Photos: 40 Under 40 winners
Congratulations to this year's 40 Under 40 winners. Co-hosted by the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the award recognizes young leaders who are making an impact in the community with their professional and charitable work. From among the 40 winners, a man and a woman of the year will be announced at the 40 Under 40 Awards Breakfast this Wednesday, Oct. 2.
40 Under 40's man and woman of the year
An insurance company executive and a University of Arizona epidemiologist were named man and woman of the year by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at the 40 Under 40 awards breakfast Wednesday morning.
The annual awards recognize young professionals for their achievements and contributions to the community.
Kacey Ernst (left), an assistant professor at the UA whose received more than $3 million in grants for her research related to preventing the spread of dengue and malaria in Africa and Brett Rustand (right), vice president of Crest Insurance Group and chairman of the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona board, were given the ceremony's top honors.
40 Under 40 winners
Amanda Kraus, 34, assistant director, UA Disability Resources Center
40 Under 40 winners
Steve Leininger, 34, principal, La Paloma Academy, and owner of Achieve Academy
40 Under 40 winners
Sarah Lennartz, 35, assistant vice president, JP Morgan Chase Bank
40 Under 40 winners
Karen Mattull, 38, director of human resources, BeachFleischman
40 Under 40 winners
Abra McAndrew, 38, assistant director, UA Terry Lundgren Center for Retailing
40 Under 40 winners
Brooke McDonald, 27, co-founder, LeadLocal
40 Under 40 winners
Kelley Monahan Prust, 34, director of membership, marketing and interactive media at UA Alumni Association
40 Under 40 winners
Anthony Rivera, 35, vice president of web strategy, Anchor Wave Internet Solutions
40 Under 40 winners
Regina Romero, 39, vice mayor of Tucson
40 Under 40 winners
Brett Rustand, 38, vice president, Crest Insurance
40 Under 40 winners
Jorge Santa Cruz, 33, president, Bancapital Home Loans
40 Under 40 winners
Daniel Stringer, 27, CEO, Total Care Connections
40 Under 40 winners
Nicole Taylor, 32, director of outreach/strategic development, Imagine Greater Tucson
40 Under 40 winners
Megan Kapp, 32, assistant director of Beyond Textbooks, Vail Unified School District
40 Under 40 winners
Scott Koenig, 32, director of development, UA Alumni Association
40 Under 40 winners
Sean Aiken, 29, head of school, Basis Oro Valley
40 Under 40 winners
Wenona Benally Baldenegro, 34, assistant attorney general, Pascua Yaqui Tribe
40 Under 40 winners
Joseph Blair, 39, executive director and president, Blair Charity Group
40 Under 40 winners
Lydia Breunig, 39, director of outreach and special projects, UA Social and Behavioral Sciences
40 Under 40 winners
Sanlyn Buxner, 35, education specialist, Planetary Science Institute
40 Under 40 winners
Brian Chase, 28, associate attorney, Law Office of Ronald Zack
40 Under 40 winners
Stephanie Coronado, 32, special staff assistant, Pima County Attorney's Office
40 Under 40 winners
Jessica Delfs, 30, marketing and admission director, Casas Christian School
40 Under 40 winners
Matt Donaldson, 34, principal of Empire High School
40 Under 40 winners
Sherry Janssen Downer, 35, associate, Fennemore Craig
40 Under 40 winners
Kacey Ernst, 38, assistant professor, UA College of Public Health
40 Under 40 winners
Samantha Esquivel, 25, public-relations lead and spokeswoman, Humane Society of Southern Arizona
40 Under 40 winners
Elizabeth S. Fella, 33, attorney, Quarles and Brady
40 Under 40 winners
Carlos Emilio Garcia, 38, senior systems engineer, Raytheon Missile Systems
40 Under 40 winners
Ciara Garcia, 37, chief of operations, Tu Nidito
40 Under 40 winners
José Gastelum, 39, principal, Desert View High School
40 Under 40 winners
John Gibson, 30, area president for Southern Arizona, Wells Fargo
40 Under 40 winners
David Godlewski, 35, president, Southern Arizona Home Builders Association
40 Under 40 winners
Amy Hernandez, 37, attorney, Piccarreta Davis PC
40 Under 40 winners
Ricardo Hernandez, 32, chief financial officer, Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office
40 Under 40 winners
Heather Hiscox, 36, founder, Seven Degrees Consulting
40 Under 40 winners
Juan F. Ibarra, 29, partner, New York Life Insurance Co.
40 Under 40 winners
Taylor Johnson, 34, English teacher, Desert View High School
40 Under 40 winners
Tana Kay Jones, 38, director of development, Jewish Community Center