CEOs You Should Know Philadelphia

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Nov 2025

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November 20, 20258 min

Shaina Rainford Founder and CEO Bask & Lather Co.

Shaina Rainford is the Founder and CEO of Bask & Lather Co., a nine-figure, bootstrapped, Black-owned haircare brand rooted in science, heritage, and purpose—and recognized as the fastest-growing textured haircare brand in the industry. A board-certified nurse practitioner, Shaina launched the company in 2020 after both she and her younger sister experienced significant hair loss. Inspired by the natural remedies their mother created to restore their hair, Bask & Lather evolved from a family solution into a global movement built on integrity, innovation, and community. At its heart, Bask & Lather Co. is more than a beauty brand—it’s a safe space for women to feel seen, supported, and empowered to conquer their hair goals. With clean, science-backed formulations that promote healthy, thriving hair from the scalp up, the brand has helped millions of customers worldwide grow in both confidence and results. Its viral social presence, fueled entirely by organic storytelling and authentic customer transformations has made Bask & Lather the #1 Black-owned haircare brand on Amazon and a top-ranked brand on TikTok Shop. Recognized on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies (No. 1008 overall and No. 20 in retail and CPG), Bask & Lather continues to redefine beauty by celebrating sisterhood, self-love, and the shared journey of growth—inside and out. Connect with Shaina: Website: www.baskandlatherco.com Instagram: @baskandlatherco | @_ceoshay_LinkedIn: Shaina RainfordSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 29, 20259 min

Tony O’Donovan, President and CEO Arkema Inc.

Tony O’Donovan is President & Chief Executive Officer of Arkema Inc. He oversees Arkema activities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and is regional head of Arkema Group in North America. O’Donovan is focused on driving strategic growth to achieve the Group’s ambition to become a pure specialty materials player. O’Donovan began his career at Arkema in 2013 as Global Supply Chain Director, Fluorochemicals, and most recently served as Regional Group President with responsibility for all Arkema Fluorochemicals business in the Americas. Prior to joining Arkema, he held a range of manufacturing, supply chain and business leadership roles for Degussa Specialty Chemicals in South Africa, and for FMC in Canada and the United States. O’Donovan holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D., both in Chemical Engineering, from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is qualified as a Professional Engineer in South Africa and Canada and is a chartered member of the British Institute of Chemical Engineers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 1, 20258 min

David Gutstadt Ballers, CEO Ballers

David Gutstadt is a Philadelphia-based hospitality and real estate executive with over two decades of experience spanning hotels, leisure, fitness, and real estate. He is the founder and CEO of Ballers, a hospitality-forward social sports brand launched in 2023. Ballers blends elevated sport experiences with design, dining, and community—bringing a new, modern vision to urban recreation.Prior to Ballers, David founded Fitler Club, a first-of-its-kind private lifestyle club that opened in Philadelphia in 2019, seamlessly integrating world-class entertainment, wellness, social, and business offerings under one roof.David’s career began at Goldman Sachs, where he spent ten years in advisory, finance, and private equity investment focused on hotels, gaming, and leisure. He later led Morgan Stanley’s hospitality advisory group and spent time at Lubert Adler Partners, overseeing hotel investment and asset management.In 2012, he was recruited by Equinox Fitness and Related Companies to spearhead the development of Equinox Hotels. As Managing Director of Hospitality at Related and co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Equinox Hotels venture, David led every aspect of the brand’s creation—from writing the business plan and shaping the brand vision to securing development deals and leading programming, design, and operations across six ground-up hotels.David graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in economics. He lives in Center City Philadelphia and is an avid triathlete, marathon runner, and former collegiate tennis player.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 22, 202510 min

Brian Clark, CEO of Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc.

Brian K. Clark is the current Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc. (GPHA), a Federally Qualified Health Center founded in 1970 that provides Medical, Dental, Behavioral Health, Pharmacy, and Child Development Services to over 90,000 patients, generating 320,000 visits and has a $90,000,000 budget with 16 locations throughout the city of Philadelphia. The health center offers several enabling services, including homeless shelter assistance, services for those in a domestic violence situation, and interpretation services. Mr. Clark has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in International Finance. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Second Baptist Church in Pottstown. Additionally, he serves as Treasurer and Board Member for the Robert W. Sorrell Scholarship Fund. Mr. Clark has over 20 years of finance and operations experience with vast knowledge of capital financing, accounting, funding, grants, and many other aspects of both for-profit and non-profit organizations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 6, 202518 min

Jenny Lawson, CEO Keep America Beautiful

Jennifer Lawson is President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, a national nonprofit that works to inspire and educate people to improve and beautify their community environment. Previously, Jenny served as Chief Civic Innovation Officer at Points of Light where she led programs to help companies achieve their social change goals through the actions of their employees. She was also the executive sponsor of Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism, Points of Light’s partnership with Morehouse College, and served as an advisor to the National Trust for Civic Infrastructure. Jenny came to Points of Light from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change (now C2ES), where she led Make an Impact, a global campaign focused on energy efficiency and environmental awareness with some of the nation’s largest companies. Her career began with community development and affordable housing advocacy in Northern Virginia, where she served as the founding Executive Director of the Alliance for Housing Solutions. Jenny graduated from the University of Virginia where she studied Philosophy and Mathematics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 11, 20255 min

