Two Mason alumni chosen for '40 Under 40' list

Two George Mason University graduates are among those named in this week’s Washington Business Journal’s annual “40 Under 40” list.

Grace Langham, MEd Early Childhood Education ’11, began teaching first- and second-grade mathematics at Washington, D.C.’s nonprofit charter school KIPP DC after graduating from George Mason. She transitioned to director of client services for the boutique property management firm Nest DC in 2012. She was named CEO in 2014, with 24 staffers and $3 million in annual revenue. She added more to her plate when she helped launch Roost DC, Nest DC’s sister property management firm. Langham is also on the board of For the Love of Children.

“During my time at Mason I learned great time management practices, applicable to teaching and truly helpful in any career,” she said. “Everything can't be the number-one priority, so you have to focus in on what really matters most at any given time.”

Ari Firoozabadi, BS Marketing ’04, said his finance and marketing education at Mason “provided me a foundation of knowledge for what I do today.” The entrepreneurial graduate founded Greysteel Co. in 2012, a commercial real estate firm focusing on investment sales and banking transactions. He started in 2012 with eight employees in one office and now supports 65 employees in nine branches across the country. He’s also on the boards of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Northern Virginia Apartment Association.