20 Under 40 2022

ourmidland.com

M

D

I

LA

22

RECO GN I

ALS ION SS

OUNG PRO Y FE NG I Z

ND

, MIC HIG A N

Saturday, April 23 2022

20

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

2 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

ourmidland.com

MIDLAND DAILY NEWS 20 UNDER 40 WINNERS

The community has voted! The young professionals featured in this 20 Under 40 section are making a deep impact in their professions. Learn more about them.

By Dan Chalk, Midland Daily News

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 1 Ethan Cooper Business/Sales Category

Describe a day on the job for you.

I’m an early riser. Although I do not typically enjoy mornings, I find that if I start early, my days just go better. Once I arrive at work, I spend the body of my day taking care of our guests. There’s little down time, and days in Cooper & Co can be long but are always enjoyable .

What do you enjoy about your job?

1

Ethan Cooper, 37: Owner of Cooper & Co Salon Group

My job is centered around such wonderful people. I really cannot imagine working without them. I get to spend every day with friends and family that I genuinely enjoy.

Who wouldn’t want that?

How do you keep a healthy balance

between your work and your personal life?

I have an amazing support system. My wife Katina is an integral part of my personal and public life. Without her, it would be impossible. Our team at Cooper & Co gives me peace of mind. When I’m not there, I don’t worry.

They really are always there for me.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I spent the early part of my career working for a man named Nathan Torres. You really couldn’t ask for a better role model. He was always kind and has the patience of Job! He worked hard and did so with a great deal of integrity. The structure that was provided was truly what I needed.

It sounds so cliché, but honestly (my advice is) “Just treat others the way you want to be treated.” Success doesn’t happen overnight,

Helping you pursue your financial goals.

but you can be kind every day.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Midland has a peace that you don’t find everywhere. People are loyal and dependable. When you travel around, you really begin to see how exceptional the people that live here are.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

We need to spend more time reminding ourselves of the uniqueness of Midland.

When I first moved here, people would ask, “Why here?” or tell me, “There’s nothing to do.” I disagreed, Midland has so much to offer! What do you want to do? Midland has a very stable and warm culture, low crime and polite citizens. Where else would you want to live? If you look for bad, you’ll find it. Spend some time looking for the good. I promise you’ll find that, too!

Stocks | Bonds Mutual Funds Annuities | ETFs IRAs | CDs | UITs

Stolz-Smith Financial Consulting Group

Retirement Plans

Jacob R. Smith

Cash Management

Financial Advisor

(989) 941-3501 110 East Main Street, Suite 404 | Midland, Michigan 48640 Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

Financial Planning

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 3

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 2 Jeff DeHaven

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 3 Jenn Forsyth

Technology Category

Education Category

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

2

Jeff DeHaven, 37: President and CEO, Digital Mitten Describe a day on the job for you.

My job starts by checking overnight trends. I then review developing news. Then popping into 7-11 for a French vanilla iced coffee with five creamers. I then head to a meeting or the office. I get a debrief either by phone or in person on any client communications from our project manager. I then roll into daily scheduling and email correspondence.

Typically roll into other meetings or events.

My day ends depending on how the day progresses. Sometimes systems go down, like last week, or there is something happening that creates extra attention like a 500-year flood.

What do you enjoy about your job?

What I love most about my 19-year career in social media marketing is changing perspectives. Social media often gets a bad rap. There is so much good that can come from social media, and the pandemic showed how we could quickly share needs and information, how we could practice safe measures of connecting and more. Each of us have the ability to control what our social media looks like. I encourage you to make it uplifting for yourself.

I’ll admit, this has been one of my greatest challenges. Social media never turns off, and clients hire us to monitor their social media and respond on their behalf. As you can imagine, having nearly 25 accounts in which you’re monitoring, questions come in at all hours. Through growing a team and delegating is where I’ve seen my biggest success in this. Digital Mitten is now five years old, so we’ve worked out a lot of the kinks.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

My biggest role model is Jesus Christ. I work daily to be more like Him. Outside of that, I admire Jay Baer, whom I’ve had the honor of meeting with several times, and Michael Hyatt, both of whom are masters in digital marketing. The guidance I’d offer is to find a job that you love and soak it up. I can’t imagine doing anything else (than what I’m doing). I’ve been able to accomplish so many goals and dreams. There are many more, but I am excited for new possibilities.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

I love Midland because of the hometown connections. I can’t go anywhere without seeing someone, and it keeps me fueled. I also love how much we all care about improving our community and the hard work and dedication to make an impact.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

The biggest challenge I see on the horizon is mental health within our youth and beyond.

I’m committed to uncovering ways to help my community address this issue. I’ll have more to share on this in the coming months.

Jenn Forsyth, 31:

3

Assistant Professor of Accounting, Northwood University Describe a day on the job for you.

Each day is different. My day typically starts with preparing for classes, followed by class, office hours, faculty meetings, and assisting with student organizations. After the work day, I head to the lacrosse field to help coach high school lacrosse. Then I put my professor hat back on and the evening is filled with preparing assignments, exams, and reading. I actually do everything my students do!

What do you enjoy about your job?

I can’t imagine a better job than being a professor! Professors impact students, the school, and the community. Professors help students learn and grow — while we also get to continue our learning and growth. Students have different personalities, and it’s fun to get to learn who they are; what their strengths are; what motivates them; and how they learn.

