2017 Honorees

Kevin Beverly

President & CEO, Social & Scientific Systems

Kevin Beverly is the president and CEO of Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. (SSS), a health research organization with federal and commercial client portfolios spanning clinical and biomedical research, epidemiology and public health research, health policy, and program evaluation with offices in Silver Spring, Durham, and Kampala, Uganda.

Mr. Beverly began his work in public health as an intern at the National Library of Medicine and the World Health Organization. From there, he worked at technical- and policy-focused organizations, including PSI International, Computer Sciences Corporation, Tracor Corporation, BAE Systems, and Abt Associates.

He learned of SSS’ work helping countries battling HIV/AIDS gain access to the resources they needed to combat the epidemic, and joined SSS in 2003 as vice president for business development. He later became executive vice president, then president, and, in 2015, was named president and CEO. His energy, vision, and deep knowledge of SSS’ business have contributed to the company’s continued success.

Mr. Beverly has been featured on Business RadioX in North Carolina and in the Washington Business Journal. He was a panelist for the “On the Road” traveling forum hosted by the Washington Business Journal to encourage conversation about issues important to the DC business community, was part of the Montgomery Moving Forward leadership group that made recommendations to improve the effectiveness of workforce development programs, and shared his insights on information security in the Professional Services Council (PSC) Service Contractor magazine.

He has served on for-profit and non-profit boards, including PSC, The Universities at Shady Grove, CareFirst of Maryland, Inc., and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA. He is the current board chair of the Community Foundation of Montgomery County and of CollegeTracks, and board co-chair of Montgomery Moving Forward.

Mr. Beverly has a long history of community charitable work supporting education and opportunities for young people. He received the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington’s 2013 Philanthropist of the Year award that honored his commitment to nurturing the potential of youth. As board chair of CollegeTracks, he plays role in giving low-income and first-generation-to-college students the chance to go to colleges where they can succeed. In memory of his late mother, Mr. Beverly founded the Mildred Beverly Memorial Family Fund, which provides college scholarships for underprivileged youth.

Mr. Beverly holds an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in library science and information services, both from the University of Maryland.

Norman Dreyfuss

Executive Vice President, IDI Group

Norman Dreyfuss has achieved personal goals beyond what he could have imagined as a child of immigrants. Armed with a mechanical engineering and liberal arts degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from American University, he has become an influential player in real estate development.

Norman currently serves as executive vice president of IDI Group Companies, where he has worked since 1981. He’s headed development of Leisure World of Maryland and Virginia, Leisure World Plaza and projects throughout the DC region.

His career started as a trainee with Carl M. Freeman Associates, and during his 10-year tenure, became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Some of his notable projects there included Cabin John Shopping Center, Inverness Homes and Townhomes and Sea Colony in Delaware.

Norman currently serves as a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board and recently received the Ron Resh Business Advocacy Award, honoring him for his efforts to ensure that the Bethesda Chevy Chase community is regarded as the preeminent place to do business. He previously served as president of the Suburban Maryland Building Industry Association.

Norman is a major benefactor of the CASA, JSSA and the DC Construction Trades Academy, funding multiple scholarships given to motivated students who need grants to help them with their educational needs.

Norman has received the Milton E. Kettler Award to honor a long history of civic contributions, the American Immigration Law Foundation Public Service Award, Doc Kapiloff Private Sector Affordable Housing Award, Housing Honor Award and the Inspire Award from the Housing Opportunities Commission, as well as the Joseph Ottenstein Award for excellent community service leadership.

In addition to his career as a developer, along with his son Brian, Norman has produced four successful movies, three of which were screened at the Sundance Film Festival. Norman lives in Potomac with his wife Debi, a retired business owner and pilot who funds her own annual “Dare to be Different” award for women to advance their aviation education in a traditionally male-oriented sector.

Terry Forde

President & CEO, Adventist HealthCare

Terry Forde is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Adventist HealthCare, the first and largest health system in Montgomery County, Maryland. The system includes Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital, Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Adventist HealthCare Behavioral Health &Wellness Services, Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation and numerous outpatient, community and business health programs.

Based in Gaithersburg, MD, Adventist HealthCare is one of the largest private employers in Montgomery County, employing more than 5,500 people and caring for more than 800,000 members of our community each year. Mr. Forde has served as President and CEO of this not-for-profit corporation since April 2014.

