Wednesday night, we joined Washington's top business leaders at the National Building Museum for the 30th annual Washington Business Hall of Fame, benefiting Junior Achievement. We snapped The Hunt Cos.' Laura Cox Kaplan with the evening's chair, PwC's mid-Atlantic managing partner, Terri McClements, and the Hall of Fame's vice chair, Grant Thornton's Rich LaFleur, during the laureate's reception prior to the main program.

Dubbed the “Academy Awards of Business” for the D.C. region, approximately 1,200 attended the black-tie event, which was founded by the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington and Washingtonian magazine. Here, Anne and Til Hazel with Michael Harreld Jr., Susan Harreld, Laureate Inductee and PNC Bank immediate past President Michael Harreld Sr., Sarah Harreld and Brad Koniz.

A record of more than $1.46M was raised for Junior Achievement of Greater Washington with proceeds benefiting JA’s innovative financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship K-12 programs designed to inspire the next generation to navigate its own path to the American dream. Here, GW Law Associate Dean Lisa Schenck and her husband, PenFed Credit Union President and CEO James Schenck, join JAGW President and CEO and one of the evening's founding partners, Ed Grenier.

The evening's laureate inductees join over 100 laureates, all of whom have shaped the regional landscape and consistently demonstrated the following characteristics: outstanding business accomplishments; visionary, innovative leadership; integrity and strong core values; and passionate community engagement. Here, Hall of Fame Founding Partner and Washingtonian President and Publisher Catherine Merrill Williams with a laureate inductee, Hilton President and CEO Christopher Nassetta.

Following the reception we headed into the grand atrium for the dinner program. Attendees enjoyed a lavish, three-course meal featuring espresso rubbed beef tenderloin and a toffee pineapple upside-down cake. Here, Wilson Sporting Goods' Hans-Martin Reh joins laureate inductee, Octagon founder and President Philip de Picciotto with his mother, Elisabeth de Picciotto, and sister, Alice de Picciotto.

Attendees also heard from the evening's Master of Ceremonies, Junior Achievement board member and NBC 4’s Leon Harris who, with some help from JA students Jordan Rouse and Shanelly Sanchez-Antonia, discussed the impact JA has had on the Greater Washington region. Here, TEGNA Chairman Marge Magner with laureate inductee and TEGNA retired President and CEO Gracia Martore.

At one point in the evening, attendees were treated to a performance from The Carlyle Group's Chris Ullman, who showcased his world-famous whistling routine, much to the delight of the crowd. Here, professional lacrosse player Paul Rabil joins Octagon's Eva Conforti and Google's Robbie de Picciotto.

New Greater Washington Board of Trade President and CEO Jack McDougle with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States' President Kim Horn and KPMG Managing Partner Jerry Carlson.