40 Over 40 award nominees revealed
40 Over 40 award nominees revealed
Our hardworking judges are in the process of selecting 40 from this impressive group of 132
Today, we introduce you to a very special group of Charlotte residents — the nominees for the third-annual Charlotte Ledger 40 Over 40 Awards, Presented by U.S. Bank.
These 132 people, all ages 40 and up, come from diverse backgrounds, interests and corners of Charlotte, and are all working to make our city a better place in their own unique ways. They were nominated by friends or peers in a process that closed last month.
A panel of 15 responsible under-40 judges, chosen for their wisdom and common sense, is now toiling to select 40 of these impressive people as our third class of 40 Over 40 winners. It’s an independent panel judging the nominations on the merits, in a process designed to avoid pay-to-play considerations and behind-the-scenes corporate influence that sometimes taint similar award programs.
Once the winners are selected, they will be recognized in a special edition of The Ledger, and we will honor them on April 28 at a fun 1980s-themed party, with food, drinks, music and some surprises. More on that soon, but a roster of first-class sponsors has stepped up to help us celebrate the winners: U.S. Bank, Heartwood Tree Service, Jumbo, Fionix Consulting, Ducie Stark of Dickens Mitchener, Old Forester bourbon and CXN Consulting.
You can find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards at our dedicated website.
The contest is sponsored and run by The Charlotte Ledger, the locally owned e-newsletter that is taking Charlotte by storm by repeatedly breaking news and providing thoughtful and lively insights about Charlotte. If you need to sign up for The Ledger, which offers free and paid membership plans, you can do that here:
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And now, without further ado, here are our nominees:
Nicole Abinanti, Head of Women's Imaging, Novant Hospital System
Krista Adams, Owner/Director Mathnasium South Charlotte
Zurilma Anuel, Founder and CEO (ReliefBox), Carolina Small Business Development Fund/ Women’s Western Business Center
Kim Aprill, Executive Director, Feeding Charlotte
David (Dae-Lee) Arrington, Owner, Bridge Builder Consulting; Hue House, LLC
Brian Baltosiewich, Founder and Executive Producer, Queen City Podcast Network, and Founder of Balto Creative Media
Chris Berger, Vice President, Head of Enterprise Communications, Atrium Health
Phil Berman, Executive Director, Facilities and Building Services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Glenda Bernhardt, Chief Executive Officer, Freedom School Partners
Nancy Betler, Talent Development Teacher, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Vijay Bhojwani, President, Binaco Real Estate Investments
Lynda Bouchard, Founder/Literary Publicist, Booking Authors Ink
Sam Bowles, Managing Director, New Republic Partners
Tonya Brandon, Senior Managing Director, CBRE, Inc.
Jessica Bronzert, Founder & CEO, The Sparks Group
Janet Brooks, FSMPS, CPSM, Director of Business Development, Clark Nexsen
Jeff Bundy, Executive Director of Branding & Engagement, WFAE 90.7 FM
Greg Busch, President, Bespoke Sports & Entertainment
Stacy Cassio, Founder & CEO, Pink Mentor Network
Michael Chen, Counsel, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
Jonathan Coppedge-Henley, Pastor, Woodlawn Community Fellowship
Alyson Craig, Interim Planning Director, City of Charlotte
Deborah Crawford, Nurse, RN-BSN, Novant Health Care
Brandon Crumpton, President, Key Signature Entertainment
Nathan Currie, Principal, Bruns Avenue Elementary School
Greg Deese, Pharmacist, Oakhurst Pharmacy
Ted Dickson, History Department Chair, Providence Day School
John Dillard, CEO, ThreatSwitch Inc.
Fred Dodson, COO/EVP, DreamKey Partners, Inc.
Rita Dominguez, Manager, Community Health Workers, Atrium Health
Patty Dowdy, Partner, Blanq Business Advisors
Rick Dunlap, Director of Special Gifts, Harris YMCA
Susan Elkins, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, City of Charlotte
Michael Estramonte, Founder & CEO, StarMed Healthcare
Shanna-Lee Fair, Kindergarten Teacher, Eastside STREAM Academy
Faith Fickling-Alvarez, Judge, Mecklenburg County District Court
Patrick George, Owner & Benevolent Dictator, Heartwood Tree Service
Joe Giordano, CEO and Co-Founder, Payzer
Karen Graci, Executive Director, PFLAG Charlotte
Jermaine Green, Cybersecurity, Duke Energy
Marc Gustafson, Labor and Employment Lawyer, Bell, Davis, & Pitt
Bonnie Hall, Drama Teacher, South Mecklenburg High School
Joe Hamby, Director of Income Services, Roof Above
Robert Hannigan, Area Director of Operations, Kimpton Hotels
Teresa Hernandez, Entrepreneur/Advocate, PURA VIDA Worldly Art
Caleb Holloway, Associate General Counsel, Atrium Health
Melissa Hovey, Managing Director, SHARE Charlotte
Sanjay Iyer, Medical Director, Memory & Movement Charlotte
Josh Jacobson, CEO, Next Stage
Tonya Jameson, Senior Manager, Policy and Community Advocacy, Leading on Opportunity
Bryan Johnson, Executive Managing Director & Market Leader, Colliers
Sharisse Johnson, Executive Director, Camino Health Center
Glorisha Jones, Teacher, Thomasboro Academy Elementary
Brian Kahn, Partner, McGuireWoods, LLP
Tara Keener, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Foundation For The Carolinas
Lindsay Kelly, Teacher, Bailey Middle School
Marcie Kelso, Partner/Director of Accounts & Strategy, Kelso Communications
Demeka Kimpson, Band Teacher, Sedgefield Middle School
Rebecca LaClaire, Tribal Liaison Consultant, Upstream USA & Owner, LaClaire Construction, LLC
Amanda Lane, Drama Teacher, First Ward Elementary
Angela Lanning, ITS Chief Operating Officer, Premier Inc.
