Nominations sought for '20 under 40'

For the first time, Flathead County’s best and brightest young professionals will be honored in June at the inaugural ‘20 Under 40’ celebration and event. A month-long nomination period has begun and will be followed by review by a selection committee comprised of local business leaders. Young professionals can be nominated through an online form hosted on dailyinterlake.com, hungryhorsenews.com, whitefishpilot.com, and bigforkeagle.com. The nomination period will end at midnight on May 14.

To be eligible, nominees must work and live in Flathead County and be under 40 as of March 1, 2017. As a nominator, you can honor a peer, a young mentor, or someone you admire. It is an opportunity to share an inspiring story of success with others. If you know someone who serves as an example to you, this is your chance to help share that person’s story with a larger audience. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges comprised of local community leaders, based on review of the nomination forms and any accompanying supporting documentation. The judges will select winners who best represent a cross section of professions, industries, genders, and backgrounds that mirrors the Flathead Valley’s business sector. In essence, judges are looking for a compelling story about an area business or community leader who has achieved success in recent years. The best nominations include a nominee’s path to success, unique talents and achievements, community involvement, etc.

“The Flathead Valley is full of talented young people who make significant contributions to their companies and the community,” said Anton Kaufer, director of advertising at the Daily Inter Lake. “Sometimes they’re easy to recognize and sometimes they fly under the radar. Here’s an opportunity to put them in the spotlight and share their story.”

This inaugural celebration is being presented by The Daily Inter Lake and the Hungry Horse News along with partners Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Flathead Area Young Professionals. This year’s 20 Under 40 will be announced during a special event on June 20 and will be followed by a special keepsake publication that will appear in the Inter Lake. Details on the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Having a strong network of young talent is crucial to developing an economy that will ensure a strong future for the Flathead. This is an exciting opportunity to be able to celebrate the young leaders who are pushing us in that direction,” said Joe Unterreiner, President/CEO of the Kalispell Chamber.

For more information, please contact Anton Kaufer at 758-4410 or Kate Lufkin of the Kalispell Chamber at 758-2801.