This year, City Cast DC is conducting our inaugural City Cast 6 awards, where we recognize six local leaders transforming six distinct industries — Politics, Food & Drink, Business & Development, Sustainability, Music, and Literature.
After months of research, interviews, and deliberation, we're proud to announce the winner of the business & development category.
CAVA CEO Brett Schulman (Courtesy of CAVA)
🏆 WINNER: Brett Schulman
Chosen by our panel of experts.
Schulman is D.C.’s very own wonder boy, founding CAVA in 2010 and kicking off D.C.’s fast-casual renaissance. The Mediterranean restaurant company went public this year and ended up pricing above its initial range at $22 a share, despite no word on when it could turn a profit. On its first day of trading, CAVA's stock closed up 99% at $43.78.
Schulman was named Washington Business Journal’s “CEO of the Year” for 2023. He was also dubbed “Wall Street’s Newest Darling” by Slate Magazine.
The greatest contribution of D.C. to all of human civilization is CAVA. When archaeologists look back in 4,000 years when all the whole world is just CAVAs, they're going to ask where did it start? How can we not celebrate the CEO of CAVA – a local boy made good.
David Plotz, City Cast CEO
🙌 PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Rahsaan Bernard
Based on votes by listeners and readers.
Bernard is the President and CEO of Building Bridges Across the River. He is currently in the process of coordinating D.C.’s first elevated park, known as the 11 Street Bridge Park Project, which connects Anacostia with Navy Yard.
🥈 RUNNERS-UP:
Nominated by other experts in the field.
- Amy Rice – A developer who led the retail remake of Crystal City, including the newly opened Water Park.
- Rob Sledin – Highland Square CEO leading the charge on a new “live/work loft” building approach.
Our Selection Process:
To ensure the veracity of the awards, we chatted with dozens of field experts across D.C., conducted listener and reader polls, and did our own research to come up with nominations. Finally, we had you vote to choose a "People's Choice" winner. And we had our panel of experts — Washington Post's Michael Brice-Saddler, Axios' Anna Spiegel, and City Cast's David Plotz — confer and select a winner per category.
