The Young Professional Initiative, a young professionals program of the Greater Shreveport Chamber in Northwest Louisiana, debuted its 2019 40 Under Forty class Thursday.
YPI enlisted a special committee to select 40 young professionals under the age of forty from Northwest Louisiana based on values such as achievement, experience and innovation, vision, leadership, and community involvement. YPI created the special committee to honor 40 young professionals making significant impact in Shreveport-Bossier making it a better place to live, work, and play.
“This year, the bar was set high. We received more than 200 nominations from all over Northwest Louisiana, and it was a challenge to pick only 40 honorees,” said YPI’s Chair Committee President Colton Kyle. “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 2019 40 Under Forty class includes:
- LaToya Amos, New York Life Insurance Company;
- Sheena Bryant, North Louisiana Economic Partnership;
- Andrea Butler, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs;
- Jeremy Cave, CenturyLink;
- Veronica Cook, Christus Highland Medical Center/Christus Health Shreveport Bossier;
- Joshua Copeland, GDIT;
- Damarcus Davis; Willis Knighton Health System;
- LaTari Fleming, Seedlinks Behavior Management;
- Patton Fritze, Red River Chevrolet;
- Tharwat Ghattas, Sound Physicians;
- Carie Hart, Lola Magazine;
- Jessica Hawkins, Centenary College of Louisiana;
- Michael E. Hollister, United States Air Force;
- Jennifer Horton, United Way of Northwest Louisiana;
- Lauren Jackson, Regions Mortgage;
- Dr. Donna Johnson, Louisiana Tech University;
- Spencer Kiper, Bossier Parish School Board;
- Carly Koen, United Way of Northwest Louisiana;
- Eric Lang, Lang Orthodontics;
- Deidra Lewis-Robertson, Community Renewal;
- Elissa Little, Little Realty Inc.;
- James Lowder, Southern Roots Dentistry;
- Lisa Mason-Hollins, Caddo Parish Schools;
- Trey McGuire, The Warrior Network;
- Taunton Melville, Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts, PLC;
- Candice Mills, Providence House;
- LaKeisha Myles Towner, AEP/SWEPCO
- Laura Beeman Nugent, Robinson Film Center;
- Sam Ortiz, The Philadelphia Center;
- Lindsey Pennington, MD, Lindsey Pennington, MD Facial Plastics;
- John Gray Pou, Merrill Lynch;
- Claire Sevier, Heard, McElroy & Vestal LLC;
- Emily Smith, Community Foundation of North Louisiana;
- Michael Smith, Pioneer Comfort Systems;
- Aaron Storer, Storer Services;
- Bevin Sutton Hicks, Lola Magazine;
- Luke Thaxton, Thaxton Title;
- Dr. Candice Webert, Caddo Parish Schools;
- Devin White, Caddo Parish Schools;
- Joysaline Young, LCSW, NSW-C, Brentwood Hospital
The honorees will be recognized at YPI’s 13th annual 40 Under Forty Gala, which is presented by 318 Forum, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at the Shreveport Convention Center. From the list of Honorees, one will be named the 2019 Young Professional of the Year during the Gala.
The Gala will begin with a cocktail reception at 7 p.m., dinner and program at 7:30 p.m. with an after party to follow at the Shreveport Convention Center. Chamber member early bird tickets are $65 per person. After Nov. 18, 2019 price will increase to $75. Non-Member tickets are $95 per person. Tickets and sponsorships are available.