Strong professional accomplishments and meaningful civic contributions are the criteria for selection to our annual Forty Under 40 class, and if the class of 2025 is any indication, the future of Madison business is in good hands.
The class was chosen by a judging panel of local business leaders, two of them Forty Under 40 alumni themselves. And there is another twist to this year’s class: Our judges actually selected 41 people this year because there were so many deserving of the honor.
All honorees are profiled inside with photographs taken during a March 27 celebration at the Overture Center for the Arts.
Our editorial team selected Vern Stenman, president of Big Top Events, the Madison Mallards baseball team and the Madison Night Mares softball team and part-owner of Forward Madison FC soccer, as our Forty Under 40 Alum of the Year. Stenman also is profiled inside these pages.
So, without further ado, we present the 2025 class of Forty Under 40!
Nick Baxter
Chief operating officer
QCK
Age: 33
Nick Baxter is known for driving growth and building strong community networks. He settled in Madison after earning accounting and business administration degrees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a master’s degree in accounting there.
Baxter spent five years at Berndt CPA, advancing from staff accountant to manager and then joining QCK, where he was named chief operating officer in 2023. His nominator Jay Mouille noted Baxter “has been a pivotal force in propelling the company from its early startup days to generating over $2 million in revenue within just two years.”
Baxter volunteers as a “big” at Big Brothers Big Sisters and works to recruit other mentors. He’s been an ambassador with the Madison Chamber of Commerce, has raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and helped organize a hockey tournament to benefit families facing cancer.
Ashley Bergren
Mortgage loan officer
UW Credit Union
Age: 36
In an age when homeownership seems like a distant American dream, Ashley Bergren still helps dreams come true. Using her expertise in the mortgage process with UW Credit Union, she helped 126 families and individuals buy a home in 2023 alone.
Bergren frequently presents in-person seminars to educate first-time homebuyers on the steps to take prior to making an offer, and she provides them with the most cost-effective option.
Her passion extends to the community, where she serves on the advisory board of Own It: Building Black Wealth, a program that helps minority families buy homes, and serves on the board of the Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin Housing Foundation. A graduate of Monmouth College and an active traveler, Bergren worked with Own It to create a support group for Black real estate professionals.
Micaela Berry-Smith
Senior manager for community health and maternal and child health initiatives
The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
Age: 39
Bringing healthy babies into the world is the life’s work of Micaela Berry-Smith, a key member of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness leadership team. She plays a pivotal role in shaping the standards that guide its services to vulnerable mothers.
Lisa Peyton-Caire, president of the foundation, credits Berry-Smith with helping develop innovative care approaches that have improved local birth outcomes for Black mothers and babies. This vital work is addressing a decades-long lack of maternal health services.
Berry-Smith earned a degree in early childhood studies from the College of Community Studies and Public Affairs at Metro State University in Minnesota in 2009. Her work has translated into growth of public and private funding support for the foundation’s maternal health services.
Kendra Bishop
Director of business development
The Alexander Company
Age: 39
As director of business development at the Alexander Company, Kendra Bishop helps drive nationwide growth by identifying new markets, building strategic partnerships and supporting teams across the firm. Her work recently helped the company break into Utah with a project in Park City that will provide affordable and seasonal workforce housing to address a critical community need.
With a background in finance, Bishop moved into real estate development nearly a decade ago, bringing a collaborative and inclusive leadership style to a traditionally male-dominated field. She serves on the board of Forward Learning Youth & Young Adults, mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, and recently joined the Women’s Affordable Housing Network.
Outside of work, she runs a boutique home bakery, combining creativity with community connection.
Tameaka Bryant
Employee and labor relations specialist
City of Madison
Age: 37
In Tameaka Bryant’s role, where she works with employee discipline and complaints, and builds partnerships with employee groups and management, it’s easy to become jaded, according to her supervisor, Kurt Rose.
But by staying true to her values of inclusion and justice, and seeking to understand all sides before passing judgment, Bryant has earned progressively responsible roles and now leads labor relations strategy for the city. She led the bargaining for the memorandums of understanding that secured the city’s labor agreements with the Teamsters union to implement bus rapid transit.
