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Forty Under 40
Date & Time
Event Location
Forty Under 40 recognizes up and coming business professionals — Under the age of 40 — based on their professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change.
Save the Date
May 5, 2026
The Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad Street
Richmond VA 23220
Virginia Business will host our first 40 under 40 event in May 2025. This event recognizes and brings together the future leaders of Virginia. These individuals will be honored for achieving success in their careers and giving back in a meaningful way to the Virginia community.
What is the nomination process and the steps to take?
Once the online nomination form is completed an automated email will be sent to the individual nominated (the email address entered in the “Nominee Email” field) and a submission receipt will be sent to the email placed in the “Nominator’s Email” field.
In order for the nominee to continue with the process they must fill out the application form by the application deadline listed in the automated email and on the corresponding event landing page.
How can I be considered for the Forty Under 40 award?
In order to be considered, candidates:
– Must demonstrate significant professional accomplishment within your category as well as strong civic commitment in our community;
– Must be employed in Virginia
– Must be 39 years of age or younger as of Oct. 31, 2025; and
– May be self-nominated or nominated by another person.
While anyone can nominate, we recommend nominations come from a senior leader in the candidate’s organization or another member of the nonprofit board the candidate sits on. It is then required that the nominee go through the entire application process, please see above response for more details on that.
Who are the judges and what are they looking for when selecting the Forty Under 40?
A panel of judges including Virginia Business editors will select the 2025 Forty Under 40 honorees. It is essential that the candidate demonstrate professional excellence as well as making significant contributions in the community. It is helpful to have at least one letter of recommendation from someone that can speak to both of these achievements.
Can I save the nomination or application forms while I’m working on them?
Unfortunately, at this time you cannot, but we’re working to fix that. In the meantime, we suggest either filling out the forms on a separate sheet of paper and/Word Doc first or be prepared to spend some time in the form.
If I’m an honoree, do I need to purchase a ticket?
You do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself if you are an honoree. All other attendees must purchase a ticket. Please, note that attendance for all Virginia Business is limited based on venue. Honorees and sponsors are guaranteed tickets. Individual tickets will only go on sale if space is available after sponsorship deadlines.
What is included in sponsorship packages?
Sponsorship opportunities to include a table for your guests, multimedia marketing, logo usage and much more depending on the level your company selects. For more sponsorship information and benefits please contact your account manager or email [email protected]
Can I buy an ad in the publication?
Please contact your advertising account manager at e[email protected] to place an add or purchase a sponsorship package.
2026 Honorees
Peter Askin, ThompsonMcMullan
Peter Bilzerian, MPP Insights
Lee Ann Brinkman, JLL
Katie Buckler, VHC Health
Leon Burns, Open Technology Group
Elizabeth Chapman, Williams Mullen
Will Clements, The Bank of Southside Virginia
Curtis Cobert Jr., City of Hampton Economic Development
Chelsea Copan, TowneBank
Harry Davis IV, Sussex Development Corp.
B. Kerem Demirci, Orr Partners
Michael Evans, Hampton Roads Alliance
Alexandra Fabling, Phlow Corp.
Ramain Gohar, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
David Harlow, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
Lindsey Haught, HTR Logistics
Jennifer Johnson, W.M. Jordan Co.
Sharon Manana, WPA (Work Program Architects)
Christopher McNamara, Virginia Housing
Shannon Murphy, Sentara Health
Ona Omorogbe, Sentara Health
William Palmer, Kaufman & Canoles
Jacob Pierce, Woods Rogers
Will Pizzano, Pizzano Contractors
Michael Poluka, STIHL Inc.
Luke Roark, Commonwealth Contractors
Dan Roberts, Virginia Tourism Corp.
Kelsey Robertson, TECHnista
Georgia Schelberger, Towne Insurance
Juan Pablo Segura, Commonwealth of Virginia
William Smith, Dominion Energy
Abby Smith, Qantm Creative
Cara Stewart, St. Mary’s Health Wagon
Kevin Sweeney Jr., Colonna’s Shipyard
Cassidy Taylor, Access Point Public Affairs
Christina Todd, Cary Street Partners
Mallory Tuttle, Virginia Tech
Vijay Vaswani, Mason SBDC Regional Partnerships (Small Business Development Center)
Davis Watson, Ferguson Enterprises
Patrick Whelan, TowneBank
2025 Forty Under 40 Honorees
Rachel Willer Adams
ThompsonMcMullan, P.C.
Zenith Barrett
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys
Barbara Grace Benesh
Grace Design
R. Patrick Bolling
Woods Rogers
Laura Hayes Chalk
Virginia Beach Vision
Chris Coon
County of Louisa
Andrew Davis
Branch Group
Jake Elder
Chesterfield County Economic Development
Meredith King Elliott
TowneBank
Kelly Gee
Office of the Governor
Sam Gilkeson
VHC Health
Michael Gregg
Peterson Companies
Ryan A. Hanson
Kaleo Legal
JT Hasty
Towne Insurance
Chernelle N. Hill
Sentara Health
Christopher Price Hirth
Capital Square
Peyton Carter Krzyzewski
Qantm Creative
Jaclyn Lautz
ivWatch
Sarah Marshall
Dominion Energy
John Matthews
Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County
James J. McNamara II
City of Chesapeake
Melissa Stratton Moffa
Chartway Credit Union
Emily Sears Mordecai
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Ashleigh Denise Newman-Twyman
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Christopher P. Pierson
Sentara Healthcare
Samantha Engle Price
Pender Family of Pet Care Companies
Christopher “CJ” Ratliff
The Health Wagon
Ashley Reynolds
Cloth & Paper
Jenna Elise Rolfs
University of Lynchburg
Bryan Rothamel
Culpeper County
Avery Durell Rouse
The Breeden Company
Justin A. Saunders
Hampton Roads Chamber
Ross William Snare IV
UVA Health
Andy Spicknall
Bon Secours Hampton Roads
Nirali Raval Trovato
Towne Wealth Management, Raymond James
Jelisa Turner
County of Henrico
Abigail R. Wescott
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Troy Wiipongwii
Institute for Integrative Conservation
James A. Wiltshire III
Bank of America
Benming Zhang
Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.
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