Stop the Presses: Nomination process begins for 40 Under 40

The nomination period for Springfield Business Journal's annual 40 Under 40 special event and publication is now under way. This is the third consecutive year the SBJ staff has undertaken the mission of recognizing and honoring 40 of the area's most outstanding young up-and-comers for their career and community achievements.

A glossy, magazine-style publication inserted with the Business Journal's April 16, 2001, issue will profile the young professionals chosen for honor. The goal of the coverage, beyond recognizing excellence, is to share with SBJ readers the reasons and motivations for their success.

An after-hours party and recognition ceremony will be held during the week of April 16 to honor the award recipients. Those who attend this gala event will have the opportunity to meet some of the most dedicated, influential and interesting people in southwest Missouri.

Because of the tight writing, editing, production and printing schedules required to present a publication worthy of the area's best and brightest young professionals, the nomination period is short. All materials required for candidacy must be turned in to the SBJ office by noon Feb. 5 no exceptions.

The staff is asking for your assistance with this major project. We urge our readers to nominate candidates for recognition in 2001 young men and women in the Springfield area who are coming into their own as leaders, achievers and newsmakers. A panel of judges drawn from previous years' award recipients will undertake the task of examining and scoring the candidates, and selecting the final 40 who will be honored.

To underscore the prestige of the 40 Under 40 recognition project, take a moment to read the list of the prominent honorees from the last two years. Then tell us about an outstanding individual who deserves a place on the roll of honor. We will then contact your nominee to gather the necessary information for candidacy.

1999 40 Under 40

Bruce K. Adib-Yazdi, Benjamin Alexander, Brad Bodenhausen, Lance T. Brown, Shaun Burke, Michael W. Burlew, Tim Chambers, Leigh Daniels, Kelly Danielson, Aimee Dixon, Steven D. Edwards, Lynn R. Feagan, Chuck Foster, Dwayne Fulk, Kim Gaisford, Kevin S. Gipson, Carla J. Green, Brendan K. Griesemer, Christopher A. Haller, Lu Ann Hancock, Kassie H. Jarvis, John L. Kent, Brian King, Tammy J. Kirks, Kristin Kubitschek, Brandy McShane, Toni Marra, Juliet Mee, Richard Ollis, Angela Morris, Robin E. Melton, Robin E. Robeson, Amy Horst Ruggeri, Don Schilling, Mark Andrew Shea, Gregory J. Tigges, Joseph W. Turner, Patricia Vitello, Randell D. Wallace, Tammy Wiley.

2000 40 under 40

Shawn Askinosie, Michelle Baltz, Jim Batten, Matt Blunt, Julie Turner Brown, Ginger Carpenter, Mark Carroll, John Everett, Tammy Fulk, Jon Gold, John Griesemer, Stacey Hammit, Mark Harrington, Venus Harry, David Kellett, Susan Kirkman, Jack Kramer, Michelle Nahon Leonard, Melinda Mancuso, Sam Meyer, Stephanie Stenger Montgomery, David Myers, Rob Neal, Luke Nixon, Chris Noble, John Penny, Bill Raney, Tom Rankin, Karen Rapier, Angela Richmond, Angela Stephens, Todd Thornhill, John Wanamaker, Jeff Wasson, Gary Wells, Jeff Wells, Mark West, Michelle West, Teri Whitmore, Susie Wieland.

To nominate a candidate for 2001's 40 Under 40 or to receive your own nomination package, contact Stacy Forbis, special products coordinator, at the Springfield Business Journal, 417-831-3238, or e-mail her at sforbis@sbj.net.

(Dianne Elizabeth is the publisher of the Business Journal.)