HAYDEN — Young leaders and professionals crossed the red carpet into a room filled with shimmer and sparkle for a night to celebrate them.

“I want to thank and congratulate every single person who won,” said judge Chris Cochran, a self-employed consultant. “It’s because you deserved it, because you pursued your dreams. It’s because you gave back to your community.”

Cochran was one of five judges for the Kootenai County Young Professionals 2021 Top 30 Under 40. Saturday evening the winners were celebrated during a dinner at the StanCraft Jet Center.

“It’s good to be here with so many young people doing so many things in such an amazing community,” said winner Heath Wells of Hensley Wells, P.L.L.C.

The KCYP Top 30 Under 40 is an opportunity for community members to nominate young professionals to be rewarded for outstanding service to the community, business accomplishments and more.

“I was excited and a bit surprised,” said winner Ashley Yates, business development representative for Alliance Title. “It doesn’t matter how hard you work or how much you give, it's always humbling when you are recognized for it.”

Yates received the award in 2017 as well.

For the 2021 winners, the judges selected the 30 winners from 131 nominations.

Other judges included Eve Knudtsen, president of Knudtsen Chevrolet Co. in Post Falls; Luke Malek, founding attorney and co-owner at Smith + Malek; Steve Widmyer, retired mayor of Coeur d’Alene; and Jeanette Laster, executive director for the Human Rights Education Institute.

Sydney Stinson, public relations chair for KCYP, said the judges worked hard to narrow down the nominations to 30 winners.

“We have an incredible group of young professionals, from teachers to lawyers to healthcare workers, and even underrepresented industries like electricians, event planners,” Stinson said. “Highlighting young professionals is an opportunity to showcase that we have tremendous talent in this area.”

Stinson said a Top 30 Under 40 winner is someone who is going above and beyond for their community, whether it be in their professional career or what they're doing in their off-hours.

Shane Solorza, an employee for Amazon and first-time winner, said his initial reaction to receiving the award was a genuine shock.

“After several years of hard work in my personal and professional life, I really felt ‘seen’ by my community and I'm truly honored to have been selected as one of the 30 truly amazing individuals in Kootenai County,” Solorza said.

2021 winners include:

• Alex Capaul, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue

• Ashley Mielke, Northland Training Academy

• Ashley Yates, Alliance Title & Escrow

• Becky Rice, Post Falls School District

• Caitlin O’Brien, Smith + Malek

• Cora Whitney, Smith + Malek

• Daniel Nelmar, VrTrend Magazine

• Eric Carmichael, CK Collab

• Heath Wells, Hensley Wells PLLC

• Hernando Thola, Alpha Jiu Jitsu + Fitness

• Hunter Franssen, Franssen’s Electric

• Jory Schmelling, StanCraft Boat Company

• Kassi Allen, Anchored Coffee Company

• Katey Abbott, American Pacific Mortgage

• Kayla Mai, First Interstate Bank

• Lana Lawrence, TA Drywall

• Laura Steininger, Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy

• Marissa Kernodle, Silvaris

• Marissa Mitchell, Let’s Elope CDA

• Melissa Fink, CDA Books

• Miranda Hamilton, Insurance Northwest

• Morgan Dixon, Innovation Den

• Nick Madsen, Community Library Network

• Nikki Parquette, Spear Direct Care

• Octavian Rivas, Idaho Central Credit Union

• Rebecca Stephens, Rōmr Architects

• Shane Solorza, Amazon

• Spencer Normington, Coeur d’Alene School District

• Tara Malek, Smith + Malek

• Tyler Haug, Selkirk Construction