Bryant, a soccer and hockey mom whose athlete child has a stutter, has been a leader since her college days at UW–Platteville. To advocate for special needs children like her son, she also served on the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Special Education Advisory Board.
Dominique Christian
CEO
Sondercove Wellness
Age: 39
Dominique Christian’s ascension to successful entrepreneurship wasn’t an easy one. As a single mother of three, Christian overcame the challenges of episodic homelessness to provide stability for her family and graduated with a master’s degree in social work from the UW-Madison, boasting a 3.9 GPA.
She founded Sondercove Wellness in 2024 — conducting previous work under the name AYA Consulting Firm since 2019— with a focus on supporting marginalized communities, particularly Black families, through culturally relevant, trauma-informed care.
Christian said one of her proudest moments was when Sondercove became an approved provider in Dane County’s Comprehensive Community Services program. She is an author, belongs to the National Association of Black Social Workers and works with DHS to bolster Wisconsin’s peer support specialist workforce.
Kayla Conklin
Talent acquisition manager
Summit Credit Union
Age: 28
Logging just over a year in her current job, Kayla Conklin has made big waves at Summit Credit Union. Conklin found her way to her role after putting herself through school as a first-generation college student and student athlete, and making a career transition from human services to human resources.
As talent acquisition manager, Conklin has collaborated with Summit’s DEI manager to launch initiatives to strengthen and expand partnerships with workforce development programs, organizations and events that support diverse communities. She has revolutionized recruitment strategies and streamlined processes for the talent team.
Conklin is the president of the Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals. Under her leadership, the chapter has grown from 19 to over 100 members. Equally rewarding, Conklin said, is her commitment to mentoring a Madison youth.
Eric Crawford
Senior scientist and R&D program manager
Imbed Biosciences Inc.
Age: 33
When Eric Crawford joined the research and development team at Imbed Biosciences in 2016, he quickly proved his value to the company and scientific community, progressing rapidly from an intern to a research engineer, scientist and senior scientist before being promoted to his current role.
Crawford’s research helped Imbed secure over $10 million in federal grants and contracts to develop a variety of wound care products. He played a key role in developing the company’s Microlyte pain relief matrix and obtaining its regulatory approval, leading the effort to obtain FDA clearance for the product’s human use.
He also created a program at Imbed that provides college students and recent graduates with an engineering focus the opportunity to meet with professionals across several disciplines, and expose them to a variety of career paths.
Meghan Daly
Senior executive assistant – business banking & community engagement
Old National Bank
Age: 39
Anyone who has planned more than 100 weddings has leadership and organizational chops. Meghan Daly’s former side-gig was the perfect place to hone leadership skills such as conflict resolution, change management and negotiation, and she’s brought them to Old National Bank to serve as the “right hand” for her colleagues.
These abilities came in handy when Old National Bank acquired Anchor Bank in 2016 and Daly took on the challenge of merging two cultures. The UW-Madison graduate started the 15-person Madison ACE (Associate Community & Engagement) team in 2018 to involve employees in volunteerism, cross departmental collaboration and to serve as culture champions. Under Daly’s culture-shaping direction, local employees now volunteer more than 4,500 hours annually in the community.
Dylan Douglas
Director of land development
JT Engineering Inc.
Age: 38
As director of land development and a board member at JT Engineering, Dylan Douglas has helped drive the firm’s growth from a three-person team to more than 30 employees in its Madison office. Over the past year, he launched a new service line for land development and facilities work that has expanded JT’s client base and boosted profitability.
A licensed professional engineer in five states, Douglas also mentors young engineers and plays a leadership role in industry groups such as the American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin and the American Public Works Association.
In 2023, he was named Visionary of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society after raising more than $121,000 in 10 weeks. Now vice-chair of the campaign’s leadership team, he continues to champion cancer research and raise awareness and funding for patient support and advocacy.
