40 Under 40 Gala: The Young Professional Initiative of Northwest Louisiana celebrated this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees in early December at the Shreveport Convention Center. These young leaders were selected from 260 nominees. Out of the final 40 honorees, one is awarded the title of Young Professional of the Year by a committee. Lt. Col. William Fish Jr. of Barksdale Air Force Base received the 2017 Young Professional of the Year Award. He was selected based on his outstanding professional and community accomplishments.

40 Under 40 Gala

1) Jennifer and Lt. Col. William Fish

2) Naomi and Kurt Schendzielos

3) Jennifer Hill, Jill Wynne and Jodi Glorioso

4) Arien Ragster and Connie Rogers

5) Christie Rodriguez and Katie Bursley

6) Ryan Smith, Leslie Smith, David Awalt, Lindsay Nelson

7) Charnae McDonald, Carlotta Ashew- Brown and Joshua Robinson

8) Yelena Ulanova, Onega Ulanova, Konstantin Dolgan, Karen Mallahan and Lee Mallahan III

9) Beth Pierce, Heather Harris, Natalie Steinsholt, Christopher Steinsholt