Leadership Greater Washington began with a belief: that leadership has the power to transform lives and communities. Over the past four decades, that idea has come to life through the people, partnerships, and shared experiences that define LGW’s impact across the region.

Explore the milestones below that have shaped LGW’s story and the leaders who continue to move our region forward.

LGW Timeline: 40 Years of Leadership in Action

1986: A Vision Takes Root

Leadership Washington was founded in 1986 through a powerful partnership between the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Meyer Foundation, the Junior League of Washington, and a group of visionary civic leaders. At its core was a bold idea: the region’s greatest challenges—and opportunities—could only be addressed by leaders willing to come together across sectors, perspectives, and experiences.

What began as a vision for stronger regional collaboration quickly evolved into a lasting leadership movement across Greater Washington.

Founded through the efforts of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Junior League of Washington, and 18 dedicated civic and business leaders, LGW was built on a shared commitment to fostering communication, cooperation, and deeper regional understanding among the area’s emerging and established leaders. These founding leaders invested both personal and professional resources to bring that vision to life.

Founding Leaders

• Barbara Davis Blum 
• Alyse Lucas Corcoran 
• James S. Culp* 
• G. Keith Haller* 
• Steve Harlan* 
• Glenn Harrell, Jr. 
• Janet MacNamara Harrison 
• Ray LaPlaca* 
• Robert Linowes* 
• Karl Nelson 
• Andy Ockershausen* 
• Thomas J. Owens* 
• Robert Peebles* 
• Ed Pena* 
• Lori Seader 
• Carmen Turner* 
• John Tydings* 
• Thomas S. Watson, Jr.* 
• Betty Whaley*

*deceased

1987-90: Building a Leadership Experience

LGW was initially conceived as the Signature Program—an immersive leadership experience designed to deepen leaders’ understanding of the Greater Washington region and inspire them to actively shape its future. At the conclusion of the inaugural program year, members of the first class established an alumni association, led by Diane Flanagan-Montgomery (’87)* as its first President.

In its earliest years, the organization’s board was comprised primarily of the civic and business leaders who founded Leadership Washington (LW). Over time, the governance structure evolved to include a supernumerary Chair (non-LW graduate), a volunteer President (LW graduate), a Program Director, and a Board of Trade Loaned Executive dedicated to supporting the organization’s growth and operations. Lori Seader was the first Board of Trade Loaned Executive supporting LW’s development.

The Signature Program quickly became LGW’s hallmark experience. Designed as a transformative leadership journey, it brought senior leaders together for meaningful dialogue around the region’s most pressing issues and opportunities.

More than a program, it became a trusted space for learning, relationship-building, and candid conversation—laying the foundation for decades of cross-sector collaboration and regional impact.

1991: Investing in the Next Generation

Recognizing that leadership development begins early, LGW expanded its mission with the launch of Youth Leadership Greater Washington (YLGW). Originally created independently by LGW members, the initiative later became an official LGW program.

Founded in 1991 by a group of LGW members, YLGW is a five-month interactive leadership and civic education experience serving high school sophomores and juniors across the Greater Washington region. After many years of being solely volunteer-run, LGW assumed management and incorporated it into the organization in 2009. The program equips young leaders with leadership skills while elevating youth voices on critical regional issues. Thanks to sponsor support, students participate tuition-free.

1990s: Becoming a Membership Organization

During the 1990s, LGW evolved from an alumni-based structure into a membership organization. This transition marked an important moment in the organization’s growth and governance. While founders remained engaged, leadership increasingly shifted toward LGW graduates themselves.

The board structure was intentionally designed to balance alumni leadership with continued guidance from regional civic and business leaders, helping strengthen LGW’s long-term sustainability and deepen member ownership of the organization’s future. The Signature Program became the first step into membership with LGW, with many leaders doing so for many years and becoming lifetime members.

1994: Hosting the National Conference

In 1994, LGW hosted the national conference for the National Association for Community Leadership, reflecting the organization’s growing reputation as a leader in civic and regional leadership development.

The multi-day event included a crab feast at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, an awards celebration at the Hyatt Regency, and an after-hours gathering at the National Air & Space Museum. Carol Thompson Cole (’88) chaired the event.

1999–2014: The Tim Kime Leadership Era

Tim Kime (‘98) served as President & CEO of Leadership Greater Washington from August 1999 through June 2014. During his nearly 15-year tenure, LGW strengthened its regional influence, expanded cross-sector engagement, and continued advancing its mission of developing and connecting leaders across Greater Washington.  Under his leadership, Youth Leadership Greater Washington became an official LGW program and the Rising Leaders program was launched bringing in the next generations of leaders into the LGW fold and family.

2000: Establishing Organizational Leadership

Phyllicia M. Hatton (’95) played a foundational role in LGW’s organizational development. After joining the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s Human Development Bureau, she helped establish Leadership Greater Washington, Inc., serving as Founding Program Director and later as its first Chief Operating Officer.

Her leadership helped shape the organization’s early programs, operations, and regional partnerships.

2013: Launch of the Rising Leaders Program

In 2013, Leadership Greater Washington launched the Rising Leaders Program as an investment in the region's future leaders. Designed for emerging professionals, the five-month program equips participants with the skills, experiences, and networks needed to grow as leaders, managers, and engaged members of the Greater Washington community.

Through interactive workshops, leadership assessments, facilitated discussions, and experiential learning opportunities, participants develop essential leadership competencies while gaining practical tools they can apply in any professional environment. The program also provides opportunities to learn from and build relationships with accomplished leaders from across the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.

