In the competitive and fast-changing world of government contracting, companies need to stay ahead of trends to grow, win and deliver on mission goals for both internal teams and customers. The leaders behind these efforts shape marketing and communications strategies grounded in industry knowledge, strategic discipline and execution expertise.
The executives named to the Top MarCom Execs to Watch in 2026 bring the experience needed to guide brands through mergers and acquisitions, lead creative and operational teams and manage the connections and communications that drive sustained growth and impact.
Amanda Rudolph
Vice President of Strategic Communications, Ultra I&C
Amanda Rudolph led Ultra I&C through a comprehensive corporate rebrand that repositioned the company externally to reflect the defense technology innovator she said it has always been at its core. Her team orchestrated a complete transformation, capturing thousands of new assets through in-field video shoots around the country, rebuilding digital presence, refreshing visual identity, and establishing a new brand voice across all touchpoints.
“The result was more than a visual refresh,” she said. “We redefined how Ultra I&C shows up in the market, underscoring the powerhouse of innovation and rapid development capabilities that have always defined us.”
Ultra I&C CEO Jon Rucker said Rudolph sees every challenge as an opportunity to push further. He said she’s repositioned Ultra I&C in the market and scaled communications capabilities to support rapid product expansion.
“Amanda’s relentless focus on improvement and her ability to execute complex initiatives at speed make her an invaluable strategic asset to our leadership team,” he said.
Why Watch
In 2026, Rudolph’s team will build on their rebrand momentum, amplifying impact by telling the stories behind the deployments, exercises and strategic partnerships solving critical connectivity challenges for allies across the globe.
Ultra I&C has always focused on streamlined operations and efficiency, she said. Its agile approach prioritizes rapid development cycles, faster decision-making, shorter timelines and direct customer engagement to deliver cost-effective solutions that simplify the operational environment for warfighters.
“I feel very fortunate to lead a team punching well above our weight at Ultra I&C and to lock arms with colleagues across the company who consistently deliver strategic impact at the speed our mission demands,” Rudolph said. “It’s invigorating being part of a team that isn’t afraid to take risks, challenge the status quo and lean into a vision built on shared trust and bold thinking.”
Fun Fact: This year, Rudolph is making good on her resolution to prioritize creative time outside of work, beginning with an oil painting class. “I have a feeling that my brand of creativity won’t necessarily translate to being creative with a brush, but I’m looking forward to being spectacularly mediocre at something new,” she said.
Ben Ingham
Vice President, Marketing and Communications, GRVTY
When Ben Ingham launched the GRVTY brand, it wasn’t only about messaging but about leadership. Collaborating closely with the CEO and leadership team, they created a compelling and solutions-focused storytelling platform that rapidly grew awareness, ultimately increasing brand recognition with customers, attracting more talent and unifying the GRVTY culture, he said.
They also developed our tagline “Answer the Challenge,” produced two brand films, launched a new website, grew their social media following by 366% annually, secured strategic thought leadership opportunities and kicked off their brand experience program at GEOINT 2025.
Why Watch
In 2026, his team is focused on delivering a “bifocal view” of GRVTY, both externally and internally. They will expand brand awareness strategies while “highlighting the incredible technology and inspiring breakthroughs that GRVTY delivers regularly through new thought leadership and storytelling content,” he said. They also remain focused on marketing and communications excellence through uncompromising strategy, creativity and execution.
Listening to customers and delivering mission-driven value efficiently remains GRVTY’s top priority. Across all programs, the company aims to be an indispensable defense technology partner, backed by an engaged, agile management team that responds quickly to evolving requirements while also delivering anticipatory innovation that delivers next generation capabilities before they are needed.
“At GRVTY, Answer the Challenge is more than a tagline, it’s an organizational truth,” Ingham said. “Our company solves vexing problems, creates novel solutions, and makes an impact on our national security that will last indefinitely. It is an honor to lead the team telling that story to the world.”
Fun Fact: Ingham is a big motorsports fan. “If it’s fast and loud, I’m there!” he said.
Eleanor Shelton
Director, Marketing and Communications, Koniag Government Services
When Koniag Government Services launched two new enterprise systems in 2025, Eleanor Shelton’s team helped ensure the hard work of building and deploying was met with success.
