Nearly 100 were nominated by company CEOs, human resources and management professionals for the Twenty Under Forty awards program, which was initiated by the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance - the city-appointed economic development corporation - two years ago.
The program is part of a larger organization called the Young Professionals of Greater Lubbock, whose goal is to encourage a growing pool of college graduates to find careers in the Hub City as it continues to expand during the next 100 years.
"We feel this event is a way we can honor (young people) who have given back," said Gretchen Miller, who serves as the liaison between LEDA and the 500-plus member YPGL.
"These young professionals are committed to Lubbock. This is also a way for us to retain our graduates," Miller said.
This year's Twenty Under Forty finalists are:
Kelley Arencibia, Lubbock Independent School District; Richard Anthony Baker, Texas Tech; Emily Lauren Bennett, Caraway, McMahon & Co.; Anita Blakey, Communities in Schools on the South Plains; Branson Blodgett, Atmos Energy; Brain Borthwick Suddenlink Communications; Zach Brady, ZS Brady Co.
Also: Mindy Brashears, Texas Tech; Mary Jane Buerkle, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce; Jaclyn Canas Texas Tech Institute of Environmental and Human Health; Jeremy Cortez, Communities in School; Bill Curnow, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association; Tim Dallas, Texas Tech.
Also: William J. Davis Jr., TTU Health Sciences Center; Amber Dean, Texas Tech; Carrie Edwards,
TTU Health Sciences Center; Karen Esquibel, TTU Health Sciences Center; Alisa Falls, Lubbock Heart Hospital; Travis Funk, Wells Fargo & Co.; Vince Garcia, Lubbock ISD; Cindy Harper, Texas Tech; and Stephanie Howard, Lubbock ISD.
Penny Hull, Suddenlink Communications; Kendra Lansdell, Miss Social Butterfly LLC; Keith Larremore, PlainsCapital Bank; Garrett McKinnon, National Oil & Lube News; Angela Medlock, City Bank; Stacey Mincey - Parkhill, Smith & Cooper; and Christy Moreland, KCBD-TV.
Brad Neu, Lubbock ISD; Jamey Phillips, Phillips & McLaren LLP; Raquel Quigley, office of U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer; David Quinn, city of Levelland; Todd Reno, Reese Technology Center; Robert Rodriquez, Alderson Enterprises; and Victor Salazar, American State Bank.
Also: Dr. Robert Schmid, Schmid Plastic Surgery; Juliann Scholl, Texas Tech; Paul Stell, Stellar Development Co.; and Jonathon Zeigner, Parkhill, Smith & Cooper.
This year's 20 award winners will be announced at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Texas Tech's Alumni Pavilion.
Tickets, which are $10 per person, can be purchased Monday at the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, Wells Fargo Center, 1500 Broadway, sixth floor, or contact LEDA at 723-8246.
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