It’s truly exciting when students help their professors learn as well! When students have that moment of clarity, when everything clicks, that’s so incredibly rewarding and exciting to see.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

The only way to maintain a healthy balance is to set boundaries. Being a professor, there is always something to do. For me, I give my whole heart to what I do. That means waking up early to get in gym time, fitting in family and friend time when you can, and putting in late hours making sure lesson plans are informative and challenging (but not too hard). All in all, a healthy balance involves loving what you do. If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

My grandpa was a CPA. I was his favorite grandchild. He took me under his wing and, though he passed at an early age, I have thought of him every day since. He instilled in me the importance of having a strong work ethic and exhibiting kindness, and the art of being humble. I like to imagine he’d be proud of the person I am today.

Others have taught me to go after every goal I have. It’s led me on several different paths in life - starting a snow shoveling business when I was young, competing in snowboarding, designing clothing for celebrities, running marathons, getting my CPA license, and becoming a professor. My advice to others would be the same: Tackle all your goals. I have several students with big goals (dreams of being in the NFL, being a CFO, owning their own accounting firms, etc). I recently spoke with a student who told me he had given up his NFL dreams. I told him, don’t give up; if it’s something you truly want, then make a plan and work toward it.

Always go after your goals.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Midland is a tight-knit community with a lot to offer. While small, Midland offers unique outdoor opportunities like the Rail Trail and (Tittabawassee) River, and amenities you’d find in larger cities, including Dow Diamond, Midland Center for the Arts, Greater Midland Community Center, Dow Gardens. What other town has a Tridge?

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

I’d like to see the university and town become more integrated. Sometimes it feels as though the university is its own separate town. Northwood welcomes any and all to come check out our campus – we’re a great place to stop off of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail on your next hike or bike ride!

4 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 4 Tyler Gurnee

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 5 Derek Hirschman Medical/Healthcare Category

Entrepreneurship Category

Tyler Gurnee, 29:

4

Owner, Michigan Mobile RV Repair Describe a day on the job for you.

The day starts out by calling customers to inform them about future services or parts that may be on order. Our customers drive everything that we do so they are first priority.

Each day, my goal as a leader is to create a friendly work environment and make sure employees can say they are proud to be part of the Michigan Mobile RV Repair team. The best part about my day is the constant changing of duties.

I will be where ever I am needed, even if means sweeping the floor and taking out the trash.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I enjoy the fast pace of the service industry.

Some days fly by before I realize that I haven’t done much. It can be frustrating some days but the benefits out way those negatives and that’s what makes it all worth it in the end. Loving my job/career is very important to me and I am truly happy performing all the duties that come with being an entrepreneur. Ambition and passion drive me to perform my job at the highest level. It gives me joy knowing I can excel at anything I have a devotion for.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

Work gives me so much satisfaction and happiness through friendships with vendors, customers, and co-workers. I try to take this to

a personal level and share the happiness with friends and family in my private life. I coach JV baseball, play hockey in the winter and golf in the summer. Sports were a huge part of my life growing up so I try to perform these duties/ skills as if I were at work. The outdoors will give me peace in the short amount of time that is left. Snowmobiling, fishing, hunting and camping are spent with family and friends.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I have been lucky to have great role models who have taught and supplied me with more than a book can provide. I don’t think that books are bad, but they don’t provide the hands-on or personal skills needed to be a great service to the community. Hard work, long hours, dedication, and determination are the core values to my role models’ success. I have taken these values and Derek Hirschman, 33: continued to rely on them as they now are a big Dermatologist, H2 Dermatology part of everyday operations.

of Saginaw

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or traveled?

Describe a day on the job for you.

Midland is unique because of the explorers and pioneers who had a vision to make a better life for all. I, too, want to make The Great Lakes Bay area and Michigan a better place to work and live. The Midland area and all its hardworking residents have always made contributions to provide a fun place to live, play, eat, and stay.

My average day is spent seeing patients for any of their skin care needs. My office practices general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. We treat a broad range of conditions, such as acne, rosacea, moles, warts, skin cancer, eczema, and psoriasis. We also perform a number of cosmetic procedures, like botox and filler.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

What do you enjoy about your job?

I see the need for more small businesses. I think there should be more benefits and resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs to grow. As a community, this means putting forth the effort to support small businesses. In a time when corporations are making millionaire leaders, you could support your friends and family and help them thrive.

I enjoy educating patients about their conditions. I think it’s important for people to be educated about their healthcare. I like to give patients education and options regarding their conditions and allow them to make educated decisions about how to best treat them individually.

How do you keep a healthy balance

5 between your work and your personal life?

My wife and I know that work-life balance is important. We enjoy working hard, but we always prioritize our daughters first in our life.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I learned so much from my educators and trainers in residency. I think the most important thing I learned was to always put yourself in the patient’s shoes. Understand their concerns, educate them on their condition and their options, and provide ample time for any patient questions.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

I think what we enjoy most about Midland is that it is a very supportive community for members and businesses within Midland.

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 5

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 6 Ali Huntoon Fitness/Health & Wellness Category This one is a challenge! There’s always something to accomplish or work on as an entrepreneur. Finding ways to check-out mentally, that don’t involve your phone, can really help.

Moving your body can be a great way to give your brain a break – whether it’s a 15-minute walk outside, or a 45-minute high-intensity workout! Finding what makes your body and brain happy can be a game changer when you need to put your phone on silent for a while!

