2025 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees
Presented By: Unison Risk Advisors/RCM&D
Haley Bryant
Partner
Hustle Fund
Hustle Fund is HQed in CA, but Haley is based in D.C. and is a very active member of the D.C. startup ecosystem. Haley is one of very few VCs in the DC area actively deploying into pre-seed companies. Hustle does more deals than most firms, and is actively bringing new, diverse investors into the space with its Angel Squad. In addition to being a talented builder in her own right, Haley and Hustle Fund are among the most active pre-seed venture investors.
Benjamin Carson Jr.
Partner & Co-Founder
FVLCRUM Funds
FVLCRUM Partners, together with View Park Capital, completed the acquisition of Burrell Communications Group. FVLCRUM is a lower middle-market buyout firm dedicated to bridging the racial wealth gap in the United States through its defined private equity strategy. Burrell brings media expertise to FVLCRUM’s growing portfolio and ecosystem of companies aligning impact and alpha.
Founded in 1971 by Tom Burrell, the Company is a leading, full-service marketing and communications agency known for its long and successful track record of reaching multicultural audiences. Since 2004, co-CEOs Fay Ferguson and McGhee Osse have successfully guided the continued growth of the Company.
Robert Johnston
Co-Founder, CEO and President
Adlumin
Robert led the company through its acquisition by N-able, Inc. for $270 million on Nov. 20, 2024. Adlumin, an award-winning provider of enterprise-grade security operations platforms, had partnered with N-able to deliver extended and managed detection and response services. The acquisition integrates Adlumin’s innovative technology with N-able’s leading platform for security, unified endpoint management, and data protection. This powerful combination enhances insights and remediation across IT environments while accelerating N-able’s cybersecurity portfolio, scaling recurring revenue, and setting a new standard of security excellence for managed services providers and internal IT teams.
Matt Jones
CFO
Seekr
The company raised $17.30 million of venture funding in a deal led by AMD Ventures and Danu Venture Group on June 27, 2025, putting the company's pre-money valuation at $1.2 billion. Other undisclosed investors also participated in the round. Matt serves as Chief Financial Officer at Seekr. He served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary at NTENT from Febuary 2010 to October 2021 when it merged with Seekr. He served as Convera Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer from July 2006 to February 2010, as well as Vice President of Finance from April 2006 until July 2006. Before Convera, he worked as CFO, Treasurer and Secretary of Space Adventures, and held a number of senior financial management positions with several software and technology companies from 1992 through 2001.
Robert McComas
President
The H.C. McComas Fuel Company
The H.C. McComas Fuel Company, an oil distribution and HVAC services business founded in 1871, was acquired by Griffith Energy Services. The deal added McComas’ geography and capabilities to Griffith’s, helping to futher expand its service reach across the Mid-Atlantic. Today, Griffith, founded in 1898 as a coal and ice provider, is one of the region’s leading energy providers with 14 locations across five states.
Pallabi Saboo
Founder
Harmonia Holdings Group LLC
Pallabi Saboo is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years’ track record of starting, growing, and successfully exiting several companies. She has extensive experience working with PE backed companies along with significant M&A experience having successfully managed multiple acquisitions, integrations, and exits. Her contributions and leadership have earned widespread recognition, especially throughout the DELMARVA region, where she’s been honored as:
- Top 25 Female CEOs
- Top 100 Smart CEO
- Technical Trailblazer Federal Contractor
- Federal 100 Most Influential Leaders
- Asian Business Leader of the Year
- Top 10 Women Who Mean Business
Nate Scott
Chief Financial Officer
[solidcore]
[solidcore] is the nation’s leading high-intensity, low-impact strength training workouts on a custom-built reformer. [solidcore] classes use slow, controlled movements to push muscles to failure — maximizing strength and endurance while minimizing impact on joints.
In 2024, [solidcore] was acquired by L Catterton, marking a major milestone in the brand’s growth journey. Since then, the company has achieved record performance, driven by significant membership gains, strong client loyalty, and a continually expanding footprint.
In 2025, [solidcore] will open 32 new studios nationwide and will continue that momentum with another 30 openings planned for 2026. As [solidcore] looks ahead, we remain committed to scaling impact, deepening community, and continuing to deliver unmatched results for our clients.
SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
Charlotte Newman
Global Head of Startups
Amazon Web Services
Charlotte is recognized for her leadership at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and equity. As the former Global Head of Startups at Amazon Web Services, she led efforts to help early-stage companies scale through cloud adoption, technical enablement, and investor readiness. Under her leadership, AWS’s global initiative reached more than 50,000 founders and 200 venture funds, and she served on the investment committee for Amazon Catalytic Capital, a $150 million fund of funds.
Before AWS, Charlotte served as an economic policy advisor in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, working for four members of Congress. Across public and private sectors, she has consistently championed access to capital, equitable innovation, and pathways for historically excluded founders. Throughout her career, Charlotte has worked to ensure the next generation of entrepreneurs has access to the tools, capital, and networks they need to thrive. Today, she continues this work as the founder of Crown + Capital, a private investment network connecting founders building at the intersection of culture and technology with investors.
A true connector of people and ideas, she exemplifies leadership that unites technology, equity, and scale.