Claire Childs, Renisha Sanders

2020 Top 40 Under Forty

The Young Professionals Initiative, the young professionals’ program of the Greater Shreveport Chamber in Northwest Louisiana, debuted its 2020 40 Under Forty class on Friday, Aug. 21.

YPI enlisted a special committee to select 40 young professionals under the age of 40 who make a significant impact in Shreveport-Bossier. These individuals were selected based on values, such as professionalism, achievement, experience, innovation, vision, leadership and community involvement. YPI looks forward to recognizing each honoree for making Northwest Louisiana a better place to live, work and play for the entire community.

“This year, the bar was set high. We received almost 200 nominations from all over Northwest Louisiana, and it was a challenge to pick only 40 honorees,” said YPI’s Chair Committee President Jana Freeman Forrest. “The outstanding level of professional achievement and community involvement we see in this 40 Under Forty class proves that the place we call home is attracting and retaining some of the country’s brightest young professionals.”

The 2020 40 Under Forty class includes: Janet Attaway, Bossier Parish School Board – Elm Grove Middle School; Wesley Bange, Bossier Parish Community College; Candice Battiste, J.D., Power Coalition for Equity and Justice; Brennan Bernard, Core Physical Therapy and Performance; Parker Brown, Jayhawk Properties Inc.; Damien Chapman, Orlandeaux’s Café; Jessica Comegys, Glow Alchemy Kitchen; Mallory Cooper, Bossier Parish School Board; Jordan Dieck, Bossier Parish Schools; Brittney Dunn, B&D Tax & Accounting Services, LLC; Katrina Farris, Shreveport Bossier African- American Chamber of Commerce; Katherine Gilmer, Gilmer & Giglio, LLC; Julian Gluck, United States Air Force; Michael Gould, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC; Jenni Grisham, Ochsner LSU Medical Center; Badreka Harper, KTBS 3 News; John Hawkins, ClearView Church; Kirkikis Canna Hill, Omni Specialty Packaging, LLC; Charles E. Johnson, Alpha Media and CeJay Enterprises; Halena Jones, Step Forward; Katy Larsen, The Agora Borealis; Wesley Lazarus, Progressive Bank; Dr. Teresa Manley, Petroleum Club of Shreveport; Angel Martin, LSU Shreveport; Kevin Nolten, Cyber Innovation Center; Jennifer Norris Soto, Ayres, Shelton, Williams, Benson & Paine, LLC; Mayor Adrian Perkins, City of Shreveport; Connor Peterson, Keith D. Peterson & Company Inc.; Brittany Pier, Linwood Public Charter School; Brittany Pike, CYBER.ORG; Franchesca Posey, Girl Scouts of Louisiana; Candice Ratliff, M.A., General Dynamics Information Technology; Marquel Nicol Sennet, KTAL/KMSS & Southern University at Shreveport; Erin Pyles Smith, Maltshop Marketing, LLC; Kim Stephens, Metro Aviation; Britt Elizabeth, Britt Elizabeth Photography; Onega Ulanova, LA New Product Development Team; Dellanee Wade, Southern University at Shreveport; Shuntay Wilson, Bossier Parish Schools; Elizabeth Wong, McMichael, Medlin, D’Anna, Wedgeworth, & Lafargue, LLC.

The honorees will be recognized at YPI’s 14th annual 40 Under Forty Gala, which will be presented by 318 Forum, on Saturday, Dec. 5. From the list of honorees, one will be named the 2020 Young Professional of the Year during the gala event.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, YPI will host this year’s gala virtually. This will allow YPI to celebrate with the honorees while also adhering to the safety guidelines of social distancing and avoiding crowded spaces.

“We are excited to be able to do some innovative things with this year’s program and class events, and soon we will be sharing the sponsorship options and tickets available, enabling the community, family members and employers to show their support for the honorees’ accomplishments,” Claire Childs, YPI 40 Under Forty chair.

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