J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., became executive chairman of Marriott International, Inc., in 2012 after being the company’s chief executive for 40 years. He is an American business icon who has successfully created a multi-billion dollar global hotel company. He divides his time between the Washington, D.C., area and New Hampshire with his wife, Donna. They have four children, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Kathi Ann Brown is the founder and president of Milestones Historical Consultants, based in Charlottesville, Va. She is the author of a dozen business, organization and industry histories.