Fourteen Rising Professionals Selected for the Chamber’s ’26 Emerging Leaders Cohort
Lansdowne, VA — September 14, 2026 — The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce kicked off its 2026 Emerging Leaders Program last week, welcoming a full class of 14 rising professionals representing businesses and organizations across Loudoun County.
The Emerging Leaders Program is designed to equip rising professionals with the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to lead with purpose, accountability, and impact. Through an immersive leadership development experience, participants strengthen their ability to lead within their organizations while building meaningful connections with fellow emerging leaders across Loudoun’s business community.
Loudoun Chamber’s Emerging Leader Program Fall 2026
“I congratulate the members of the Fall 2026 Emerging Leaders class for their commitment to developing the skills, insights and accountability needed to make an impact on their organization and our community,” said Tony Howard, President & CEO of the Loudoun Chamber. “The Emerging Leaders program represents the Chamber’s commitment to developing the next generation of business and community leaders in Loudoun, and we are proud to support the members of this current class on their leadership development journey.”
Avery Arbore, Disruptive Solutions
Sergio Chavez, The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
Mai Friedman, Curata Partners PLLC
Claudia Grimaldi, Strongbridge LLC
Sara Gustafson, Strongbridge LLC
Veronica Guzman, Retail Design Collaborative (RDC)
Clarisa Meza Negrete, The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
Dennis Peredo, PNC Bank
Eloise Respress, Zwiesel Fortessa Americas, LLC
Brianna Rios, Inova Loudoun Hospital
Tomas Salgado, Retail Design Collaborative (RDC)
Kirslyn Schell-Smith, Loudoun Education Foundation
Sarah Spencer, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Sarah Wu, Inova Loudoun Hospital
The cohort began its leadership journey with its first session last week. Over the course of the program, participants will explore leadership principles and practical strategies designed to strengthen communication, accountability, organizational culture, and their ability to lead effectively in an evolving workplace.
To learn more about the Loudoun Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Program, visit LoudounChamber.org.