Board of Directors - 2026

2026 Board of Directors

President
Trina Fongyen, Northrop Grumman

President-Elect
Cari Bohley, Peraton

Treasurer
Jason Salamon, Pratum Companies

Immediate Past President
Janet Brewer, Arcfield

Officers:

Name & Title: Trina Fongyen, Senior Director of Human Resources, Northrop Grumman

Brief Job Description: Trina is an accomplished senior HR leader with significant experience in developing and implementing human capital talent strategies in the government contracting industry. She has expertise in change management and communication, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, leadership coaching, and project management. As a Senior Director of Human Resources at Northrop Grumman, Trina provides innovative approaches to all areas of HR to attract, develop, and retain talent. Trina is a strong people leader with a focus on inspiring an inclusive, development-focused and high-performance culture for the organization.

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Trina is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She is also a member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Education: Trina received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mary Washington College, and a master’s degree in human resources and employment relations from Penn State University.

Personal Interests: Trina enjoys traveling, working out, and most of all, spending time with her family and friends.
 
Name & Title: Cari Bohley, Vice President, Talent Management, Peraton

Brief Job Description: Cari Bohley is Vice President of Talent Management at Peraton, where she architects modern talent strategies at the intersection of workforce transformation, AI enablement, and leadership capability. Her portfolio spans learning and leadership development, performance management, skills and career architecture, culture and engagement, and succession planning.

Since joining Peraton in 2022, Cari has led the launch of an AI-powered career development platform, redesigned enterprise performance management, and advanced leader development programs built for scale and speed. She has streamlined tuition, training, and compliance processes while ensuring alignment with regulated environments. Most recently, she developed Peraton’s AI Workforce Strategy—focused on AI literacy, role-based upskilling, and preparing leaders and employees to operate effectively in an AI-enabled enterprise.

With deep roots in the government services sector, including roles at SAIC, Engility, CGI, and Robbins-Gioia, Cari brings a systems-level view of talent that balances innovation, compliance, and mission execution.

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Cari is a Board Member and the Vice-Chair for the American Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region, Northern Virginia Chapter (2023 – Present) and promotes their mission within Northern VA whenever possible.  She participates in a variety of informal HR thought leadership groups and roundtables to advance HR topics within the local HR community. In 2024, Constellation Research named Cari a Finalist for their Supernova Awards Finalist in their Future of Work: Human Capital Management category for the work she has done to bring artificial intelligence into HR.  She has spoken on this topic and on moving to a skills-based organization in panel discussions and podcasts with organizations such as RedThread Research, HR Leaders, Northern Virginia Technology Council, and Talent Management Magazine.

Education: Cari holds a BA from Michigan State University in International Relations, an MBA from Wayne State University, and Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.

Subject Matter Expertise: Employee development, onboarding, retention, leadership development, HR analytics, culture, engagement.

Personal Interests/Hobbies/Family: Cari lives with her husband, Jim, in Northern Virginia.  She has two adult children, Joey and Juliana, who are currently forging their own paths in the world.
 
Name & Title: Jason A. Salamon, Chief Human Resources Officer, Pratum Companies

Brief Job Description: Jason has over 30 years of experience spanning all aspects of the Human Resources field in several industries.  After nearly ten years with Hyatt Hotels Corporation and two years with Central Parking Corporation, Jason spent eight years at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) where he served as Vice President/Director of Human Resources for a Business Unit of 3,500 employees. Jason shifted to the real estate industry in 2013 through a role as Vice President of Human Resources for the Washington, DC division of NY-based REIT Vornado Realty Trust.  In July 2017, Jason joined the executive leadership team of Pratum Companies (formerly Edgewood Management), a leading residential property management company, where he presently serves as CHRO. 

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Jason holds SHRM-SCP and HRCI-SPHR certifications.

Education: Jason has a Bachelors in International Business and HR from American University, and a Masters in Human Resources from The George Washington University.

Personal Interests: Jason is active on the Board of Directors for Sunflower Bakery.  He loves movies and is an avid watcher of Seinfeld reruns, Homeland and Survivor.
Name & Title: Janet Brewer, Chief People Officer, Arcfield

Brief Job Description: As CPO, Janet is accountable for leading HR solutions and delivering marketing and communications initiatives to address strategic business imperatives. Throughout her career, her focus has been on maximizing the impact of companies, by effectively leveraging their people, communications and technology. She is passionate about the power of communications, HR and technology to achieve sustainable business results, by empowering their people to perform at their best and love what they do everyday. Prior to Arcfield, which is a government contractor, Janet worked in software and financial services companies, including 40-person start ups to companies processing billions of dollars daily.

