Our Leadership
Debra Yamanaka
Chief Executive Officer
As Excel Technologies’ CEO, Deb brings 36 years of management, technology, and resiliency expertise with a specific focus on organizational resilience and crisis management. Although she began her career in the Intelligence Community where she focused on both advanced analytic and collaboration tools as well as continuity of government, she has worked with clients throughout the National Security, Defense, Civilian, and Commercial sectors. Her beginnings as a technologist means she keeps her hands in current and emerging technology trends and is as comfortable discussing organizational transformational goals and modernization as she is monitoring bloom patterns in a pandemic. She loves swapping war stories and has quite a few to share. Deb studied at the University of Virginia and remains a life-long, curiosity-based, learner.
Since 2014, Deb’s almost constant companion has been Honor, her white shepherd/husky mix Service Dog. Functioning as a unified team they understand through firsthand experience many of the challenges those within the SD community face when navigating personal and professional landscapes. Her unwavering belief in the potential of humanity’s future underpins Excel’s actions and focus on helping move our clients “Ever Upward”. In her personal life she spends what little spare time she has with family and friends, pursuing her numerous hobbies, camping, gaming, and as close to salt water as possible.
Amy Norgren Salfi
Chief Strategy Officer
I am delighted to be serving as the Chief Strategy Officer at Excel Technologies. Excel is a top-notch small business that has earned its right to be larger, and I aim to spearhead our growth. I am energized by the people and capabilities I am discovering here. It is amazing to see such unwavering commitment to our remarkable clients.
I am a Jersey girl who migrated to Washington, DC, immediately after college to fulfill my desire to work with the federal government. I have been serving as an analyst, capture manager, program manager, and senior leader in the federal contracting space for more than three decades. I have been privileged to lead teams delivering services in environmental policy and regulation, government program management and implementation, emergency management, IT strategy, organizational management and modern software development. Most of my clients have been civilian agencies that protect our environment and serve as custodians of our natural resources. It is fulfilling to help government leaders implement new programs, transform stalled programs, and optimize technology solutions. My way of working is through inspired collaboration — bringing the best and the brightest together in unique ways to address our nation’s toughest challenges.
I have an undergraduate degree in Political Science/Policy from Dickinson College, an MA in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy from George Washington University, and an active PMP. I live in Bethesda with my husband and our cats. My two grown sons are talented musicians and artists. I am an avid lover of all types of music, an enthusiastic (though perhaps not skilled) singer, and an off-the-charts figure skating fan. Ask me about the many business lessons one can derive from the sport of figure skating, and you may be stuck talking to me for longer than you want.