Introducing The 20th Annual 40Under40

The 20th annual TCBN Hagerty 40Under40 class is here.

The list recognizes 40 young leaders from Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie and Kalkaska counties who are making an impact through their work, leadership and community involvement.

More than 100 nominations were submitted for this year’s 20th annual class.

Meet the 2026 TCBN Hagerty 40Under40 honorees.

Jess L. Ashmore
Christina Barkel
David Bearss
Bailor Bell
Ben Berger
Brent Beutler
Tom Bisbee
Lance Boehmer
Jackie Luedtke Borozan
Alexis Bremer
Sara Bush
Drew Castine
Abby Clear
Mathew Cooke
Tiffany Couturier
Anna Dituri
Courtney Doyle
Patrick Ellis
Madison Ford
Jacob Goodman
Samantha Gutowski
Micah Haven
Bryan Kay
Meaghan Kenny
Troy Kierczynski
Karlene Kuhn
Jack Lankford 
Ashley Lindstrom
Katharine Z. Marvin
Ryan Mater
Taylor Moore
Tyler Palsrok
Dana Pflughoeft
Amanda Porter 
Rachel Pott
Christine Roberts 
Merek Roman
Adam Root
Jerry Swanson
Hillary Voight

Click here to read about this year's winners, what they've done to make the list and what they have planned next, or pick up a copy of the September Traverse City Business News on newsstands. Click here to subscribe and get your own TCBN mailed to your home or office every month. 

This year's winners will be celebrated at a September event and will receive gifts from Hagerty, Alden Mill House, The Alluvion, Benjamin Twiggs, Birdy The Drink, Cherry Capital Airport, Cherry Republic, City Opera House, Crystal Mountain Resort, Don Orr, Folded Leaf, Fustini’s, Higher Grounds, Image360, Iron Fish Distillery, Jimmy John’s, Kayak Bike & Brew, Doug Murdick’s Fudge, Oryana, Sleeping Bear Farms, Sleeping Bear Forever, TC Phil, Team Bob’s, Traverse City Horse Shows, and Traverse City Whiskey.

A panel of judges selected the 40 individuals creating the greatest momentum for their organizations, communities and the regional economy.

This year’s judges included Rick Baker, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce; Karin Chung of Hagerty; Mandy Sentieri of Traverse Connect; Max Anderson of Ford Insurance; Allison Beers of Events North; Luke Haase, publisher of the TCBN, Northern Express and The Ticker; and Gayle Neu, contributing editor of the TCBN. Judges consider leadership within a nominee’s profession, the economic impact of that work, meaningful community involvement and clear forward momentum. They also consider accomplishments relative to age.

Next year’s nomination period will open in May.

Photos by Jules Brown, House Of 301