Indeed, you know of the illustrious 40 Under 40 crew.
There they were, in our November issue, on the cover, no less.
Each year, the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Arlington Today seek out dynamic young professionals who somehow manage to revolutionize industries, build empires, and change lives while the rest of us struggle to remember our Netflix passwords.
It’s a time we honor ambition, innovation, and, most importantly, the sheer caffeine tolerance required to accomplish so much before hitting 40.
This year’s honorees range from realtors to school principals to chefs, each seemingly dazzling us with a resume that reads more like a bucket list on steroids. These folks are activists, tech wizards, and hospitality experts — all living proof that if you dream big enough and work hard enough, you too can bypass the recommended eight hours of sleep for a decade straight.
Of course, the rest of us couldn’t be prouder – or more bewildered.
Who looks at their twenties and says, “You know what? I will disrupt an entire industry and train for a triathlon.” My twenties were more about disrupting brunch plans and training my houseplants not to die.
Take, for example, Joseph Micci, 30, clinical director of Carencia Mental Health, who donates time weekly to support and educate a local outpatient substance use treatment program. If that’s not enough, he volunteers each year with Carencia in the annual Suicide Prevention Week in Arlington.
Then there’s Alexis Holguin, 38, a managing partner with The Fundamental HR Pros, an HR consulting firm. She’s also an avid golfer; she’s contributed to the Women’s Golf Association, serving on both the General and Executive Boards for six years.
She is committed to promoting women’s participation in golf and has mentored female beginner golfers through the Genesis program for the past three years.
Let’s not forget the quieter heroes on the list — the educators (former AISD wunderteacher Sarah McMurrough 39, who is now an instructional coach in the Mansfield Independent School District) and restaurant owners (Brandon Hurtado of Hurtado Barbeque) who have chosen compassion over profit margins. They might not make the splashiest headlines, but their work creates ripples of change that extend far beyond themselves.
Plus, they prove that being “under 40” isn’t just about ambition.
It’s also about impact.
Of course, there’s a part of me that suspects that this whole 40 Under 40 thing is secretly a conspiracy designed to make the rest of us feel like we’ve been doing life wrong.
Flipping through the magazine, I read about Brian Cooper, just 32 and already the director of banquets for Texas Live! He initiated donations for excess food from Texas Live! private events, reducing food waste, and physically giving back to the community.
These individuals remind us that the limits we place on ourselves are often imaginary. What I like reading most about the 40 Under 40 is that their stories inspire us to step out of our comfort zones, whether that means launching a side hustle, volunteering, or finally tackling that box of Ikea furniture that’s been haunting your living room for months.
So, here’s to the latest 40 Under 40 bunch: the dreamers, doers, and overachievers who make us believe anything is possible. We applaud your brilliance, drive, and ability to look this polished while juggling a million and one things. We’ll be rooting for you and your future, preferably here in Arlington — and maybe, just maybe, borrowing some of your inspiration for ourselves.
I’m pumped with an ambitious day planned.
I’m going to clear out my email inbox.
Hey, baby steps.
Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today for over a decade. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer.