Created for professionals typically between the ages of 26 and 35, the program serves emerging managers, professional associates, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and significant individual contributors who demonstrate a commitment to personal growth, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

The launch of Rising Leaders expanded LGW's leadership development continuum and created a new entry point into the LGW network, reinforcing the organization's belief that leadership development is a lifelong journey. Since its inception, the program has introduced hundreds of emerging leaders to LGW's mission and strengthened the pipeline of civic, business, and community leaders committed to the future of Greater Washington.

The program is delivered in partnership with Careerstone Group, founded and led by Mary Abbajay (‘06), a nationally recognized leadership consultant, author, and executive coach.

2014: Doug Duncan Leadership Era Begins

Doug Duncan ('15) became President & CEO of Leadership Greater Washington in 2014. Under his leadership, LGW has expanded its regional impact, strengthened cross-sector collaboration, and evolved its programming to address emerging opportunities and challenges facing Greater Washington. His tenure has also deepened the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and civic dialogue through initiatives that foster understanding, bridge differences, and advance more equitable outcomes across the region.

Notable efforts have included the Thought Leadership Series, which convened leaders around critical topics such as housing affordability, racial equity, gender equity, ending systemic violence, anti-racist leadership, and workplace civility.

Doug also championed the Civil Rights Learning Journey, an immersive experience designed to explore our nation's civil rights history, examine how that history continues to shape the present, and inspire greater commitment to racial justice and reconciliation. The journeys began in 2018 in the American South, returning there in 2019 then continuing with subsequent explorations of Maryland's Eastern Shore, Richmond, Alexandria, and Washington, DC, engaging with historic sites, community leaders, and diverse perspectives to deepen their understanding of the region's past and future.

He was honored in 2021 as Washington Business Journal's CEO of the Year - DEI Champion.

2018–Present: Celebrating Leadership in Action

Through its annual Celebration of Leadership, LGW honors individuals whose leadership reflects service, collaboration, and meaningful regional impact.

Leader of the Year honorees include: 

• Rosie Allen-Herring, LGW ‘02 (2018)
• Alex Orfinger, LGW ’98 (2019)
• Artis Hampshire-Cowan, LGW ‘89 (2020)
• Lyles Carr, LGW ’87  (2021)
• Diane Tipton, LGW ’98 (2022)
• Pinkie Mayfield, LGW ’01 (2023)
• Howard W. Stone, Jr., LGW ‘96 (2024)
• Terry Kenny, LGW '16 (2025)

2022–Present: The Breakfast Club Evolves into Coffee Connections

In 2022, LGW launched The Breakfast Club, a member-driven initiative created by Craig Pascal ('07) with the support of then-Board Chair Rachel Kronowitz and President & CEO Doug Duncan. The concept was designed to foster authentic relationships among members through informal small-group gatherings and meaningful conversation.

Building on the success of The Breakfast Club, Emily Rothberg reimagined and relaunched the initiative as Coffee Connections in 2023. Hosted in members' homes, Coffee Connections provided a welcoming environment for deeper relationship-building and peer engagement among LGW members.

Coffee Connections was intentionally designed for retired and semi-retired members seeking to maintain meaningful connections, continue lifelong learning, and remain actively engaged with the LGW community beyond their primary careers. The program quickly demonstrated the value of relationship-centered engagement and reflected LGW's continued evolution toward member-led experiences.

Due to strong demand and the success of the initial cohort, a second Coffee Connections cohort was launched in 2024 under the leadership of Stephen McMahon ('04). The expansion allowed more members to participate while preserving the intimate, conversation-based format that has become the program's hallmark.

The initiative reinforces a core tenet of the LGW experience: leadership is strengthened through relationships. By bringing together members from different classes, sectors, and life experiences, Coffee Connections creates opportunities for connection, reflection, and community-building that extend well beyond formal programming.

The continued popularity of the program has led to plans for a third Coffee Connections cohort, scheduled to launch in fall 2026, further expanding opportunities for member engagement and connection across the LGW network.

2025: The Inaugural Annual Summit

In 2025, Leadership Greater Washington hosted its inaugural Annual Summit, bringing together LGW members, alumni, and regional leaders for a day of dialogue, learning, and connection focused on the issues shaping the future of Greater Washington.

Drawing on the core principles of the Signature Program, the Summit was designed to extend the LGW experience to create a dedicated space for leaders to engage across sectors, perspectives, and jurisdictions. Through thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and facilitated conversations, participants explored emerging opportunities and challenges impacting the region.

Unlike traditional conferences, the Summit was intentionally rooted in LGW's role as a trusted regional convener. The event leveraged the strength of the organization's membership network to foster authentic dialogue, strengthen relationships, and encourage collaboration among leaders committed to the future of Greater Washington.

The launch of the Annual Summit marked a significant milestone in LGW's evolution, creating a new flagship gathering that complements the Signature Program and reinforces the organization's mission to convene, connect, and develop leaders throughout their leadership journey.

Today: A Thriving Regional Network

Today, LGW is home to a network of more than 2,000 alumni spanning business, government, nonprofit, and academic sectors. The organization continues to serve as a premier leadership incubator—bringing together diverse voices to exchange ideas, build trust, and strengthen the region through collective action.

In 2026, LGW recognizes DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (’13) as Leader of the Year, honoring her leadership and service to the region.

2026: Honoring 40 Years, Building What’s Next

As LGW celebrates its 40th anniversary, the organization reflects on four decades of leadership, relationships, and regional impact while looking boldly toward the future.

This milestone is both a celebration and a call to action: to strengthen the network, elevate the stories that define LGW’s legacy, and invest in the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of Greater Washington.

Because the story of LGW is still being written—and its greatest impact is yet to come.