To support the continued growth and evolution of KGS, the company invested in and deployed a Human Resources Management System and a Financial Management System. Shelton supported organizational change management for these new system implementations, working in collaboration with the HR team, the finance and accounting team, and the implementation contractors from initial planning through post-implementation optimization.
“Eleanor’s communication and change management expertise has been invaluable to our organization,” said Aisha McGill, KGS chief business operations officer. “She is an outstanding leader whose strategic expertise is matched by her exceptional emotional intelligence. Her ability to craft thoughtful, sensitive internal communications has been transformative — helping our employees navigate change with clarity and confidence.”
Her team’s work ensured employees remained informed and engaged throughout both complex deployment efforts. These systems touch every aspect of the business and provide vital services to employees and customers, so successful deployment was critical and largely enabled by these effective communications and change management efforts.
Why Watch
In 2026, Shelton will lead communications, change management and ongoing development of KGS’ redesigned intranet and digital platform. She will also oversee internal and external communications for two strategic initiatives that reinforce the company’s role as a technology thought leader and trusted GovCon partner.
KGS’ Emerging Technologies webinar series, offered in collaboration with technology partners, delivers actionable insights on mission-critical capabilities addressing evolving federal agency challenges. The company is also adding new partners to its Strategic Partner Program to expand technical expertise, support collaboration and enhance integrated mission support for government customers. The webinars are open to the public, with recordings available at koniag-gs.com/events.
Shelton said KGS has amazing talent and bringing their collective knowledge and experience to government customers is “a treat.”
“Our dedicated and skilled workforce is what really sets KGS apart, and I am proud to be able to showcase their innovative thinking,” she said.
KGS will continue balancing cost-cutting measures, like limiting spending on subscriptions and events, with investments in employee development, benefits, retention and technology innovation. The company has implemented significant automation and AI integration to help both employees and customers achieve mission objectives more efficiently, Shelton said.
Fun Fact:The daughter of author and former National Park Service writer and editor Napier Shelton, she hones her storytelling skills by writing thrillers and mysteries each morning from 5-7 a.m.
Ellen Bjork
Head of Marketing and Communications, Riverside Research
Ellen Bjork’s biggest recent achievement wasn’t a single project but a collection of smaller goals that advanced a modern marketing and communications function to consistently enable enterprise growth and mission impact.
“Ellen combines strategic judgment with exceptional execution,” said Dr. Steven Omick, president and CEO of Riverside Research. “She elevates the way we tell our story, aligns her team around shared priorities, and ensures our communications earn trust with both external stakeholders and our internal workforce. I rely on her as a true enterprise partner who makes the organization sharper, more aligned and more effective.”
Over the past year, her team has strengthened enterprise alignment and executive-level communications while implementing a comprehensive content strategy that integrates lead generation, paid advertising and diverse media to showcase the organization’s expertise and elevate its brand.
As Riverside Research continues to grow, this work has increased stakeholder confidence, sharpened decision-making, and ensured both external audiences and internal teams can clearly connect capabilities, opportunities and outcomes across the business, she said.
Why Watch
In 2026, Bjork’s team is heavily focused on efficiency, integration and measurable impact across the communications lifecycle. They are using data and performance insights to sharpen alignment with business development and operations, streamline execution and focus efforts on what demonstrably drives engagement and outcomes.
“I’m deeply motivated by creativity and storytelling and enjoy finding unconventional ways to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences,” Bjork said. “I’m proud to lead a team of talented and passionate marcom professionals who skillfully combine analytical thinking with creativity to communicate mission value, reinforce organizational priorities, and support informed decision-making.”
Their analysis consistently shows that quality outperforms volume, and that a disciplined, sustained flow of high-value content is the most effective way to support mission priorities, organizational readiness and continued growth in a dynamic GovCon environment.
“Our focus on clear communication, early alignment and transparency reduces potential friction, limits rework, and supports faster, more informed decisions throughout the program lifecycle,” she added.
Fun Fact: Bjork participates in local long-form improv theater, which she calls a fun way to stay adaptable and think on her feet. That same “yes, and” mindset guides her work at Riverside Research, where collaboration and creativity are key. “It’s a reminder that some of the best ideas come from staying open, curious and a little unexpected,” she said.
