Dallas Young Professionals

Choosing this year's 40 Under 40 for Dallas Business Journal proves hard work

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.

Clint Herzog of FLOSS Dental.

Clint Herzog Facebook

Clint Herzog of FLOSS Dental.

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Money News

E.Sun Bank from Taiwan opens first location in buzzy Dallas market

Courtesy

E. SUN Bank

There's a new bank in town: E.Sun Bank, a financial institution from Taiwan, has opened a representative office in Dallas, at 2323 Ross Ave #730 — becoming the first Taiwanese bank in the city.

Founded in 1992, E.Sun Bank is one of Taiwan’s leading financial institutions, known for its customer-centric approach, digital innovation, and commitment to sustainability, with a growing international footprint in 35 locations across 11 countries.

The Dallas office is the second E.Sun location in the U.S. following Los Angeles, expanding its footprint to serve Taiwanese, Asian, and U.S. enterprises.

It marks Phase 1 of E.Sun’s Dallas expansion, with plans to offer full banking services — including corporate and commercial lending, trade finance, real estate project loans, and cross-border advisory support — after they receive regulatory approval to operate as a U.S. branch. In the interim, clients will be referred to E.Sun’s Los Angeles branch, ensuring seamless service continuity and responsive support for businesses navigating international growth.

A press release notes that Dallas is riding "unprecedented momentum," leading the nation in corporate headquarters relocations and business expansions in recent years. (The release even credits CultureMap Dallas for this declaration, making this absolutely one of the best press releases ever sent out in the history of PR.)

Fueled by a pro-business climate, a surge in tech sector investment, and the launch of the Texas Stock Exchange, the region has become a magnet for international capital — including major commitments from Taiwanese companies such as GlobalWafers, Foxconn, Wistron, and Inventec.

To celebrate the opening of its Dallas office, E.Sun hosted a gala event on October 30 which was attended by Chairman Huang, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno, Director General Yvonne Hsiao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, members of the Greater Dallas Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from both U.S. and Taiwanese enterprises. The evening culminated in a cultural performance by the E.Sun choir, symbolizing the bank’s commitment to bridging cultures as well as economies.

The Dallas office complements the recently launched Taiwan Trade and Investment Center and reflects the deepening partnership between Taiwan and Texas, a relationship further reinforced by record-setting bilateral trade — totalling $25.6 billion in 2024 — and the launch of a direct Taipei-Dallas flight, which underscore the growing ties between the two economies. And let's not forget Taiwan concepts like Chicha San Chen, the Taiwanese tea chain that recently opened a location in Carrollton, where it's drawing lines around the block.

“Our new Dallas office is more than geographic expansion—it’s a commitment to powering the economic synergy between Taiwan and Texas,” says E.SUN Financial Holding Company chairman Joseph Huang. “As the region attracts global capital and innovative industries, we are proud to serve as both catalyst and cornerstone for the next era of U.S.-Asia partnership, supporting Taiwanese enterprises and facilitating mutually beneficial investments.”

openings

Dallas Young Professionals

Choosing this year's 40 Under 40 for Dallas Business Journal proves hard work

Clint Herzog of FLOSS Dental.

Money News

E.Sun Bank from Taiwan opens first location in buzzy Dallas market

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