The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) awarded 11 Eagle Scouts with the Outstanding Eagle Scout Award to recognize their professional accomplishments, three of whom currently work in business through financial services or economic development and connect their achievements back to Scouting.
The NOESA was established in 2010 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Scouting America. The award recognizes Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated achievements beyond their Scouting experiences. On April 22, 2025, the NOESA will be presented to the Eagle Scouts at an awards dinner in Arlington, Virginia.
James Mendelsohn, one of the NOESA recipients involved in financial services, is honored to receive the award and earning his Eagle still holds a special place in his heart.
“If I were to list out the things I have done that I am the most proud of, Eagle has always been one of them, and it was the first significant thing that I did,” Mendelsohn said.
Mendelsohn is the founder and managing director of Proximo Capital, which is an investment banking advisory firm dedicated to providing growth capital for middle market companies. He leads his team of six professionals with a focus on client acquisition and investor relationships.
Up until 2010, Mendelsohn also worked at Capital One as the vice president. In his role, he was part of the team who built Capital One into the largest independent card issuer in the United States. He also launched the “What’s in Your Wallet” marketing campaign, which won many awards such as an AMA Gold Effie and the ARF David Ogilvy Award.
As a Scout, Mendelsohn was part of the National Capital Area Council in Troop 240 in Bethesda, Maryland. He appreciates the lifelong impact that Scouting has had on him.
“The guys I was in Scouts with, we’re all still friends 40 years later,” Mendelsohn said. “Those friendship that have been lifelong are just a hugely important part of my life and that came in Scouting.”
Mendelsohn reflected on the skills and values he learned as a Scout, including helping others and the community. These values have stuck with him throughout his life and are reflected in his company.
“It sort of really struck that Eagle is about who you are, and that early definition of character just carries through and is how I run my company, how I am with people, and it has really defined me as an adult.”
Jason Wright will be receiving the NOESA in recognition of his athletic and business career. Wright currently is employed as the managing partner and head of investments at Ariel Investments’ Project Level, a private investment fund dedicated to leveling the playing field in women’s sports. From 2013-2020, he was a partner at McKinsey & Company before becoming president of the Washington Commanders.
During his time at the Washington Commanders, Wright made history by being the first Black president in NFL and the fourth former NFL player to become president of a team. He played in the NFL for seven years as a running back and was team captain and NFLPA player representative for the Arizona Cardinals in 2011.
Wright was in Troop 777 in the Greater Los Angeles Area Council. He recalls the determination he had to get his Eagle Scout Project approved and completed, which has now facilitated his ability to accomplish his goals.
“The process of earning the Eagle Scout rank, especially the pull from Life to Eagle, was a case study in perseverance,” Wright said.
When Wright was president of the Commanders, he worked to get a bill passed through Congress so that the land of the RFK stadium was given to D.C. for proper development. He cites parallels between this experience and getting his Eagle Scout Project approved, as both allowed him to develop powerful negotiation skills.
“I had no idea that at age 14, I would learn how to broker a public private partnership and execute a project that ushered in public good,” Wright said.
Buddy Rizer is a NOESA honoree with experience in economics, currently working as the executive director for the Loudoun County, Virginia Economic Development. In this role, he leads the agencies responsible for encouraging growth and developing relationship’s with Loudoun’s business community through both commercial and agricultural-based business sectors.
With his expertise, Rizer helped built the Data Center Alley, which is one of the world’s largest concentration of data centers and also has experience with international business development in China, France, Germany, Russia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Finland, Taiwan, Japan, India, Korea, Ghana, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates. He has been named Tech Titan by the Washingtonian Magazine seven times and has been named one of the most 50 most influential Virginians six times by Virginia Business Magazine.
As a Scout, Rizer was part of Troop T123 from the Mason Dixon Council in Funktown, Maryland. He said he feels prideful to be an Eagle Scout and even continues to include it as an accomplishment on his resume.
“I think it taught me everything that I know today about leadership, working with people, goal setting, being prepared and all the things that Scouting brings you,” Rizer said.
Rizer has found that Scouting allowed him to develop a commitment to service, appreciation for leadership and giving back to the community. He also said it instilled confidence in himself because he learned he could be successful.
“I would say it was foundational for everything that I’ve accomplished in my life and it’s where I learned how to lead a team and overcome challenges,” Rizer said. “The values of Scouting have guided me through every chapter of my journey in life and I think Scouting has been incredibly important to where I’ve ended up today.”
All three men feel honored to be recognized for their achievements and believe that any group of Eagle Scouts would be filled with accomplished individuals.
