Young professionals in spotlight

The Kootenai County Young Professionals will be hosting a celebration for the 2021 Top 30 Under 40 winners at 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at the StanCraft Jet Center.

Mayor Steve Widmyer, one of the judges, said he found the group of nominees to be outstanding professionals and leaders of the community.

“I’m very impressed with their qualifications and that they will continue enhancing our quality of life,” Widmyer said. “These are the young leaders that will shape the future of Kootenai County.”

Other judges included Eve Knudtsen, president of Knudtsen Chevrolet Co. in Post Falls; Luke Malek, founding attorney and co-owner at Smith + Malek; Chris Cochran, a self-employed consultant; and Jeanette Laster, executive director for the Human Rights Education Institute.

The judges selected the 30 winners from 131 nominations.

The KCYP Top 30 Under 40 is an opportunity for community members to nominate young professionals to be rewarded for outstanding service to the community, business accomplishments and more.

The celebration dinner will include drinks, music and awards. Tickets are $85 for KCYP members, $99 for non-members. Tickets: kcyp.org/event-4487703

2021 winners include:

• Alex Capaul, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue

• Ashley Mielke, Northland Training Academy

• Ashley Yates, Alliance Title & Escrow

• Becky Rice, Post Falls School District

• Caitlin O’Brien, Smith + Malek

• Cora Whitney, Smith + Malek

• Daniel Nelmar, VrTrend Magazine

• Eric Carmmichael, CK Collab

• Heath Wells, Hensley Wells PLLC

• Hernando Thola, Alpha Jiu Jitsu + Fitness

• Hunter Franssen, Franssen’s Electric

• Jory Schmelling, StanCraft Boat Company

• Kassi Allen, Anchored Coffee Company

• Katey Abbott, American Pacific Mortgage

• Kayla Mai, First Interstate Bank

• Lana Lawrence, TA Drywall

• Laura Steininger, Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy

• Marissa Kernodle, Silvaris

• Marissa Mitchell, Let’s Elope CDA

• Melissa Fink, CDA Books

• Miranda Hamilton, Insurance Northwest

• Morgan Dixon, Innovation Den

• Nick Madsen, Community Library Network

• Nikki Parquette, Spear Direct Care

• Octavian Rivas, Idaho Central Credit Union

• Rebecca Stephens, Rōmr Architects

• Shane Solorza, Amazon

• Spencer Normington, Coeur d’Alene School District

• Tara Malek, Smith + Malek

• Tyler Haug, Selkirk Construction