Ali Huntoon, 33:

6

Owner of Allied HR solutions and Allied Group Fitness Describe a day on the job for you.

Most of the time during the day, I’m assisting small and growing businesses with their human resources needs with Allied HR Solutions! No day is the same – from interviewing applicants for open positions to creating policies and procedures. However, as soon as evening comes, I hang up my HR hat and change into my fitness gear to teach classes with Allied Group Fitness.

I’m so lucky to be able to combine both of my passions each day!

What do you enjoy about your job?

If you’ve met me, it’s probably no surprise that I’m an extrovert who loves helping people, and that’s exactly what I love about each of my small businesses. They both help people in extremely different ways: I allow small business owners to set aside the challenging HR aspects of their business so that they are able to spend more time with their families or doing what they love, and I also get to help people achieve their wellness goals – whether that be physically or mentally.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

FOLLOW

US ON

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

As long as you work hard, are kind to others and always do your best, that is enough. You may not always be successful in every endeavor, but even in those moments, you learn valuable lessons for the future. Having a great support system to lean on is key to getting through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship…and through the learning moments, remember to keep pushing forward – it will be worth it!

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

The sense of community here is so unique. Even though we all come from different backgrounds and lived experiences, the Midland community is always ready to lend a hand and provide support to others when it’s needed. Becoming an ambassador for the Midland Business Alliance was one of the best things I could have done – it’s an amazing way to meet other small business owners!

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Supporting more local businesses and keeping our hard earned dollars in our community! Yes, Amazon Prime is amazing…but Jeff Bezos doesn’t do a happy dance every time someone places an order. The more businesses I visit throughout the community, the more I am impressed with the unique things we have to offer.

The next time you’re looking for the perfect gift for a friend (or treat for yourself!), visit a local business!

(989) 423-7698 www.furbabiesmidland.com

Thank you for your nomination and votes!

Now offering mobile grooming

6 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 7 Tonia Linda Pet Professionals category

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 8 Bob Marsh Nonprofit/Volunteer/Philanthropy Category

striving to improve the balance. I have been blessed with a wonderful mentor who has come alongside me and he has excelled in balance throughout his career. I’m trying to glean as much as possible.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

Put God first, invest in the lives of others, aim to live with humility, contentment, and compassion.

8

Tonia Linda, 38: Owner of Fur Babies

7

Describe a day on the job for you.

A day on the job for me is never the same!

Between answering phones, emails, checking customers in and out, bathing and drying dogs, actual grooming, running our social media, it is very busy and diverse.

What do you enjoy about your job?

So many things! Grooming is my passion -helping pets feel and look their very best. But being a small business, we’ve become like a family (including our clients! ) and that means the world to me.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

The struggle is real! I’ve learned that I have to take time for myself or everything will fall apart. I do self care (and) that includes massages, facials, work out and spend time

outdoors with my dog and horses.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

Answer: they have taught me self confidence and standing up for yourself. If you don’t, then some people will take advantage. And also they taught me to be the best groomer I can. Thanks Barb and Laney! I try to teach the same things -- believe in yourself, you can do it and you are freaking amazing!

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

The Midland area is home for me -- I grew up showing 4-H at the fairgrounds and it gave me a platform for my career with animals. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

To come together and help each other out.

We are all stronger together.

Bob Marsh, 37: Outreach and Operations Coordinator, Midland’s Open Door

Describe a day on the job for you.

Each day presents a new challenge, and God faithfully continues to send volunteers to Midland’s Open Door to partner with us through the challenges. My role is always changing. I get to be the asker, the encourager, the leader, the helper, the teacher, the learner, the person leading the prayer and the person being prayed for.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I get to bring my whole self to work. My faith is the core of who I am. I love to share my love for my Lord and Savior with each person I meet. Sometimes with words and sometimes with actions.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

Neighboring isn’t a 9-5 job; it’s a 24/7 commitment. It’s hard to find balance because at the Open Door, my work includes community life and volunteers become friends. I am

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

The people - it’s a city of givers. The people actively volunteer to help others in many ways.

The places to roam - like Dow Gardens, Chippewa Nature Center, City Forest, Little Forks Preserves, Pere Marquette Rail Trail, the Tridge, and 80 city parks.

Coffee and food - We have the best coffee shops and our variety of food options continues to grow.

Community - My favorite place in Midland is the Open Door and seeing lives transformed as we live out the mission. 24/7/365 the Open Door serves our community and is ready to help when crisis happens and help is needed most.

Central location - A couple-hour drive takes you to anything else Midland is missing - like Lake Michigan. It doesn’t take long and I’m ready to come back home.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Additional affordable housing options and increased laundry facilities in low-income housing.

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 7

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 9 Lauren Moore Scientist Category

Lauren Moore, 30: TERC Study Director, The Dow Chemical Company Describe a day on the job for you.

Generally, my work day consists of planning, conducting, and authoring reports on product safety research studies and includes a mix of both office- and lab-based work. I work alongside a wonderful, diverse team of experts in the field of toxicology and learn new things from my colleagues every day.

What do you enjoy about your job?

The studies that I lead have unique challenges which require collaboration across multiple teams. Despite the frustration that these challenges sometimes bring, I enjoy the problem-solving and partnership entailed, and the gratification that comes with finding innovative solutions, ultimately leading to the finalization of such studies and the generation of reliable product safety data.