She has broad experience in global HR roles leading business transformation and integrating and scaling acquisitions for growth supporting C-Suite executives.  Earlier in her career she was within the consulting departments, and led technical training, the corporate LMS, as well as managed multiple leadership development programs including executive coaching, corporate mentoring, and early talent rotation programs.

Education: Janet earned an BA in Physics from the College of William and Mary, an MS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Marymount University.
 
Subject Matter Expertise: HR Analytics, Workforce Planning, Talent Management, Performance Management, Organization Development, Employee Engagement, Employee Relations, Project Management, Change and Transformation, Mergers and Acquisitions

Personal Interests: Janet loves travel and all things outdoors. She's currently into hot yoga and pilates and is trying to get enthusiastic about running again. She also enjoys reading and watching movies, especially if they are foreign films or about traveling.  She worked at the global SAP headquarters in Germany for two years and now lives in Fairfax, Virginia with her husband and two children. In 2017, she spent a month supporting a Moroccan non-profit focused on social entrepreneurship as part of SAP’s Social Sabbatical program.

Directors:
Name & Title: David Bachrach, Principal, Innovation Group, LLC

Brief Job Description: David started his career with the federal government as a grant auditor for the U.S. Department of Justice.  After visiting more than 100 law enforcement agencies from Honolulu, HI to Hammond, IN, he noticed that some police agencies had trouble filling their grant-funded vacancies.  He also saw that some agencies hired more quickly than others, and that different agencies were successful in recruiting using different strategies.  It was this observation that led to David taking up an interest in public sector hiring processes and taking on his first “real” human resources assignment only after leaving the government.  Since then, he has helped the National Gallery of Art, the Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor and more than 50 other public sector employers to build stronger recruitment capabilities through applied operational advice and work products.  Today he runs his own small business with clients like the Smithsonian, the Justice Department and the Agriculture Department.

Subject Matter Expertise: Federal recruitment, federal staffing, federal classification and position management

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: David volunteers time providing clothing to the unhoused and promoting equal access to health care for all U.S. residents.  He has helped two refugee families settle in the greater DC area.  He is an active member of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County.  He is a state-certified poker dealer.

Education: B.A. in Criminal Justice Studies from Alfred University (NY) and M.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Sam Houston State University (TX).

Personal Interests: David loves long distance hiking, building deep friendships and helping his two children grow up to be two great adults.
 
Name & Title: Friderike Butler, Partner at Optify

Brief Job Description: Optify delivers full-service, tech-enabled leadership development solutions that integrate learning journey design, AI and human coaching, assessments, workshops, analytics, and technology. With scalable, culture-aligned programs and flexible delivery models, Optify helps organizations develop leaders at every level, measure impact, and drive performance—transforming leadership potential into lasting success.

At Optify, Friderike designs and delivers leadership development experiences at scale that blend coaching, experiential learning, and tech-enabled solutions at scale.  

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Co-chair of the furniture donations committee at the Community for Helping Others (DHO) in the Town of Vienna; volunteer coach for Leadership Fairfax

Education: MS in Organization Development and Knowledge Management (George Mason University), Leadership Coaching Certificate (Georgetown University), BIS in Intercultural Management and Communication (George Mason University)

Personal Interests: Hiking, scuba diving, any kind of international food, and traveling any opportunity she gets.
Name & Title: Kerrie Ford, Senior Manager, Communications & Change Management

Brief Job Description: Kerrie leads internal communications and change management at Serco, a government contractor with over 9,000 employees across the US and Canada. She specializes in driving adoption through strategic communications, manager enablement, and experience design in complex enterprise environments. With a focus on creativity, consistency, and making complex ideas and processes easy to understand, Kerrie ensures that employee communications are impactful and relatable. Prior to this role she led talent programs at Serco. Before joining Serco, Kerrie spent five years at SAIC, where she held various roles, notably in the Corporate Social Responsibility space leading the corporate giving and employee volunteerism program.

Education: Kerrie earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Howard Payne University.

Personal Interests: Kerrie enjoys spending time outdoors and staying active. She plays in a soccer league and can often be found running, hiking nearby trails, and traveling. Kerrie is also on the planning committee for a community flower garden near her home in Washington, DC.
 
Name & Title: Alyse Johnson, Talent Analyst, Serco Inc.
 
Brief Job Description: Alyse is an experienced HR communications professional, passionate about creating an engaging, inclusive employee experience that empowers growth and impact. Within her role at Serco, Alyse is responsible for leading key strategic talent management priorities through people-centric, metric-driven programming coupled with intentional communication strategies that enhance engagement and deliver measurable organizational impact. Alyse’s responsibilities include supporting strategic HR programs and leading cross-functional initiatives such as Career Week, the annual engagement survey rollout, mentorship programs, internal and external marketing materials, tracking workforce metrics, and event planning across multiple talent and experience programs.

