6 minute read
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
T H E 2 0 2 2 HORIZONSHORIZONS
There's Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards, Album of the Year at the Grammys, Best Picture at the Oscars and Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. At the OKC Young Professionals' Horizon Awards, our biggest award of the night is Young Professional of the Year.
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This award is given to a member who has become the exemplar for what it means to truly be an outstanding young professional in all aspects of their lives.
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Lori Harless became the first recipient of this award in 2016. She became the first person to win this award twice when she took home the honor again in 2017. She remains the only person in history to win this award twice.
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YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Brent won this coveted award in 2018 in a very competitive category that included other nominees like Shana Lewis, Alisha Gardner, Bailey Perkins and Lee Briggs. Brent remains the only insurance professional to win this award.
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Tiffany Johnson received her first nomination in this category. If you ask her, she would tell you that she didn't think she was going to win. Tiffany became the first person to win this award along with another award in the same night. Previously, all winners of YP of the Year had only won one award during the event.
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Many were surprised to learn that Terrance has never been nominated for the organization's top honor, like ever. He eventually just thought he would never have a chance at the award. All that changed in 2020 when he not only received his first nomination, but won the award! He also won Young Business Owner of the Year. Terrance made history by winning in every category he was nominated in.
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Taelor won her first Horizon Award in 2020 for Best New Young Professional. In one of the night's most significant moments, she took home Young Professional of the Year at the 2021 Horizons. She would win the award over long-time nominees such as Blake Bullard and Eliud Villarreal. Taelor made history as she became the only member to win both Best New Young Professional and Young Professional of the Year. She is now eligible to receive the rare Mayor Holt's Triple Crown Award.
THETHE HUMBLEHUMBLE LEADERLEADER
I know of no occupation, of no quote, and of no influencer greater than the ethical, profitable entrepreneur who intentionally continually mentors others. Will Blake lives this every day with and through VESTA Foundation Solutions.
Brainstorm the words/phrases with me that you think might identify a highly successful center of influence: profitable, steady sustained growth, shares what works with others, involved in the betterment of our community and others, continually improving systems, full transparency, interested in the success/the goals/attainments of team members, committed to continual learning for EVERYONE around them, ethical, hardworking, never worries about personally getting credit, caring, dedicated to studying to provide the highest quality service possible, always sharing, always mentoring and encouraging others, knows their numbers in every area of business and willingly explains why it is important.
I have just described Will Blake. Adjectives may appear subjective, but let’ s look at the actual endeavors:
Flint – A continual active member of this premier business TIPS club
OSHBA – Taught courses for the Oklahoma
Home Builders.
The Guild – Founding member of The Guild, an entrepreneur mastermind group and OKC metro-vetted trade group Traction – Eight-week shared book review with 8 other businesses Team Training – Weekly training with specially built pages and open to the public Training/teaching others: OSHBA, A to Z Inspections, The Guild Writing – Regular column in The City Sentinel sharing his systems and advice Construction Camp – Will Blake has led the charge for a full year to the OSU-OKC Construction Camp for 7th and 8th graders held May 23 – May 27 this year
The most important quote in my life came from Earl Nightingale. Paraphrased it is: Five years from today, you will be like the people that you run with!
There is no one I’d rather run with than Will Blake.
When I think about whom I would consider the most influential young professional, Jared Goins is the first to come to mind. In my profession, I work with young professionals every day.
Often young professionals are uneasy about entering their profession and even more afraid of what their success will look like. None of the young professionals I have worked with before Jared are as driven to succeed, organized, or as disciplined as he strives to be. Today it is crucial that young adults have positive and influential role models. Young professionals such as Jared instill that hard work leads to success in young adults.
Jared has shown excellence in his profession by perfecting his industry knowledge and communicating that knowledge in a way clients understand. He gives solutions to problems and offers advice in areas clients are not familiar with. In a world driven by older professionals with certain expectations, this trait alone is extremely impressive.
Often young professionals shy away from and feel uncomfortable around those considered superiors or those with more experience in their profession.
Jared instead has embraced the fact that he not only has the knowledge but the skill of excellent communication and he runs with it. I for one feel this is an extremely important professional attribute.
Managing one business as a young professional is extremely difficult. However, Jared never lets fear get in his way. Through all these business ventures and building an impressive professional image, he also maintains marriage and a beautiful home. His family remains at the top of his priorities. This proves he has excellent time management skills and manages to continue to devote his time to areas that need attention.
Not only is Jared an influential young professional to other young professionals, but to all professionals. All professionals could learn immensely from his professional excellence. His drive to succeed lacks in no area. His will to take his profession to the next level is so profound he will continue to succeed and raise the bar wherever it may take him.
