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Photos from Washingtonian’s 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy Celebration 2026

Washingtonian hosted honorees at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown

Written by | Published on
Cheryl Cooper and Sheryll Cashin

Honorees from Washingtonian’s 2026 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy list gathered at The Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday, May 19 to celebrate their contributions and expertise across Washington’s rapidly shifting policy landscape. The cocktail reception, held in Seasons Restaurant, featured tasty bites and cocktails from the Four Seasons. Washington Talent Agency photographed guests on faux Washingtonian Most Influential magazine covers, while Mixing Maryland DJs kept the crowd energized throughout the evening.

Washingtonian President and CEO Cathy Merrill delivered brief remarks thanking the evening’s sponsors and raised a glass to the 2026 honorees.

Thank you to our event sponsors for helping to make the event such a success: Arnold Ventures, CVS Health, Delta Air Lines, Duke Energy, General Motors, Intuit, Next Era Energy, PepsiCo, and Verizon. 

Venue and Vendors: The Four Seasons Hotel DC, Mixing Maryland DJs, Lee’s Flower Shop, Washington Talent Agency.

Photos by Stacey Salter / IC Image Works and Evy Mages

Delta’s Cherie Wilson, Bethesda Modern Medicine’s Nadia Sirdar, and Arm’s Maryam Khan Cope
The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy’s Mai El-Saday and Douglas Christensen
Ryan Jackson (American Chemistry Council), Michelin’s Jennifer Wieroniey, and Spray Foam Coalition’s Stephen Wieroniey
500 most influential event
Intuit’s Michael Kennedy and Daniel Eubanks
Charter Communication’s Catherine Bohigian and LMH Strategic Solutions LLC’s Alanna Temme
500 most influential event
Climate Leadership Council’s Tiffany Adams and Greg Bertelsen
The Economic Club’s Jeffery Germak, Verizon’s Mario Acosta-Velez, Verizon’s Ana Maria Sanchez, and Verizon’s Eric Nouri-Mesbahi
The Four Season’s served delicious bites throughout the evening
Four Season’s hors d’oeuvres
500 most influential event
CFES / FS Vector’s Sima Gandhi and Peter Freeman
Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s Hilary Cain
JP Morgan Chase’s Stephanie Nye and Apple’s Alexis Marks Mosher
CEO & President Cathy Merrill giving remarks
500 most influential event
The Vistria Group, PRG’s Elizabeth Jurinka and Akin’s Anna Abram
Mixing Maryland DJs
Anchorage Digital’s Kevin Wysocki and Hedera’s Nilmini Rubin
500 most influential event
National Fair Housing Alliance’s Julian Glover and Nikitra Bailey
Pendry Hotel’s Eden Villagomez, Center for American Progress’ Angelo Villagomez, American Federation of Government Employees’ Cory Bythrow and United States Postal Service’s Julianne Bythrow
Center for a New American Security’s Carrie Cordero and Out in National Security’s Luke Schleusener
Delta’s Lisa Hanna, Delta’s Heather Wingate, and General Motors’ Hollyn Schuemann
500 most influential event
US Black Chamber’s Ron Busby Sr.
Washingtonian’s 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy issue

 

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Hannah Guy-Mozenter
Hannah Guy-Mozenter
Manager, Marketing & Events