Eric Engstrom
Vice president – investment portfolio manager
First Business Bank
Age: 36
After teaching high school physics for three years, Eric Engstrom made a professional shift to build a thriving career in investment management. Now with First Business Bank, which has $3.4 billion in private wealth assets under management, Engstrom helps clients navigate the financial markets and identify strategies to achieve their financial goals. In fewer than three years, his portfolio has more than doubled, and he recently stepped into a leadership role supporting team development and key client relationships.
Engstrom has been involved in numerous nonprofits around Madison, but his work with the American Heart Association, where he serves on the Dane County chapter of the board of directors, is particularly notable. Inspired by a personal connection to cardiac health, he chaired the 2024 American Heart Association Heart Walk in Dane County, helping raise more than $140,000.
Tom Ganser
Senior project manager
Findorff
Age: 40*
With more than 16 years in construction, Tom Ganser has played a key role in growing Findorff’s science and technology division, leading high-profile projects like MilliporeSigma and Exact Sciences’ award-winning Amenities Building. His process engineering expertise has helped streamline operations, train new project managers and reduce costs while expanding the firm’s market reach, particularly in manufacturing and production.
Outside of project work, Ganser mentors high school students through the ACE Program, guiding teams in national design competitions that encourage students to present thoughtful, realistic design and construction plans that align with specific project objectives. He also volunteers with Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and serves on the Fontana Sports board, and supports environmental causes like the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
Gabriella Gerhardt
Vice president of development
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
Age: 37
Gabriella Gerhardt has worn many hats in an already impressive career. In previous roles at the Morgridge Institute for Research and the Madison Children’s Museum, she overcame challenges like maintaining donor engagement during the pandemic and reversing declining membership and revenue.
She leads strategic fund development at Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, bolstering its growth and sustainability, and helps raise $2-2.5 million annually for affordable housing. She’s also a Fitchburg alder and council president, which she calls “one of the greatest honors of my life,” and shapes policies to support fiscal responsibility, housing access and sustainable urban planning.
Gerhardt’s lifetime membership in the Girl Scouts led her to become a troop leader in 2017. Another claim to fame — Gerhardt holds five Guinness World Records for four-leaf clover hunting.
Kate Hanson
Chief financial officer
The Bank of New Glarus
Age: 37
As a CFO in banking, Kate Hanson is skilled in managing complex financial operations while also balancing the demands of a busy home life, where she manages a family of six, including triplets. Her ability to juggle multiple priorities speaks to her multitasking skills and leadership.
Hanson has been in the banking industry for over 20 years. Despite being one of the youngest CFOs among her peers, she has been instrumental in the bank’s growth, helping to more than double its asset size to over $750 million. Her keen market insight also played a pivotal role in the acquisition of the First National Bank at Darlington.
An alumna of Edgewood College, Hanson graduated summa cum laude. She further honed her expertise as a 2023 graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at UW-Madison. She also serves on the board of the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce.
Nick Harnish
Director of education
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland
Age: 36
More than 15 years of experience in youth development have armed Nick Harnish with the skills to transform key programming at Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland and empower girls.
Over the past year, Harnish has expanded the nonprofit’s partner program, which fosters collaboration with businesses and organizations that span diverse fields and offer hands-on experiences for Girl Scouts. He has also led the development of new infrastructure for the organization’s 42 camp experiences.
As a certified youth Mental Health First Aid trainer, he helps support youth mental health needs, and he has spoken at state and regional conferences centered on mental, emotional and social health. His resume of professional and community involvement also includes veterans support, disaster relief and inclusive outdoor experiences.
Brandon Holstein
Senior sports account manager
Madison Area Sports Commission
Age: 36
Since joining the Madison Area Sports Commission in 2013, Brandon Holstein has brought dozens of major events to the city — USA Boxing Junior Nationals, USA Curling championships and the upcoming Official Strongman Games. He also founded the Madtown Pickleball Open, now the largest outdoor pickleball tournament in Wisconsin, raising more than $30,000 for youth sports grants.
A founding board member of Dairyland Sports, Holstein has helped grow adaptive sports events statewide, including the Dairyland Games and MadCity Invitational. He’s known for his deep industry knowledge, humility and ability to overcome challenges with creativity and persistence, said his nominator, Jamie Patrick.
