The irony of Lynch's business is that the better she does her job, the fewer people know of her work. Courtesy Associates is the unseen hand that makes major events run smoothly.

Lynch came to Washington from Toledo hoping to find a job with the federal government. Jane Marilley, a friend of the family and the firm's founder, offered Lynch a job with Courtesy Associates.

Lynch began running conferences and special events. By 1973 she was vice president. When Marilley died in 1976, Lynch became president. Under her leadership, Courtesy's annual revenues doubled to more than $15 million. The company's focus also changed – moving away from business services for individuals to conference and event planning for associations and federal agencies.

While she was growing Courtesy Associates, Louise Lynch also brought boundless energy to the Washington business and nonprofit communities. She has served on more than 40 boards and received dozens of honors, including being named Man of the Year by The Greater Washington Board of Trade.

Last April, Lynch became chair emeritus of Courtesy Associates as it was being acquired by Smith, Bucklin & Associates, one of the world's largest association-management firms. Courtesy will still be Courtesy, Lynch says. Conferences and meetings that bring people together will never be replaced by high tech communications networks, she believes.

"There is no substitute for people meeting with people," she says. "That's what our business is built on."