2024 Business Person of the Year
JOHN B. VEIHMEYER
Mr. Veihmeyer was the global chairman of KPMG International, a leading professional services organization operating in over 150 countries. He previously held numerous leadership roles at KPMG, including U.S. Chairman and CEO and managing partner of KPMG’s Washington, D.C., operations. He received a BBA in accounting (cum Laude) from the University of Notre Dame in 1977.
Mr. Veihmeyer currently serves on the boards of the Ford Motor Co., and the University of Notre Dame, and chairs the boards of the Ladies Professional Golf Association as well as Catholic Charities of Washington, D.C. He also serves as a senior advisor to Tanium and Zotec, Inc.
Mr. Veihmeyer has served as a member of the Business Roundtable, as well as the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum. He served on the boards of the Financial Accounting Foundation, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) Catalyst, the U.S.-India Business Council, and Saint Mary’s College, as well as the executive committee of the Business–Higher Education Forum (BHEF).
He has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today magazine and one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Corporate Governance by Directorship Magazine. In 2011 he received the CEO Leadership Award from Diversity Best Practices for his commitment to diversity, and in 2013 was honored as “Responsible CEO of the Year” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.
Along with his wife, Beth, Mr. Veihmeyer was a driving force behind KPMG’s “Family for Literacy” (KFFL) program. In its 13-year history, KFFL has provided nearly 7 million books to children in need in the U.S., and has now expanded to nearly 20 countries. The Veihmeyers live in Potomac, Maryland, and have three children.
Past Business Person of the Year Award Winners
2023: Dennis & Anne Sullivan
2022: Tim Veith
United Bank
2021: Kevin Virostek
Ernst & Young
2020: Robert Easby-Smith
Chesapeake Restaurant Group
2019: Jim Boland
Boland Trane
2018: James V. Reyes
Reyes Holdings
2017: Geoff Gonella
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.
2016: John Treseler
John C. Grimberg, Co.
2015: Jack Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald Auto Malls
2014: Donald J. Urgo, Sr.
Urgo Hotels & Resorts
2013: Craig A. Ruppert
Ruppert Landscape
2012: Kevin J. Sexton
Holy Cross Hospital
2011: Vincent C. Burke, III
United Bank
2010: Terrance Coakley
Coakley & Williams Construction, Inc.
2009: Louis T. Donatelli
Donatelli Development
2008: James A. Soltesz
Loiderman Soltesz Associates, Inc.
2007: Edward J. Quinn, Jr.
T.W. Perry
2006: G. Patrick Clancy
Chevy Chase Bank
2005: Charles J. Wolf, II
Payroll Network
2004: John Kane
Kane Companies
2003: Dottie Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald Auto Malls
2002: J. Paul McNamara
Potomac Capital Advisors
2001: Rory Coakley
Coakley Realty, Inc.
2000: Eileen Cahill
Holy Cross Hospital