He has led Adventist HealthCare during a time of great change in healthcare, both at the state and national level. Under his guidance, Adventist HealthCare has created a vibrant outpatient and population health network to provide vital care to the community and to support the system’s four hospitals.

As a respected leader in healthcare in Maryland, Mr. Forde serves on the Maryland Hospital Association’s Operations and Executive Committee, working with health systems across the state to improve patient care. He is also currently a board member of the Montgomery County Development Corp.

Cidalia Luis-Akbar

CEO & Owner, M. Luis Construction Co., Inc.

Cidalia Luis-Akbar is a top-performing senior executive with 25+ years of experience leading multi-million dollar organizations. Currently, she serves as CEO, owner and co-chairman of M. Luis Construction Co., Inc. and M. Luis Products, LLC.

She has verifiable success in creating and delivering outstanding solutions for road construction projects and asphalt manufacturing, and is credited with driving significant gains in revenues and bottom-line profits through negotiation and crisis management skills. Cidalia is described as an engaging, compassionate professional communicator with the ability to put others at ease while quickly building relationships based on mutual trust and benefit.

Adding to her professional accomplishments, Cidalia has been widely recognized as a savvy, dedicated business leader and economic contributor. She has received prestigious awards, including the MDQi Award of Excellence in Construction, SmartCEO Brava Award, GOMA WBE Winner, Small Business Leader of the Year, U.S. Department of Justice FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award and Maryland’s Top 100 Women Award.

Cidalia is involved in many local organizations, including serving on the board of Children’s National Medical Center Foundation, FBI Washington Field Office Citizens Academy, Conselho da Diáspora, Portugal-United States Chamber of Commerce and on the Advisory Board of the Portuguese Embassy in Washington, D.C. She is co-chair of the Corporate Advisory Council and the Chairwoman of the Young Presidents Organization, U.S Capital Chapter, she is a member of the Committee of 200 and a Zenith Forum member of the Women’s President Organization.

Cidalia is a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar and holds a double master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American, Portuguese and Brazilian languages and literatures from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She earned bachelor’s degrees in economics and Spanish/Portuguese from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has also attended executive business programs at Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School and Dartmouth University, and Tuck Business School.

Cidalia is happily married to Masud Akbar and the proud mother of a daughter, Sophia.

Natalia Luis

COO & Owner, M. Luis Construction Co., Inc.

Natalia Luis is a solution-driven executive with more than 25 years of experience leading multi-million dollar organizations through start-up, change, revitalization, turnaround and accelerated growth. She has verifiable success in creating and delivering outstanding solutions for road construction projects and asphalt manufacturing.

Currently, she serves as chairman and COO at M. Luis Construction Co., Inc. and M. Luis Products, LLC. She is personally credited with driving significant gains in revenues and bottom-line profits through strategic operational leadership and identifying value acquisition targets in diverse market cycles. She is decisive and results-oriented with outstanding negotiation and crisis management skills, as well as an engaging, compassionate professional communicator.

Along with her professional accomplishments, she has been widely recognized as a strong and dedicated business leader and economic contributor including several recognitions by both President Obama and President Trump. Natalia is regularly asked to represent the voice of small business and our construction sector by multiple national news outlets. She is the recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award, the MBDA Leadership and Pinnacle Award, and most recently, the MDQi Award of Excellence in Construction for Roland Avenue in Baltimore. She was also recognized with the SmartCEO Brava Award, a GOMA WBE Winner, a member of Exelon’s Focus 25 and a multiple awardee of GBC’s Bridging the Gap.

Natalia is an active community member serving as a trustee on the Children’s National Medical Center Foundation and a founding co-chair for the Corporate Advisory Council for CNMC. Natalia is proud to have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, along with her sister, on behalf of Children’s Hospital. She also serves as a trustee with the Little Folks School and Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, where she is the chair of governance. Natalia is a Zenith member of the Women’s President Organization, as well as a member of Committee of 200, YPO-US Capitol and a member of CEO.

Natalia holds a double bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has also attended executive business programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School and Dartmouth University, Tuck Business School.

Her husband, Antonio Monteiro, is her rock and her children, Antonio and Gabriel, inspire her every single day.