Education: Alyse graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Tech with a major in Public Relations and minors in Organizational Leadership & Psychology. She also studied abroad in Switzerland and Rwanda through Virginia Tech’s marketing program.
 
Personal Interests: Alyse's interests include thrift shopping, exploring new restaurants, travel, coaching high school gymnastics, reading and working out. She currently resides in Herndon, Virginia.
 
Name & Title: Kathy Lewis, CLU, CLTC, LTCP - Senior Vice President, Gallagher Benefits

Brief Job Description: Kathy is a Benefits Consultant with Gallagher where they specialize in crafting tailored employee benefit solutions that align with the unique needs and goals of businesses. Kathy has many years of experience and uses her wealth of knowledge and resources in helping employers navigate the complexities of employee benefits and risk management. She has a diverse client portfolio that falls within a variety of different industries and scopes allowing her to excel in elevating the employee experience, optimizing benefit investments and delivering innovative benefits strategies to support employee health, financial security, and career growth.

Education: Kathy graduated from Mount Saint Mary's University with a BS degree in Finance and the Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College of Financial Services.

Subject Matter Expertise: Insurance Solutions / Risk Management / Employee Benefits / Organizational Wellbeing / Data Analytics / Claims Management / Regulatory Compliance

Personal Interests/Hobbies: Kathy loves biking and can often be found on the trail with friends, their dogs and coffee. Kathy loves spending time with her two daughters and their hubbies at local breweries, Broadway shows and rooting for the Washington Commanders.
 
Name & Title: Sam McCarthy, Executive Director, HR Search Practice, Cherry Bekaert

Brief Job Description: Sam is an Executive Director with Cherry Bekaert (formerly Cordia Resources) and leads the HR Search practice for the Firm.  His focus is on developing new business while managing client accounts and placing qualified candidates within the Washington, DC metro area and across the Southeast. Sam is passionate about networking within the Human Resources community and uses a consultative approach to work with both candidates and clients throughout the search process. Prior to working at Cherry Bekaert, Sam held operational roles with a strong focus on recruiting, people management and development.

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Allegheny College Alumni Association, MOMS Demand Action of Arlington

Education: Sam is a graduate of Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Arts in Managerial Economics, with a minor in Communications. He also received his Master of Business Administration from Elmhurst College.

Personal Interests: Sam is an avid sports fan who has a passion for staying active and wishes he had more time to golf. He’s a self-described “morning person” and ensures that he gets in his spin class or workout prior to work.  He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, has also lived in Chicago, but now resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife and dog, Lucy.
 
Name & Title: Laurie Price, Senior Client Employee Benefit Advisor, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Brief Job Description: Laurie spent most of her career as an HR professional, working exclusively in employee benefits since 2011. During her nearly 10 years at DAI, Laurie developed her passion and expertise in employee benefits.  In February 2024, Laurie left the HR world and joined law firm, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, working in the firm’s Employee Benefits Practice Group. She works with clients on matters relating to their employee benefit plans and programs, reviewing statutory, regulatory, and governmental pronouncements to assess the impact on clients’ employee benefit plans. She also prepares and amends plan documents and other employee communications to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements and to implement plan design changes.

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Laurie holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) credential as well as the PHR and and SHRM-CP certification. 

Education: Laurie earned her MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and her BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Personal Interests: Laurie grew up on Long Island and has been living in the DC area since 2005. When not thinking about employee benefits, she enjoys knitting, baking (especially sourdough recipes), reading, playing pickleball, and listening to live music.  She lives with her husband, Brian, son, Jeremy, and her pandemic puppy, Magpie.
 
Name & Title: Neil Sawyer, Sr. Vice President, Human Capital Management, NeoSystems, LLC, Retired

Brief Job Description: Neil Sawyer has 25 years of experience as a Human Resources Professional and Executive Coach.  He has been involved in the oversight of HR strategies and administration in a wide variety of industries.  Neil has an extensive background in all areas of HR.  His experience includes (but is not limited to) employee relations, policy creation and enforcement, recruiting, training design and delivery, compensation, benefits administration and State/Federal employment law.

Other Accomplishments/Memberships: Neil has a Certificate in Executive Coaching from Georgetown University.

Education: Neil has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Longwood University and received a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Marymount University

Personal Interests: Neil characterizes himself as a “travel fanatic”.  His goal is to visit all seven continents.  Neil is also a visual artist and composer.
 


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