President, The Women's Committee
Beth Kohlhoss
Board
Eve Auchincloss Lilley is an educational diagnostician, administering psychological and educational evaluations to children and adults at Educational Assessment Associates. Eve began her career earning a Master’s degree working with …
Emilia Newell Ferrara is a born and raised Washingtonian, an author, editor and teacher, and is an alumna of The Washington School of Ballet. Her tutelage began under Mary Day …
Barbara Bozzuto (Thomas Bozzuto) is a distinguished leader and philanthropist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Her extensive volunteer leadership includes serving as Chair Laureate of the Board of Directors for the …
Michelle Montes is the Chesapeake Assurance Leader with 30 years of experience in public accounting and, as an Assurance partner, serves a variety of industries, currently focusing on consumer products, …
Natanya Holland Allan has a long history with The Washington Ballet. A native Washingtonian, Natanya was raised near the Ballet’s Northwest campus and trained at the school. She performed with …
Nathan Briggs is a Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and is based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. His broad practice includes advising investment vehicles, investment advisers and …
Yolanda Friend is an outcome driven, Inclusion & Diversity executive at Accenture, a global professional services company operating in more than 200 cities across 49 countries with more than 735K …
Amy is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience leading both enterprise and high-growth organizations through operational transformation, strategic expansion, and performance optimization. As President and Chief Operating Officer of CrossCountry Consulting, a leading business advisory firm, she is responsible for leading day-to-day operations, aligning cross-functional teams, and driving initiatives that support the company’s long-term vision and growth trajectory.
With a strong background in finance and accounting, Amy has a proven track record of enhancing operational efficiency, scaling businesses, and delivering measurable results. Prior to joining CrossCountry, she held leadership roles at Navigant Consulting, Ernst & Young, and Arthur Andersen.
Known for a strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style, Amy excels at building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence. She has implemented programs to create a culture of inclusion and support for women at the company, including the International Network of Women Community Resource Group and a Women’s Leadership training program.
Amy has been a dancer her entire life and brings a passion for the artistry to the Board and broader organization. Additionally, she serves on the College of William & Mary Accounting Board where she also serves as a mentor to consulting classes. Previously, as a member of The Dance Place board, she contributed to their success by providing oversight, fundraising, outreach, and expertise in vital areas of their operations.
Amy earned a B.S. in Accounting from the College of William & Mary. She currently resides in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.
Dai Shi is an experienced executive with extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), international expansion, initial public offerings (IPOs), turnarounds, and addressing complex HR, sales, and operational challenges. Dai focuses on driving …
Lowell Yoder is currently a Sr. Group Manager for Greater Washington Commercial Banking Group at M&T Bank. Lowell is responsible for the overall management of the group including sales management, …
Vice Chair
Luanne Adams came to Washington DC as an undergraduate theater major at The Catholic University. Her enthusiasm for the performing arts had been intensified by a Junior Year Abroad in …
Allison Melia is Senior Director and Chief of Staff for Government Operations, Global Public Policy, and Corporate Strategy at The Boeing Company. In this role, she provides operational oversight and strategic guidance to strengthen the company’s competitiveness. Since joining Boeing in 2017, Allison has held roles in International Operations, International Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, and Corporate Strategy. Previously, Allison worked as an intelligence officer and served on the White House National Security Council. After leaving Government service, she was Director of Analysis at Crumpton Group, a strategic advisory firm in Washington, DC. She is a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has published and lectured on national security topics.
Allison holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics cum laude from Harvard University, a Master’s degree in Economics from George Mason University, and an executive leadership certificate from the London School of Economics. She resides with her husband in Alexandria, Virginia.
Vice Chair
David DeSantis serves as Chief Operating Officer of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier luxury real estate firms. Under his operational leadership, the company has grown to …
Elizabeth Keeley retired in 2022 from being a Principal at Taconic Capital Advisors, an alternative investment firm based in New York. Betsy joined Taconic in August 2005 as Chief Compliance …
Chair
Jean-Marie Fernandez, Chair of the Board of Directors of The Washington Ballet, serves as the President of the Fernandez Foundation, a private foundation focused on the health and education of …
As Community Development Director, East for Lugano, Lisa Porter oversees key community relations and partnership initiatives, working to identify and steward mutually beneficial relationships with key causes, organizations, and charities in Washington DC, Greenwich, Palm Beach and Chicago.
Throughout her career, Lisa has built a reputation for being a gracious brand diplomat, adept at conveying key messaging and creating and nurturing valued relationships. Prior to joining Lugano in May 2022, she was Vice President, Membership, at Robb Report in New York City. Lisa grew up in California’s wine country and spent 8 years working directly with the Harlan family in the wine and hospitality industries. She has spent her career in the luxury sector, connecting clients, brands, giving and experiences in a memorable way. Lisa is a certified sommelier and frequently lends her wine expertise to Lugano events. She is also passionate about travel, fashion, and her Miniature Dachshunds. Causes near and dear to her heart include animal rescue, mental health support & suicide prevention.
Lisa is a member of The Tiffany Circle of the American Red Cross, the National Advisory Board of National Museum for Women in the Arts, and the Kennedy Center International Committee for the Arts.
Although Lisa resides in DC, she is frequently on the road attending events in support of a long list of philanthropies centering around the arts, healthcare, and community organizations.
Ryan Hayes is passionate about the arts and has been intimately involved in numerous arenas of the performing arts world. His wide breadth of professional experience in the corporate, non-profit, …
Heather Hughes moved to Washington, DC, in 2007 to join the law school faculty at American University, where she teaches and publishes on legal aspects of property and commercial finance. …