance where he is responsible for all aspects of finance and accounting, human resources, information technology, and operations. Since his arrival in 2018, he has systematically rebuilt crucial teams, addressed critical capacity needs, streamlined business processes, and implemented new policies to enhance productivity and minimize risk. Chase recently led a board task force to align and secure critical financial resources needed to execute the organization’s strategic plan and launch a national marketing campaign. He is currently leading an organization-wide digital transformation effort that will provide new systems, tools, and processes that will drive revenue growth, efficiencies, and impact.

Before joining the Alliance, Chase served as a Director of Finance and Operations at The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organization. During his 13 years at the conservancy, he provided leadership to the organization’s $100M Global Marketing Division, supporting its rapid expansion and growth. Chase developed a new financial model for the U.S. membership program and provided leadership for a digital marketing transformation initiative.  His efforts resulted in an increased investment in marketing and membership programs, strategically positioning the organization for growth in digital fundraising revenue. Prior to his work with the Global Marketing Division, Chase made significant contributions to The Nature Conservancy in Montana. He provided financial oversight and leadership for the 310,000 acre, $510M Montana Legacy project, which stands as one of the largest land acquisition projects in the organization’s history.

Chase received a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Finance and Biology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  He has completed fellowships in Africa and Micronesia further enriching his understanding of international finance and global conservation efforts.  Chase is a member of the Greater Washington Society of CPAs and previously served on the board of EarthShare, an organization dedicated to ensuring environmental nonprofits are represented in employee and workplace giving campaigns. Outside of his professional pursuits, Chase lives in Vienna, Virginia, with his wife and three boys.  

Faides Zilemba, Vice President, Finance and Administration
BOMA International

Faides Zilemba is Vice President of Finance and Administration for Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA International) in Washington D.C.  She has worked for the association for 14 years. In those 14 years she has held positions of accounting manager, controller, and Vice President of Finance, Administration and IT. She has combined 25 years of experience in accounting and finance in a corporate and not for profit environment.  Prior to BOMA International, she worked for Brookfield Homes in Fairfax Virginia, as a senior accountant for five years. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from University of the District of Columbia in D.C and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Goldey-Beacom college in Delaware.


PAST HONOREES

2022

  • CFO of the Year: Yvonne Kankam-Boadu, American Speech-Language Hearing Association
  • Association CFO of the Year: Brian Green, CPA, CAE, Consumer Healthcare Products Association
  • Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Mahomed Ouedraogo, Access Community Health Network
  • Rising Stars:
    Christina Hadden, Global Impact

    Zarina Manapova, Airports Council International North America

2021

  • CFO of the Year: Eileen Ramage, National Association of Home Builders
  • Association CFO of the Year: Dave Fitzsimmons, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Inc.
  • Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: John Robertson, Capital Area Food Bank
  • Rising Stars:
    Leila Green, Conference of State Bank Supervisors
    Brice Hadden, Managed Funds Association
    Tanisha Lewis, American Association for the Advancement of Science

2019

  • CFO of the Year: Joseph Budzynski, Volunteers of America
  • Association CFO of the Year: Lisa Haynes, Mortgage Bankers Association
  • Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Steve Barker, World Resources Institute
  • Rising Stars:
    Zahilys Hernandez, National Retail Federation
    Randy Marsh, Horton’s Kids
    Jessica Sherry, Share Our Strength

2018

  • CFO of the Year: Joe Janela, American Pharmacists Association
  • Association CFO of the Year: Margie Erinle, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
  • Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Mary Jane Morrow, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
  • Rising Stars:
    Rick Cohen, National Council of Nonprofits
    Tea Gennaro, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc
    Zerihun Haile-Selassie, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
    Dave Jackson, American Counseling Association
    Warren Sander, Society for Conservation Biology

2017

  • CFO of the Year: Guy Sheetz, Futures Industry Association
  • Association CFO of the Year: Allison Ingram, Society of Military Engineers
  • Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Jim Thomasell, National Parent Teacher Association
  • Rising Star: Mark Hornby, Family Career and Community Leaders of America

2016

  • CFO of the Year: Deborah Cowan, NPR
  • Nonprofit Transformational Leader: Paul Archambeault, Airlines for America
  • Rising Star: Carolyn Mollen, Independent Sector

2015

  • CFO of the Year: Philip Parisi, United Service Organizations
  • Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
    Paul Vitale, Toy Industry Association
    Tom Tepper, Wilderness Society
  • Rising Star: Don Miller, Meals on Wheels America

2014

  • CFO of the Year: Stewart Uretsky, Brookings
  • Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
    James Lum, Guide Star
    Sam DiCario, Food Marketing Insitute
  • Rising Star: Sara Bannon, American Society of International Law

2013

  • CFO of the Year: Marvin Irby, National Restaurant Association
  • Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
    Samantha Barbee, International Youth Foundation
    Forrest Cason, Mental Health Center of Denver
  • Rising Star: John Lozitio, Academy of Management

2012

  • CFO of the Year: Stanley Berman, Global Impact
  • Nonprofit Transformational Leaders: Kimberly McKinnish, National Beer Wholesalers Association
  • Rising Star: Jason Daisey, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc

2010

  • Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Hardardt, American Gas Association
  • Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: David Keen, National Association of Counties (NACo)
  • Rising Star: Lisa Stewart, Institute for Higher Education Policy

2009

  • Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Moira Fathy Baker, National Science Teachers Association
  • Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Christopher Liedel, National Geographic Society
  • Rising Star: Alexis George, Bob Woodruff Foundation

2008

  • Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Eileen Frazier, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
  • Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Jack Deeds, Search for Common Ground
  • Rising Star: Stephanie Murphy, Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute

2007

  • Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Kristen Conte, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
  • Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Usha Chaudhary, United Way of America
  • Rising Star: Abigail Gorman, American Dental Education Association

2006

  • Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Brenda Hargett, American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery