http://www.thetop100magazine.com/

The Top 100 Magazine, Westbury, NY (2026)

06/23/2026

We are pleased to announce that Matt DeWitt will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs magazine.

Matt DeWitt has built his career by turning vision into action—founding companies, revitalizing struggling organizations, and empowering people to grow alongside the businesses they help shape. Launching his first company at just 21, he has since led large-scale transformations across industrial, energy, environmental, and private equity-backed enterprises, earning a reputation for urgency, resilience, and innovative thinking. Now, as CEO of StrataSound Advisory Group LLC, Matt continues to drive impact while boldly exploring a new frontier: AI-powered music creation. Headquartered in Houston, StrataSound Advisory Group collaborates with private equity firms and privately held businesses to drive growth, simplify integrations, and elevate operational performance. Simultaneously, Matt is channeling his entrepreneurial spirit into StrataSound Music—an AI-powered app built to democratize music creation for everyone from TikTok creators and podcasters to small businesses seeking cost-effective, custom audio. With a summer launch on the horizon, the platform is already attracting significant interest from influencers and early adopters.

06/23/2026

We are pleased to announce that Upender “UD” Devarasetti will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs magazine.

Upender “UD” Devarasetti has built his career at the intersection of technology, ex*****on, and accountability, earning recognition as a leader who not only understands complex systems but consistently delivers results in high-stakes environments. As the founder and CEO of HGE Technologies, he has transformed years of hands-on experience in enterprise architecture into a business model designed to solve one of the most persistent challenges in the IT services industry: the gap between perceived talent and proven capability. With more than 16 years in the IT space, UD’s professional journey began long before entrepreneurship entered the picture. As a chief technology architect in the banking and FinTech sectors, he led large-scale digital transformation initiatives for major organizations, operating in environments where precision and performance were critical. His contributions earned global recognition, supported by six U.S. patents in payments technology and more than 26 international publications on enterprise architecture. Despite these accomplishments, it was a recurring issue in hiring that ultimately redirected his focus. While leading transformation initiatives, UD was deeply involved in recruiting technical talent. Time and again, he encountered a disconnect between what candidates presented on their resumes and what they could actually deliver in practice. Even with multiple rounds of interviews and panels of evaluators, organizations often struggled to identify individuals who could meet the demands of complex, real-world projects. The process was time-consuming, inefficient, and frequently unreliable. What began as frustration quickly evolved into a clear opportunity. UD recognized that traditional staffing models were largely transactional, relying on surface-level screening rather than technical depth. Determined to address this gap, he began rethinking how recruitment could be done with greater precision and accountability. Drawing from his own experience, he developed a model that placed technical expertise at the center of the hiring process.

06/23/2026

We are pleased to announce that Maram Alaiwat, CEP®, MA, MEd, will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs magazine.

Maram Alaiwat, CEP®, MA, MEd, approaches financial advising with a perspective shaped as much by purpose as by performance. As an investment adviser representative and the owner of Maram Financial Services, she works closely with clients to align their financial strategies with their personal values, a method that reflects a growing demand for ethical and globally responsible investing. In an industry traditionally centered strictly on quantitative returns, Maram has carved out a distinct niche focused on helping businesses and families thoughtfully integrate their core beliefs into comprehensive wealth management, retirement, and estate planning. With over a decade of industry experience, Maram’s professional path reflects a rare blend of intellectual curiosity, hard work, adaptability, and systemic insight. Maram completed her first graduate degree from Fielding Graduate University, a Master of Arts in collaborative education leadership (MACEL), and made the deliberate transition into the financial services industry. She entered the advisory field to offer a more value-conscious, structurally informed approach to saving, college planning and wealth planning, establishing her practice in the San Francisco Bay Area but eventually moving to Detroit. Today, she serves clients across the contiguous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii, with offices in Michigan and New York.

06/16/2026

We are pleased to announce that Michelle Wagner has been recognized for excellence in real estate.

Michelle Wagner is a top Napa Valley real estate professional, entrepreneur, children's author, and community advocate based in St. Helena, California. With decades of experience spanning
hospitality, event design, marketing, contract negotiations, business development, and real estate, she specializes in helping clients buy and sell homes, vineyards, wineries, and luxury properties
throughout Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Through her professional work and children's books, Michelle is committed to fostering connection, resilience, and positive community impact.
A Chicago native who has called St. Helena home since 2002, Michelle brings a uniquely diverse professional background to every client relationship. Before establishing herself as a respected real estate professional, she spent years managing high-end restaurants, designing extraordinary wine country events, negotiating contracts, and helping businesses grow through strategic marketing initiatives. That hands-on experience shaped her approach to both business and real estate. From complex negotiations and marketing strategy to landscaping, design, and property preparation, Michelle made it a priority to understand every aspect of the process so clients could move forward with confidence.

06/16/2026

We are pleased to announce that Bobby Robles has been recognized for excellence in Critical Minerals and Infrastructure Security.

Bobby Robles is a decorated U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and Ranger veteran, entrepreneur, and mission-driven leader with more than two decades of experience in operations, security, housing, and organizational leadership. Having experienced homelessness as a teenager, Bobby understands the importance of dignity, stability, and opportunity. That hardship shaped the way he builds businesses: not only for success, but to create lasting impact for people and communities in need. As founder of The Tiny Homes Foundation, Bobby works to develop practical housing solutions for veterans, families, and underserved communities. As CEO of Strategic Operations & Management LLC (SOM), a private security and information operations company, he supports high-risk projects in critical minerals, energy, logistics, and critical infrastructure. Bobby believes lasting security is built through trust, stability, and community investment. That is why SOM integrates Civil Affairs/ESG in their projects. Strategic Operations & Management LLC (SOM) is a private security and information operations company supporting critical minerals, energy, logistics, and critical infrastructure projects. SOM provides risk mitigation, protective services, training, and operational support. Its Civil Affairs model strengthens security by building local trust through community-focused projects that protect assets, reduce instability, and improve long-term project success.

Bobby Robles

06/11/2026

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Andrea Ruotolo will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs magazine.

Dr. Andrea Ruotolo is a leading voice in AI Operations and Governance, specializing in the convergence of artificial intelligence, operational excellence, and responsible governance. Over two decades, she has helped global organizations navigate technological change, transforming visions into scalable, trustworthy, and sustainable outcomes. She helps organizations operationalize AI responsibly across critical infrastructure and regulated environments. With leadership experience spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, Andrea has scaled global organizations, led multi-billion-dollar transformation portfolios, and advised executives and boards on governance frameworks for AI deployment. Her work bridges strategy, technology, and risk management, ensuring innovation delivers value while maintaining accountability and public trust. With advanced credentials from MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School, Andrea combines technical expertise with operational leadership. She has launched AI-enabled solutions, built global teams, and developed governance-first operating models that integrate compliance and reliability by design. Andrea’s philosophy centers on the belief that technology succeeds when people trust and understand it. She advocates for a future where innovation, operational excellence, and human impact are mutually reinforcing. Currently an executive advisor and board member, she is authoring a book on AI Operations and Governance, guiding organizations toward sustainable, scalable AI deployment. She continues to shape the future of enterprise AI, ensuring governance and human impact remain inseparable.

06/11/2026

We are pleased to announce that JD Drinkard will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs magazine.

JD Drinkard does not approach leadership as a concept to be discussed in theory. He approaches it as something tested in consequence. For more than two decades, JD’s life and career have unfolded in high-pressure environments where clarity was not optional and hesitation carried real cost. From 15 years in the U.S. Army to global nonprofit work across Africa and Eastern Europe, his leadership philosophy was shaped in moments where decisions had immediate and lasting impact. Today, as founder and CEO of International Leadership Solutions (ILS) in Fairhope, Alabama, he translates those experiences into practical frameworks that help senior leaders operate with discipline, focus, and measurable ex*****on. Through International Leadership Solutions, founded in 2025, JD equips organizations to lead with clarity under pressure and translate strategy into consistent results. He specializes in leadership decision-making, time stewardship, and operational alignment, helping teams prioritize what matters most, act decisively with limited information, and sustain performance in demanding environments. Drawing on military leadership, nonprofit operations, and executive consulting experience, his work spans corporate, nonprofit, and international contexts where leadership effectiveness directly shapes long-term outcomes.

International Leadership Solutions LLC

06/11/2026

We are pleased to announce that Edward Collins and Beth Ann Collins will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs magazine.

Edward Collins and Beth Ann Collins did not begin their business journey together. They began in life, shaped by love, loss, service, and a shared belief that success is measured not by what one accumulates, but by what one gives back. Before finding one another, both had built meaningful lives alongside spouses they deeply loved. Losing them was a profound turning point, one that reshaped their perspectives and ultimately prepared them for a partnership grounded in empathy, resilience, and purpose. When Edward and Beth Ann met, their connection was immediate and deeply aligned. Each recognized in the other a commitment to service and a desire to create something that extended beyond personal success. Their marriage became more than a union; it became a mission. Together, they set out to answer a fundamental question: how can we make giving accessible to everyone, not just the privileged few? That shared purpose took shape in the creation of 321 Give, an innovative platform designed to integrate charitable giving directly into everyday commerce. Rather than treating philanthropy as an afterthought, 321 Give embeds it into every transaction. The model is simple but powerful: 25 percent of profits are donated, with 20 percent directed to charity partners who register on the platform and are chosen by the consumer, and 5 percent supporting Special Olympics. With access to more than 1.9 million charities, the platform allows individuals to contribute to causes that matter to them while purchasing products they already need.

06/11/2026

We are pleased to announce that Laura Newberry-Yokley will be featured in the Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs magazine.

Laura Newberry Yokley is a scholar–practitioner whose work bridges global business, leadership studies, comparative religion, and holistic healing. For nearly two decades, she has helped leaders around the world connect intention with action—integrating strategic insight with human centred wisdom to foster growth, balance, and transformation, with an increasing focus on accessibility. Her career spans North and South America, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, where she has developed strategies across more than 50 countries and created multilingual business and educational resources in over 20 languages. Whether leading international business development and marketing initiatives, facilitating leadership programs, or coaching executives, she focuses on integrating the intuitive, mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical dimensions of leadership. She is the founder of the Holistic Leadership Network, an interdisciplinary platform exploring the intersection of business and spirituality, where leadership becomes a path of self discovery. As host of multiple podcast series—including The Reading Series, L is for Leadership, and IHLX (Inside the Holistic Leadership Experience)—she brings together ancient wisdom traditions and contemporary management scholarship to illuminate new pathways for conscious leadership.

06/09/2026

Do you know someone Top 100 Worthy? 🏆

We're looking for the leaders, innovators, and trailblazers who are making a real impact in their industry — and we want YOUR help finding them.

Know a CEO who's changing the game? An entrepreneur who started from nothing and built something extraordinary? A business making a difference in their community?

Nominate them for a feature in Top 100 Magazine.

🎯 Nominees receive a professional feature spotlighting their story
📱 Exposure across our national media platform
🏆 Recognition that opens doors, builds credibility, and creates opportunities

👉 Submit your nomination here → https://www.thetop100magazine.com/nominate

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