How do you keep a healthy balance

Construction Category

between your work and your personal life?

family time, which has been beneficial to me over the past couple years.

I make sure to use up all of my vacation time from year to year, whether on camping trips, visits to Walt Disney World Resort, or just relaxing at home during the holiday season.

I take every opportunity to spend time with my family, and also prioritize “me-time” so that I am able to put forward the best possible version of myself.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

9

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 10 Jason Orvosh

I have been very blessed with wonderful role models and mentors – both personal and professional. Some of the most important career-related advice I’ve been given from these individuals was to network and make meaningful connections with colleagues. The people you work with become like your second family – sometimes it seems you spend more time with them than you do your real family. It’s important to value and build those relationships and to respect your colleagues in order to find career satisfaction.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

10

Jason Orvosh, 38: President, Orvosh Builders, Inc Describe a day on the job for you.

Every day for me is different, which is something I love about my job. Usually, my mornings start making sure everyone is in motion at work, going to the right places with the right scope of work. I often take my two youngest daughters to school as well. The weeks tend to get peppered with meetings, some for designing homes, customer meetings for building, visits to home automation sites and the variety of Home Builders Association meetings. Several days a week, I tend to log back in to work after 8 or 9 p.m. to finish up some uninterrupted office work.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Midland has proven a great place to work and live. My family really enjoys being outdoors, so Midland is a perfect fit for us. A few of our favorite activities include walking and sledding at City Forest, going to Great Lakes Loons baseball games, biking on the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, visiting the playgrounds in our neighborhood, and dining at restaurants in the downtown area.

The variety each day brings me is the most enjoyable. I also love to be challenged, so complicated projects or refining business operations are some of my favorite tasks as well.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Keeping a healthy balance is difficult when you are so accessible. Texts, emails, phone calls and online messengers have made us so readily available, I tend to be a victim of overusing my phone. I now block out my schedule after 5 p.m. on weekdays until after my kids are in bed around 8 p.m. to spend

Our community should prioritize environmental sustainability and recycling in order to ensure that Midland remains a safe, clean environment for future generations to enjoy.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

My role models have taught me to work hard and to treat everyone with respect. You never know when that comes full circle in life.

My advice to others would be to put yourself in uncomfortable situations to fully develop yourself as a well-rounded person. You can control those situations where you step outside of your comfort zone, which helps you become more comfortable doing it again in the future.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Midland has been my home since birth. I have met a lot of really great people and continue to keep those relationships. I do appreciate our seasons, even though winter seems to get longer each year! Being involved in so many different groups, it has given me a better appreciation of what our town has to offer and pushed me to play a role in making it a better place as well.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

The most important challenge our community needs to (keep) addressing is our overall attractiveness as a place to live. We need to attract talented people who start businesses, work within businesses and make my hometown better. Especially the younger generation, which has been even more challenging now that everything is so virtual. I love the way our downtown has made strides creating a space for people to gather during the summer. My family enjoys going down there for live music and seeing other families I know.

8 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners:

20 Under 40 Overall Winners:

No. 11 Brian Patrick

No. 12 Teresa Quintana Real Estate Category

Entrepreneurship Category What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

11 Brian Patrick, 36:

Owner, Edge Fitness and Training Headquarters and Cutting Edge Cycle and Auto Describe a day on the job for you.

My mornings are primarily drinking coffee and making sarcastic comments as my class does their circuit. The rest of my day goes into balancing both businesses, writing programs, consultations, training clients, customer service. A good portion of my day goes into making sure all of our customers or future clients are helped. I like to be very active with everyone here in their journey and make sure we’re providing them every opportunity to be successful.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I get the chance to help someone every day. Some days, it’s not just about their fitness goals and staying accountable. I have the opportunity to just be there and give support, even if it’s just sitting over coffee and listening. I have been blessed that we were able to create a place that allows me to give back to the community in more ways than one.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

I really struggle with this one. I’m probably the worst person on this list to ask this question to. I always put my kids first, never miss a ball game or event, home every night and always there for them. When I’m with them, I’m there and in the moment. But when there’s down time, I really struggle not responding or signing in to work on one of the projects I have going on. I don’t like the feeling of not completing things and not having the feeling of accomplishment. It also doesn’t help that I CAN NOT watch another episode of Vampire Diaries or Encanto at home.

There’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you; you can always make more money, you can not make more time. And the power of gratitude.

I live by these three things. They are so simple, to the point, and great reminders. Over the years, I’ve learned that tomorrow is not promised. So while I’m here, I’m going to find something to be grateful for every day. I’m going to be in the moment and create life lessons that will last forever in my daughters.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Midland has a ton of opportunities to get out of your comfort zone and try new things for entertainment or give back to the community. Our kids have the chance to experience every athletic, performance or hobby imaginable and do it safely.

You can visit museums, parks, ball games, nature centers, community events, mom and pop stores or a gym in Sanford. Or if you like more of the adrenaline type of activities, ask a question in Ask Midland.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Don’t let the outside influences blind us from the good that surrounds our community. It’s so easy to be divided by opinions; we’re constantly flashed with negativity everywhere we look on the news or social media. Especially social media. It’s easy to be scared of this, or be skewed into thinking differently than others. But that’s good, that’s how we grow and create new and better things. We need to think differently, be creative, be positive and respect others’ views. Then be grateful that we have the opportunity to have those discussions without consequence. If we all woke up and thought, “What am I grateful for today?” instead of being angered by others’ views, the world would be a happier place.

