BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 9 th ANNUAL 4 UNDER 40 AWARDS

BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 9 th ANNUAL 4 UNDER 40 AWARDS

Awards ceremony set for Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone

Sixteen members of the High Country community have been selected as category finalists for the 9th-annual Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Awards. This showcase of emerging leaders is presented by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.

Winners will be announced at the annual awards ceremony, set for Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 5:30- 7:30pm, at the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone. Red carpet arrivals and a pre-event reception set the stage for an evening of celebration and recognition.

This year, 58 nominations were received across four categories: Business Owner, Education Professional, Non-Profit Professional, and Rising Star. Nominees were acknowledged for their business achievements, community and civic involvement, and other related activities.

The finalists for each category are listed below:

Business Owner: Award Sponsor: Kid Cove

Erica Brinker, The Speckled Trout

Elisha Brown, Boone Bagelry

Cody Critcher, Bigfoot Builders

Declan Nishiyama, Mountain Dev

Education Professional:

Brittany Bolick, Physical Education Teacher, Blowing Rock School

Justin Carver, Principal, Banner Elk Elementary School

Dr. Brandy Hadley, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance, Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University

Savannah Stanbery, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, Appalachian State University

Non-Profit Business Professional:

Kayla Lasure, Outreach and Communication Specialist, Hunger & Health Coalition

Seth Moore, Intake Specialist, W.A.M.Y. Community Action

Karina Romero, Health Promotion Program Manager, AppHealthCare

Jessica Yates, Family Support Programs Director, The Children’s Council of Watauga County

Rising Star:  Award Sponsor: Beech Mountain Resort

Anneliese Thomae Elias, Chair, Board of Directors, Watauga County Immigrant Justice Coalition

Chelsea Helms, Project Manager – Commercial Architecture, STITCH Design Shop

Justin Kearley, Operations Specialist, North Carolina Office of Rural Health

Billie Shilling, Assistant General Manager, Hampton Inn of Boone

“The range of talent and experience stands out among the honorees in this year’s class,” said David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “These emerging leaders are already hard at work in some key industries within our community and are setting the tone for the next important wave of ideas and action. It was encouraging to see the depth of this year’s entire collection of nominees, making the committee's decisions extremely difficult in arriving at this group of 16 honorees. With the challenges we have ahead of us in the High Country, it’s clear that we have some highly skilled and dedicated young professionals that are doing impactful work that makes a difference in our daily lives."

All finalists will be recognized as part of the 9th Annual 4 Under 40 Awards ceremony. The Chamber will also present the annual Respect Your Elder Award recipient, which goes to a community member who serves as a strong mentor for the next generation of leaders.

The pre-awards reception begins at 5:30pm and the awards ceremony will begin at approximately 6:15pm. Tickets are $39 and include heavy hors d'oeuvres and two drink tickets for each attendee.

Limited award sponsorships are available, which include event tickets, the opportunity to introduce the category finalists, and other amenities. If you’d like more information, please contact David Jackson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you have questions, please contact the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce at 828-264-2225 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..