Washingtonian Tech Titans at ilili Restaurant on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 in Washington. Photograph by Joy Asico-Smith/Asico Photo.
On Tuesday, October 29, DC’s tech leaders gathered at Ilili Restaurant to celebrate being named as one of Washingtonian’s 2024 Tech Titans! The list features current tech leaders and rising stars in the industry. The cocktail reception brought honorees together to connect, enjoy food and drinks, and of course, get a picture at the highly sought after Washingtonian faux cover photo booth.
Washingtonian president and CEO Catherine Merrill opened the evening by congratulating the honorees and thanking the event sponsors. Verizon’s Mario Acosta-Velez followed with remarks highlighting Verizon’s work in the tech industry and shared information on their new initiatives.
The vibrant atmosphere of Ilili created the perfect backdrop for the evening, and guests enjoyed the Lebanese cuisine. Ilili’s bar featured PepsiCo products so guests could pick and choose their own mixers. Those who wished to share more intimate chats could sit in the customized PepsiCo or Verizon lounge.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible:
Photos by Joy Asico-SmithThe PepsiCo team Shantise Mathis, Kathryn Dunning, Ghilianie Soto, Jonathan George, Greg Yahr, Andrea Moribe, Sarah Towles and Taylor LustigThe 2024 Tech Titans featureJ.P. Morgan’s Vivienne Pham, Lexi Allner, and Tom MichaelAmazon’s Dan O’Conner and Andrew HarrisVerizon’s Mario Acosta-Velez, Washingtonian‘s Cathy Merrill, ASPR’s Adam Shapiro, and DC Innovation & Technology Inclusion Council’s Thomas SanchezSands Capital Ventures’ Scott Frederick, Ardent Venture Partners’ Phil Bronner, and Sands Capital Ventures’ Nick GrazianoThe Kickback With Keri’s Keri Henderson, PROOF’s Jennifer Schretter, ItinAFairy’s Kirsten Tucker, and CoTripper’s Krystin HargroveAmazon’s Steve Hartell, NTIA, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Grace Abuhamad, Amazon’s Jena Gross, and NTIA, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Alan DavidsonJ.P. Morgan’s Kevin Sturn and Keymari JohnsonWashingtonian cover photo booth provided by Washington Talent AgencyIlili Restaurant was the perfect venue to celebrate this year’s honorees.Attendees were able to experience bites of Ilili’s delicious foodVerizon’s Mario Acosta-Velez giving remarks with Washingtonian president and CEO Catherine MerrillVerizon’s sponsor loungePepsiCo products featured at the barSoundExchange’s Emily Fulp and Mike HuppeDreamteams’ James Patterson, EVERFI’s Ellen Patterson, Halcyon Venture Partners’ Dahna Goldstein, and Fonbnk’s Chris DuffusMaryland TEDCO’s Jack Miner and ALIVE Podcast Network’s Yusuf HenriquesHoward University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship’s Erin Horne McKinney and Dr. Kwelli ZukeriAdlumin, Inc’s Robert Johnston and Whitney Johnston, J.P. Morgan’s Vivienne Pham, and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s Tom WeithmanMixing Maryland spinning some lively tracks!IRS’s Merici Vinton and CFPB’s Maria BazonREQ’s Lisa Throckmorton, Amazon’s Tim Doyle, Salesforce’s Genna Gwynn, and Ellevoy’s Jennie BlumenthalPAX’s Matthew Hanson, Washingtonian‘s Susan Farkas, and PepsiCo’s Taylor LustigIlili ended the night by serving its signature baklava.
