Six members of the Marymount community—including an alumna, honorary degree recipients, commencement speakers, a former trustee, and University President Dr. Irma Becerra—have been named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2025 Power 100 List, recognizing the region’s most influential leaders.
Alumna Susan Lacz ’83 earned her second consecutive selection for her leadership as CEO of Ridgewells Catering. After graduating from Marymount with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing, Lacz joined Ridgewells in 1986 and helped transform it into one of the DMV’s premier catering companies. Her industry impact has earned her recognition as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year nominee, a Washington Business Journal “Woman Who Means Business,” and Marymount’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Halo Award. She has remained deeply engaged with the University as a former Board member, 2019 commencement speaker and leader of one of Marymount’s largest fundraising campaigns. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2019 in recognition of her service to the University and the local community.
Several former commencement speakers were also honored, including Sheila Johnson, who addressed graduates at Marymount’s 2021 College of Sciences and Humanities ceremony. Johnson is Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and the only African-American woman with ownership stakes in three major professional sports teams. Known for co-founding BET and becoming the first African-American woman billionaire, she has championed education and the arts and earned national honors such as the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal and the Billie Jean King Leadership Award. Johnson received an honorary degree from the University in 2021 in recognition of her trailblazing leadership.
Christopher Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton, was recognized for his global impact on the hospitality industry. His distinguished career includes key leadership roles at Host Hotels & Resorts and the Oliver Carr Company, as well as entrepreneurial work as co-founder of Bailey Capital Corporation. Nassetta spoke at Marymount’s 2024 BILT commencement ceremony, where he received an honorary degree.
Also featured was Linda Rabbitt, founder and executive chairman of Rand Construction Corporation and a trailblazer in commercial contracting. As the leader of the largest woman-founded and woman-owned commercial general contractor in the U.S., she has shaped industry standards since 1989 and advanced women’s leadership through board-preparation programs at George Washington University and Harvard Business School. She served as the 2025 BILT commencement speaker and received an honorary degree for her contributions to the field.
Former Marymount Trustee Monica Schmude, President of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Virginia, was honored for her leadership in health care and her 30-year career spanning Anthem, Cigna and Aetna. At Anthem, she oversees strategy and growth for commercial operations serving over three million Virginians. Schmude served on Marymount’s Board of Trustees from 2021 to 2024.
Rounding out the Marymount honorees was President Irma Becerra, recognized for transformative leadership since 2018. Her tenure has produced record enrollment, Marymount’s designation as Virginia’s only Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Carnegie research classification. She also serves as chair of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Marymount celebrates the achievements of these influential leaders and their ongoing partnerships in fostering innovation, excellence and opportunity across the region. See the full list of honorees at the WBJ website, subscription required.
