Infrastructure

Celebrating the 2017 City & State PA 40 Under 40 Rising Stars

The honorees assembled for a group shot in front of the brew house's kegs

The honorees assembled for a group shot in front of the brew house's kegs

More than 130 guests attended City & State PA’s second annual 40 Under 40 Rising Stars event on Thursday at Roy Pitz Barrel House in Philadelphia's Spring Arts neighborhood

The event, which brought together and recognized the most influential Pennsylvanians in government, business, culture and social services under the age of 40, drew people from across the commonwealth to honor the recipients and to hear a keynote speech by Todd Carmichael, co-founder and CEO of pioneering Philadelphia coffee roaster La Colombe.

Guests listened to Carmichael recount his circuitous journey to iconoclastic business leader via protesting apartheid in the 1980s to solo trekking to the South Pole as he exhorted those in attendance to stand firm, take chances and "do whatever is necessary to make sure you're the last one standing." 

One of last year's winners, Mike Lee, took the stage to describe how the award led him to take a chance, quitting his job to work for then-candidate Larry Krasner in the Democratic race for Philadelphia District Attorney.

To meet this year's honorees, click here. For a photo gallery of the evening, keep scrolling below.

 

Pennsylvania GOP chair Val DiGiorgio and wife, honoree Carolina DiGiorgio of Congreso

 

Project Manager at Office of the Council President- City of Philadelphia Jenaye Munford, honoree Jasmine Sessoms of She Can Win, honoree Tiffany Newmuis of Jefferson University and honoree Joanna McClinton, state Rep. for the 191st District

 

Brandon Dawson, state Sen. John Rafferty, honoree Shannon Waterman from Wojdak Government Relations

 

Honoree David Tusio, right, from Philadelphia City Councilman Allan Domb's office, with his mother, Maureen McDonald

 

State Rep. Tina Davis with La Colombe co-founder and CEO Todd Carmichael

 

Honoree TJ Hurst of Jefferson's List, honoree Ivy Schneider of Helix Strategies and Kris Walski

 

Jennifer Davidson, honoree Nathan Davidson of PA House Democratic Campaign Committee, honoree Anne Wakabayashi of Emerge Pennsylvania and Caitlin Palmer

 

Husband-and-wife honorees Kellan White of the Rebecca Rhynhart for Philadelphia Controller campaign, and Nicole Allen White, of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

 

2016 40 Under 40 honoree Lauren Vidas joins 2017 honoree Todd Kowalski of PFM and wife Meg

 

A packed house enjoyed craft beers, local spirits and food at Roy Pitz Barrel House