48th Annual Gala Joseph Wharton Award Dinner Honors Leading Wharton & Penn Alums, Celebrates Club's 51st Anniversary!
Kristine Martin Anderson, C'90, WG'03, EVP, Civilian Services Group Lead, Booz Allen Hamilton
Bikram Bakshi, WG'05, Technology Executive & Entrepreneur | Investor
Courtney B. Spaeth, C'96, CEO growth[period], Chairman of the Board, Potomac Recruiting
Michael N. Pocalyko, WG'95, CEO at SI | IT Executive | Investigator | Corporate Director | Bestselling Novelist
- Click HERE to learn more about the evening, including the Michelin-starred menu, the elegant venue, and other aspects of the Gala.
ABOUT THE HONOREES:
Kristine Martin Anderson, C'90, WG'03, EVP, Civilian Services Group Lead, Booz Allen Hamilton
Prior to joining Booz Allen, Kristine was vice president for operations and strategy at CareScience, a software solutions company that she helped launch in 1992 and take public in 2000. At CareScience, Kristine oversaw the launch of several innovative products, including the nation’s first web-based clinical decision support system for hospitals and the nation’s first health information exchange.
Kristine currently serves on the eHealth Initiative's Board of Directors. She also serves on the Cost and Efficiency Standing Committee of the National Quality Forum and the Quality and Safety Committee for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Kristine is a frequent speaker and has authored several published articles. She holds a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business.
Bikram Bakshi, WG'05
Bikram is a seasoned CEO, innovator, and entrepreneur based in the Washington, DC area. He has led organizations ranging from early stage startups to key business divisions of a Fortune 10 company. He currently serves on the Entrepreneurship Advisory Board for the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and is a named inventor of 13 US patents. Bikram is widely recognized for his leadership in the successful turnaround of healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace established under the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA).
From Sep 2012 to June 2017, Bikram was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at United Health Group (UHG). From February 2014 to June 2017 Bikram was a member of the Office of the CEO for Optum, UHG’s $100B health services business. As CEO of Optum’s Government business based in the Washington DC area, Bikram had oversight of federal and state government engagements. Prior to that, Bikram was CEO of Optum’s International business based out of London, UK. In that role, he managed a portfolio of businesses across Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. Optum’s charter is to make the healthcare system work better across the globe by bringing capabilities in data, technology, analytics and care management to governments, employers, health care professionals and individuals.
From 2007 to September 2012 Bikram was President and CEO of QSSI, a privately held health technology focused company that grew over 10x in revenues and managed over 1,000 personnel under his leadership. QSSI was the prime contractor charged with implementing several key components of the U.S. health insurance marketplaces under the ACA. QSSI was acquired by United Health Group/Optum in September 2012.
Previously, Bikram held various positions in organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies like Intel and Xerox PARC, to technology start-ups like BNX systems (acquired by Citigroup in 2005).
Bikram has an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. degree in Computer Science, and a B.E. degree in Computer Engineering.
Lisa A. Bolden, WG'88, CEO, L.A. Bolden Co. & Entrepreneur
Lisa Bolden is a graduate of The Wharton School of Business with an M.B.A. in finance and public/nonprofit management, and Spelman College, with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Chemistry. Upon graduating from Wharton, Ms. Bolden accepted a position as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley, where she specialized in structuring health care and multifamily housing tax exempt bond deals. After Morgan Stanley, she had the distinguished honor of working as a political appointee for the Honorable Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Jack Kemp. At HUD, she first served as the Special Assistant to the FHA Commissioner and then as the Director of the Office of Health Care Facilities Staff, a division which she led in creating. In this latter position, Ms. Bolden was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of hospitals and nursing homes valued at over $6 billion.
Ms. Bolden has worked as an investment and mortgage banker at Banc One Capital Corporation, Love Funding, Prudential and other leading financial institutions in the health care and housing industries. At these institutions, she has financed over $700 million for the development or rehabilitation of multifamily and health care facilities. Currently, Ms. Bolden serves as the President and CEO of L.A.Bolden Company, a housing development and consulting firm. In the last year, the L.A.Bolden Company, in conjunction with its strategic partner, Mission First Housing Group, has developed The Belnor, a 122-unit senior housing community in Suitland, MD. Construction of The Belnor commenced in June 2017 and concluded in December 2018. By March 31, 2019, The Belnor was 100% occupied. This same partnership is developing a 137-unit building for seniors in the new Towne Square at Suitland Federal Center. The construction of this seniors building will commence in 2020 and will be an anchor for the Towne Square project, which consists of 25 acres of residential, retail, office, cultural arts center and parks adjacent to the Suitland Federal Metro Station. In addition to these multifamily housing projects, L.A.Bolden Company is developing a duplex/single-family property in the southwest quadrant of Washington, DC as part of the District of Columbia’s Vacant to Vibrant initiative. Each home will consist of over 2,000 sq. ft. of living space, with one home designated as work force housing for a family with 80% Average Median Income. Development of these properties will conclude in 2020.
