CONTEST: Not all winners recognized

I believe the folks in charge of the Top 30 under 40 program owe our community an apology. I believe the 26 individuals who won are great professionals and I am excited to see them represent Coeur d’Alene. I cannot believe that the judges were only able to find 26 professionals, under 40, that positively represent our community.

By definition “top 30” implies that you are going to bring forward 30 winners… So unless there were only 26 people submitted, you have to have a top 30, right? To select only 26 winners in a top 30 program could lead people to believe that Coeur d’Alene is home to only 26 exceptional young professionals, and I can assure you that is not the case! I personally submitted three qualified individuals, all of whom are leaders in their trade and actively involved in nonprofit community groups and activities. It took over an hour of my time to research and fill out the online applications. One was selected a winner of the three and I am left wondering what happened to the others if your judges could only find 26 qualified submissions.

I think that those of us that submitted nominations, those who were submitted but not chosen, and all the proud citizens of this great community and our phenomenal young leaders are owed an explanation and an apology as well as 30 winners in the years to follow.

ERIC SOLES

Coeur d’Alene