Young. Energetic. Full of life. Excited about the future, and more importantly, excited about Greenwood.
These are all terms I would use to describe the Greenwood Commonwealth’s inaugural Top 30 Under 40 class.
The group was honored during a luncheon Wednesday at the Greenwood Country Club and presented with plaques to commemorate the occasion.
It was a joy to see the honorees come in and get their first look at the special edition. They were huddled together to see their photos and read what all the others had to say. And thankfully, there were smiles all around.
But more importantly, seeing this group of individuals, who represent all walks of life, gave me hope for the future of our city. The men and women, black and white, work in almost every career field, from lawyers to doctors to firefighters to educators and everything in between. They were all represented.
In a time where the economy is bad and people are uncertain about the future, it’s comforting to know we have a large group of well-educated young professionals in Leflore County who are concerned about where our city and county are headed and are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure we get there successfully.
As Publisher Tim Kalich said in his remarks to the group, all of these men and women could probably work anywhere in the country, but they chose Greenwood because they care about this community. And it’s evident in their jobs, community service and volunteer efforts.
Many of the Top 30 are Greenwood or Leflore County natives and have a vested interest in seeing their home county and city succeed. But there also are those who chose to make Greenwood their home, and they have fresh new ideas to bring to the table. And when all those things come together, it can only mean a bright future for the Greenwood area.
I’m still not sure how these men and women fit all their extracurricular efforts into their lives, especially when many have families. But they have made service to the community a priority, and it’s worthy of recognition.
The Top 30 Under 40 edition was not just a showing of 30 beautiful faces and people. It also gave insight into how they achieved their goals. We hope it will offer inspiration and guidance to youngsters who are about to embark on life in the business world.
Common threads among the 30 included a strong work ethic, perseverance, faith in God and never giving up on their dream. And none of them forgot to recognize the importance of family support.
Many of the young professionals also saw education and promoting community spirit as a must in improving the greater Greenwood area.
I couldn’t agree more. Education should be our first priority. It is the foundation on which everything else is built, including the ability to bring in and keep business and industry. And when people get a good education, there is no limit to what they can achieve.
As for community spirit, when we talk about Greenwood and Leflore County, we should do so with great pride. We have some of the most unique places to visit and the most talented people in the country living in the area.
The inaugural class of the Top 30 Under 40 is a testament to that.
As I read each questionnaire and laid out every page, it inspired and challenged me to do even more for my community. I can’t let them put this 40-year-old to shame.
I commend each of them on their service to the community. They are most deserving of the honor.