In January 2018, Ms. Bolden, in partnership with her twin daughters, Mckay Bolden and McKenzie Bolden, officially launched L.is.a.Luxury Collection, a company dedicated to the design, production and distribution of elegant stemware and table décor. The concept for L.is.a.Luxury Collection began in the summer of 2016. By 2018, the company was ready to open its doors with its first L.is.a.Luxury Collection Sip and Shop home parties, the primary distribution mechanism for the company. After only two years, the company has exceeded its sales projections and is planning the next phase of its expansion - the development of a national sales force of “L.is.a.Luxury Collection Ambassadors,” a team of sales agents leading in-home shopping experiences throughout the country.
Ms. Bolden is a steward of her community and passionate about giving back, as demonstrated by her involvement with the Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, DC (former Chairperson), DC Public Access TV (VP and Treasurer) and DC Vote (founding Board Member). Recently, she spearheaded the development of the Seniors Benevolent Fund with the White Rose Foundation, Inc. This Fund is committed to assisting seniors in Suitland, MD with short-term emergency financial assistance. In 2017 she led efforts to establish an annual Seniors Summit in Prince George’s County Maryland. The Summit provides seniors in the community with a free day of information, services, food and fun. Recently she became a founding member of Women of Influence, Inc., an organization whose mission is to provide mentorship and financial assistance to women owned businesses.
Ronald P. Gold, C'83, W'83, Founder & CEO, LeanOnWe
LeanOnWe is a uniquely designed home care company addressing the needs
of the largely underserved hire-on-your-own market. By bridging the gap
between what customers want from a traditional home care agency but
love when hiring privately, LeanOnWe is successfully helping families
slash their costs and control who comes into their home.
Ron created LeanOnWe following a horrific bicycling accident in 2011.
An avid cyclist, Ron was close to home and near the end of a routine,
50-mile ride in northern New Jersey when a sleeping driver in an SUV
struck him head on without braking. The crash left him a paraplegic
with an incurable crushed spine and instantly set him on a different
life path from his role as Managing Director at Barclays. On Wall
Street, Ron ran Barclays' Asian sales desk, transformed the defunct
Lehman Brothers sales team into a dynamic revenue growth unit at Barclays, and
hired coveted sales professionals to generate the growth.
He drew upon his experience and with his newly imposed paraplegic life
to set up LeanOnWe as a disruptor to meet the true needs of Americans
seeking private home care. With a two-part service, expert LeanOnWe
Care Advisors help families find top-vetted, highly recommended
caregivers who meet their specific needs. They then share a full
online profile and video so customers can pre-screen candidates. After
hiring, families get what they’ve always hoped for when hiring on
their own — guidance, insurance, verification, and unlimited access
to backup, emergency, or replacement aides. All while saving 35% to 50%
over an agency. Not only has LeanOnWe filled the gaping holes of
private hiring, but its experienced, proven caregivers are earning
50% to 80% higher pay and achieving a critical advantage as the supply of
caregivers nationwide cannot keep up with the demand .
Back in the day, Ron earned a dual degree from University of Pennsylnia, with a B.S. from Wharton and B.A. from the College, as well as an M.B.A. from Columbia.
Courtney B. Spaeth, C'96, CEO growth[period], Chairman of the Board, Potomac Recruiting
- Courtney B. Spaeth is a recognized expert in business development and corporate growth with widespread experience in both the public and private sectors. Mrs. Spaeth founded growth[period] in 2007, and as CEO she has successfully guided the company through the acquisition of Potomac Recruiting, the raising of growth capital from Morgan Stanley, as well as the development of growth[period]’s mergers and acquisition support vertical. As a result of her leadership, growth[period] has a proven track record of helping over 250 companies in both the commercial and federal sectors achieve smart growth through business development and also through acquisitions. growth[period]’s broad range of clients include: Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Magnetar Capital, Stanley Black and Decker, Clairvest, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Leadiant Biosciences, Serco, General Dynamics, SAB Capital, LLR Capital, and many other Fortune 500, middle market, and private equity firms in the U.S. and internationally.