In 2016, he was named to Destination International’s 30 Under 30 list, and his efforts helped Madison earn Sports Commission of the Year honors in 2018.
Michelle Howe
Southwest region major studies supervisor
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Age: 39
If you were among the voters shouting, “fix the darned roads!” a few years ago, one of the people you can thank for the state’s recent road repair progress is Michelle Howe. At WisDOT, she leads a small team of engineers and planners in the preliminary design and environmental phase of some of the state’s most complex transportation corridors. They work with communities to identify safety improvements for all roadway users, including non-drivers.
Howe also is passionate about encouraging more women to pursue careers in science and engineering. With that goal in mind, she helped lead the Empowering Women group at WisDOT that was selected for a statewide Project of the Year award.
Howe is active in leadership roles with her church, serving on committees and helping with children’s ministry. She also coaches youth soccer.
Dellavonte Hune
Account manager
Stoughton Trailers LLC
Age: 29
At Stoughton Trailers, Dellavonte Hune has had a key role in shifting the company’s mindset from a focus on profit generation to becoming a cost-saving center as well. Hune created the “Yellow Brick Road” project, an effort to reduce costs, eliminate unnecessary transactions and maximize freight efficiency.
It could be said that Hune has followed his own yellow brick road to success after personal hardships as a youth including housing instability. As a first-generation college student, Hune earned not one but four degrees, including an MBA in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Hune’s background includes his stint as a logistics and supply chain sergeant in the Marines. He’s a member of the Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals and has coached high school lacrosse. He credits three core principles for guiding his life: resilience, consistency and patience.
Hannah Jensen
Partner
Wegner CPAs
Age: 36
Hannah Jensen has advanced Wegner CPAs in so many ways, it’s no surprise she was appointed a partner at age 36, one of the youngest to achieve this rank.
Jensen’s contributions to the firm’s growth have been substantial, generating leads or closing leads that have led to more than $1.7 million in client revenue. A valued mentor to Wegner associates, her dedication to transparency led Wegner to be recognized with a culture badge for “Clued in Employees” by the employee engagement firm Energage. Her improvements to the recruiting process ensure prospective employees a fair and welcoming hiring process.
Jensen has been instrumental in the continued growth of Wegner’s nonprofit niche, serving more than 100 nonprofits locally and nationally. She has trained organizations to become more financially resilient and effective in advancing their missions.
Alex Joers
Wisconsin state representative
Wisconsin State Assembly
Age: 32
One of the youngest members of the Wisconsin state Legislature, Middleton native and state Rep. Alex Joers represents his neighbors in the Good Neighbor City, Waunakee and parts of northwestern Dane County. Previously, he served as a Dane County Board supervisor.
Joers earned a dual degree in political science and public administration from the UW-La Crosse in 2015. Gun safety, student debt relief, child care access, food equity and environmental protection are just some of areas in which he’s developed legislation. He is a member of the Friends of Pheasant Branch, Friends of Pope Farm Conservancy and Friends of Schumacher Farm Park.
His nominator, fellow Democrat and state Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, noted that “Alex leads with kindness and works to understand the different viewpoints and experiences of the people he represents and works with in the state Capitol.”
Jennifer Johnson
Attorney
Boardman & Clark LLP
Age: 37
Jennifer Johnson launched and leads Boardman Clark’s humanitarian immigration law practice, a new area of business that has driven growth and expanded services for the firm’s clients. A dedicated family and immigration attorney, Johnson is also an active voice in policy discussions, serving on the Wisconsin Bar’s family law board and advising local lawmakers.
Outside of the office, she has had a transformative role as board chair of the Madison Children’s Museum, where she helped guide the organization through the pandemic, led a national search for a new executive director and raised nearly $8 million to fund the museum’s Wonderground exhibit.
Her civic contributions include roles with Madison’s Sister City Program, Mundo Esperanza, Tandem Press and more. Johnson brings compassion, vision and tenacity to everything she does, said her nominator, Marta Meyers.
