Marcenaro One of 39 Greater Washington Executives to be recognized for fast growth in
Washington SmartCEO’s Washington Executive Management Awards program
Amy Marcenaro
EVP and COO
Years in role: 7
Years at company: 15
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES: Over the course of her 15 years at Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, Amy Marcenaro’s role has continued to expand. Today, she is EVP and COO, a role that was created specifically for her. “During my tenure, one of the major strategic growth initiatives I have spearheaded is the JA Finance Park program, which begins with 14 in-classroom sessions during which thousands of eighth-graders each year learn the basics of budgeting, saving and spending, and the impacts of financial decisions,” she says.
FUN FACT: “Every day after school, my friends and I would walk into town and go to the library. I loved books. I was particularly fascinated by ancient things, [like] anything having to do with Egypt or dinosaurs.”
STRONG CULTURE: Though Junior Achievement has increased its number of employees significantly, Marcenaro has worked to make sure all new staffers, as well as existing ones, feel connected to the nonprofit’s larger goal. “This is a great team of people who really care about each other, truly enjoy providing support within and across teams, and they demonstrate that enthusiasm on a daily basis,” she says.
DAY-TO-DAY BALANCE: “As a COO, given the multiple and diverse realms you oversee, you can get caught in the weeds and lose sight of the longer term,” says Marcenaro. “Striking the right balance requires having the perennial discipline to stop, step back and think.”
About the Washington Executive Management Awards
The Executive Management Awards program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of the region’s management all-stars — CFOs, CIOs/CTOs, COOs and other Executives (CXOs). These individuals uphold the highest ethics, lead collaboratively and creatively, and enhance and support the organization’s mission. An independent committee of local business leaders reviews the EMA nominations, and winners are chosen based on the quality of the nominations submitted. EMA winners are profiled in SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at a high-energy awards reception on March 9, 2017.
About SmartCEO
SmartCEO’s mission is to educate and inspire the business community through its award-winning magazine, connections at C-level events and access to valuable online resources. SmartCEO’s integrated media platforms reach decision makers in the Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Long Island, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, metropolitan areas.