Ten years ago, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce’s (NACC) Young Professional Network (YPN) launched the Four Under 40 Awards to highlight young professionals who are changing the way our community works, leads, and grows.
This year, as we celebrate the ten-year anniversary of these awards, we are marking that milestone with a special class of 40 Under 40. I invite you to nominate someone who deserves to be recognized. Nominations are open until 5:00 p.m. CST on April 10.
We are asking you to help us recognize leadership across the entire Naperville community, if you know someone making an impact in our community, who has achieved excellence in their career, and who is not only our future, but our now, please nominate them here.
This prestigious award is one of YPN’s signature events, and it has been incredible to look back at past honorees. I recently had the opportunity to sit down at NCTV and interview the inaugural Four Under 40 honorees from 2016, Michael Sitrick, Lauren Visher De Simone, Erin Doepel Wikstrom, and Chad Pedigo. What stood out was not just where they are today, but how they got there.
Everything around them has changed. Careers have evolved, businesses have grown, leadership roles have expanded, and families have grown. But at their core, they have not changed. They are still showing up and still invested in this community the same way they were a decade ago.
It was a reminder that leadership is not usually one defining moment. It is built over time through steady decisions, strong relationships, and a willingness to stay engaged. That kind of consistency is rare, and it is exactly what we set out to recognize. Ten years later, the proof is in front of us.
That is what makes this anniversary worth celebrating. Not just the program, but the people and what they have continued to build long after the recognition.
It is also what Four Under 40 has always been about. Ten years later, we are not just looking at a list of names. We are seeing what happens when people stay engaged, invest in their work and their community, and grow over time, and as we look ahead, we have the opportunity to do that again.
We will celebrate the 2026 Forty Under 40 class on May 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville.
Nominees must be 40 or under as of May 21, 2026, and demonstrate excellence in their career, meaningful community involvement, real leadership impact, and a commitment to results while maintaining life balance.
Nominations close April 10 at 5 p.m. Self nominations will not be considered.
The next class of leaders is already out there doing the work. They are building businesses, leading teams, showing up in this community, and creating impact in ways that are not always visible or recognized.
More often than not, they are not the ones promoting themselves, even though they should be. Recognition matters, if for no other reason than to acknowledge that their work and commitment are seen and appreciated.
Take a moment to look at your network. Think about the people who consistently show up, follow through, and make things better. Please put their name forward.
And while you are thinking about it, take a moment to reflect on 2016. Think about how far you have come, what has changed, what has stayed the same, and the role you have played in shaping this community along the way.
Thank you for the impact you have made.
Thank you to all of our past Four Under 40 honorees. I look forward to celebrating this special 40 Under 40 class in May.