Oakland County issued the following announcement on Mar. 1.
- 10th class among the best young professionals living, working in Oakland County
- Exemplify County Executive Dave Coulters’ Oakland Together vision for future
- 40 individuals selected from 125 applicants born before Dec. 31, 1981
The 10th 40 Under 40 class honors young professionals who live and/or work in Oakland County. These individuals exemplify Oakland Together, Coulter's vision for a community working together to leverage its strengths, address its challenges, and find value in working with regional partners.
Among the members are a pharmacy manager for cancer patients, a curator at a major educational institution, a senior community engagement specialist for a Medicaid and Medicare managed services provider, and a client partnership officer at a financial services firm.
"This diverse group of exceptional individuals are leaders and entrepreneurs, activists and teachers," Coulter said. "But overall, they are all passionate about their communities, successful in their careers and bound for great things in the future. They embody the Oakland Together message that blends talent, skill and excellence with a commitment to public service.
Approximately 125 candidates, born on or before Dec. 31, 1981, applied for the honor. A panel of independent judges selected the new class.
Highlights
- Jennifer Forman, 35, of Rochester Hills, a pharmacy manager at Ascension St. John Hospital. Forman is a board certified clinical pharmacist for cancer patients. She leads a team of oncology pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across eight outpatient infusion pharmacies at Ascension St. John Hospital. She co-chairs a nationwide subcommittee focused on the improvement of infusion services throughout Ascension Health's 142 hospitals. Under her leadership, the eight outpatient infusion pharmacies participate in the Commission on Cancer accreditation program to ensure they meet the standards of excellence for infusion centers set forth by the American College of Surgeons.
- Kevin Adkisson, 32, of Bloomfield Hills, the curator of the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research. Rising from collections fellow in 2016 to become the first Curator for the Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research, Adkisson assists in the preservation, interpretation, and public educational programs across the many notable buildings of Cranbrook, a National Historic Landmark campus. He welcomes thousands of visitors - both in person and virtually - for tours, lectures, and online programming. Adkisson makes history come alive with his friendly, humorous personality and deep passion for art and architecture.
- Elizabeth Crenshaw, 38, of Pontiac, a senior community engagement specialist for Molina Healthcare. Crenshaw, who was one of only three Black women in her engineering class at Michigan State University, owns her own community-based yoga business, Yaktown Yoga. The studio is a mobile holistic wellness center that provides meditation, mindfulness, yoga and yoga therapy to the Pontiac area. As senior community engagement specialist at Molina Healthcare, Crenshaw manages health-related initiatives, health education, equity training, and curates outreach programs that highlight healthcare's role in reducing health disparities, especially in underserved communities. She also advocates for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in Black and Brown communities.
- Caleb Sheng, 39, of Commerce Township, the client partnership officer for Waldo Wealth Partners. Sheng is an attorney whose parents' experiences as immigrants shaped his decision to work closely with East Asian ex-patriot and first-generation communities in navigating the unfamiliar American legal system in their second or third language. He also led the City of Wixom's Downtown Development Authority in 2020, supporting business owners throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. He also helps children in developing countries grow out of poverty through Compassion International.
- Kevin Adkisson, 32, Bloomfield Hills, Curator, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
- Sumaiya Ahmed Sheikh, 30, West Bloomfield, Executive Director, Oakland County Democratic Party
- Racheal Allen, 38, Farmington Hills, Chief Operating Officer, Marygrove Conservancy
- Mary C. Aretha, 32, Clawson, Attorney, Collins Einhorn Farrell PC
- David E.S. Bowman, 39, Sylvan Lake, Community Health Director, Saint Joseph Mercy Oakland
- Wisam Brikho, 37, Shelby Township, Immigrant Student Services Coordinator, Oakland Schools
- Vernon Burden, 39, Farmington Hills, Assistant Principal, Lake Orion Community High School
- Elizabeth Crenshaw, 38, Pontiac, Sr. Community Engagement Specialist, Molina Healthcare
- Hon. Jacob James Cunningham, 36, Ferndale, Judge, Oakland County Circuit Court
- Javon R. David, 33, Birmingham, Attorney, Butzel Long
- Dr. Andrew DeHaan, 36, Waterford, Owner and Orthodontist, DeHaan Orthodontics
- Brittney K. Ellis, 29, of Davisburg, Attorney, The Kelly Firm
- Melissa Ford, 40, Lake Orion, Trail Manager, Paint Creek Trailways Commission
- Jennifer Forman, 35, Rochester Hills, Pharmacy Manager, Ascension St. John Hospital
- Katie Gandy, 31, Waterford, Sr. Community Engagement Specialist, Barton Malow
- Sara Gold, 39, Huntington Woods, Senior Director of Health and Basic Needs, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
- Kyle M. Hagan, 31, Oxford, Lieutenant, Orion Township Fire Department
- Adam G. Hamilton, 40, Oakland Twp., Clinical Director, Oakland Community Health Network
- Tylene Henry, 39, Beverly Hills, Owner and CEO, Ujima Services, LLC
- Lauren Herrin, 37, Bloomfield Twp., Associate Director, Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee
- Jason Hoskins, 37, Southfield, City Councilman, City of Southfield
- Dr. Wing-Yue Geoffrey Louie, 33, Troy, Assistant Professor of Robotics, Oakland University
- Rep. Mari Manoogian, 29, Birmingham, State Representative, Michigan House of Representatives
- Dr. Anthony Marin, 35, Rochester, Senior Vice President & Chief Research Officer, Metro Detroit Youth Clubs
- Jordyn Najduk, 31, Highland Twp., Program Manager, Huron Valley Community Coalition
- Dan Pelchat, 39, South Lyon, Mayor of South Lyon and Field Technician for South Lyon Community Schools
- Angela N. Powell, 39, Pontiac, Commissioner, Oakland County Board of Commissioners
- Elizabeth Rivard-Weston, 35, Royal Oak, Workforce Development Specialist, Oakland County Michigan Works!
- Ashley Ross, 33, Oxford, Director of Programs, Michigan Humanities Council
- Hy Safran, 37, Director of Philanthropy, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit & United Jewish Foundation
- Christopher Samp, 39, Troy, Director of the Office of Disability Affairs, City of Detroit
- Caleb Sheng, 39, Commerce Twp., Client Partnership Officer, Waldo Wealth Partners
- Ryan E. Smith, 38, Commerce Twp., Physical Education Teacher Leader, K-6 Electives Content Area Leader, and Athletics Coach, Novi Community School District
- Sara Stoddard, 39, Clarkston, Administrator Public Health, Oakland County Health Division
- Karmell Thomas, 36, Troy, Senior Manager Supplier Diversity, Eaton
- Shatoria Townsend, 29, Pontiac, Public Health Consultant, State of Michigan
- Thomas Van Koughnett II, 38, Holly, Forensic CODIS Analyst, Oakland County Sheriff's Office
- Kelly Westbrook, 33, Metamora, Executive Director, Oxford DDA
- Kermit Williams, 39, Pontiac, Executive Director, Oakland Forward
- Adrienne Young, 34, Birmingham, Assistant Appellate Defender, Michigan Appellate Defender Office
Original source can be found here.
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