Honorees provide inspiration

I consider myself fortunate, however, that I’m not charged with the task of choosing the honorees. That formidable job is placed in the hands of our independent judges, about whom you can read more on page 2.

This year, the judges had to choose 40 up-and-comers from a crop of nearly 120 applicants.

Each applicant was asked to answer a series of five questions about their job duties, professional accomplishments, personal and professional goals, community involvement and what seemed to be the hardest question: Why do you deserve a spot among SBJ’s 2007 40 Under 40 honorees?

From that particular question, I learned that this group of achievers is a humble one – many were hesitant when it came to that question, considering it an honor to be nominated and struggling with an answer beyond that.

This group also is not afraid of taking risks, as is apparent by the number who have recently started their own businesses – sometimes while continuing their “regular jobs” and their community volunteer efforts. I am thinking that these people are simply not familiar with the concept of free time!

I am inspired by the stories of this group of my under-40 cohorts. They have encouraged me to evaluate my own work, my own volunteer efforts and my own goals, to look for ways to do more – and to do it better.

I hope that you will find inspiration, too.

Maria Hoover

Features Editor