The Quad Cities Regional Business Journal is proud to present the fourth set of eight biographies of our latest Forty Under 40 honorees. This year’s class represents almost two dozen business sectors – from banking and finance to community building, construction, education, energy, housing, insurance, law, marketing, nonprofit work and more. It even includes a few local TV personalities.
Each year, Forty Under 40 honorees are selected based on their career accomplishments, civic and philanthropic efforts, their leadership and devotion to a multitude of community causes and efforts.
Our sincere congratulations to the 2024 class of Forty Under 40 honorees. We are encouraged by your leadership and the future you will pave in and for our Quad Cities region.
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Avery Pearl
West End Revitalization coordinator | Martin Luther King Center
AGE: 28
Home: Moline
Education: United Township High School (2014); Augustana College – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (2018); Duke University – RBSI Masters Certificate (2017)
Family: Avery Pearl Sr. (Dad) and Ronique Johnson (Mom)
Hometown (childhood): East Moline
How long at your current job? Started April 1, 2024.
Local mentors: LaDrina Wilson, Iman Consulting CEO; Ryan Saddler, St. Ambrose University associate vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Jerry Jones, Martin Luther King Center executive director.
Best advice ever received? Be the adult you needed as a child.
Your biggest break so far? My work with the West End Revitalization plan in Rock Island. We can potentially revitalize one of Quad Cities’ most historic neighborhoods into a preferred place to live and thrive alongside the community currently residing there.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? That I grew up in the challenging Watertown community of East Moline. Raised in a single-parent household, I faced poverty and homelessness firsthand. Despite these circumstances, my mother still provided us with a great childhood and instilled in me and my siblings an unwavering belief in our potential for greatness. … Without her, my success would not be possible.
Passions outside the workplace? My family is my greatest source of inspiration and support. I’m a musician and co-owner of E$ (Eastside) Sounds, a recording studio in East Moline dedicated to empowering creatives. I’m also a published author currently working on my second book.
Something people should know about your generation in the workplace? My generation enters the workforce with a strong sense of purpose. We seek roles that align with our values and offer growth opportunities. While financial success is important, we prioritize work-life balance and professional fulfillment. We thrive in environments that foster personal development, belonging, and a sense of community.
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Adam Peters
Director of operations | Clock, Inc LGBT+ Community Center
AGE: 36
Home: Davenport
Education: Some high school and college.
Hometown (childhood): Walcott, Iowa
First job? Culvers on West Kimberly
Local mentors: Picking only three is tough! Ken Croken, Iowa representative for District 97; Sean Moeller, co-owner of Raccoon Motel and chief vibe curator of the QC; and Rebecca Sebastian, owner of Sunlight Yoga Studio & Apothecary.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? I sang “Amazing Grace” on The Oprah Winfrey show when I was in college. Afterwards, she held my right hand for 47 seconds, she sent my boyfriend and I to see The Color Purple musical, and it literally was the best day of my life. Or that I’m an adopted person that didn’t know I lived 15 minutes from my biological family my entire life … I did finally meet them in my early 20s.
Biggest issue facing the Quad Cities, why? The erosion of community belonging and social cohesion. As economic disparities widen and rapid technological advancements alter the job market, many residents feel disconnected and marginalized … To address this, it is crucial to invest in initiatives that foster community integration, promote inclusive economic growth, and strengthen social support systems.
Passions outside the workplace? Yoga keeps me flexible and centered, providing the perfect balance to my other love: running. Training for Bix, the Quad Cities Marathon, The Village Zombie Run, and the YMCA’s Turkey Trot lets me indulge my competitive spirit and explore the best QC areas on foot.
Something people should know about your generation in the workplace? My generation brings a strong emphasis on caring about people and challenging the status quo in the workplace. We’ve grown up during times of significant social and economic change, which has instilled in us a deep sense of empathy and a desire for meaningful, human-centered work environments.
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Keli Price
Human Resources Manager | Arconic
AGE: 38
Home: Davenport
Education: Master’s in Business Administration
Family: Husband: Marshall; children, Reese (10) and Colin (7); three cats and a dog
Hometown (childhood): Davenport
Best advice? Don’t sweat the small stuff, and honestly, most of it is small. I use this daily. Working in human resources and owning three businesses there are so many challenges that come my way daily. I try to take it in stride and learn from each time, but I don’t take it too seriously.