Jacqueline Lampert
Chief Marketing Officer, Nokia Federal Solutions
Jacqueline Lampert’s biggest recent achievement has been elevating Nokia Federal Solutions’ visibility and credibility in defense and federal markets through strategic, high-impact communications.
Lampert led press efforts for major milestones like Nokia’s 5G collaboration with Lockheed Martin and Verizon; selection for a federal spectrum-sharing demonstration; and the delivery of advanced tactical private wireless solutions to the U.S. Marine Corps. These initiatives, combined with expanded executive presence at industry events and amplified thought leadership, have directly driven stronger partnerships and business growth in mission-critical areas.
Nokia Federal also aligns with the administration’s focus on reducing costs, streamlining operations and enhancing government efficiency by enabling agencies to modernize communications infrastructure with secure, resilient and mission-tailored solutions.
“We deliver platforms built for demanding environments, from ruggedized networks to AI-ready data center switching that supports advanced workloads,” she said. “By deploying the right technology for each unique mission, we simplify complexity, boost performance, and empower faster, better-informed decision-making.”
Why Watch
Looking ahead, Lampert is leading Nokia Federal’s communications strategy with a sharp focus on delivering clearer, more compelling narratives around the company’s critical contributions to national security and federal modernization efforts. This includes amplifying real-world use cases, forging stronger partnerships, and engaging key audiences through sophisticated integrated campaigns and digital channels.
As the demand for secure, resilient networks intensifies, Lampert is ensuring Nokia Federal’s expertise and leadership are prominently positioned to shape market conversations and drive strategic impact.
Fun fact: Lampert said she really wants to be a snowboarder, but despite taking lessons and owning her own snowboard, gravity consistently wins. She usually leaves the mountain with more bruises than progress. Growing up in Indiana, where there’s far more corn, soybeans and flatland than mountains, didn’t exactly help her ambitions.
Josie Smoot
Senior Director, U.S. Public Sector and Healthcare Marketing, Zscaler
For the third straight year, Josie Smoot’s team executed a premier cybersecurity event that draws professionals in federal, state and local government IT along with industry leaders.
The Public Sector Summit in Washington, D.C., has grown significantly in size and scale each year, she said, solidifying its position as a leading forum of its type.
“We are now leveraging this momentum to make our fourth annual event on March 3, 2026, an even greater success, driving unparalleled engagement, educational opportunities and demand within the public sector,” Smoot said.
Why Watch
In 2026, her team is heavily focused on educating public sector organizations on how to securely adopt and leverage AI to drive innovation and enhance operational efficiency. They are working to deliver impactful campaigns, events and educational programs at scale to better demonstrate how Zscaler’s platform accelerates cloud adoption and fortifies AI initiatives against emerging threats. The goal is to ensure government organizations can confidently use advanced technologies to achieve their critical missions.
Zscaler directly aligns with the administration’s priorities by enabling government agencies to reduce costs, streamline operations, and enhance efficiency through their Zero Trust Exchange. Their FedRAMP moderate, High and IL5 cloud-native platform eliminates costly legacy infrastructure and disparate security tools, centralizing policy management and automating threat protection.
This empowers secure, efficient access to applications from anywhere, while also providing the foundational security necessary for agencies to safely integrate AI, driving innovation and improving mission delivery, she said.
Fun Fact:Over the past eight years, Smoot has become an avid gardener, learning which fruits and vegetables thrive in Northern Virginia. She finds it rewarding to enjoy the harvest, often sharing the surplus with friends and family, and says it’s a fun way to encourage her son to eat healthier.
Marni Puente
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, SAIC
In 2025, Marni Puente advanced SAIC’s enterprise growth strategy across all markets while transforming the marketing department into a more strategic, integrated and AI-enabled function.
Her key accomplishments included: launching a defining Mission Integration brand campaign that exceeded benchmarks and strengthened company relevance with senior defense and federal civilian decision-makers; advancing enterprise growth through cross-functional alignment and customer-centric, deal-based marketing programs; and establishing partner ecosystem initiatives that improved pursuit readiness and contributed to key contract wins.