Teresa Quintana, 36:

12

Realtor, Modern Realty

Describe a day on the job for you.

Every day looks a little different in real estate! It is not uncommon to find me on the road, whether I am headed to showings or listing appointments.

In addition to that, I am frequently consulting with buyers and sellers, performing a market analysis to price a new listing, communicating with loan officers, inspectors, appraisers, other realtors and title companies. I do a lot of problem solving. I do a lot of marketing. I would say most of my days are spent communicating with others.

What do you enjoy about your job?

The relationships. This is a relationship business; it requires trust and compassion. Helping my clients achieve their goal is the number one most rewarding thing about my job. Whether it’s a client selling their first home, or downsizing, and accomplishing the rewards given for selling in a market like this, or helping someone achieve their goals of home ownership! It is amazing to facilitate such a large transaction in a person’s life, and to see them smiling and happy on closing day!

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

It is an especially difficult task to accomplish in this market, with as fast as it is moving. We basically have to be available within 24 hours to show a property, so I have to make sure I schedule myself accordingly. I do tend to take Sundays off to spend time with my family. We have a date night almost every week that we look forward to.

I make sure I prioritize time for myself to work out 3-4 times per week - it is definitely important to take care of yourself!

What have your role models taught you,

and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I have been blessed with many great role models throughout my life and career. I learned my work ethic through watching my father. Work ethic is the first magical ingredient needed for being successful. Nothing is handed to us; we get back what we put in. We must do the work. Other parts of my success were mentors that taught me that the best person to be is myself, and that clients appreciate genuine people. Earn others’ trust by being trustworthy, making them feel comfortable as they are, operating with integrity and putting your clients’ needs first.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

I have lived in many places, and at the end of my travels, the only place I wanted to be was here at home. Midland County is most definitely a special place to live. I love that there are city amenities available, but you are never far from the woods.

We have so many beautiful parks and offer so much outdoor recreation, and even more coming in the future. I enjoy the downtown atmosphere in Midland. I think it has been well developed and I am excited to continue to see innovation. I also love the smaller celebrations in the neighboring small communities in Midland County. I love the small-town feel. There is a great sense of community, and it is small enough that we can all still feel connected.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Housing development. In real estate, I first-hand see the challenges of not having enough housing inventory to sustain our communities’ needs, and it is a scary place to be if you are one of the many people who have not secured housing. We are far from being the only community with this issue (it is nationwide); however, I would like to see more apartment development, more vacant or run-down homes being fixed up and rented or sold to provide housing for our families, and more single-family home development. It is a tough thing to accomplish with building prices, but I think our town is known for innovation and I hope to see some sort of relief in the future.

Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live.

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 9

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Ovrall Winners: No. 13 Shawna Ruple

Medical/Healthcare Category

13 Shawna Ruple, 37:

Obstetrician-gynecologist, MidMichigan Obstetrics & Gynecology Describe a day on the job for you.

Each day brings a multitude of surprises, and I love that! When I enter a patient room in the office, I really can’t be certain what type of issues we might address. Sometimes the listed reason for the appointment really isn’t what my patient needs me to address. It continues to be necessary to adapt to patient needs as I care for women in the hospital. Labor and delivery is seriously the coolest job in the universe. I get to help bring human life into this world, wow! I have delivered hundreds of babies, and I still get excited to participate in one of the most important days of people’s lives. Gynecological surgery is another side to what I get to do, and it is incredibly rewarding to walk out of the operating room knowing I have just improved my patient’s quality of life. I love that I get to experience variety in the types of patient care encounters throughout my week.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Being open-ended in my conversations allows me to learn so much more about what the women in our community are facing in their lives. I strive to validate their feelings and experiences. I love connecting with my patients and really being able to empathize with their experiences. I learn a lot by just listening. This allows me to get an opportunity to advocate for their overall health and well-being.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

This is something I have to be very conscious about, as medical training really molds physicians to be self-sacrificing. As many other young, successful individuals know, that tendency can quickly turn into full-on burnout. I have to remind myself, “I am doing the best I can in this moment.” It isn’t just a mantra, it is something I

have to believe. Once I start “should-ing” all over myself, I lose sight of this. I have also started to remind myself that saying “yes” is a choice.

If I choose to say “yes” to anything, it means I have also decided to say “no” to something else.

That might be a work commitment, volunteer opportunity, or my time for family or sleep. There is always a consequence to saying “yes.”

TAKING DOWNTOWN EVENTS TO A NEW LEVEL.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO, RENEE!

Congratulations on your 20 under 40 recognition!

We are Proud to have you on our Downtown Midland team!

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I find my role models both within as well as outside of medicine. My grandmother taught me to respect family traditions, even if I can’t always continue them. My late father taught me that determination and commitment to problem solving are essential to goal-setting, while my mother taught me that sometimes you need to stop and pause, recognizing that the world will surely continue without you. My husband and three beautiful daughters remind me daily to stop and enjoy the moments, live in the present. And so many of my friends and patients have helped me see that it really is ok to not be ok sometimes.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

We have a ridiculous amount of resources available in comparison to the size of our community.

We have a small-town feel, with access to almost all of the educational experiences, culture and leisure activities you could want. If you can’t find it within the Great Lakes Bay Region, a two-hour to three-hour drive is going to get you to whatever you want or need!

