Stottlemyer To Head Business Lobby

A prominent local executive has been chosen as the new president of the National Federation of Independent Business, the small-business trade group that is one of Washington's most influential lobbies.

Todd A. Stottlemyer, a self-described political junkie, is chief executive of Apogen Technologies Inc., a McLean government contractor that was recently sold to a British technology firm. He will replace S. Jackson Faris, 63, who is retiring early next year after 13 years as head of the 600,000-member organization.

In surveys of clout in the capital, the NFIB has routinely ranked in the top five lobbying groups largely because of its highly disciplined campaigns and its fealty to Republicans who control the White House and Congress.

The choice of Stottlemyer, which was confirmed by people familiar with the search who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been announced, is in keeping with a tradition at the NFIB to hire as its senior officer a person with experience in small business. Faris ran his own business and consulted businesses before being chosen to head the group, which has 1,000 employees, a $90 million annual budget and offices in every state and the District. It is headquartered in Nashville.

Faris lived in Nashville. Stottlemyer is expected to continue to live in the Washington area.

Donald A. Danner, the NFIB's executive vice president for policy and political operations, was considered the leading internal candidate for president. As one of Washington's most experienced and respected lobbying managers, Danner is expected to remain with the organization under Stottlemyer.

A spokesman for the NFIB declined to comment. Stottlemyer could not be reached. An announcement about the NFIB's new chief executive was scheduled for Monday.

Stottlemyer has been considered one of the rising stars of the Washington area technology community. Three months ago his homeland security and government contracting company was acquired by Qinetiq Ltd., of Hampshire, England, for about $300 million in cash. Apogen was privately owned and Stottlemyer was one of the shareholders.

The deal was one of the biggest acquisitions in the tech sector this year and many close observers credited Stottlemyer for Apogen's fast growth. The company was founded in 2004 when ITS Services Inc., of Springfield, merged with Science & Engineering Associates Inc. of New Orleans. In less than two years, the merged firm grew to have 900 employees and $205 million in annual revenue.

Before taking the helm at Apogen, Stottlemyer spent 15 years rising through the ranks of the large government contractor BDM International Inc. and BTG Inc., where he was chief financial officer.

An affable figure with a big laugh and thick shock of silver-white hair, Stottlemyer -- who sometimes describes politics as his hobby -- is equally well known in the Washington region for his beyond-the-boardroom activities. He is known to be a friend of Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), who was one of about 100 people considered for the job.

"He's been very successful on the business side, but has had a lot of experience in the policy side as well," said Stan Z. Soloway, president of the Professional Services Council, an industry organization.

Stottlemyer was chairman of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce from in 1998 and 1999. He helped found the Northern Virginia Technology Council and now is that organization's vice chairman. The father of four is also on the boards of the Inova Health System Foundation and the American Red Cross of the National Capital Region.

The search for Faris's successor was conducted by Korn/Ferry International.