In terms of aligning with federal needs, Puente said, “SAIC is not only a leading mission integrator, but we are also a mission orchestrator – engaging early through fast acquisition pathways (OTAs, DIU, marketplaces) to rapidly respond to customer needs, accelerate mission impact, and ensure pilot solutions, services and programs transition into enduring capabilities.”
A pillar of SAIC’s business model is evaluating commercially designed tools through rigorous testing to build an innovative suite of offerings that integrate across joint, legacy and classified environments, while managing risk, ensuring security and sustaining lifecycle management as solutions scale and evolve.
“Marni has led the marketing organization with clarity and purpose, empowering them every day to meet the mission of elevating our brand across our customer base and championing the use of AI to work smarter, faster, and more effectively,” said Kathleen McCarthy, SAIC executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “Her vision and execution continue to make a meaningful difference for the entirety of SAIC, and her innovation will drive further results in 2026.”
Why Watch
This past year, Puente established SAIC’s M&C AI Committee and scaled AI-enabled workflows to position the marketing and communications functions as company leaders in enterprise AI innovation. The committee launched “30 Days of AI” to accelerate adoption through a structured enablement roll-out, including peer mentoring, prompt engineering training and office hours. This campaign is now being adopted as an SAIC-wide best practice.
In 2026, the committee will continue to pilot new AI tools to create efficiencies, improve workflows, enhance creativity and augment the team. Additionally, M&C will advise other departments on AI upskilling initiatives, process improvements and leveraging AI for other aspects of business, such as contract bids, increased solution efficiency and customer service for ongoing growth.
“Leadership is about turning strategy into sustained impact — and in 2025, I was proud to build an AI-first marketing function designed for growth and lasting mission value,” Puente said.
Fun fact: In 2025, Puente hosted and keynoted the inaugural North American Marketing Leadership Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, as the only GovCon CMO invited to speak. Sharing the stage with CMOs from McDonald’s, TikTok, Amazon and Microsoft was a career-defining moment, but her biggest win was earning temporary “cool parent” status with her 11-year-old son after meeting someone from TikTok.
Matt Maurer
Chief Marketing Officer, ICF
One of Matt Maurer’s team’s most significant 2025 achievements was the launch of ICF Fathom, a suite of advanced AI solutions and services built specifically for federal agencies.
ICF Fathom helps agencies do everything they need to do right now: improve service delivery, drive cost savings and produce measurable outcomes. The launch generated strong interest and buzz for ICF’s brand, advanced its go-to-market strategy and reinforced ICF’s position as a leader in federal digital modernization.
With ICF Fathom, the company is positioned in a new way – as a partner to agencies in leveraging advanced tech to meet their goals more quickly and efficiently.
“Matt consistently ensures marketing plays a highly strategic role in how ICF grows,” said Sergio Ostria, ICF executive vice president for growth and innovation. “And this commitment has always defined his leadership approach. For him, it’s not just about generating awareness or developing campaigns that you can ‘set and forget.’ Matt is passionate about finding new and creative ways to align branding, go-to-market strategy, and customer needs in a way that supports accelerated growth across our markets.”
And as agencies are under pressure to move fast and generate real value, ICF is focused on how it can help now, rather than later. ICF is helping agencies with advanced AI and digital modernization to speed things up, automate high-burden tasks, and deliver real cost and time savings. The company is building AI solutions into existing platforms, sometimes in as little as 48 hours.
“With offerings like ICF Fathom and our broader modernization work, we’re helping agencies get the most out of cloud, automation, and AI. And to quickly move beyond pilots to scalable, production-ready solutions that improve how government services are delivered,” Maurer said.
Why Watch
As energy demand rises, Maurer and his team are sharpening ICF’s role as a trusted advisor to utilities, developers and policymakers. They are investing in data-driven thought leadership and storytelling that clearly explains challenges like grid resilience and energy affordability and delivers timely, actionable insights to customers.
ICF is also launching AI-enabled energy tools and new product innovations that provide faster, more targeted insights across the energy value chain. Maurer’s team is responsible for bringing these capabilities to market and linking ICF’s innovation directly to real-world outcomes.
