Spring 2026 Speakers

Russ & Yvonne Horner | Water Management

The Horner Family founded Water Management in 1980. As a water practitioner, Russ Horner provides hands-on technical assistance and advisory services to domestic and international clients in the areas of water conservation, water demand management, water policy, and best management practices. He has been responsible for auditing, pricing, designing and implementing many of Water Management's thousands of guaranteed savings programs over the past 28 years.

Yvonne Horner joined the Company in 1990. With a background in accounting, she founded the company’s accounting department and converted the accounting process from a paper accounting system to a fully computerized accounting system. As the Water Management grew, she also built out the company’s human resources. Yvonne is always seeking to better the company’s HR strategies and organizational goals and excels at keeping situations in proper perspective. She continually works on cultivating a sense of community and inclusion among the employees. She is passionate about safety, and developed the company’s Safety Program and Safety Manual. She has a VA Contractor’s License and is a member of SHRM and AIPB.

Russ and Yvonne are founding partners of the Family Business Consortium, joining us since our very first meetings during the pandemic.

George Tapia | Zest Food Services

George Tapia is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zest Food Services, a purpose-driven catering and food service company known for delivering high-quality, comforting meals across a wide range of events and institutional settings. Under his leadership, the company—also operating as Catering by Zest—has built a strong reputation for reliability, warmth, and operational excellence, serving clients throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

As a company aligned with B Corporation principles, Zest Food Services emphasizes social and environmental responsibility alongside financial performance. Mr. Tapia has embedded values such as sustainable sourcing, compostable serviceware, fair labor practices, and community engagement into the company’s operations—ensuring that growth is both ethical and impactful.

Matias Tavella | Ventus Capital Partners

Mr. Tavella has over 20 years of corporate finance and operational experience in companies in Latin America, North America, and Europe. He has held various leadership roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI), including divisional CFO, global treasury, and global strategy. Led M&A transactions for over US$600M and was part of the team that integrated Anheuser-Busch & InBev. He had board seats in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Mr. Tavella is now Managing Partner of Ventus Capital Partners, a global fund of search funds that invests in top-tier entrepreneurs around the world. Raised in a family business, Mr. Tavella now works with many family businesses caught in succession traps, building relationships and offering them options that help keep their companies true to their legacy.

Mr. Tavella will also speak about Venerable Enrique Shaw, the Argentine family business leader whose cause was advanced by Pope Leo XIV in December after he approved a miracle attributed to Shaw’s intercession. Venerable Enrique Shaw was both renowned as a business leader, and thoughtful in his personal philosophy towards family and work.

Thor & Leah Cheston | Right Proper Brewing / Right Proper Kitchen

Right Proper Brewing Company is a family-owned brewing company committed to creating a brand and community spaces for people who call DC home. There are two, soon to be three, locations in the District of Columbia, and the beer can be found in DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. Co-founder, Thor Cheston oversees production and distribution. Co-Owner, Leah Cheston oversees the restaurant operations. Their kids can often be seen running around both locations, aka “mama’s brewery or daddy’s brewery.”