19-03-2025
31st annual '40 under 40′ recognizes young Peoria-area leaders
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — 40 people under the age of 40 were celebrated for their efforts in the workplace and in the central Illinois community Tuesday night.
The event was held at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria, and recipients ranged from business owners to government officials to nonprofit leaders.
Peoria's public broadcast station WTVP hosted the event, highlighting the successes of the recipients while giving them a chance to mingle with other movers and shakers from central Illinois.
One of the recipients, Pierre Anyansi, is a network security engineer for Advanced Medical Transport, and he appreciated the recognition.
'You work to make the place you live a better place and to have the community recognize you just for doing your normal day is an honor and a privilege,' he said.
Anyansi is from Chicago and went to school in Jamaica, describing Peoria as 'a home away from home.' He hopes the event can get people to be more involved in the community.
WTVP's CEO Jenn Gordon said the station is 'proud' to continue the annual event.
'It is a privilege to tell their stories and inspire future leaders to invest in central Illinois with the same passion, sacrifice, and commitment displayed by these 40 leaders under 40,' she said.
Here is the full list of recipients:
Pierre Anyansi, Network Security Engineer, Advanced Medical Transport
Alexander Bousky, Section Manager, Caterpillar
Brett Brooks, Founder, Bee Squared Films
Nickolas Connor, Firefighter, City of Peoria
Raquel Dagit, Commercial Talent Development Manager, Caterpillar
Everley Davis, Assistant Curator and Community Engagement Coordinator, PeoriaRiverfront Museum
Adam Donahoe, Senior Manager, RSM US LLP
Marissa Draney, Principal, Peoria Academy
Mariama Ford, Director of Human Resources and Finance, Central Illinois FRIENDS
Ryan Foster, Founder, Budded Mattah
Baylee Gambetti, Designated Managing Broker, RE/MAX Traders Unlimited
Ben Getz, Director of Internal Audit, RLI Insurance Company
Jona Hall, Founder and CEO, Illuminate: Lighting the Way Against Trafficking &Abuse
Michelle Hayes, Director of Foster Care, Children's Home Association of Illinois
Reagan Leslie, Principal Designer, Leslie Tyler Design & Build
Francie Hinrichsen, Founder, Founding Females
Ronnie Hudson II, Systems Engineering Team Lead, Caterpillar
Danielle Jepson, Account Executive, Adams Outdoor Advertising
Alexandra Kaiser, Funeral Prearrangement Specialist, Funeral Directors Life
Alicia Kamischke, Project Management Officer/SLED Market Lead, Prairie Engineers
Kerry Klesath, Special Education Association of Peoria County, Director
Devon Knobloch, Vice President – Commercial Banking Officer, Fortress Bank
Brett Kolditz, Assistant Attorney General, Illinois Attorney General's Office
Kimberly Ku, Clinical Oncologist and Hematologist, Illinois Cancercare
Alexandria Lavin, President, The Yellow Bear Foundation
Lisa Martin, CFO, Midwest Food Bank
Michaura Pittman, Counselor, Manual High School
Claudia Plumer, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Illinois College ofMedicine Peoria – Pediatric Resource Center
Nicole Rau, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Liridon Rrushaj, Director of Venture Investing, OSF Ventures
Joshua Schnauber, Transportation Manager, Caterpillar
Maxwell Schneider, Real Estate Broker, Keller Williams Premier Realty
Adam Shaw, Director of Finance, Greater Peoria Sanitary District
Jami Truelove, President/CEO, Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters
Pat Venditte, Account Executive, Pearl Technology
Christi Walker, Bookkeeper, Walker Excavating
Judy Wang, Owner, Judy's Family Cafe
Michael 'JoJo' Winters, Jr., Skilled Trades Coordinator, Dream Center Peoria
Michelle Wolfe, Teacher of the Deaf, Charter Oak Primary School
Charlie Zimmerman, Principal, Metamora Township High School
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