20 Under 40 (AYP) / Abilene Chamber of Commerce

Powering the next generation of leaders.

Do you have a young professional that is greatly impacting your organization or business? Do you know of a young professional actively working to elevate our region? Nominate them today for 20 Under 40!

20 Under 40 recognizes local business leaders under the age of 40 who are excelling in their career fields. Nominees should be those who are making a real impact in the Abilene community with their leadership, drive, strong vision, and notable entrepreneurship.

Previous 20 Under 40 Recipients

Meet the Class of 2024

Congrats to the Class of 2024!

Frequently Asked Questions

Must work in Abilene
Must be under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1, 2025
Must not have been a previous 20 Under 40 honoree

Be thorough. If you know your nominee does a lot in the community, but you are not sure what it is, FIND OUT! Incomplete nominations don’t win. Amazing people tend to be humble and you might not know everything they are involved in. Get to know your candidate and represent them in the best light. Do some research; talk to their spouse, sibling, parent, boss, business partner, board members, etc, if necessary.
Data tells a great story! Knowing that your nominee grew their business from 4 to 30 employees, raised $10M for their charity, increased sales by 150% or volunteers 500 hours/year impresses our judges.
Be concise and specific. Bullet points are great!
Call out achievements and awards; even if outside of their professional capacity.

An anonymous selection committee made up of previous recipients and community leaders meets to review the nominations and determine the 20 recipients.

The anonymous selection committee meets in November, the recipients are told at the beginning of December, and the announcement to the public takes place in late January. A reception for the recipients and their families takes place in February in place of the usual AYP After Five.

Section I: Nominee Information

The Abilene Young Professionals (AYP) want to recognize young area business professionals who have made a positive impact in Abilene through exceptional entrepreneurship, leadership, creative vision, innovation, or dedication to the community. Know someone who fits the bill? Nominate them for the 2025 Abilene 20 under 40 business professional awards to be published in Feb. 2025. You can nominate a friend, co-worker, your boss, business associates, a relative or yourself. Nominations will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Thursday, Oct. 31. For questions, please call 325-677-7241 or email Cameron Sloan at cameron@abilenechamber.com.

First Name ^*

Last Name ^*

Employer ^*

Job Title ^*

Email ^*

Date of Birth ^*

Why should this person be named a top 20 Under 40 individual? ^*

Nominee Resume

Not mandatory, but feel free to upload a resume. Max. file size: 50 MB.

Section II: Nominator Information

First Name ^*

Last Name ^*

Email ^*

Phone ^*

How do you know the nominee? ^*

Please select all that apply.

Business Associate
Customer
Employer
Employee
Friend
Not Applicable
Other

20 Under 40 (AYP)

Powering the next generation of leaders.

Congrats to the Class of 2024!

Criteria for the award is as follows:

Tips to make sure your nomination stands out.

Who chooses the recipients?

When will I know if my person wins?

Cameron Sloan

20 Under 40 (AYP)

Powering the next generation of leaders.

Congrats to the Class of 2024!

Criteria for the award is as follows:

Tips to make sure your nomination stands out. ​

Who chooses the recipients?

When will I know if my person wins?

Cameron Sloan

Tips to make sure your nomination stands out.