Maya Johnson
Interior designer
EUA
Age: 27
As an interior designer at EUA, Maya Johnson has led over $320 million in health care design projects across Wisconsin in the past year alone, including two of Madison’s largest current builds. Her work emphasizes innovation and well-being — she recently helped deliver one of the first WELL Gold health care projects in the state.
Johnson is also president of IIDA Wisconsin, overseeing initiatives that support professional development and student scholarships, and she regularly mentors interns through EUA’s design program. Her community work spans Kids Building Wisconsin, the Goodman Center’s Thanksgiving Drive and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
She brings creativity, poise and energy to every setting, whether mentoring students, supporting local families or designing adaptable spaces that improve patient care, said her nominator, Tony Breitlow.
Michelle Kartman
Director of business development
Advanced Building Corporation
Age: 40*
Michelle Kartman brings strategic vision and energy to her role as director of business development at Advanced Building Corp., driving brand growth, client engagement and profitability. She previously held the same role at Wolf Paving Company and led product innovation at Vendura Industries, contributing to patented safety solutions for behavioral health facilities.
Kartman was named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2024 Visionary of the Year after organizing fundraising events like the LLS Pickleball Classic and Construction Cares Golf Outing. She continues to lead through LLS’s visionary leadership team and serves as chair of the Greater Madison Chamber’s Ambassador program.
Kartman is also active with Associated General Contractors of America, BOMA and Women of Asphalt, promoting collaboration and mentorship within the industry.
Austin Kassner
President and franchise owner
Spherion Staffing & Recruiting
Age: 31
Since Austin Kassner took the lead at Spherion Staffing & Recruiting, its Madison branch won the company’s General Staffing Office of the Year award in 2022 and 2023. As president and franchise owner, Kassner’s leadership has led to significant growth, innovation and profitability. In 2023, he expanded the company’s footprint in the region by acquiring a new branch in Rockford, Illinois.
Kassner, who graduated from Northwestern with industrial engineering and economics degrees and earned an MBA at Harvard, aims to shift the view of staffing agencies from transactional to partnership-focused.
He is a graduate of the 30th class of Leadership Greater Madison, a member of BioForward and several chambers of commerce, and mentors local high school students. Adding to his cred is being named Franchise Business Review’s 2024 Millennial Franchise Rockstar.
Trenton Kleist
Principal
Baker Tilly
Age: 39
Baker Tilly counts on Trenton Kleist’s leadership locally and nationally. Kleist leads the advisory, tax and assurance firm’s national cost certification assurance practice, a critical function that supports developers in delivering real estate projects to investors with the highest standards of accuracy.
He also serves on the firm’s national real estate assurance practice committee, where he plays a critical role in developing technologies and resources designed to streamline assurance processes across the country. In addition, Kleist closed more than $800,000 in new business opportunities in 2024, demonstrating an aptitude for identifying prospects.
As a member of the Lead United Network Advisory Council for United Way of Dane County, Kleist was part of a team that played a crucial role in recruiting more donors. Now he’s vice chair of the Professional Services Committee in UWDC’s Campaign Cabinet.
Efrat Koppel
Development coordinator
REAP Food Group
Age: 28
A seasoned founder and fundraiser before age 30, Efrat Koppel is a champion of local causes, from social justice to sustainability.
Previously the event coordinator at REAP, Koppel led a joint fundraiser with the Dane County Food Collective during the Big Share — an online day of giving that supports nonprofits — and secured most of DCFC’s annual operating budget. Koppel founded and chairs DCFC’s development committee, boosting the growth of REAP and DCFC through innovative fundraising and community events.
Koppel also co-founded the Mosaic Dinner Movement, which forges connections among community members of diverse backgrounds; co-founded the Legal Observers Network, which trains volunteers and provides legal documentation for those engaging in protests; and belongs to the Emergent Seas Art Collective, a coalition of Great Lakes Basin artists.
Devin Little
Construction administrator
BWBR Architects Inc.
Age: 39
A longtime presence in Madison’s architecture community, Devin Little has helped shape BWBR’s growth from the ground up. As a construction administrator, he builds and maintains contractor relationships that have led to repeat business and new project opportunities, contributing to the firm’s success over the past 12 years. He became a BWBR shareholder in 2022.
