It’s that time again, when the Dallas Business Journal releases the list of young professionals who made it to the coveted “40 Under 40” roster.
Announced June 17, this year’s class includes 15 women and 25 men, ranging in age from 27 to 39. The chosen few are not only impressive professionally, but personally and civically, this group offers an inspiring array of skill sets, passions and causes.
This year, I had the distinct pleasure of serving on the judges panel alongside several other “40 Under 40” alums from recent years. And I can officially attest to the difficultly of selecting the individuals to be awarded this honor.
These young professionals are running marathons on the weekends and executing million-dollar business deals on Monday.
The task to whittle down that list from hundreds of accomplished career- and community-oriented individuals to only 40 names is, to say the least, not an easy one.
But whittle we did. Those who made the cut are key executives for some of the city’s largest organizations. They are making a massive impact in the lives of Dallasites from a civic perspective. They are dentists and attorneys. Entrepreneurs and financial advisors. They are family men and women.
They are running marathons on the weekends and executing million-dollar business deals on Monday. These are the individuals who are asked constantly, "Do you ever have time to sleep?"
All together, one might wonder what this group can’t do. And the fact that they’re under 40 means they’ve only just begun.
Here are this year’s top 40 young professionals, as chosen by the DBJ:
Malcolm Allen, CEO, MyCEO Inc.
Donna Anderson, owner and president, DNA Transcomp and Houdek Enterprises Inc.
Evan Beattie, principal, Good Fulton & Farrell
Erica Bramer, executive vice president and partner, The BVA Group
Bryan Carter, senior pastor, Concord Church
Heath Cheek, associate, Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP
Kristen Colby, senior director of marketing, Front Burner Restaurants
Missy Cousino, managing director of internal and labor communications, American Airlines
Catherine Cuellar, executive director, Dallas Arts District
Maribel De Leon-Cantu, business adviser, Dallas SBDC
Dena DeNooyer Stroh, general counsel and corporate secretary, Murchison Oil and Gas Inc.
Bill DiGaetano, chief operating officer, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – DFW
Gabriella Draney, co-founder and CEO, Tech Wildcatters
Lacy Durham, tax manager, Deloitte LLP
Sarah Erickson, senior vice president and partner, Stream Realty Partners
Derrick Evers, CEO, Neal Richards Group
Danielle Girdano, president, D'fine Scultping & Nutrition LLC
Jonathan Gross, Co-CEO, Fusion Packaging
Dan Healy, CEO, Civitas Capital Management LLC
Clint Herzog, founder and CEO, Floss Dental
Stephen Holley, associate, Jones Lang LaSalle
Matt Houston, executive director, Group Excellence
Stephanie Johnson, founder and CEO, Bed Rest Concierge
Omar Khan, Co-CEO, NQ Mobile
Kevin Lavelle, owner, Mizzen + Main
Jay Liberman, associate vice president - financial advisor, RBC Wealth Management
Brian Livingston, CFO, Firebird Restaurant Group
Terrence Maiden, executive vice president, Corinth Properties
Kim Moore, marketing manager, City of Dallas Office of Economic Development
Carl Pankratz, city councilman/vice president legal counsel, City of Rowlett/Capital Title
Ben Patterson, president, Patterson & Associates Insurance Agency Inc.
Ward Richmond, vice president, Colliers International
Jon M. Ruff, senior vice president, Spire Realty Group LP
Chad Schieber, director of client services, The Beck Group
Edward Spooner, business development manager, Turner Construction Co.
Whitney Strauss, director of alumni relations and major gifts, Greenhill School
Myiesha Taylor, physician, Taylored Physician Professional Association
Jeronimo Valdez, founder and managing partner, Valdez Washington LLP
Ryan Valdez, partner, Cantey Hanger LLP
Brian Vanderwoude, shareholder, Winstead PC
Honorees will receive their awards at the Brookhaven Country Club on August 28 at 5:30 pm. Tickets can be obtained through the Dallas Business Journal.
Neal Richards Group CEO Derrick Evers with actress Viola Davis.
