Jay Challa

Jay Challa is an accomplished business leader, technology executive, and entrepreneur. In his notable 30-year career in information technology (IT) and engineering consulting, he co-founded and sold Ace Info Solutions (AceInfo), an IT services firm that serves Federal agencies. After building AceInfo from the basement of his home to 1,000 staff as CEO, Jay was instrumental in the company’s two exits in the GovCon space within two years. AceInfo was acquired by Dovel Technologies in 2019, and the combined AceInfo/Dovel was acquired by Guidehouse in 2021.

Using his extensive experience in operations, business development, capture, project management, and technical management, Jay currently provides management and business consulting services through his strategic consulting company, Shivar Consultants. He also brings his business and technology expertise and acumen to his appointed position on the Virginia Small Business Commission.

Throughout his career, Jay’s work has been recognized by many awards, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Virginia Fantastic 50 Award (two years in a row), Smart CEO Magazine’s GovStar Award for Large Business, TiE DC ELITE Award, Executive of the Year Finalist, Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards, U.S. Department of Commerce National Directors Award, Minority Business Enterprise Network’s Fifty Influential Minorities in Business Award, Lifetime Achievement Award in Business, American Telugu Association, Small Business Contractor of the Year, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jay is a PMI-certified PMP and a certified Professional Engineer (inactive) in the Commonwealth of Virginia, State of Maryland, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Prior to founding AceInfo in 2000, he worked at consulting companies such as KPMG, BearingPoint, EarthTech (Tyco International Company), and Ed Zublin AG. He began his career as a staff engineer working on military family housing projects in Germany and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in less than two years, he became the project manager on that account.