Little is also embedded in the broader architecture profession, having served on multiple AIA Wisconsin committees and in 2014, he received a presidential citation. A dedicated mentor, Little leads onboarding for new team members, helping them feel supported from day one.
Outside the office, he has volunteered for more than two decades with the Boy Scouts of America, currently serving as a Cub Scout den leader, guiding young people in leadership, character and community service.
Katie Magyera
Prime Time Plus Club director
Lake Ridge Bank
Age: 39
When Katie Magyera joined Lake Ridge Bank as associate director for Prime Time Plus Club (PTPC), she didn’t anticipate leading the entire program just eight months later. Yet she has added new energy and growth to this loyalty program whose goal is to provide meaningful experiences, including travel, as a thank you to bank clients over 50.
A former teacher who came to banking after almost 15 years in education, Magyera’s passion for building community and her love of travel made her the perfect fit. While PTPC is free for bank clients who qualify, participation contributes to bank profits in two ways: reduction in accounts leaving the bank so clients maintain PTPC membership, and bringing in new deposits. While Magyera works to attract more members with a diverse range of programming, she’s also found volunteer opportunities that support the community of those 50 and older.
Amanda Marek
Executive director
Active Youth Wisconsin
Age: 33
As only the second executive director at Madison nonprofit Active Youth Wisconsin (formerly Tri 4 Schools), Amanda Marek has worked to transform the organization, capitalizing on its strengths, broadening its community reach, and streamlining its operations.
Marek drives programming that creates opportunities for children to be active, healthy and confident. She helped acquire the county’s largest Turkey Trot race, the Birdie Derby, which donates 100% of proceeds to local families and schools and is projected to double Active Youth Wisconsin’s revenue. Last year’s race drew over 5,000 participants and helped spur the Tri 4 Schools-Active Youth Wisconsin transition by supporting expanded programming.
Marek also mentors teens through Ziro, a Mount Horeb nonprofit that provides business education to youth and cancer screening tests to the community.
Zach Osman
Vice president – private banking relationship manager
Johnson Financial Group
Age: 35
Johnson Financial Group’s Zach Osman joined the company in 2024 and already “has taken on a significant portfolio and has made strong connections internally and externally,” according to his nominator, Doug Nelson. His optimism, skill at relationship-building and making qualified referrals stands out.
Since Osman has come aboard, JFG joined the Middleton Chamber of Commerce, which will help the company grow its presence on the west side and at its new West Towne branch. Nelson said Osman also keeps a great work/life balance having recently welcomed his first son.
A UW-Green Bay graduate, Osman’s community involvement includes the United Way, WayForward Resources, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Whitetails Unlimited, where he raises money for research into chronic wasting disease in Wisconsin deer.
Molly Prater
Hospital foundation officer
Froedtert Health
Age: 27
Before moving to Froedtert Health, Molly Prater was a key leader at Fort HealthCare. Her work included establishing the Patient and Family Advisory Council to better connect families and providers, and leading development of the Community Health Improvement Plan and the Community Health Needs Assessment with Jefferson and Dodge counties.
Prater has been a member of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, working with colleagues from rural hospitals to share ideas for improving patient care. She represented Fort HealthCare in the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, a group focused on reducing health disparities.
Prater is on the board of Heroes for Healthcare, helping veterans transition to health care roles in civilian life. She has a degree in biomedicine from UW-Whitewater and an MBA from University of Texas at Tyler.
Tom Qualls
Community engagement director
Madison Public Schools Foundation
Age: 39
Tom Qualls’ path to his current position included stops that imbued him with an understanding of the needs of the community — especially those of students and families. He started his career as an educational assistant in Madison’s north side public schools. In early 2020, he joined the Vera Court Neighborhood Center, where within weeks he was leading a team of program managers and coordinators in a shift to virtual community programming during the pandemic, as well as facilitating meal distribution and other critical support.
