You’ve known them for years, while they’ve toiled away at making their mark on the city.
Perhaps they’re an avid political operative, building relationships and overseeing negotiations that will forever alter the city. Maybe they’re a local entrepreneur, creating an innovative product that will impact the world. Or, maybe they’ve dedicated their life to helping those less fortunate and building a stronger community through a nonprofit or coalition of the same. Maybe this person is all three.
That’s who we asked you to tell us about during out our open nomination process earlier this month. Then, our panel of esteemed judges from various sectors of the community, including leaders in business, education, the arts, the LGBTQ community and the non-profit sector carefully considered each nominee from a list of hundreds, and chose just 40 to honor this year.
The Long Beach Post is proud to announce this year’s 40 Under 40 winners. In no particular order, the winners are:
Marcelle Epley
President and CEO, Long Beach Community Foundation
Noel Hacegaba
Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Long Beach
Jason Lehman
Long Beach Police Officer, Founder/President, Why’d You Stop Me
John Keisler
Director, Bloomberg Innovation Team
Cory Allen
Chief of Staff, Office of Long Beach Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez
Jeremy Harris
Senior Vice President, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Yair Katz
Chief Financial Officer, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Christine Robbins
Photographer, Willow Fields Photography
Emily Ann Ghosh
Founding Partner & Chief Executive Pawfficer, Live Love Animal Rescue
Maura Velasco
Chief Financial Officer, Long Beach Police Department
Brenda Rivera
Director of Special Events, Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
Jessica Foults
State Director, Best Buddies California
Howard Wu
Principal, Urban Commons
Daryl James
Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Long Beach
Stacy R. Mungo
Fifth District Councilwoman, Long Beach City Council
Brian Addison
Communications Manager, Downtown Long Beach Associates
Arturo Aguayo
Director of Financing, University of Southern California
Brian Hagens
CEO, Dreamdads
Elaine Buckner
Owner, Le Bijou Boutique
Jeff Boulter
President, Sir Brilliant LLC
Katie Fraser
Co-Founder & Owner, Roe + May, LLC
Jackie Loughery
Co-Founder & Owner, Roe + May, LLC
LaDawn Best
Board Chair and President, The LGBTQ Center Long Beach
Lisa Mae Brunson
Founder, Wonder Women Tech
Katie Rispoli Keaotamai
Founder and Executive Director, We Are The Next
Deni Volkoff
Entrepreneur, Banker, and Non-Profit Board Member
Ben Camp
Director of Community Ministries, Belmont Heights United Methodist Church
Alex Naticchioni
Founder and CEO, Long Beach Jerky Company and The Wine Bar
Ashton McKeown
Goalkeeper, Long Beach State Women’s Soccer; National Representative, Student Athlete Advisory Committee
Brian Walsh
Athletic Director, St. Anthony High School
ChayaLeah Sufrin
Education Director, Shul by the Shore
Deena Abuyounes
Community Outreach and Operations Manager, The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach
Griselda Suárez
Executive Director, Arts Council for Long Beach
Kehau Fujikami
Associate Director, Long Beach BLAST
Samantha Argosino
Owner, The Brass Lamp Bar
Sanjin Malesevic
Filmmaker
Whitney Leathers
Executive Director, Long Beach Day Nursery
Kyle Schroeder
Co-Founder, Cremo Company
Caitlin Hogan
Owner and CEO, GYM NO. 4 / Fourth Street Annex
Jason Docton
Director and CEO, Anxiety Gaming
These winners will be honored and presented with their award by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia at our 40 Under 40 awards event hosted by Long Beach Post Publisher Cindy Allen Thursday, September 29 at 6:00PM at the Hotel Maya.
The event is open to the public and will feature appetizers and dinner, cocktails, a live DJ, dancing, entertainment and a chance for us to recognize these winners as leaders in our community.
To RSVP and share the event with your friends and family, visit our Facebook event page here.
Tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets here.
Congratulations again to all of our winners, and thank you for making Long Beach a better place.