Your biggest break so far? Getting a job at then-Alcoa – now-Arconic. In 2015, I was working for the government and thought I would try something different. That job offer changed my life. I was given an incredible amount of responsibility. So much so it showed me I could do a lot of things that I had wanted to try. In 2016, Marshall and I started exploring buying a business. In 2017, we bought Once Upon a Child. The first year was really hard, but we survived. It wasn’t long after that we started steps to buy the Great American Cookie store.
Biggest issue facing the Quad Cities, why? I would love to see us use older buildings and structures rather than continuing to build in the newer part of town. We want to keep our neighborhoods safe and thriving and a way to do that is to bring business into those areas.
Passions outside the workforce? Animal Rescue; volunteering at the kids’ school for events; teaching JA; and growing our businesses – mentoring the staff that I have. They have become a part of my family.
Something people should know about your generation in the workplace? Our generation has done wonderful things for the benefits sector and seen such an increase in offerings like maternity leave, paternity leave, sabbatica, and more vacation earlier in your time with a company.
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Andy Rodriguez
Realtor | RE/MAX Concepts
AGE: 29
Home: Moline
Education: Bachelor of Science in Professional Sales & Analytics
Hometown (childhood): Chicago
How long at current job? Five years
Local mentors: Shane Torres: As the owner of RE/MAX Concepts. Shane has been instrumental in guiding me toward success by providing invaluable opportunities and support. Rich Bassford: A pivotal figure in my journey to becoming a Realtor, Rich introduced me to the real estate world and welcomed me onto his team at RE/MAX Concepts. Grant Iles: A close friend and life coach, Grant has continually inspired me to overcome adversity and embrace change. Initially my high school track coach, he supported my athletic journey through college and remains a vital part of my life today.
Best advice you ever received? “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.” – MLK
Your biggest break so far? The risk I took when I invested all my money into three auctioned properties in the Quad Cities. This decision was a turning point that jump-started the momentum in my career and life, setting me on a path to success.
Biggest issue facing the QC, why? The need to stimulate population growth and economic development. As blue-collar jobs decline, the area should capitalize on its affordability and focus on strengthening its educational and vocational programs. Enhancing partnerships with local industries and investing in vocational training can help create a more skilled workforce.
Passions outside of the workplace? My passions outside of work start at home and are centered around maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. My daily routine includes cold plunges, high-level exercising, and practicing jiu-jitsu, which keeps me energized and focused. I also cherish training sessions with my dog, Grizzly, and creating meaningful moments with my wonderful partner, Sabrina.
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James Patrick Schmidt
Brand and Media Arsonist | MindFire Communications
AGE: 36
Home: Moline
Education: Bachelor of Journalism, University of Missouri
Family: Wife, Jean; and three children, Bryan, Patrick and Charlotte
Hometown (childhood): Silvis
First job? Boy Scout camp counselor
Best advice ever received? A dear friend and former co-worker told me ‘Pick your battles and %#$*! win them.’ He saw how thin I would spread myself getting involved with every problem and trying to help and I was limiting what I could accomplish. When I really pick my battles, with more focus and energy on fixing the problems that are most important to me, I’m able to get more done and have a bigger impact.
Biggest issue facing the Quad Cities, why? Affordable housing because it has such a strong ripple effect that impacts other problems, such as poverty, workforce shortages, crime, and education challenges.
If you had $1 million to give, what causes would you support? I would focus on providing housing stability. First, would be ensuring that we have adequate homeless shelters available to support both the long-term and short-term homeless populations, and ensuring shelters have the resources to help people find stable housing. Second, would be to acquire several smaller homes that can be gifted or sold below market value back to families that can begin to establish equity in their homes and create a stable place to live and raise their families.
Passions outside the workplace? Everyone deserves the same rights and opportunities, and I’m passionate about fighting to remove barriers to that. One of my biggest ways I do that is serving on the Moline City Council … I also believe that investing in kids is one of the best ways we build a better community so I give my time as a Cub Scout den leader for Pack 109.
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Angie Sharp
Community Engagement Manager | City of Bettendorf
AGE: 38
Home: Moline
Education: Bachelor’s degree (double major in communications and English with a concentration in creative writing), Augustana College
Hometown (childhood): Downers Grove, Illinois
Family: My opposite/husband: Zach Sharp; My mini me/son: Zander Sharp (age: 3), and the furry firstborn: Zuno Sharp (Age 70 and acts like it).