- Prior to founding growth[period], Mrs. Spaeth served as Corporate Vice President of Homeland Security for Raytheon Company. While at Raytheon she was responsible for developing the company’s homeland security business in North America, the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, and Asia, and in less than two years her efforts resulted in new revenue of over $1 billion USD. Before Raytheon, Mrs. Spaeth served as Director of Homeland Systems Solutions for Lockheed Martin, where she won over $3 billion USD in new business.
- In 2000, President Clinton appointed Mrs. Spaeth to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict, where she was the Assistant in Charge of Global Terrorism Issues. Previously, Mrs. Spaeth served as the Director of Force Health Protection for the Gulf War Illness Task Force in the Department of Defense, where she was a subject matter expert on combat stress management. Additionally, Mrs. Spaeth has also worked at the Department of Justice in the Criminal Antitrust Division, and in the Office of Chief Counsel to the President in the White House in the Clinton Administration.
- Mrs. Spaeth has extensive experience as a corporate board member and serves on the Board of Directors for a number of private companies, non-profits, and professional associations, including: Momentum Aerospace Group (MAG), (the company changed control successfully as of June 2018 and Mrs. Spaeth received a buy-out from management), boodle AI, Marymount University, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Potomac Recruiting, and Hope for the Warriors, where she chairs the Development Committee. She also serves on the Trustees Council for Women at The University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Spaeth is also on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the George Mason University School of Business. She is the recipient of the Smart CEO 2016 DC Brava CEO Award, the Vigiano Family 2015 Hope and Courage Award for her Service to the Veteran Community, and the 2014 Angel Outreach Award from the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation for her mentoring of veterans nationwide.
- Mrs. Spaeth has been featured in national and trade media, including: Business Week, CBS News, the Washington Business Journal, Women of Influence magazine, DC Modern Luxury magazine, and SmartCEO magazine. She holds a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with honors, from The University of Pennsylvania. She also completed her Governance Fellowship through the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and is a speaker in their Director Professionalism series. For the past five years, growth[period] has been voted in the top twenty “best places to work” by the Washington Business Journal. Currently, Mrs. Spaeth resides in the Washington, DC area with her husband, three children, and five dogs, where she and her family also co-own their local ice cream store, Sprinkles Potomac.
Michael N. Pocalyko, WG'95, CEO at SI | IT Executive | Investigator | Corporate Director | Bestselling Novelist
Michael Pocalyko is Chief Executive Officer of SI, a professional services firm and government contractor in the investigations, information technology, cybersecurity, and intelligence sectors, operating business units Special Investigations, SI Cyber, and Enterprise Applications.
He has been chairman and CEO of five corporations: Monticello Capital LLC, Advanced Environmental Resources, Inc., Erdevel Europa S.à r.l., International Systems S.r.l., and Special Investigations Limited Company (SI); and non-executive chairman of the board of four corporations: Erdevel Europa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Envambien S.A., TherimuneX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Enterprise Applications, Inc. before the company’s acquisition by SI. He has been a corporate director in the financial services, medical, biotechnology, Internet services, steel, environmental, security, and engineering services industries. He has also been a university and foundation trustee. He is an experienced public company corporate director and audit chair, a Sarbanes-Oxley “audit committee financial expert,” an investigator, compliance agent, and a certified fraud examiner (CFE). He is a Board Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and a member of NACD’s teaching faculty for Finance and Accounting.
Mr. Pocalyko was a Navy commander who served in Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and on the personal staff of the Secretary of the Navy. He was a resident Senior Fellow of The Atlantic Council. He twice commanded military operational units and as a Navy pilot flew in Beirut, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf.
A 1976 graduate of Muhlenberg College, Mr. Pocalyko earned his M.P.A. at the Harvard Kennedy School in 1985 and his M.B.A. at Wharton in WEMBA XIX in 1995. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Authors Guild, and the Cosmos Club.
As a Virginia public official he served appointed terms on the Commonwealth Competition Council and the Fairfax County Industrial Development Authority. He was once a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates.
He is the bestselling author of the novel The Navigator from Macmillan Forge Books, “a stunning story of greed, modern politics, international intrigue, and ultimately affirmation . . . written by the consummate insider from both Wall Street and Washington.”