You’ve seen them.

Nose to the grindstone at work, coaching youth evenings and weekends.

Willingly taking on major projects or challenges at work which not only strengthen their skills, but also the company.

Organizing an after-school art program for special needs kids or entrepreneurial workshops for high schoolers or young adults.

In other words, individuals who make a difference in the community — also known as “movers and shakers.”

Meridian Home & Style Magazine, The Meridian Star and Mississippi Power are looking for a few such individuals —20 people under the age 40 who are making an impact professionally, but more importantly contributing to the betterment of the community.

This includes people from every sector: education, business, health care, professional services, real estate, government, finance, law, military, nonprofits and other areas. These individuals represent Meridian’s emerging leaders, as well as and “movers and shakers.”

Everyone knows someone who fits this description.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Class of 2019 Meridian Home & Style and The Meridian Star’s “Top twenty under 40” presented by Mississippi Power. In addition to the name of your nominee (or nominees), we need the following information:

• Age (21-39)

• Place of employment and job title

• Community involvement (i.e. service clubs, civic organizations, volunteer groups, church outreach ministries, self-established community service organizations or groups, or other entities.

• A paragraph or two about why you think this individual should be a Top twenty under 40 honoree.

• A daytime and/or evening telephone number where the nominee can be reached should they be selected.

• Your daytime and/or evening telephone number.

Honorees are selected by our staff and will be recognized at a reception attended by family, friends and coworkers in August at a local venue.

If you know someone who should be in our next class let us know by sending your’s nominee’s information to: ibrown@themeridianstar.com Make sure to include T20/U40 in the subject line.

You also can mail nominations to: The Meridian Star, 814 22nd Ave., Meridian MS 39301, Attn: T20/U40

The deadline for submissions is June 21.

In case you missed our first three classes of Top twenty under 40, here’s the list of honorees. Some of them have moved on to other career paths and locations:

 

Class of 2018

• Antonio Altman, director of bands, Meridian Public School District

• Elliot Brewer, principal, West Lauderdale Elementary School

• Leslie Carruth, middle/high school art teacher, Lamar High School

• The Rev. Scotty Cole, APPRAISE ALL, certified residential appraiser, The Firehouse Church pastor, Meridian Community College instructor and Landmark Realty licensed realtor.

• Dr. Dru Denison, general surgeon, Medical Arts Surgical Group

• Dermaine Johnson, owner/barber/entrepreneur, Exclusive Cuts Barber, Exclusive Cuts Salon

• Tyrone Johnson, city of Meridian, Councilman Ward 2

• Kyle Ladner, Industrial Account manager, Mississippi Power

• RP2 Jerome Miller Jr., Religious Program Specialist, US Navy

• Adam Mitchell, CEO, Mitchell Distributing

• Katelyn Moffett, family nurse practitioner, The Pain Management Center of Meridian

• Justin Palmer, administrator, Rush Health Systems Inc., John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital

• Kym Parnell, Dealer Relationship officer, Citizens National Bank

• Hallie Pearson Swindle, producer, Pearson & Company Insurance

• Elic Purvis, business owner, The Venue

• Trenton Steele, photographer/filmmaker

• Jeff Tate, owner of Tate’s, LLC

• Christin Waters, senior manager, Community Development, American Cancer Society

• Tonya Williams, owner of Cafe 35/Great Start Learning Center

• Tommy Winston, program coordinator/Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Meridian Community College

 

Class of 2017

• Mindy Aust, Executive Assistant, North American Coal Corporation

• Kacey Guy Bailey, Attorney with Barry, Taggard, May and Bailey, LLP

• Jessica Gressett, Maintenance Engineer at Plant Ratcliff, with Mississippi Power Company

• Larkin Kennedy, Vice President of Rush Health Systems

• Heather Rose Lacoste, Educator/Consultant

• Brandye Scott Latimer, Chief Financial Officer and City Clerk, City of Meridian

• Sara Love, Co-owner of Generations Fine Paper and Gifts and Vice President of Lovin’ Spoonful Catering

• Dustin Markham, Attorney

• Dr. Brock Martin, Dentist, Meridian Dental Associates

• Kristin S. McAllister, Director of Marketing, Glass Incorporated

• Will Moseley, Credit Administration Officer, Commercial Bank • Sidney Nolan, Aircraft Hydraulic Specialist, Meridian Air National Guard

• Brent Pouncey, Teacher, Southeast Elementary School

• Lauren Denham Pratt, Marketing Specialist at Meridian Community College

• Michelle Reynolds, Artist

• Devin Lane Snowden, Procurement Forester

• Jeremy Stringer, Chief Financial Officer, Citizens National Bank

• N’Spire Walker, Server and Certified Trainer, Olive Garden

• Shelley Whitehead, Marketing Consultant/Meridian Medical Marketing

• Barbara Gaston Zeller, Marketing and Special Projects Manager, ALGIX

Class of 2016

• John David Ainsworth, Media Minister/Technical Director at Northcrest Baptist Church

• Matthew Betts, Career Enhancements Manager at Key Field, Air National Guard Base

• Cole Cardwell, Vice President of Structural Steel Services

• James Carter, Founder of The Carter Foundation

• Adrian Cross, Director of Operations for Meridian Freedom Project

• Dusty Culpepper, Director of Physician Recruitment and Outreach, Anderson Regional Medical Center

• David Hall, President/CEO of Hall Timberlands

• Casey Hendricks, Interim Director, The Community Health Improvement Network

• An Howard Hill, Director of Club House Operations, Northwood Country Club

• Dustin Hill, Hill Real Estate Group

• Aa’Keela Hudnall, Attorney with Barry, Taggard, May and Bailey, LLP

• Krilecia Gianakos, Director of State Games of Mississippi

• Melissa Love, President of Lovin’ Spoonful Catering and Co-owner of Generations Fine Paper and Gifts

• Derron Radcliff, Executive Director of United Way of East Mississippi

• Anna Stephenson Watson, Director of Meridian Freedom Project

• Josh Thompson, Producer for Insurance Solutions of Mississippi

• Second Truman, Principal, Meridian High School Ninth Grade Academy

• Josh Water, Vice President of Waters International Trucks

• Daniel Wile, President of Southern Cast Products

• Heather Woodall, Senior Coordinator, Mississippi State University-Meridian