As the community engagement director for the Madison Public Schools Foundation, Qualls has cultivated partnerships, reengaged lapsed partners and sponsors, and secured grants to benefit MMSD schools. He is the membership chair of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Ambassador program and is part of the latest cohort of Leadership Greater Madison.
Muhammad Shehata
CEO and founder
Cargo Champion, Little Stars Child Care, Travel With Shehata
Age: 31
Muhammad Shehata leads three businesses rooted in service and inclusion. As CEO of Cargo Champion, a trucking company, he’s built a diverse, supportive team of drivers, reducing turnover and expanding the company’s reach.
At Little Stars Child Care, based in Waterloo, Iowa, where Shehata is originally from, his steady leadership during the pandemic kept essential services running and earned community trust. And through Travel With Shehata, he’s organized heritage tours across Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Croatia for over 100 travelers, supporting small businesses and cultural exchange.
Shehata also co-founded Wisco NOMA, supporting minority architects statewide, and serves in leadership roles at the Carter G. Woodson Foundation and Madinah Academy of Madison.
Sara Siekierski
Senior talent development programs manager
Unanet
Age: 38
At Unanet — a business-to-business software company serving the government contracting and architecture, engineering and construction industries — Sara Siekierski has made great strides.
Her accomplishments include developing an onboarding program that fosters community and collaboration among Unanet’s remote workforce. Siekierski also created a Rising Leaders program that supports and develops emerging leaders at the company, and uses a bias-free evaluative method to ensure diverse participants.
In 2024, Siekierski mentored two employees in Unanet’s Encore program. One was a new mother reentering the job market and another a teacher pursuing a new career.
A former reporter, Siekierski holds a master’s degree in communication from UW-Whitewater. She stands out for bringing “invention, tenacity and joy” to her role.
Amanda Strobel
Manager of strategic initiatives
Madison Children’s Museum
Age: 37
An education that culminated with a master’s degree in history from UW–Milwaukee led Amanda Strobel to an unexpected start to her career. She worked for two years for the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines as a program specialist before landing in her current role — and gaining niche skills along the way.
At the Madison Children’s Museum, Strobel coordinated over 70 MCM staff when the museum hosted the Association of Children’s Museums’ conference last May, and she was recently promoted to manager of strategic initiatives — her seventh position at MCM.
Strobel works on high-level projects like the Caretakers of Wonder, an early childhood climate change initiative. She has presented the museum’s work at multiple conferences and singlehandedly created an MCM mini-exhibit focused on the museum’s 30-year relationship with American Girl.
Victoria Thayer
Founder and president
Novii CPA
Age: 33
Victoria Thayer’s accounting business, specializing in biotech, life sciences and manufacturing companies, has grown quickly. After a year-and-a-half, she had 40 clients and hired six people. In her first six months of business, she grew revenue from zero to six figures.
A native of Venezuela, Thayer advocates for inclusion and mentorship within the accounting profession for women and minorities. She provides tax and accounting training to Latino business owners through the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce, and serves as treasurer for the Madison Reading Project, among other roles.
She holds degrees in business and chemical engineering from the University of Rochester and a master’s in accounting from Edgewood College. In 2024, Thayer was named one of the top 50 women in accounting by Ignition and one of six people chosen as an AICPA Outstanding Young CPA.
Dan Truehl
Director of training
LIFT Consulting LLC
Age: 33
Thanks to Dan Truehl’s ability to attract and retain clients, he has moved from business development into a director role at Lift Consulting in just a few years. During his tenure, Lift grew its annual revenue from $400,000 to $2.5 million, according to his nominator, Mary Grundahl, COO of JG Development.
Truehl’s family background in construction coupled with his expertise in marketing and business development has helped bolster training programs for the members of Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin. Grundahl notes that JG has worked with Truehl for four years, and “one thing that remains constant is our employees’ preference for Dan’s training, mentorship and coaching.”
Truehl is part of the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s Emerging Leadership Board. He also previously coached Middleton High School’s varsity hockey team.
Chelsey Tubbs
Associate superintendent of elementary schools
Madison Metropolitan School District
Age: 39
MMSD’s Chelsey Tubbs is the face behind an innovative approach to education for historically marginalized students.