“Marketing has a lot of power to grow companies and brands,” Maurer said. “But only if you can be a champion for your customers – internally and externally. You’ve got to be able to clearly explain how your solutions drive customer value. If you can’t, you probably need another draft. Marketing works best when it’s clear about the problems it’s trying to solve and disciplined enough to focus on what actually moves the business forward.”
Fun fact: Maurer recently took up squash, starting from scratch and quickly getting hooked. He says the experience reinforced the value of a beginner’s mindset and the importance of trying new things, both in work and in life.
Michelle N. Lammers
Vice President, Communications, Nightwing
Michelle N. Lammers led her team through the full standup of Nightwing’s brand following the company’s 2024 launch, reshaping how the organization tells its own story. The effort spanned internal culture alignment, an external brand voice and modernized storytelling.
“One example of this storytelling included our 2025 launch of a dynamic video series where the content drove a 1,600% increase in year-over-year viewership,” Lammers said. “Establishing a cohesive narrative that reflects Nightwing’s mission and capabilities laid the foundation for a scalable communications engine that supports long-term growth and employee engagement.”
Bob Coleman, CEO of Nightwing, said:
“Michelle is a visionary leader whose ability to connect business strategy with impactful communication sets Nightwing apart in a competitive landscape. She doesn’t just manage messaging — she fuels momentum, aligning our brand and mission with the priorities of our national security customers. Her leadership ensures that our team is as inspired internally as we are represented externally, driving Nightwing’s commitment to excellence and innovation every day.”
Why Watch
In 2026, Lammers’ team is shifting from brand foundation to execution, deploying targeted campaigns aligned to Nightwing’s growth trajectory. As demand signals strengthen for full spectrum cyber and national security solutions, their focus is on precision storytelling that connects mission outcomes to customer priorities. This will accelerate awareness, differentiation and trust with highly technical customers who operate in high stakes environments every day.
Nightwing also aligns closely to current administration priorities by delivering integrated cyber solutions that reduce system complexity, improve resilience and enable faster decision making across domains that span commercial to defense to space missions, Lammers said. By focusing on outcomes over abstraction, they support the smarter acquisition, streamlined execution, and greater returns on taxpayer investment that are the hallmark of this administration’s priorities, she said.
“I’m deeply motivated by building systems and teams that operate well beyond individual contributions,” Lammers added. “One thing I’m really proud of is how the Nightwing comms team has navigated the challenges of standing up a new company brand within a complex industry where clarity, structure and narrative discipline have created outsized impact. That mindset shapes how I approach both leadership and communications strategy.”
Fun Fact: Lammers is deeply involved in volunteer work, including multiweek Habitat for Humanity builds, supporting the World Indian Eskimo Olympics in Fairbanks, Alaska and volunteering with her family at Christmas in the Park, where they distribute clothing and sleeping bags to hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty on Christmas Day.
Roela Santos
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Amentum
As Amentum recently celebrated its one-year anniversary as a newly merged public company, Roela Santos was right there with her team marking the capstone and highlighting what she said has been an “amazing year” for the company and her team.
“The team worked hard on preparing for and then executing the integration plan for what is now a $14.4 billion global engineering and technology company, ensuring all our stakeholders understand and are excited about Amentum’s new story and our expanded expertise to drive mission advantage for our customers,” Santos said.
Why Watch
In 2026, her team will continue to demonstrate creativity, collaboration and agility, qualities they have already shown while navigating the numerous complexities of a merger and integration, going public, dynamic government customer demands, and exciting technological advancements, she said.
“This past year, my team was heavily focused on establishing the new Amentum brand which reflects the strengths of a merged organization and establishes a new narrative for all our stakeholders,” Santos said.
Leveraging their global mission and engineering expertise, Amentum proactively seeks ways to improve efficiencies and streamline operations by incorporating technological advancements like AI, automation and predictive analytics within the company and on customer programs. Corporate strategy is designed to drive the most compelling challenges the world faces, including energy security and nuclear power, next generation missile defense, space exploration and digitalization, she said.
Santos is inspired by the quote, “It’s not what you have, but what you do with what you have.”
“To me, this applies to precious resources and talent that should be leveraged as well as opportunities to be seized,” she said. “The quote inspires me to be resourceful, resilient and grateful for what I have.”
