Forty young professionals under the age of 40 have been selected by a special committee of the Young Professional Initiative (YPI) to be honored with the 40 Under 40 award at the 11th Annual Northwest Louisiana Young Professionals Gala presented by The Forum on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Shreveport Convention Center.

From the list of 40 Under 40 honorees, one will be named the 2017 Young Professional of the Year. This particular announcement will be made at the gala.

This year’s celebration is a record-breaking one, as 264 nominations were submitted, more than ever before.

The 2017 40 Under 40 class includes:

Sabrina Adsit, Film Prize Foundation; Allie Aiello, Bossier Parish District Attorney's Office; Desiree Alexander, Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL); Gabriel Balderas, El Cabo Verde; Courtney Spradlin Bryan, BRF; Leigh Anne Chambers, Shreveport Symphony; Margo Clendenin, Christus Shreveport-Bossier Foundation; Konstantin Dolagn, LA New Product Development Team; Katherine Douthitt, Blanchard Walker O'Quinn & Roberts; William Fish Jr., Lt. Col. USAF, Barksdale Air Force Base; Adam Foret, University Veterinary Hospital; Catherine Foret, DVM, University Veterinary Hospi tal;

Jana Freeman, Bank of Montgomery; Julie Gilley, EAP/Biomed; Adria Goins, KSLA 12; Sean Green, BIZ Magazine; Jordan Harris, Christus Health Shreveport-Bossier; Wendy Horton, Langley, Parks, Horton and Maxwell, LLC; Taylor Jamison, Strategic Action Council; Neco Johnson, U.S. Air Force; Dr. Nashawna Joseph, Southern University & Shreveport/ centre 4 M.O.R.E; Heidi Kemple Martin, Shreveport Bar Association; Elizabeth Killough, Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC; Rich Lamb, Weiner, Weiss & Madison; Crystal Lauve, Lauve Pediatrics; Nick Lebrun, Lebrun Outdoors; Valerie Montet, Caesar’s Entertainment/ Horseshoe/ Harrah's; Shannon Nichols, Regions Bank; Terry Petzold, Magee Resource Group, LLC; Joshua K. Porter, Shreveport Regional Arts Council; Arien Ragster, Dress for Success Shreveport-Bossier; Marvin D. Rainey, M. Ed. Caddo Schools - Midway Elementary School; Ronnie Remedies, Shreveport Limousine; Allison Rhymes, Southland Home Health; Leslie Smith, AFS Logistics; Britney Spivey, Simply Chic Boutique Bossier; Melissa Stewart, Now You're Cooking; Lauren Vizza, KTAL-NBC6 / KSHV-V45; David Watters, Morris & Dickson Co., L.L.C; and Mary Wood, Caddo Parish School Board.

“The 2017 40 Under 40 Class is as professionally diverse as I’ve ever seen! This year’s class is comprised of a wonderful array of Northwest Louisiana’s best and brightest young professionals who are making a difference in their professional industries as well as in their communities,” said YPI’s president, Kourtney Washington. “On behalf of YPI, it will be our pleasure to honor this year’s amazing group of young professionals at our annual gala in December.”

The Dec. 2 gala will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. at the Shreveport Convention Center. General seating tickets are $65 per person, and sponsorships are available for the event. Tickets and sponsorships are available.

For ticket information, contact the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce at 318- 677-2500.