40 Under Forty winners to be announced at banquet Friday

Published 5:45 am Thursday, December 1, 2022

Young professionals from across East Texas will be celebrated tonight during ETX View Magazine’s second annual 40 Under Forty awards ceremony and community gala.

All 40 winners of the magazine’s awards program will be announced at the event, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Infinity Event Center, 300 Tuttle Circle in Longview.

The program was launched in 2021 and aims to showcase young, influential leaders in the region who have achieved success and excelled in their field of expertise before the age of 40.

Winners in each of the 40 categories of industry were chosen after a nomination and voting process held earlier this fall. East Texans nominated thousands of young professionals who demonstrate leadership and show dedication in their careers and community service. The top three finalists then moved on to a voting phase during which residents cast ballots for those they believed to be most deserving of the award.

Alyssa Purselley-Hankins, advertising director for ETX View and M. Roberts Media, said she was blown away by the success of this year’s awards program.

“At the beginning of this process, we had almost 38,000 nominations,” Purselley-Hankins said. “That’s more than double the amount of nominations from our inaugural event last year. To receive that amount of support and participation from the community in just our second year of the awards program is amazing. It is a testament to all of the nominees and their impact on East Texas.”

After receiving a record number of nominations, the community continued to show support to these young professionals by casting more than 36,000 total votes, selecting the winners for the 2022 awards, Purselley-Hankins said.

Justin Wilcox, publisher of ETX View and senior vice president of M. Roberts Media, also gave credit to the East Texas community for allowing the event to come to fruition.

“We are humbled by such an overwhelming response to our second annual awards program,” Wilcox said. “We are thankful for everyone who played a part in planning this year’s awards ceremony, along with having the audience reach and products in both print and digital forms to make it happen.”

Wilcox and Purselley- Hankins both congratulated all the nominees and said they are looking forward to Friday night’s event.

“It is a tremendous honor to be nominated by your own neighbors and peers,” Purselley-Hankins said. “We can’t wait to reveal the winners this Friday night and celebrate together.”

The event is expected to draw over 350 attendees, which will include the top three finalists and their guests.

It will be a night to remember, with live musical entertainment from the All Funk Radio Show, dance floor, photo ops and more. Guests will also be treated to passed hors d’oeuvres along with refreshments, including adult beverages and cocktails.

Each of the 40 winners will also be profiled in a commemorative edition of ETX View which will be released on Saturday and included in home delivery newspapers for subscribers of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and Longview News-Journal. A digital version of the magazine will also be available online at etxview.com.

Below are the Top 3 finalists in each of the 40 categories of industry, which were announced in October:

African American Community Figure

• Clent Holmes, of Thrive360
• Ke’Von Ware, of The Mortgage House
• Kristina Ross, of Beard & Harris Attorneys at Law

Agriculture

• Eric Yates, of Yates Family Farms
• Colby Seahorn, of Rocking S Ranch
• Matt Ballard, of Broke Farm Boys LLC

Arts & Culture

• Carmen Gadt, professional artist and art teacher at Pine Tree High School
• Micah Lyons, of Lyons Family Studios
• Christina Cavazos, Director of Arts! Longview

Automotive

• Tiara Spilman, Peltier Chevrolet in Tyler
• Kristen Ramsey, Alliance Auto Auction
• Nolan Howell, Longview Diesel and Performance

Banking & Lending

• Ryan Small, of Guaranty Bank
• Ariana Thompson, of Fairway Mortgage
• John Nustad, of Guild Mortgage

Childhood Learning & Activities

• Sara McKinley, of Longview World of Wonders (WOW)
• Alexis Marjason, of ETX Dance Co.
• Mattie Colan, of Asbury House

City Officials

• Leanna Robinette, City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Director
• Michelle Gamboa, Longview City Council
• Nickolas Mayfield, Longview Main Street Coordinator

Community Development

• Hudson Johnson, Owner of Greenside Beverage Company and President of Friends of Lake Lomond
• Josh Smallwood, of Smallwoods/80-Acre Market
• Rebekah Rogers, of Longview Capstone Homes

