Joy Shanaberger, from community college to the White House, (re)founding companies, and learning to box

Joy is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boone Group—a firm driving advancement and adoption of superior technologies within the national security, energy, and infrastructure markets. A specialist in defense acquisition and cybersecurity, Joy is frequently sought after for her ability to turn strategic theory into successful, detailed tactical approaches that move the needle for Boone’s clients.  With offices in Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas, Boone is actively redefining the defense technology and procurement process; as Founder and CEO, she is responsible for overseeing company growth (both in revenue and process) and providing senior tactical oversight to clients.  Prior to founding Boone, Joy worked in a variety of roles spanning federal and local governments and the private sector. Most recently, she served as a Senior Strategist in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where she was responsible for communications as it applied to the defense industrial base and international weapons program development. Joy also served as the primary speechwriter for the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (AT&L) and was routinely sought after by communications teams for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for assistance on communications within the AT&L domain.   Joy received her M.B.A with a specialization in Cybersecurity from the George Washington School of Business in 2015 and is a graduate of Columbia College, Chicago, where she earned a B.A. in Marketing Communications and Political Science. She also studied program management at Defense Acquisition University.   In addition to leading growth and execution for Boone, Joy is a Board Member for the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, a certified yoga instructor, mentor for transitioning servicemen and women and their families, and spends much of her free time training as a USA boxing amateur for an annual charity boxing match benefiting the military and veteran communities.