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