Construction

• Hunter Estes, of That 1 Painter
• Adam Thompson, of ART Custom Homes
• Allye Hernandez, of Brothers That Just Do Gutters

Cosmetic & Beauty

• Taylor Kirkpatrick, of Taylor Kirkpatrick Aesthetics
• Emily Sanford, of Face Studio, Wow!
• Kassie Como, of Skin Studio

Dental, Hearing & Vision

• Dr. Spencer Hansen, of Mack & Hansen Orthodontics
• Dr. Blake T. Williams, of Longview Eye Associates
• Dr. Luke Mack, of East Texas Oral & Maxillofacial

Education

• Hagan Patterson, P.E. teacher at Bullard ISD
• Kendall Tomberlain, of Hallsville North Elementary
• Bryson White, of Kilgore ISD

End of Life Care

• Erika Rader, of Rader Funeral Home
• Christy Collier, of Prime Care Hospice
• Bailey Haley, of Heart to Heart Hospice

Energy, Oil and Gas

• Trista Roel, of Pride Metals LLC
• Derek Mayfield, of Axis Energy
• Michael Clements Jr., of Energy Weldfab Inc.

Fashion & Home Décor

• Phaedra Bartley, of The Velvet Pearl Boutique
• Andrea Moore, of Urban Local Clothing
• Holly Smallwood, of SweetHoney Clothing

Finance & Investments

• William Rice IV, of Eagle Capital
• Ashley King, of Wells Fargo Advisors
• Markie Barnett, of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors

Fire & Rescue

• Trent Montgomery, of Longview Fire Department
• Amber Hill, of Gilmer Fire Department and Kilgore College Fire Academy
• Hunter Rath, of Flint-Gresham FD with SCESD2

Fitness

• Scott Henton, of The Training Method
• Allison Haynes, of Fit Fuel Studio
• Kaitlyn Williams, of Camp Gladiator Tyler

Hispanic Community Figure

• Michelle Gamboa, of Roof Care
• Evelyn Zarate, of The Mortgage House
• Lucero Harris, of Operation Unbroken

Insurance & Protection

• Tara Harris, of Harris State Farm
• Chase Reeves, of Goosehead Insurance
• Eric Berryhill, of Texas Farm Bureau

IT & Technology

• Tyler McFarland, of Longview Tech Pros
• Travis Lancaster, of Texas Bank and Trust
• Brandon Blear, of BB Tech Services LLC

Law & Policy

• Jessica Allen, of Goudarzi & Young
• Casey Cook, of My Texas Estate Plane, PLLC
• Jarad Kent, of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP

Law Enforcement & Military

• Michael Bynum, of Longview Police Department
• Syndi Howell, of Longview Police Department
• Lukas Neubauer, of Tyler Police Department

Manufacturing, Grocery & Distribution

• Josh Smallwood, of Smallwoods
• Kyle McDougal, of Wastequip Manufacturing
• Jessica James, of Komatsu

Marketing & Advertising

• Kelli Burton, of Hospitality Health ER
• Sheridan Smith, Chick-fil-A Marketing Director
• Laken Finney, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd

Media & News

• Reagan Roy-Young, of CBS19
• Victoria Calderon, Hostess at La Vida TV (linked with Grace Church)

Shardae LaRae, of CBS19

Medical & Healthcare

• Amber Lockman, of Cerebral/BrainGuided
• Michael Montandon, of CHRISTUS Good Shepherd

Morgan Patel PMHNP-BC, of Wellness Pointe

Men in Business

• Justin Hargrove, Owner of Kona Ice of Tyler, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Tyler & ETX Apex Leadership Co.
• Cody Yoder, Owner, Get Moving & Storage
• Michael Clements Jr., PDQ America & Texas Semitrailers

