Business Journal names 40 Under 40 honorees

Business Journal names 40 Under 40 honorees

This year’s Grand Rapids Business Journal class of 40 Under 40 Business Leaders has a decidedly tech flavor.

The Business Journal will honor 40 of the region’s top young professionals later this month for their business success, entrepreneurial leadership and community service. Much of that success and leadership is occurring in the tech industry, with more than one-third of the honorees directly or indirectly involved in that space.

The publication’s annual 40 Under 40 party will be held from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 29 at 20 Monroe Live in downtown Grand Rapids.

Each year since 2002, the awards recognize 40 young professionals making a difference in West Michigan.

The keynote speaker at this year’s event will be 40 Under 40 Distinguished Alumnus Dante Villarreal, vice president of business and talent development at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, who will share his career path from migrant worker to executive.

Villarreal was a member of the Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class of 2011.

The event will feature food, drinks and pre-show entertainment by the Grand Rapids-based band Super Pretendo.

General admission tickets to the 21-and-older event are $75.

Tickets are available here.

40 Under 40

Jatnna Abreu, Amway

Chris Ake, Grand Apps

Jamon Alexander, West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology

Chris Andrus, The Mitten Brewing Co.

Luis Avila, Varnum LLP

Jessica Babcock, Suburban Inns

Hannah Berry, Lions & Rabbits

RC Caylan, RC Caylan Atelier

Melissa Clement, Sherpack

Jamie Cooper, Cannabiz Connection

Khumbo Croft, Gordon Food Service

Katie Ferris, BDO USA

Mike Goorhouse, Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Adom Greenland, ChoiceOne Bank

Nate Heyboer, DHE Plumbing & Mechanical

Brittany Hunter, Atomic Object

Joe Manica, United Bank

Brian McKeiver, BizStream

Amanda McVay, Meijer

Laina Mills, Legacy Trust

Cathy Monton, Manpower

Ciciley Moore, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Jordan Notenbaum, Mobile Defenders

Nick Nykerk, Lakewood Construction

Attah Obande, SpringGR

Jon O’Connor, Long Road Distillers

Dr. Rosemary Olivero, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital/Inspired Biometrics

Kelsey Perdue, Michigan League for Public Policy

Amanda Reed, Spectrum Health

Dave Riley, The Right Place Inc.

Amy Schoonover, Flirt Fitness

Jen Schottke, Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter

Alison Sleight, Thacker Sleight PC

Nate Smith, Digital Industry Group

Randy Tharp, Leidos

Laura Traxler, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

Nathan Vanderploeg, MessageWrap

Zach Verhulst, TowerPinkster

Ashley Ward, Hire for Hope

John White, Steelcase