Fun Fact: Santos paints landscapes and pet portraits in her spare time.
Shab Nassirpour
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, ECS
A major highlight of Shab Nassirpour’s year was a campaign showcasing ECS’ role as the AI Interoperability Integrator for the NGA Maven Program. Through articles, videos and ads, her team generated millions of impressions and hit top engagement metrics on LinkedIn.
“Shab is a trusted partner across the business who knows how to turn complex priorities into clear, compelling stories,” ECS President John Heneghan said. “She leads with curiosity, collaboration and accountability, and that approach has driven some of our most successful campaigns. Shab’s leadership elevates both the work and the teams around her.”
Her team also bolstered their AI and cybersecurity campaigns with the release of two flagship assets, the 2025 Cybersecurity Report and 2025 Data & AI Report, which collectively garnered 30,000 site visits and thousands of downloads, making them among the most impactful resources ECS has produced. They wrapped up the year by supporting ASGN, ECS’ parent company, in announcing its rebrand to Everforth.
“It was especially exciting to lead the efforts to bring this new brand to life, including the coordinated launch of a landing page, video and social media push,” Nassirpour said.
Why Watch
A top priority for her team in 2026 will be launching Everforth and Everforth ECS, expected in the first half of the year. She’ll be focused on ensuring the MarCom strategy and execution align with the executive team’s vision and business strategy, an undertaking that presents an opportunity to strengthen relationships with stakeholders, subject matter experts and marketers at sister brands.
“I look forward to leveraging the experience, expertise and partnerships across the enterprise to elevate our collective brand value and story,” Nassirpour said.
Additionally, the MarCom team will continue to expand use cases for AI and mature their AI agent, while maintaining a human-led approach to strategy and accountability. AI will support execution and efficiency, but the team’s focus will continue to be on the collaborative work of shaping effective go-to-market strategies.
“Our value as a MarCom team comes from being trusted partners to our internal teams, asking the right questions, clarifying what’s truly needed and co-creating solutions,” Nassirpour said. “That collaboration results in stronger go-to-market strategies and clear ROI, demonstrating the impact that thoughtful marketing and communication can achieve.”
Fun Fact: At various points in her career, Nassirpour has performed nearly every role on her team, from writing and design to web development and ad management. She said the experience helps her lead with confidence and clarity and understand how strategy translates into execution.
Sheila Blackwell
Chief Marketing Officer, MANTECH
The 2025 refresh of the MANTECH brand was one of Sheila Blackwell’s most rewarding challenges. Leading the 15-month strategic process was a transformative, all-of-MANTECH effort rooted in honoring the legacy of a well-established brand while reshaping it for the future.
Blackwell and her team conducted interviews, roundtables, surveys and industry studies to gain a clear-eyed understanding of prevailing perceptions, current positioning and future aspirations.
This resulted in a revitalized brand identity with defined pillars, a resonant mantra and dynamic imagery that stakeholders — employees and future talent alike — proudly champion.
“Seeing our organization take ownership of this creative evolution has been incredibly rewarding, making this both a win for MANTECH and a defining moment for our MARCOM team. It was my privilege to take on this challenge,” Blackwell said.
Bonnie Cook, executive vice president and chief performance officer at MANTECH, said:
“MANTECH’s 2025 brand refresh was a masterclass in strategic alignment. Our company didn’t just change a logo; we refined how the world sees MANTECH. The brand refresh became a unifying force across the company. Sheila applied her extraordinary business experience and instincts to lead our business and embarked on a high-intensity engagement mission, weaving together the voices of key stakeholders from across the company and the globe to take the evolving breadth of our business and capture our story in a way that resonates with our people and our clients alike.”
Why Watch
In 2026, Blackwell is guiding and supporting the MARCOM business alignment to live MANTECH’s brand and bring life to its new tagline: Always Advancing. For MARCOM, that means applying new technology to the ways that MARCOM communicates and visualizes MANTECH’S brand.
“Yes, we’re leaning into AI and new tools, and we’re doing it smartly. My personal mantra for the year? Every marketing dollar has to directly advance client engagement or provide a tangible benefit,” Blackwell said. “I’m driven to keep MANTECH out of the ‘sea of sameness’ by amplifying what sets us apart — our unwavering support for the nation and the mission.”