Kim Lanphear, CEO, Apparo
Peter Leo, Executive & Artistic Director, Carolina Voices
Terza Lima-Neves, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science, Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Johnson C. Smith University
Jane Llewelyn, Retired, Wellness Center Manager, Royal Insurance
Katie Lock, Teacher, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Kellie Lofton, Audit Manager & Vice President, Wells Fargo
Sarah Lofton, Pantry Manager, Holy Comforter Pantry, Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays
D.C. Lucchesi, Founder & Principal, Well-Run Media + Marketing
Bryan Maddex, Area Sales Manager & Senior Loan Officer, AmeriFirst Home Mortgage
Paul Marks, President, Beta Test Improv
Rachel Martin, Founder & Design Director, Mindful & Good
LaTanya McClurkin-Terrell, Teacher, Governors’ Village STEM Academy
Meg McElwain, Executive Director, Mitchell’s Fund
Marie McLucas, CFO, Primax Properties
Natasha McMichael, Global Experience Design Manager, Sealed Air
Daryle McNair, Founder & President, McNair Foundation Incorporated
David Mildenberg, Editor, Business North Carolina
Connie Mulroy, Special Olympics Cheer/Gymnastics Coach, Perfect Balance Training Center
Kurma Murrain, Community Programs Coordinator, The Mint Museum
Joe Mynatt, Program Manager, Common Wealth Charlotte
Nikki Nissen, VP Clinical Operations & Chief Nursing Officer, Novant Health Medical Group
Laura Noble, Founder & Managing Partner, The Noble Law
James O’Reilly, VP Global Real Estate, Honeywell
Steve Oreskovic, Teacher, Randolph Middle School
Scott Pacitti, Executive Director, Planet Improv
Mo Pandoria, Founder and CEO, IDOLIZE Brows and Beauty
Omar Parkes, Program Director, MeckEd
Brad Patterson, Director, LNG Projects, Duke Energy
Sharon Patterson, Preschool Teacher
Karen Pelletier, Director, Housing Innovation, Strategy & Alignment, Mecklenburg County
Ashley Pharr-Godbee, Director of Child Welfare, Thompson Child and Family Focus
Ryan Platt, CEO/Founder, A Special Needs Plan
Walter Price, Director of Public Affairs, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
Anna Priester, Crisis Prevention & Response Manager, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Erin Pugh, Kindergarten Teacher, Berewick Elementary School
Suzanne Pugh, CEO/President, Aldersgate Life Plan Services
Emily Ratliff, Executive Director, Claire’s Army
Sandra Rettis, Clinical Director, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Victory Family Counseling
Phanalphie Rhue, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Alma Adams
Meredith Ritchie, Senior Business Execution Consultant, Wells Fargo
Bradley Ritter, Executive Director / President, Charlotte Film Society
Christine Rodriguez, Attorney, Law Office of Christine A. Rodriguez
Angel Rutledge, Seminary Student & Start-Up Advisor & Angel Investor
Michael Sammut, Owner, Four Eyes Productions
Keba Samuel, Chair, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission
Joseph ("Jack") Santaniello, Partner, Shumaker Loop & Kendrick, LLP
John Short, Senior Vice President, Business Development Manager, Bank of America
Kit Sluder, Registered Nurse, Levine Cancer Center
Lou Solomon, Founder & CEO, Interact Studio
Tucker Sommerville, Volunteer Leader, Therapy Dog Events.
Randy Souther, Owner & President, SignArt
Veronica Southerland, Healthcare Entrepreneur, FLO Hydration & Wellness
Robin Stockton, Executive Director, Arts for ALL
Mike Sullivan, Broker, The Nichols Company
Jennifer, Szakaly, Founder & CEO, Caregiving Corner
Rokeya Thomas, CEO & Brand Strategist, Royal Consulting
Richard Thurmond, Senior VP for Community & Business Development, Center City Partners
Joanne Verkuilen, Founder & Managing Partner, MiddleM Creative
Angie Vincent-Hamacher, Shareholder, Robinson Bradshaw
Marty Viser, Project Manager & Community Relations Council Chair, Campbell’s Snacks
Landis Wade, Podcaster & Author
Victor Werany, Founder & President, SHRED Charlotte
Laura White, Director of Brand Marketing, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Marty White, Managing Partner, Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A.
Mary Wilken, Chief Operating Officer, Insite Properties, LLC
Greg Willingham, Owner & Promoter, JazzNSoul Productions
Douglas Wilson, CEO/Principal, Alexander Wilson Consulting
Judy Wishnek, Vice President, Commercial Market Executive, Truliant Federal Credit Union
Mary Lee Young, CFO, Friends of Feral Felines
Holly Zipperer, Director of Organizational Development, Monarch
An impressive list! Good luck to all.
— Tony Mecia, The Charlotte Ledger
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project