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Meet the 2025 Mid-Atlantic winners

Congratulations to the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 Mid-Alantic winners, the shapers of our future! These ambitious visionaries are boldly disrupting markets, revolutionizing industries, and transforming lives, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.

Learn more about our winners

Jeff Beck | AnswersNow | Richmond, Virginia

AnswersNow uses a proprietary digital platform and a network of PhD- and Master’s-level therapists to deliver personalized Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with autism. Unlike traditional models that rely on less experienced therapists in centralized locations, AnswersNow provides high-quality, virtual care that reduces wait times from over a year to just five days.

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Kristen Valdes | b.well Connected Health | Baltimore, Maryland

b.well is a digital health company addressing healthcare fragmentation through a platform that unifies data and creates personalized, patient-centric experiences. By integrating with existing systems and breaking down data silos, b.well improves interoperability, enhances ROI, and enables informed health decisions across the healthcare ecosystem. Its platform supports payers, providers, pharmacies, Big Tech, and life sciences organizations.

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Richard Huffman | Celebree School | Baltimore, Maryland

Celebree began in 1994 when founder Richard Huffman opened his first preschool in Maryland. The company has since grown into a leading early childhood education provider, now franchising schools across 17 states.

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Kirsten Brecht Baker | Jeenie | Washington, D.C.

Jeenie is a virtual interpreting platform that provides on-demand language assistance in 300+ languages via any device. Jeenie serves healthcare providers, nonprofits, universities, and individuals. Founded to eliminate language barriers—especially in healthcare—Jeenie promotes equity by connecting users with live interpreters instantly.

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Greg Craddock | Patriot Group International | Warrenton, Virginia

Patriot Group International (PGI) delivers mission support services for clients in the intelligence, defense, and private sectors. Known for its global reach and expeditionary capabilities, PGI provides operational support in high-security environments with a focus on precision, reliability, and discretion.

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Deborah Ailiff | Procare Ambulance of Maryland | Rosedale, Maryland

Procare is a leading emergency medical services (EMS) provider in the Baltimore-Washington area. As Maryland’s first and only private EMS provider approved for Mobile Integrated Healthcare, Procare delivers in-home care that reduces hospital readmissions and saves thousands of inpatient days.

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Shubhi Mishra | Raft | McLean, Virginia

Raft is a high-growth defense tech company solving complex data and AI challenges for the Department of Defense and national security agencies. Its proprietary Data Platform and AI Mission System support decision-making across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. Raft specializes in autonomous data fusion, Agentic AI, and legacy system modernization.

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Helen Stefan Moreau | The Midtown Group | Washington, D.C.

The Midtown Group is a certified women-owned staffing firm providing end-to-end talent solutions to both public and private sector clients. Known for its “Red Carpet Service,” Midtown delivers customized staffing with unmatched speed and expertise, especially in urgent or mission-critical scenarios. Midtown is guided by the belief that everyone should love what they do—and that clients should love the results delivered.

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Eric Gertler | U.S. News & World Report | Washington, D.C.

U.S. News & World Report is a digital media company that provides trusted rankings, journalism, and advice across topics such as education, health, money, travel, and real estate. Reaching over 35 million monthly users, its signature “Best” series helps consumers make informed decisions during life’s most important moments.

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Ahmad Nassar | Winners Alliance | Tysons, Virginia

Winners Alliance represents and commercializes the group name, image, and likeness rights of professional athletes worldwide. As the exclusive commercial affiliate of associations across tennis, cricket, basketball, and college sports, the organization creates group licensing, sponsorship, content, and investment opportunities. Winners Alliance empowers athletes by offering infrastructure, strategic guidance, and marketing support—unlocking value through innovative, athlete-first business models.

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Mark Drever | Xcelerate Solutions | McLean, Virginia

Xcelerate Solutions is a national security company delivering mission-critical services to federal agencies. The company specializes in cybersecurity, enterprise vetting, infrastructure protection, and digital transformation. Xcelerate combines regulatory expertise with advanced technology to safeguard data and defend against evolving cyber threats, contributing to a more secure future for the nation.

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John Ackerly | Virtru | Washington, D.C.

Virtru provides data-centric security solutions that give users control over their information, even after it leaves their systems. Built on the open TDF standard, Virtru’s technology applies encryption, access controls, and granular policies to individual data objects. Integrating seamlessly with widely used email platforms, Virtru helps organizations maintain compliance without disrupting workflows.

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