Fall in love with a new brew Discover the world of Michigan craft beer and build your tasting itinerary.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

I see mental health as our biggest challenge.

Access has always been an issue, with long waits to plug into counseling services, as well as lack of insurance partnerships. Postpartum depression is common and only more recently being talked about publicly. But, it isn’t just postpartum.

COVID has increased the number of patients I see who are dealing with mental health illness.

It is happening is all age groups, all social and economic classes. We need to stop the stigma and support one another.

Interactive map Upcoming events Beer of the month Brewer profiles Tantalizing stories

EXPLORE NOW Follow us:

MiBrewTrail.com

10 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 14 Jacob Smith Finance & Banking Category

Jacob Smith,28: Financial Advisor, Stifel

Describe a day on the job for you.

Most days vary depending on my appointment schedule and what is going on in the market. Before the market opens, I tend to get my market research and current events reading done. Market hours consist of client meetings, meeting prep, running retirement plans, and account reviews among other things. After the market closes, I try to address any continuing education or listen to any research calls I may have missed during market hours.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I really enjoy that I get to assist people in one of the more important aspects of their lives.

Financial planning can be a scary topic for people, and being able to walk my clients through that process and witness the results of their hard work is very rewarding.

Civil/Public Service Category

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

Midland area, as well as working alongside so many amazing businesses in the district who help make our events successful.

I think organization is key in keeping a healthy work and personal life balance.

I’m lucky enough to be the husband of a wonderful wife and the father of a wonderful daughter, so that is a great motivator to keep the balance in place.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

14

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 15 Renee Smith

The biggest role model in my life is my Dad, and I was very fortunate to be able to go into the same field as him and learn the business from one of the best. He has taught me countless things in life and about this job. The value of hard work and how to treat people are two lessons that cross over into both. Guidance I would offer others is to surround yourself with people who care for you and want to see you accomplish your goals.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

My entire memorable life I’ve lived in Midland, outside of my time in East Lansing for school. So it’s always been considered home. I think it’s a great area and a terrific place to raise a family. On another note, I was a Midland Chemic in high school and an Adams Atom in elementary school. I would guess those aren’t the most popular school nicknames in the world.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Like a lot of communities right now, I think with all the division in the world we should try to be a little more kind and understanding to one another. I’m not sure about the most important, but that is something I would love to see in general and is not specific to Midland.

15 Renee Smith, 24: Downtown Events Coordinator, City of Midland Describe a day on the job for you.

There is no typical day on the job as an event coordinator. Every day is different! On the days spent in the office, I spend time meeting with and booking vendors, writing up event contracts, creating budgets for each event and project while standing by them, establishing event layouts, determining and setting event schedules, researching other city events, brainstorming new ideas, creating marketing materials, as well as maintaining the social media and website content for Downtown Midland. I also facilitate all of the event, firework and signage requests within the City of Midland. Event days are the really fun ones where I get to see my whole vision come to life with the help of many volunteers and vendors who make it possible.

What do you enjoy about your job?

When I first interviewed for this position, they asked me what my dream job was. As cliché as it was, I told them it was this job. I have a background in marketing and event management. This position is the perfect combination of both! I love that I get to be creative every single day and that there really isn’t any limit on what I can do. I enjoy bringing new events to the Downtown

In the past, keeping a healthy balance between work and my personal life has honestly been very difficult. It is still something I’m always working on, especially because technology makes it even harder to”get away.” It is easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you’re managing multiple events at the same time. Traveling during my breaks in the event schedule is something that rejuvenates my energy. When I come back from my adventures, whether it’s just a weekend trip somewhere local or someplace out of state, I feel refreshed and ready to give 110% again! Outside of travel, I enjoy spending time with my friends, husband and two Aussies.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

My role models have taught me to work hard, have compassion and respect for others no matter the situation, keep a positive attitude, and to dream big. Besides the things I have learned from my role models, I would encourage others to have openness.

Have openness to change, openness to new ideas, experiences, and feedback. Being open-minded helps to achieve personal and professional growth not only for yourself, but also your colleagues and organization.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

The Midland area has so many unique features, but I think the best would be the overwhelming amount of free events for people of all ages at any time of the year, and Downtown Midland’s pedestrian plaza in the warmer months. I may be biased, though!

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 11

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 16 Andrew Stoneburner Construction Category

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 17 Adam Thiel Finance & Banking Category

Balancing work and personal life can be tricky at times, but my fiancee does a great job with keeping me on track with our personal life plans.

between your work and your personal life?

I’m very serious about keeping the two separate. I don’t log in to my work email from home, and haven’t really done the “work from home” thing because I know once I do, I’ll find myself working once I’m home at night and on weekends. My clients have my cell phone number and know that they can always reach me on it if something big happens or there is an emergency outside of normal business hours. So I work when I’m at work, and recharge when I’m not.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

16 Andrew Stoneburner, 23: Owner, A & S Contracting Describe a day on the job for you.

My day usually starts with phone calls and paperwork, and from there, I get on the road and head to various jobs I scheduled for that day. After each job is completed, I finish the paperwork I started in the morning.

My role models have taught me everything, from the quality work I strive to produce to building a lasting impression on customers to hopefully have me back in their homes. The advice I have for others is if you have a dream, don’t stop chasing it. If you stop running, it will get away; if you keep running, you are bound to catch it; and hard work really does pay off.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

17

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Adam Thiel, 38: Financial Advisor, Edward Jones

Midland is such a unique place because of the people and diversity that is here. Dow brings in many people from all over the world.

