Shortly after Brooke Sweeney-Adrian, director of human resources for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, received an honor Thursday night, Aug. 24, she had some time to reflect on the award.
“It’s overwhelming. … I think I have some big shoes to fill and a path forward,” she said after accepting her award as one of the 2023 honorees at the Forty Under 40 awards banquet.
The event – the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s (QCBJ) second annual Forty Under 40 award ceremony – recognized leaders under the age of 40 who have made a significant impact in their business and community early in their careers. The honorees, who were nominated by their co-workers or other colleagues, were selected by a committee made up of members of the 2022 Forty Under 40 class.
The awards were presented to the new class of 40 Quad Cities leaders before a crowd of about 400 people at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf. The event was sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Augustana College; Gold Sponsor Genesis Health Systems; Gold Sponsor RSM; and Silver Sponsor Arconic.
Other Forty Under 40 honorees also said they were humbled by the award.
“It’s a great honor. What these young people are doing for the community is amazing,” said Matt Fenton, chef and owner of Monarch Kitchen + Bar in Davenport, who was one of the Forty Under 40 award winners.
Another honoree, Nicole Zook, executive director of Youth Service Bureau (YSB) of Rock Island County, called it a “super honor” for her and family members. “This was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. … I had family members drive in (from Peoria and Macomb, Illinois) for this,” said Ms. Zook, who used her acceptance speech to launch an endowment fund for YSB.
Forty Under 40 honoree Kevin Bradley, director of investor relations for ISA Ventures, said: “I appreciate all the support. I’m glad to be a resident here.”
During Thursday night’s awards banquet, John Lohman, CEO and president of the Corridor Media Group (the QCBJ’s parent company), said he was impressed by the talented group of people selected for the awards.
Per tradition for the North Liberty, Iowa-base company, the awards ceremony also served as a fundraising event for a nonprofit chosen by the honorees – Hand in Hand. (That organization empowers children and adults of all abilities to learn and grow by providing inclusive programs and supporting families.)
The funds were raised through a unique fundraiser tied to the honorees’ acceptance speeches. Mr. Lohman told the crowd that each honoree could give a acceptance speech of up to three words for free. After three words, each word would cost them $25 – or a flat fee of $500 for a one-minute speech.
All those long and short speeches raised a preliminary total of $9,275 for Hand in Hand, which also had two staff members among the honorees.
Some honorees gave a $500 donation and talked for a minute. Others stuck to three words.
Some of those three-word speeches (or a little more) included:
- Chef Fenton: “Eat well often.”
- Chelsea Sammons, director of education and community engagement, Quad City Symphony Orchestra: “Support music education.”
- Thurgood Brooks, West End Revitalization coordinator at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center: “Family, friends. Thanks.”
- Aubrey Barnes, executive director of the nonprofit Young Lions Roar: “Make good art.”
- Michael Glanz, executive director of The Arc of the Quad Cities Area: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Pause for applause. Thank you.”
- Brian Harry, vice president/Quad Cities for Russell, placed a white hard hat on his head while receiving his award and told the crowd: “Always remember to wear protection.”
While much of the night was filled with humor, there were also longer speeches that hit on serious topics. For Instance, honoree Angie Kendall, Hand in Hand CEO, told the crowd of the good work being done by Hand in Hand and asked for their support. “We are all part of something bigger than ourselves,” she said.
Also, Ben Bush, director, sales and business development, McCarthy-Bush Corp., thanked his friends and family, including his wife – who was not at the Thursday ceremony because she was at home taking care of the couple’s 10-day-old daughter. He also challenged the other nominees to do good work for the community.
“I’m very excited to see what we can do as a class,” he added.
Those young leaders honored at Thursday night’s event include:
- Susana Aguilar, co-chair of Floreciente Association.
- Ashley Allen, director of Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, Augustana College.
- Robert Astleford, valuation actuary, Royal Neighbors of America.
- Aubrey Barnes, executive director, Young Lions Roar.
- Chris Beason, president, Ruhl & Ruhl REALTORS.
- Brock Biggerstaff, SVP, chief digital officer, American Bank & Trust.
- Micaela Booth, director, Birdies for Charity, John Deere Classic.
- Kevin Bradley, director of investor relations, ISA Ventures.
- Courtney Brickner, senior manager, National Professional Standards Group, RSM US LLP.
- Thurgood Brooks, West End Revitalization coordinator, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
- Ben Bush, director, sales and business development, McCarthy-Bush Corp.
- Alana Carroll, tax managing director, Deloitte Tax.
- Melissa Church, founder, Digi-Buzz.
- Beau Dexter, vice president Medical Group, Genesis Health System/MercyOne.
- Miranda Dresing, mental health coordinator, St. Ambrose University.
- Brian Duffy, chief executive officer, Per Mar Security Services.
- Tyler Edwards, vice president investment center, Quad City Investment Center.
- Matt Fenton, chef and owner, Monarch Kitchen + Bar.
- Abbey Furlong, partner, Lane & Waterman LLP.
- Michael Glanz, executive director, The Arc of the Quad Cities Area.
- Mark Gray, chief financial officer, Crawford Co.
- Ashley Hansen, assistant tournament director, John Deere Classic.
- Brian Harry, vice president, Quad Cities, Russell.
- Heather Hartley, manager, creative & content delivery, John Deere.
- Marc Hines, CEO, Crossroads, Inc., Muscatine.
- Evan Johnson, senior investment manager, Royal Neighbors of America.
- Bob Jurkowski, project executive, IMEG.
- Angie Kendall, CEO, Hand in Hand.
- Grace Mangieri, associate, Lane & Waterman.
- Miranda Marshall, AVP, human resources manager, QCR Holdings, Inc.
- Lindsay Mercer, director of secondary mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley.
- Kyle Rodriguez, director Dayhab, Hand in Hand.
- Chelsea Sammons, director of education and community engagement, Quad City Symphony Orchestra.
- Ashley Schwalm, COO, Family Resources.
- Brooke Sweeney-Adrian, director of human resources, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.
- Marguerite Tomlin, internal communications specialist, Arconic.
- Mariela Trevino, fiscal director, Milestones Area Agency on Aging.
- Andy Waeyaert, regional manager, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting.
- Nicole Zook, executive director, Youth Service Bureau of Rock Island County.
- Marc Zyla, director of community engagement, on-air host of Allegro Molto WVIK, Quad Cities NPR.