Tubbs has pushed for data-informed, equitable education, and during the 2023-24 school year the 10 schools she supervises saw a 28.4% increase in students performing at or above grade level.
She designed and implemented the “School Improvement Process 2.0” to help educators better facilitate student success, and has pushed for Lexia and other resources to strengthen literacy rates and inclusive education practices.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Tubbs chairs the Dane County Equal Opportunity Commission and belongs to the Dane County Youth Commission and Madison Community Policing Advisory Board, to name a few.
Brett Valentyn
Partner
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Age: 37
A key leader in Michael Best’s corporate group, Brett Valentyn is one of the firm’s most in-demand M&A attorneys, guiding clients through high-stakes transactions with care, precision and calm under pressure.
After joining the firm in 2022, he co-led three of its four largest deals in 2024, including multibillion-dollar sales and acquisitions spanning health care, insurance and tech. Beyond client work, Valentyn has created tools that improve efficiency, including a firmwide M&A playbook, and mentoring.
The Verona native has also raised over $120,000 for UW’s Carbone Cancer Center, honors his late sister through fundraising for vision research and mentors law students at his alma mater, the UW Law School.
Valentyn is also a founding member of the Copper Collective, a “mastermind group” of Madison professionals that support one another in their career and personal lives.
Cassie Vanderwall
Senior director, population health & innovation
Quartz Health Solutions
Age: 39
Armed with a doctorate in health sciences from Rush University, Cassie Vanderwall oversees Quartz’s population health and product quality programs, including CMS Star Rating (Medicare Advantage), Medicaid Pay for Performance and ETF Quality Credit Program, a state employee health benefits program incentive.
Vanderwall launched initiatives to boost preventative screenings in colon, breast and cervical cancers for Quartz members and improved existing programs on blood pressure control and diabetes management. She also spearheaded programs, like a doula benefit, designed to improve health outcomes for underserved and marginalized communities.
Vanderwall, a certified dietician, is the advocacy chair for the Wisconsin Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and a board member on the Dane County Immunization Council.
Tim Wartinbee
Senior vice president, business banking
Greenwoods State Bank
Age: 38
Tim Wartinbee stands out for driving new business to Greenwoods State Bank and building trusting relationships with customers. He particularly enjoys “demystifying the lending process for first-time borrowers,” according to nominator Mike Doers. Wartinbee’s current role in commercial banking follows a stint in software sales at Zendesk.
A Madison native, Wartinbee graduated from the university here and then spent four years as a Marine Corps officer, where he served as a communications platoon commander leading over 100 Marines. Following that, he earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Southern California in a program tailored to veterans.
His experience navigating the transition to the civilian workforce has inspired his volunteer work with the Middleton Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Salvation Army and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
Meet the judges
Zach Blumenfeld, co-founder, CultureCon
With the motto, “Make What You Do Matter,” Zach Blumenfeld (40U40 class of 2018) is a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of growing and scaling businesses while emphasizing innovation and workplace culture.
In addition to co-founding CultureCon, the nation’s top workplace culture event, he’s passionate about giving back through mentorship and community engagement, including youth programs and past board service with the Jewish Federation of Madison.
Rachel Hanson, director of volunteer experience, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland
Lifetime Girl Scout member Rachel Hanson (40U40 class of 2024) has helped set records for renewing Girl Scouts and adult volunteers, and true to her nature, she’s played a role in leadership development as well, both for the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland and for the Pampered Chef.
The UW-La Crosse graduate, who has two young sons in Scouts, has also lent her volunteer expertise to the Taste of Madison, Madison Marathon and Run Madtown.
Binnu Palta Hill, internal consultant, Office of Strategic Consulting, UW-Madison
Binnu Palta Hill has developed programs and consulted in leadership development and organizational effectiveness at UW-Madison.
She has served on the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business Diversity Board, as well as boards for Wisconsin Watch and the Information Technology Academy. She received UW-Madison’s Outstanding Woman of Color award and the Wisconsin Alumni Association Leadership award.
