Four Local Legends Inducted into the Junior Achievement Washington Business Hall of Fame
WASHINGTON, D. C. (December 1, 2021) – Junior Achievement of Greater Washington (JA) inducted the 2021 Laureate class into the Washington Business Hall of Fame at the organization’s annual celebration on December 1, 2021. Over $1.25 million was raised to support JA’s work to prepare young people to be future-ready.
This year’s class of distinguished honorees was celebrated for their professional and philanthropic contributions to the quality of life in Greater Washington through the private sector economy. The 2021 Washington Business Hall of Fame Laureates included:
Virginia Ali - Owner, Ben’s Chili Bowl
Russ Ramsey - Chairman and CEO, Ramsey Asset Management
Deborah Ratner Salzberg - Principal, Uplands Real Estate Partners
Craig Ruppert - Founder and Chief Executive, Ruppert Companies
Watch the virtual Laureate Induction Ceremony.
From L to R: Jermaine Johnson, Leon Harris, Kamal Ali, Sage Ali, Craig Ruppert, Deborah Ratner Salzberg, and Russ Ramsey
The 2021 Hall of Fame was a hybrid experience dedicated to connecting the best in business to inspire the next in business through a full day of programming. The virtual experience included a Town Hall moderated by Leon Harris of NBC4, a series of master class presentations led by business and community leaders, and a virtual Laureate Induction Ceremony. VIP attendees gathered to personally congratulate the 2021 Laureates at a Laureate Celebration Reception at La Vie located at the District Wharf.
Watch a recap of the Town Hall and Master Class programming
Since its founding in 1988, more than 125 Laureates have been inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame. Laureates are selected for consistently demonstrating excellence in business, visionary leadership, and an ongoing commitment to community engagement. Through their commitment to the Washington D.C. community, this year’s honorees demonstrate these attributes in every facet of their lives.
Chaired by Jermaine Johnson, Regional President at PNC Bank, the Hall of Fame was presented by Capital One, Carlyle, and PNC Bank, and supported by business partners, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Business Journal, as well as 150-plus business and community partners.
For more information about the Washington Business Hall of Fame, visit washingtonbusinesshalloffame.org.
About Junior Achievement of Greater Washington:
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington is a non-profit organization that is changing the game for our region’s youth with relevant, experiential education in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. We bring together school systems, business leaders and trained mentor volunteers to provide equal access to the tools, people and experiences all youth need to be 100% prepared for real life in the real world. That means students gain what matters most: control over their own lives, futures and careers. To learn more, visit myJA.org.
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