Sheria McRae, CEO Foundation Academies

Foundation Academies CEO Sheria McRae is a native of Trenton, NJ. She returned home to join the organization in 2010 as a 6th and 7th Grade English Teacher. After serving as a teacher and then Dean of Instruction for three years, she became the Middle School Principal in 2013 as a part of the organization’s expansion project. In 2017, McRae went on to become Foundation’s Chief Academic Officer, with a focus on Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction. In 2022, Sheria was appointed CEO,with a bold agenda to transform urban education through the organization’s efforts.Prior to joining Foundation, McRae was a Teach for America Corps member in Newark, New Jersey where she taught 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade English for four years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Howard University in Washington, DC, a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Montclair State University, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Administration and Supervision from National Louis University.https://www.foundationacademies.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 23, 20254 min

Justin Jude President and CEO -LQK Online

Justin L. Jude became President and Chief Executive Officer of LKQ Online in July 2024 after serving as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2024. Mr. Jude has been with us since February 2004 in various roles, including from March 2008 to February 2011 as Vice President - Supply Chain, from February 2011 through May 2014 as Vice President - Information Systems (North America), from June 2014 to July 2015 as President of Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc., and from July 2015 through December 2023 as Senior Vice President of LKQ Corporation and President of Wholesale - North America.https://www.lkqonline.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 8, 20248 min

Dan Schaffer President and CEO First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown

Dan Schaffer is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown. A lifelong resident of Bucks County, Dan has spent the last 30 years helping the residents and businesses in the community with their banking and lending needs. A graduate of Penn State University and Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Dan has been the President and CEO of the past thirteen years. Under his leadership the bank has experienced solid growth in terms of assets, deposits, loans, income, and client relationships. In addition, the bank is well positioned in terms of infrastructure, talent, and technology to grown and remain an independent community bank.https://www.fnbn.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 8, 20246 min

Anuj Gupta, President & CEO of the Welcoming Center

Anuj is a proven leader in Philadelphia’s government, non-profit and private sector communities with a professional track record of achieving impactful results. Anuj now serves as President and CEO of The Welcoming Center, an organization he helped start with his graduate school research in 2003. Anuj is responsible for leading execution of the organization’s strategic plan focused on building pathways to upward economic mobility for Greater Philadelphia’s immigrant communities. Prior to this, Anuj served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03). In additional to building a team, across two offices, Anuj has led successful legislative strategies towards passage such as the $1B Reconnecting Communities fund in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Prior to this, Anuj served as the General Manager of the historic Reading Terminal Market for five years. During this time, Anuj was selected as a Public Space Fellow by the Knight Foundation for his work in making the Reading Terminal an inviting, accessible space for all Philadelphians. Anuj was an attorney at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP where he practiced in the firm’s real estate/affordable housing group from 2004-2007. Anuj also started a fast-casual Indian restaurant in 2013 in Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy neighborhood called Jyoti Indian Bistro, utilizing his family’s traditional recipes. Anuj is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., 2003), the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government (M.G.A., 2003) and Carnegie Mellon University (B.S., 1996). He currently is a board member of the Reading Terminal Market Corporation, Independence Public Media Foundation, Victor’s Homes, Regional Housing Legal Services and Mt. Airy Baseball. https://welcomingcenter.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 12, 202411 min

Braeden Anderson CEO & Co-Founder of Absecon Capital, Inc.

Braeden Anderson is the dynamic CEO and co-founder of Absecon Capital, Inc., a pioneering hospitality management and ownership group, with innovative subsidiaries Kook Burger and Black Turtle Coffee. Under Braeden's visionary leadership, Absecon Capital is transforming the U.S. coffee and casual dining industries. Our brands are not merely acquired; they are meticulously crafted from the ground up, embodying our core values of exceptional craftsmanship, uncompromising quality, and fresh, innovative experiences.Braeden Anderson is a multifaceted leader—an author, attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the author of BLACK RESILIENCE: The Blueprint for Black Triumph in the Face of Racism, a groundbreaking work that provides a powerful strategy for Black empowerment and success. Braeden also founded the Black Resilience Foundation, dedicated to advancing this mission.A former Division I college basketball player, Braeden achieved remarkable success on the court with the Seton Hall Pirates, winning the Big East Conference Championship while attending law school. He made history by becoming the first active male Division I basketball player to complete law school full-time while playing. Braeden's journey of overcoming socioeconomic and racial barriers, defying expectations, and conquering adversity has been featured in Forbes, Law360, The New York Times, ESPN, Bloomberg, NBC Sports, USA Today, and more. to the hospitality industry, inspiring others with his relentless drive and vision. Social Media and Websites:Instagram: @kookburgerbar, @blackturtlecoffee, @kbraedenandersonWeb: Black Resilience Foundation, kookburgerbar.com, blackturtlecoffee.comLinkedIn: Braeden AndersonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.