First job: When my brother left for college, I was only in 5th grade and I took over his very important job – mowing the lawn. Every Saturday, my dad would set up the lawn mower in the direction it needed to go that week and my goal was to make straight lines in that direction: north and south, east and west, or the wild card, diagonal.
How long in current job: Two years.
Local mentors: My Dad – Bob Mitchum (always earnest & honest); My bosses – Decker Ploehn, city administrator and Jeff Reiter, assistant city administrator (constantly walking the walk); My first fan – Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, professor at Augustana College (the ultimate teacher).
Best advice you ever received? “Whatever you are, be a good one. – Abraham Lincoln” – Bob Mitchum (aka Michael Scott from “The Office” and his Wayne Gretzky quote)
Biggest issue facing the QC, why: The Mighty Mississippi does not divide us. It connects us.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? I woke up at 2 a.m. every morning for five+ years to yell “Good Morning Quad Cities!” at a television camera at 4:30 a.m., and for six months of that stint, I did it from my basement during a pandemic.
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace? The “workplace” is not a physical location. It’s a state of mind. If we are dedicated and passionate about our jobs and are being valued for that commitment, we will work diligently anytime and anywhere.
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Sam Skorepa
Attorney | Lane & Waterman LLP
AGE: 39
Home: Bettendoorf
Education: Juris Doctor
Family: Wife, Abbey Furlong; daughters, Ella and Kailani
Hometown (childhood): Taylor Ridge, Illinois
First job? Semi-tractor and trailer detailing and polishing
How long at current job? 14 years
Local mentors: Peter Benson, retired Lane & Waterman LLP partner and QCR Holdings, Inc. executive vice president – Trust and Fiduciary Administration.
Best advice received? Before starting your career, take as much time away as you can. Once you start, it’s hard to get away for large blocks of time.
Your biggest break so far? When I was hired at Lane & Waterman, I was put in an office right next to a senior partner who spent countless hours with me, teaching, questioning, and challenging me to grow both personally and professionally.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? That I am only 39!
Biggest issue facing the QC, why: Developing and attracting talent. The Quad Cities has tremendous opportunities for young professionals, but marketing ourselves in a way that connects with the next generation has proven difficult. We may have to rethink how we have done things in the past in order to align our investment and actions with their priorities. Talent attraction and development is crucial to our long term success. Once we have them here, I am confident they will see how amazing the Quad Cities is.
Passions outside of the workplace? My family, traveling to new places, decreasing my golf handicap below 26, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers.
What do you want to accomplish by age 50? I hope to have hiked the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango (567 miles).
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Emily Tobin
Youth Services Librarian | Rock Island Public Library
AGE: 37
Home: Rock Island
Education: Master’s degree (Science in Information), University of Michigan; bachelor’s degree (English) Michigan State University
Family: Dad and stepmom, three step-sisters
Home (childhood): Big Rapids, Michigan
First job: Clerk at Great Lakes Book and Supply
How long at your current job? 12 years
Local mentors: Susan Foster, youth services director, Rock Island Public Library: My supervisor has done a great job of demonstrating the kind of leadership that helps people grow. She doesn’t micromanage, but she’s always available whenever advice or help is needed. She gives staff room to be creative … Ranell Dennis, youth services librarian, Rock Island Public Library: Ranell demonstrates grace under pressure and has helped me learn to expect the unexpected when it comes to working with the public. Lisa Lockheart, publicity/outreach liaison, Rock Island Public Library: Lisa has taught me a lot about planning for programs, the best way to approach promoting events, and ways to get people excited about library resources.
Best advice: Keep doing what I enjoy. When I was in high school, I attended a math/science/technology center for half of each day, which allowed me to take college classes and receive credit before I even graduated. While this was a great experience, I’m glad that I didn’t pursue a job in something like plastics engineering (which was suggested more than once). I knew that I wanted to work with books.
Biggest issue facing the QC, why? Affordable housing. I’ve rented for 12 years now, and I’m fortunate that my rent hasn’t increased very much, but I know that that isn’t the case for everyone. I’d like to purchase a condo at some point, but so far, finding something in my price range has been tricky, and I can only imagine how much harder it is for people already struggling to find reliable housing and/or employment.