My day starts with coffee and the day’s financial news. Then I would typically have a couple of client meetings where we review portfolios, retirement plans, any other financial goals, and do a couple pieces of education. I also proactively look over my clients’ accounts and reach out if there are changes or things they need to be aware of.

What do you enjoy about your job? What is the most important challenge that our community needs My enjoyment from my job comes from two to address? things. First is the joy I see on the customer’s face after they see their ideas come to life, and second is when I see a finished product and how it turned out.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

For me, the biggest challenge of our town is we are not bringing in anything new; we keep building the same stores and places to eat rather than bringing in a variety of places. Also, the lack of left-turn signals at certain four-way intersections makes it hard to navigate through those parts of town.

Describe a day on the job for you.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Honestly, almost all of it. I’m a numbers nerd at heart, so I enjoy playing with all of that. I really enjoy the relationship part of the business as well. But ultimately, I love helping people achieve their goals and dreams. It is incredibly fulfilling for me.

How do you keep a healthy balance

Treat others the way you would want to be treated, both personally and professionally.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

I would say it’s the overall sense of community. We’ve seen it over and over again in the past years with floods and other events that have brought everyone together. The philanthropy demonstrated here is amazing, and it’s a place where you still feel like everyone is your neighbor.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

I don’t think this is specific to our community, but we as a country need to improve financial literacy. I’m a huge proponent for having “Personal Finance” as a required class to graduate high school. Getting our young adults started on the right foot will provide them with more options, less stress, and a greater likelihood of financial stability throughout life, which benefits society as a whole.

12 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 18 Pj Weaver

Youth Development (Coaches/Mentors) Category

Pj Weaver, 29:

18

Restorative Justice Coordinator, Handy Middle School, Bay City Describe a day on the job for you.

A day on the job for me is something I enjoy the most, and that’s making a positive impact for kids. I work at Handy Middle School as a restorative justice coordinator and that’s mainly me steering kids who struggle with either social, behavioral or academic problems in the right direction.

What do you enjoy about your job?

What I enjoy about this position is being able to be a positive influence for the youth. I enjoy kids and I love to lead by example so that they can see that someone will always be here for them, whether it’s just to talk, to show them how something is done or just to be that great life coach/mentor.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

When it comes to work and my personal life, it’s very similar. Kids, basketball and family is my life and work. I don’t really split the two up because every day is a grind, whether it’s out of work at home or out of the house at work. It’s very similar.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I have had only two role models that I’ve ever looked up to my whole entire life. That’s God first and Lebron James second. Anytime I am struggling with anything, I always stop and ask what would God do, because he always and will forever make the right decision. God is the reason why I am able to do what I love to do. He will ever be my number 1.

Second, Lebron James will always be my number 2, and not because he is the greatest to ever play basketball, or we can argue that later, lol, but what he does off the court is just priceless. The things he does to send kids to school with a free education and

20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 19 Beth Wellman Nonprofit/Volunteer/Philanthropy Category

I have a deep love for animals. I have dedicated my life to improving their lives. Adoptions and happy placements are what make the job worth doing. You hold on tight to animals that have found their permanent homes in order to get through the sea of sadness.

the positive impact he plays in kids’ life. Being from the inner city with not many chances to prove what kind of person you really are, kind of like myself, that just shows that you can amount to anything you put your heart and soul into.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

The guidance I will continue to offer to others is self discipline. Stay true to who you are and never cheat the grind, whether it’s sports or just life in general.

Always look to fail, because once you fail, you know what it’s like, and now since you know what it feels like, it will only make you mentally stronger and want to succeed from that moment forward with whatever you do.

I foster in addition to having my own animals. Making sure I go to my son’s sporting events, having a meal out occasionally and making time to enjoy being around my own pets. With a nonprofit, where lives are literally in the balance, it is very hard to not feel guilty being away from the cause. Remembering that you have to take care of yourself first in order to best serve others is crucial.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Midland is a lot different from where I am from. I am from Dayton, a much bigger and busier city. Dayton is home first and will always be unique in its own ways to me, but what makes Midland unique is everyone supports one another like no other in the area. You could have the most terrible ball team, and that fan and family support would still always have your back. People are rooting for you here up 20 points or down 20 points. The pride here is Midland Strong.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

What I think the biggest challenge the community has is, and this is me speaking from the heart: I think there needs to be more diversity in the work field in the city of Midland.

I think we overlook what minorities bring to these children’s lives here and just people here in general, because of the fact that people can hear our background, stories about how we were raised or the struggles we had to go through in order to make it out of tough situations, whether it was poverty or trying to find a way to take care of ourselves and our families.

19 Beth Wellman, 38: Shelter Director, Humane Society of Midland County Describe a day on the job for you.

Mornings are spent cleaning and caring for animals, checking and returning messages. The shelter opens at noon during the week and we’re open for walk-in animal viewing and adoptions. Other services from cat nail trims, stray animal drop-off, animal surrender, etc., are done by appointment.