Music & Performing Arts

• Ryan Dougherty, Axis Energy — Independent Musician/ Entertainer
• Miranda Dolive, Greater Longview Children’s Choir Association
• Joshua King, Limelight Players Children’s Theatre

Nonprofit/ Philanthropist

• Patricia Glass, Neurodivergent Advocates of East Texas
• Suzette Farr, Tyler ISD Foundation
• Evan Dolive, Greater Longview United Way

Outdoor Beautification

• Daniel Ross, Landvisions
• Erin Garner, Keep Tyler Beautiful — Community Coordinator for City of Tyler
• Derek Kennedy, KFI Signs & Fabrication

Photography & Graphic Design

• Holly Patterson, Holly Patterson Photography
• Lindsay Steele, Lindsay Steele Photography
• Haley Farr, Haley Farr Photography

Real Estate

• John Wampler, Realty One Group Rose

Janti Patel, Ramsey Realty

• Amanda Folmar, Standard Real Estate

Restaurant & Hospitality

• Chelsea Cace, of Cace’s Kitchen
• Macy Bannert, of Wild Honey Creamery
• Miles Maxey, Jucy’s Hamburgers, Jucy’s Taco, T.Blanco’s and The Back Porch

Social Entrepreneur

• Chelsea Wilson, The Lit Hippie
• Kelly Belt, ActionCOACH of East Texas
• Skyler Hefley, Tyler ISD

Sports

• Ashlyn White, Private lessons, softball coach for pitching, hitting and fielding
• Jalen Claiborne, of Longview ISD
• Josh Tomlin, private baseball lessons

Tattoo & Artistry

• Joshua Prekker, of Skin Deep Tattoo
• Mitch Howie, of Iron Dragon Tattoo
• Siena Coronado, of Homefree Tattoo

Volunteer

• Jessica Hughes, of H&W Powersports
• Kristina Suberbielle, Board Member — Keep Tyler Beautiful
• Julia Wilson, Bubba’s 33

Women in Business

• Alexis Marjason, East Texas Dance Company
• Taylor Kirkpatrick, Taylor Kirkpatrick Aesthetics
• Tara Hays, Express Employment Professionals

Worship

• Pastor Brian McDaniels, of LifeBridge Longview
• Pastor LaDarian Brown, of Parkview Baptist Church
• Pastor Seth Dore’, of Grace Creek Church

The event is made possible thanks to premium sponsors, including:

• Presenting Sponsor: Peter’s Chevrolet
• Shining Star Sponsor: Grimes Irrigation and Construction
• Nominee Highlight & VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsor: Ariana Thompson with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
• Trendsetter Sponsor: Taylor Kirkpatrick Aesthetics
• Valet Sponsor: Genecov Group
• Bar Sponsor: Smelley Enterprises
• Sweet Indulgence — Dessert Sponsor: Goosehead Insurance — Phaup Agency
• Photo Booth Sponsor: The Mortgage House
• Limelight Sponsor: Samaritan Servants International
• Outdoor Lounge Sponsor: Alliance Auto Auction — Longview
• Swag Bag Sponsor: Brookshire’s Grocery Company
• Specialty Cocktail Sponsor: Face Studio WOW!
• Dance Floor Sponsor: The University of Texas at Tyler
• Red Carpet Glam Sponsor: Urban Local Clothing LL
• Dine Well Mac and Cheese Sponsor: Janti Patel with Ramsey Realty Group

Partners of the event include Expressions Florists, PC Productions, Small Cakes of Longview, R&K Distributors, and Inkredible Sounds.

Purselley-Hankins also thanked her team at M. Roberts Media and ETX View who helped the event come to life.

ETX View is a bi-monthly magazine that celebrates the best of East Texas life and culture. Its award-winning writers, photographers and designers showcase dynamic stories of the people, events and trends that represent the community. ETX View is a product of M. Roberts Media, the parent company of the Morning Telegraph and the News-Journal. The magazine is inserted into newspapers for Tyler and Longview subscribers and is available on stands at more than 60 locations across East Texas.

For more information, visit etxview.com.