Joseph Popolo
- Honorary Chair
- U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands
Ambassador Popolo is the Founder of Charles & Potomac Capital, LLC, a private investment firm focused on investments in technology, healthcare, media, energy, and real estate. He served as the firm’s CEO from 2019 until 2025, overseeing more than 50 investments globally.
Prior to this, he spent over two decades transforming the Freeman Company into the world’s leading live event brand experience company, serving as its president for eight years and CEO for 11 years. Under his leadership, Freeman tripled in size and expanded Freeman into new markets, with 7,500 employees on four continents.
Mr. Popolo has held numerous leadership roles, including Chairman of Pinnacle Live, LLC, and a board member of Ondas Holdings. He earned a BS in Finance from Boston College and an MBA in Finance and Business Economics from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. He is active in educational and philanthropic organizations, serving as a Trustee of Boston College and a member of the Executive Board of the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and supporting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and The Papal Foundation.