Fun fact: In high school, Blackwell had considered becoming a math teacher because she really liked algebra and calculus. These days, she still finds herself looking for the elegant equation behind a brand strategy.
Stephanie Ellis
Marketing & Communications Director, RELI Group, Inc.
Stephanie Ellis led the establishment of RELI Group’s updated solutions and services framework and brought it to life through new brand messaging and a redesigned website.
This work focused on simplifying complex offerings, improving accessibility and ensuring RELI Group’s story clearly reflects real mission needs. The result is a more intuitive, mission-driven experience that enables government partners to quickly understand how the organization solves problems and supports their priorities, she said.
“This year was about building clarity and momentum – reintroducing our brand to clients, modernizing how we tell our story and aligning our priorities for impact,” Ellis said. “The progress we made was a direct result of a talented team that understands the mission and is trusted to execute with purpose.”
Why Watch
In 2026, her team is heavily focused on streamlining how they communicate value, internally and externally, with a strong emphasis on efficiency and scalability. While AI is a popular buzzword, their focus is practical: using the right tools to reduce friction, improve workflows and free teams to focus on high-impact work. That intentional approach allows them to move faster while staying grounded in client needs.
“Stephanie is a leader who elevates both the work and the people behind it,” said Vishal Tulsian, president and COO of RELI Group. “The progress we’ve made across our brand, digital presence and messaging reflects her ability to empower teams while keeping a sharp focus on outcomes.”
RELI also helps agencies simplify processes, modernize operations and make smarter use of data and technology. They focus on listening first, understanding where inefficiencies exist, and then applying thoughtful solutions, including responsible AI, to reduce cost and improve outcomes. That balance of insight and execution helps agencies adapt while maintaining trust and accountability.
Fun Fact: Ellis is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher who has led and participated in trainings and workshops around the world. She also founded a pet yoga initiative with her local SPCA to support mental health while raising visibility for animals in need.
Tom Mahoney
Vice President, Marketing, Optiv + ClearShark
Tom Mahoney’s team is continually modernizing the Optiv + ClearShark marketing engine to better support cybersecurity solutions and professional services teams.
Their recent work included refreshing the website, integrating Marketo with Salesforce, capturing over 6,000 net new leads year-over-year, and mapping those leads to defined buying personas to create a predictable, sales-aligned funnel, all integrated into daily touchpoints between federal customers and an in-house SDR team. They also led the development of solution-specific content and executed large-scale thought leadership and demand campaigns across key media partners to drive awareness and demand.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Optiv and Optiv + ClearShark marketing organizations for consistently finding ways to help our government solve its toughest cybersecurity challenges,” Mahoney said. “The team excels at creating compelling solutions and bringing them to market in ways that genuinely resonate with the federal customers we serve. Their focus, creativity and customer-first mindset continue to make a meaningful impact.”
Why Watch
In 2026, Mahoney’s team is focused on establishing Optiv + ClearShark as the go-to federal solutions partner for cost-effective cyber resilience. They are leveraging operationalized persona intelligence, comprehensive content, clear solution messaging and disciplined execution to drive higher-value pipeline, smoother handoffs to inside sales, increased deal registration and measurable impact.
The company supports administration priorities by delivering solutions across security operations, identity management and data and AI security that reduce costs and streamline operations. By pairing these solutions with expert services to implement and manage them, Mahoney said, agencies can do more with fewer resources, cut unnecessary costs, reduce operational burden and achieve more efficient, secure outcomes.
Tom Mahoney has fundamentally elevated our brand’s reputation and market presence, ensuring our messaging consistently resonates with target audiences and stakeholders alike,” said Daniel Wilbricht, president at Optiv + ClearShark. “His exceptional ability to drive our partner relationships and drastically raising our registered opportunities with our partners has furthered our trust and credibility in the market. He is an invaluable asset and a role model for our entire organization.”
Fun Fact: Many of the most lasting sales and marketing lessons of Mahoney’s career come from his time waiting tables and tending bar at Chili’s Bar and Grill – where he said they all mastered the art of the upsell: “All-you-can-eat fajitas, anyone?”
