The Business Record is proud to recognize the 2026 Forty Under 40 honorees.
These 40 local leaders, who were chosen by past award winners, are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement.
This year’s class is the 27th to receive the award. Together, they join 1,040 past Business Record Forty Under 40 honorees to bring the total number of honorees to 1,080 since the Business Record began the awards in 2000.
– Emily Barske Wood, Business Record special projects editor
2026 Forty Under 40 honorees
Bailee Arnburg, director of sports, Catch Des Moines
Mike Beals, associate vice president, finance, Principal Financial Group
Kailey Blazek Naranjo, shareholder, Dentons Davis Brown
Lauren Bockholt, self-perform work leader, Midwest region, Ryan Cos.
Alysun Bulver, corporate counsel, LCS
Alicia Chilton, vice president of marketing, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Marcus Coenen, senior planner, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Charlie Cowell, urban planner, RDG Planning & Design
Sara Donovan, manager of access and engagement, Broadlawns Medical Center
Ty Flood, shareholder, senior client executive, Holmes Murphy and Associates
Megan Garrett, director of communications, Care Initiatives
David Gross, director of business development, Estes Construction
Haley Gutschenritter, retirement planner, Merkle Retirement Planning
Ellen Hames, member attorney, BrownWinick Law Firm
Nathan Hardisty, vice president, public infrastructure business unit director, Shive-Hattery
Adam Haselhuhn, senior director of development, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Foundation
Ngozi Igbokwe, senior manager, learning and development, Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Paige Jaeger, chief operating officer, ChildServe
Aaron Jones, shareholder, Belin McCormick
Ali Kraayenbrink, partner, Vesel Technology
Greg Lagan, vice president of sales delivery, Paragon IT Professionals
Jaime Leiva, owner, Legado Insurance Professionals | executive director, United Futbol Academy of Iowa
Becca Mataloni, senior manager, marketing creative, ITA Group
Cole McClelland, vice president, senior commercial real estate relationship manager, Bankers Trust
Ryan Moon, government relations director, Delta Dental of Iowa
Paige Moore, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa
Anthony Pawnell, Title IX coordinator, Des Moines Area Community College
Stacey Robles, inclusive talent program manager, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Liesl Seabert, program manager, University of Northern Iowa Institute for Decision Making
Taufeek Shah, CEO, Lola's Fine Sauces
Joe Sheridan, general manager and owner, SpeedPro Des Moines
Josh Terrell, CEO, 3E Partners
Eric Tubbs, shareholder, attorney, Nyemaster Goode
Cheyenne Vander Waal, commercial relationship manager, VisionBank
Val Veiock, owner, Bing's
Calla Whipp, director of marketing and public relations, Des Moines Symphony
Amy Wise, vice president, treasury management relationship manager, Community State Bank
Josh Woodvine, chief distribution officer, Sammons Financial Group
Derek Zarn, director of marketing and communications, City of Urbandale
Sarah Zeidler, executive director, oncology services, UnityPoint Health - John Stoddard Cancer Center
Event information
Date: April 2
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: Prairie Meadows
The Business Record invites you to help us celebrate the 2026 class of Forty Under 40 honorees at a special event on April 2 at Prairie Meadows. Businesses interested in reserving a corporate support table can inquire about securing one now. General admission tickets go on sale Feb. 27.
Each of the honorees will be profiled in the March 20 edition of the Business Record.