Over 100 phone calls are received daily and an I try to tell my players all the time that nothing was additional 50 emails daily. The day is a flurry of ups ever given to someone like me. I had to work, like downs. Injured or neglected animals coming in, really, really work, on becoming a college basketball and happy adopters going out. Lost pets reunited with player, because without a scholarship I would not be families, strays that never were reclaimed needing in your face right now. I couldn’t pay for college. My school system was bad, where they cared about what to start looking for new families. Throughout the day is updating the website with adoption listings, you could do on a basketball court or in the field returning emails, vaccinating and medicating more than what you can do in the classroom. animals in between helping the public in person, I think it’s time to push stigma, that no one should be online, or over the phone. singled out because of stereotypes. I will never stop What do you enjoy about your job? pushing for better.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I started as a volunteer when I was 14, surrounded by other volunteers selflessly giving their time to help. The dedication of those around me then and now helps me to continue on.

I’ve seen a lot of people come and go during my 24 years in animal welfare. I think it’s important to try to stay grounded, to remember to do what you can and let go of what you can’t. Holding onto self-perceived failures isn’t going to help.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

I grew up in a small town, so Midland seems large to me still. It’s a nice community and loves animals.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

The humane society is not funded by any other entity and is solely run on donations, occasional grants and adoption fees. A better facility is desperately needed in order to better serve the community and the animals.

ourmidland.com

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 13

CONGRATS TERESA!

Teresa Quintana REALTOR® teresa@modernrealty.us 989.859.2326 RECOGNIZED IN THE TOP 20 UNDER 40

14 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

TOP 20 UNDER 40 OVERALL WINNERS 20 Under 40 Overall Winners: No. 20 Adam Wittbrodt Fitness/Health & Wellness Category

Adam Wittbrodt, 37:

20

Owner/fitness trainer, Level Up Fitness and Training

Describe a day on the job for you.

A day on the job for me is packed with self fulfillment! I absolutely love what I do! From start to finish, I get to coach people on healthy habits and how to exercise safely and effectively. I guide them through their workouts and we discuss nutrition as well as other aspects of life. We celebrate the small victories on the way to people achieving their goals.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I enjoy literally everything about my job! The interactions with people everyday. Seeing people grow a passion for fitness and investing in themselves. Being in such a positive atmosphere. But the part I enjoy the most is helping people create long-term positive changes in their lives. Changes that not only can add years to their lives, but life to their years.

How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and your personal life?

I am constantly assessing how my time is spent.

The scales of life are never in complete balance for long, but awareness makes it possible to adapt when things begin to shift out of balance. I can’t be a good future husband/stepdad if I’m working all the time.

Same concept applies to my work as a trainer. I structure my days to be as balanced as possible, and I focus on living in the moment, because being physically in a place doesn’t mean a person is present.

What have your role models taught you, and what guidance do you or would you offer to others?

I’ve had many role models that have had a positive impact on my life. One man that has had an enormous impact on my life is Judge Michael Beale. His quote, “Do the next right thing,” has rung in my head

for the most successful years of my life. And it applies to every aspect of life, from small interactions with people to how I conduct myself in my personal and professional interactions.

Doing the next right thing can mean something different to everyone. To me, it means to uphold my values over everything else. It means slow down in life and take time to help others. And that could be as simple as holding a door open for a stranger, just being kind. It means being a good human being, not only when people are watching, but at all times.

What makes the Midland area unique from other places you have lived or travelled?

Midland is a very supportive community! There are so many resources for people that need help in any circumstances. And the people come together when it is needed. As a person who is in recovery, I can say I had reservations about sharing my story. But many people and organizations in the community have empowered and supported me in my journey. They have helped get me to a place where my past has become a strength and not a weakness.

What is the most important challenge that our community needs to address?

Reducing stigma. Everyone has struggles in life, whether it’s substance abuse or something else. We all make mistakes. The community is already great about being supportive, but I think we can do even better.

It starts on a small level. What type of thoughts do you have when you think of someone who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, food, gambling or something else? Do you judge them in a negative way? Do you make fun of them? Poking fun at people does nothing to empower them to make changes. Really look at your thoughts, because that’s where change happens first. I know I think of what type of trauma that person might have experienced in their life that led them to the behavior. And I hope and pray that they find healing.

We all have the same emotions. But we all have different ways of coping with those emotions. You never know what a person’s past experience looks like, and you don’t know what they’re going through at the time. Try to show compassion to everyone you encounter.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

I am honored to be included as one of the top 20 Under 40.

Ethan Cooper – owner, Cooper & Co. Salon.

104 Cambridge, Midland • (989) 486-9797

WE ARE MIDLAND

s r e b i r c s b u Print S ubscription Online! ur Manage Yo

S

www.ourmidland.com/account

• Make a Payment • Enter Vacation Dates

• Update your Name or Phone Number • And More!

QueStiOnS? email Melissa at mpitts@edwpub.net

digital access is included with home delivery

BECOME A SUBSCRIBER ourmidland.com

ourmidland.com/subscribe

ourmidland.com

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

Saturday, April 23, 2022 | 15

Congratulations to Dr. Derek Hirschman on your 20 Under 40 Recognition!

www.h2dermatology.com • (989) 401-1463 • 6225 Jefferson Ave. Midland, MI 48640

16 | Saturday, April 23, 2022

Midland Daily News | 20 Under 40

ourmidland.com

Congratulations, 20 Under 40!

The Midland Business Alliance is committed to supporting, attracting and retaining young professionals to our community through Midland Young Professionals (MYPros). We are honored to sponsor the 20 Under 40 and can’t wait to see all of the great things you accomplish!

GET INVOLVED! Join MYPros.

Visit www.MBAmi.org/mypros for details.