“Being a good neighbor matters.”
That’s the word from Augustana College President Andrea Talentino as she helped honor the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s 2024 class of Forty Under 40 honorees during an awards dinner and ceremony Thursday night, Sept. 19, at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf.
That awards event, which attracted about 400 guests, marked the third year the QCBJ has recognized and honored 40 young professionals from across the bi-state region. The Forty Under 40 Awards was sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Augustana College along with RSM and Arconic.
The young professionals honored during the event are good neighbors, community leaders, great employees for their companies and doing whatever it takes to improve the region, said Ms. Talentino, who, along with Anna Kyer, a partner at RSM, presented the awards to the Forty Under 40 class.
“I’m very grateful for this honor, and very inspired by the people in this room tonight. … It’s the people that make the Quad Cities what it is,” said Angie Sharp, community engagement manager for the City of Bettendorf, and one Forty Under 40 honorees.
Another honoree, Mauricio Diaz, executive director of Dress for Success Quad Cities, said after the ceremony: “I’m still in shock from all the support I’ve been getting from my friends in the Quad Cities.”
John Lohman, CEO and president of the Corridor Media Group, which publishes the QCBJ, told the crowd on Thursday that he was “amazed and impressed” by the young leaders being honored during the ceremony.
In fact, he urged the crowd to think of the young leaders they know who are making a difference and said nominations for the 2025 Forty Under 40 Awards are already open.
“They’re the next generation of people to make the Quad Cities great,” Ms. Talentino told the crowd of honorees, who were joined by family, friends and co-workers.
This year’s class includes: Brian Allen, Lydia Amissah-Harris, Brianna Aust Slutts, Kayla Babers, Jacob Bobbitt, Joaquin Bueno Diaz, Jasmine Butler, Maria Contreras Huerta, Mauricio Diaz, Ellen Gackle, Max Gellerman, Mike Giudici, Hannah Howard, Ben Keith, Katrina Keuning, Kevin Langan, Matt Matthews, Samuel McCullum, Molly McDonnell, Sara McLaughlin-Cross, Morgan Ottier, Mollie Owens, Ryan Palmer, Avery Pearl, Adam Peters, Keli Price, Andy Rodriguez, James Patrick Schmidt, Angie Sharp, Saloni Sheth Patel, Samuel Skorepa, Emily Tobin, Lucie VanHecke, Antonio Varela, Ashley Velez, Maura Warner, Cris Washburn, David Waterman, Keith Worner and Austin Ziegler.
In addition to honoring young leaders from the community, Thursday night’s event was also a fundraiser for a local organization – Humility Homes & Services, Inc., selected as the recipient by the 2024 class. (Last year’s event helped the Quad Cities organization Hand in Hand.)
Money was raised through a unique fundraiser tied to the honorees’ acceptance speeches Thursday night. Mr. Lohman told the crowd that each honoree could give an 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 $6,400 for Humility Homes & Services, based in Davenport.
Some honorees gave a $500 donation and talked for a minute. Others stuck to three words or a few more. Here’s a look at some of their acceptance speeches:
- Lydia Amissah-Harris, family health coordinator at Scott County Health Department: “Thank you, Jesus.” (Before the ceremony, Ms. Amissah-Harris told the QCBJ that she was honored to get the Forty Under 40 award. “I really like this because I’m being honored for doing something I enjoy doing for a living,” she added.)
- Jacob Bobbitt, associate vice president of business affairs and controller, Augustana College: “Thanks, family, Augustana.”
- Mauricio Diaz, executive director of Dress for Success Quad Cities: “Embrace, empower, employee. Dress for Success.”
- Ellen Gackle, community health consultant, Scott County Health Department: “Public health saves lives.”
- Kevin Langan, senior engineer/associate principal, IMEG: “Every problem is an opportunity. Thanks.”
- Molly McDonnell, assistant managing attorney, Iowa Legal Aid: “Support stable housing.”
- Mollie Owens, director of marketing and engagement, Rouse Consulting Group: “Grateful, humble, inspired.”
- Saloni Sheth Patel, senior architect, Streamline Architects: “Let’s live together in eternal bliss.”
- Adam Peters, director of operations, Clock, Inc LGBT+ Community Center: “Google Clock, Inc. Also, I’m single.”
- Keli Price, human resources manager, Arconic: “Thank you, all.” (Before the ceremony, Ms. Price told the QCBJ that “It was a great honor. To be picked along with the other people here is a special honor.”)
- Maura Warner, vice president of marketing and retail, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: “Thank you, Girl Scouts.”
- Keith Worner, president of Fortress Bank: “I married up.”
- Morgan Ottier, news anchor, host, KWQC Channel 6: Ms. Ottier was one of the honorees to speak longer. In fact, she told the crowd her speech was going to be “a very expensive minute.” She thanked her friends, family and employer. She also told the crowd a story about her friend and mentor – Paula Sands, who retired from KWQC last year after 41 years on the air. Ms. Sands said that people will make comments that Ms. Ottier will have big shoes to fill. However, Ms. Sands’ advice was: “Fill your own damn shoes.” Ms. Ottier added that if she was going to give a three-word speech, it would be: “First Alert Day.”
- David Waterman, attorney, Lane & Waterman LLP: Mr. Waterman also gave a longer acceptance speech. He thanked the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal, his mother and co-workers. He also gave this quote from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
- Brianna Aust Slutts, marketing director for McCarthy-Bush Corporation: She also gave a longer speech. She thanked her family, friends and co-workers at McCarthy-Bush.
- Sara McLaughlin-Cross, executive director of First Tee-Quad Cities, told her husband to “get the wallet out.” Ms. McLaughlin-Cross thanked her family, friends and people at First Tee. She also left the audience with this piece of advice from her mother: “Lead with your heart first, your brain second.”
