From the editor: Meet Wilmington’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2022

Sherry Jones, Wilmington StarNews
·4 min read

I have some good news to share today – the announcement of this year’s 40 Under 40 recipients.

For four years, the StarNews and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to honor some of the area’s best and brightest young professionals.

Much like in previous years, many of this year’s honorees demonstrate success and leadership through their roles with nonprofits, businesses, churches and local governments.

To be considered for the award, nominees had to be younger than 40 years old as of Sept. 29, 2022; live or work in Brunswick, New Hanover or Pender counties; and display a commitment to serving others in the community.

2021 recipients: Wilmington's 40 Under 40 Award recipients receive recognition

2020 recipients: Wilmington's 40 Under 40: Meet this year's honorees

2019 recipients: 40 Under 40 Award recognizes young professionals

This year's recipients were chosen by a panel of judges that included myself as executive editor of the StarNews; Natalie English, president and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce; Travis Corpening, diversity and equity specialist for New Hanover County and founder/executive director at Young Mogul Development Group; Olivia Dawson, Burgaw mayor, tourism assistant for Pender County and a past recipient; Margaret Haynes, Wilmington mayor pro-tem; Chris Montero, co-founder / operations and sales director for Perfect Touch Rental and a past recipient; and Dane Scalise, general counsel and broker at GriffinEstep Benefit Group and a past recipient.

I assure you choosing from so many deserving candidates wasn’t an easy task and it gets harder and harder each year. The quality of the nominations just goes to show what an amazing group of young leaders we have in the Wilmington area.

We’ll be celebrating the 40 Under 40 Award recipients at an event Sept. 29 at the Brooklyn Arts Center. And you’ll be able to learn more about each honoree when we publish profiles online Sept. 29 and in a print special section of the StarNews on Sept. 30.

I hope you’ll join me in congratulating this year’s class of talented young professionals who make our community a better place to work and live.

  • Zedrick Applin, 39, head of diversity, equity, inclusion and community for nCino

  • Kimberly Bageant, 38, CFO and owner at Coastline Therapy Group LLC

  • Emily Barlas, 37, director of development and a licensed clinical mental health counselor at Cape Fear Psychological Services

  • Connor Barth, 36, an NFL football player, real estate developer, owner of Connor Barth Photography and part owner of Blue Shark Vodka

  • Victoria Bellamy, 31, public relations manager for FOCUS Broadband

  • Laura Bullock, 36, director of community engagement for Vigilant Hope

  • Donald Burns, 39, battalion chief of training for the Wilmington Fire Department

  • Webster Burrier IV, 27, director of wealth management for Dominion Wealth Management

  • Emily Byrum, 38, assistant capital defender with the Office of the Capital Defender

  • Jon Campbell, 37, pandemic operations manager for New Hanover County Health and Human Services

  • Lauren Diaz Clark, 33, care management program director for Coastal Horizons

  • Ben Currin, 32, CEO at Vantaca

  • Anya Davis, 39, literacy instructional coach at Trask Middle School

  • Leah DeMasters, 32, construction specialist for Live Oak Bank

  • Constance Foreman, 36, physician at Novant Health New Hanover Primary Care Wilmington, Navy Reserve lieutenant commander, and Beyond Clinic Walls Wellness owner

  • Franchon Francees, 38, founder of Healing Your Almond

  • Gino Galutera, 39, associate vice chancellor for business services at University of North Carolina Wilmington

  • Angel Garcia, 37, director of MI CASA Mentoring Program and assistant director of Centro Hispano at UNCW

  • Cameron Garvey, 28, executive chef at PinPoint Restaurant

  • Emmy Gibson, 30, Healthy Opportunities Pilot Project manager with Communities In Schools of Cape Fear

  • Travis Gilbert, 29, executive director for Historic Wilmington Foundation

  • Tyler Graham, 31, owner of Cape Fear Boil Company

  • Ryan Huffman, 39, agent and financial services certified professional with Farm Bureau Insurance

  • Adam Keen, 39, director of national accounts for MegaCorp Logistics

  • Brooke Lambert, 37, director of the Mohin-Scholz LGBTQIA Resource Center at UNCW

  • Christine Lamberton, 38, museum director at Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens

  • Michael Langston, 35, owner of Boseman's Shoes

  • Veronica Lett-McGee, 36, director of the Brunswick Center at Leland, a division of Brunswick Senior Resources

  • Allan Lusk, 31, director of ticket operations for UNCW (He was nominated while in his previous role as general manager for the Wilmington Sharks Baseball Club.)

  • Bill McHugh, 37, town of Leland councilmember and associate contract manager at PPD-Part of ThermoFisher

  • Joey Milam, 37, mortgage loan officer at Alpha Mortgage

  • Scott Monroe, 38, CEO and co-founder of Essential Personnel

  • Jonathan Paschal, 36, principal at West Brunswick High School

  • Jerod Patterson, 39, communications director for the City of Wilmington

  • Daniel S. Ruisueno, 30, special victims unit detective with the Wilmington Police Department

  • Logan Thompson, 38, director of advancement at Cape Fear Community College

  • Sandy Thorpe, 34, partner with Parastream Real Estate Development

  • Marquise Tilman Sr., 29, social worker for New Hanover County Health and Human Services

  • Trevor Todd, 29, third-grade teacher at Castle Hayne Elementary School

  • Luke Waddell, 34, Wilmington City Council member and CEO at Cadence Realty Corporation

Sherry Jones is the executive editor for Gannett’s NC East Group, which includes the StarNews. You can reach her at sjones1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington's 40 Under 40 for 2022 announced