20 Under 40
Opelika’s 20 Under 40 program is made up of 20 outstanding people under the age of 40 who live in Opelika, love Opelika, and have a vested interest in shaping the direction of this city’s future. The purpose of the program is to bring together young professionals from diverse professions and backgrounds on a regular basis to learn about the various aspects of the intricate workings of a city, school system, business, industry, and public service to give them a better understanding of how all of these separate entities come together to create a working, viable community.
The 20 Under 40 Program is dedicated to developing leaders by providing these opportunities:
- Learning about Opelika through community and government affairs leadership courses
- Giving back to the community through a class service project for a local non-profit organization
- Developing professionally through training and skill-based learning initiatives
- Engaging and connecting with each other as well as forging relationships with local business and organization leaders
Our intention is to help create amazing future leaders for our community, and there is even a direct feed to city boards from this group. So many 20 under 40 graduates become movers & shapers in Opelika. Some graduates include Alabama Representative Jeremy Gray, City Councilman Todd Rauch, Rosanna McGinnis with the Opelika Library, and even our very own President Ali Rauch!
![2024 20 Under 40 Sponsor 2024 20 Under 40 Sponsor](https://growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net/sites/1759/2024/02/2024-20-Under-40-Sponsor-678x1024.jpg)
REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY
Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by someone who recognizes them as an up-and-coming civic leader. Candidates must meet the following qualifications for consideration:
- Live in Opelika city limits
- Be 40 years of age or younger at the time of the application deadline
- Pay the tuition cost of $500.00
- Demonstrate a love for Opelika
To apply, applicants MUST complete the application and provide two letters of reference about why you would be a good class member. The application and two letters of reference can be e-mailed to Mackenzie Poole at mackenzie@opelikachamber.com or turned in at the Opelika Chamber at 601 Avenue A, Opelika, Alabama.
The deadline for submission is June 14, 2024.
MEET THE 2023-2024 CLASS
![ASHLEY (1) ASHLEY (1)](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/ASHLEY-1-6db1f13b-2851-417f-970f-09a3998ecf7f-circle.jpg)
Ashley Colquitt
Opelika Chamber of Commerce
![Austin Duran Austin Duran](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Austin-Duran-e647557d-7d8d-43f6-bce2-53630c1feba6-circle.jpg)
Austin Duran
Machen McChesney
![Brandon Hutto Brandon Hutto](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Brandon-Hutto-f9500cb3-d4ce-455f-be39-f62bad06912f-circle.jpg)
Brandon Hutto
Opelika Police Department
![Charlotte Brown Charlotte Brown](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Charlotte-Brown-c6fc708a-0e36-4729-9452-606770e3e378-circle.jpg)
Charlotte Brown
Auburn University
![Claire Martin Claire Martin](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Claire-Martin-deed314f-b9db-48e0-986f-43e22531a9af-circle.jpg)
Claire Martin
East Alabama Health
![Griffin Griffin](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Griffin-fc347f8b-442e-4954-89d0-04cfa48fa406-circle.jpg)
Griffin O'Connor
City of Opelika
![Haley Wilson Haley Wilson](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Haley-Wilson-2d6c747f-6b13-4709-b7cb-c6e641bb6968-circle.jpg)
Haley Wilson
Lee Russell Council of Governments
![Holley Head Holley Head](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Holley-Head-a671b94b-e325-4753-bdf9-cca7cdafcf78-circle.jpg)
Holley Head
MAX Credit Union
![Jessica Bloodsworth Jessica Bloodsworth](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Jessica-Bloodsworth-a4890188-6b3a-46df-9af9-1db38035df5b-circle.jpg)
Jessica Bloodsworth
MenuMatch, LLC
![Joe Janning Joe Janning](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Joe-Janning-77b3a25f-a291-44eb-9994-61231d445e1f-circle.jpg)
Joe Janning
Bonnie Plants
![Kristen Ferrell Kristen Ferrell](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Kristen-Ferrell-11893f05-4c2d-4589-9911-f24055c8317a-circle.jpg)
Kristen Ferrell
Auburn Junior High School
![Lakieshia Barnett Lakieshia Barnett](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Lakieshia-Barnett-a69d2c07-de44-41e2-9bb2-b766125295e8-circle.jpg)
Lakieshia Barnett
Southern Union State Community College
![Laura Sellers Laura Sellers](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Laura-Sellers-4d2110ce-3cbd-454a-9bf3-d23912a215b9-circle.jpg)
Laura Sellers
Opelika City Schools
![Lauren Bernier Lauren Bernier](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Lauren-Bernier-8f83519b-aad7-4f4b-a067-6d26cba35c28-circle.jpg)
Lauren Bland Bernier
Lauren Bland State Farm
![Morgan Cole Morgan Cole](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Morgan-Cole-b07b89a4-48ab-4f22-ae76-3798e3abd4e8-circle.jpg)
Morgan Cole
East Alabama Health
![Nadja Gunn Nadja Gunn](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Nadja-Gunn-55ff6413-1dc1-4772-a61d-3dabcaa1ce20-circle.jpg)
Nadja Gunn
City of Opelika
![Randy Kennessey Randy Kennessey](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Randy-Kennessey-7c9ee158-4d80-4f08-a301-06c73eac13b4-circle.jpg)
Randy Kennessey
Walmart Distribution
![Sean Lackey Sean Lackey](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Sean-Lackey-5f8b38a3-967a-46cd-a8f0-f1bcfc7a6fa3-circle.jpg)
Sean Lackey
Golden State Foods
![Steven Webb Steven Webb](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Steven-Webb-b448418f-ddb7-4bfd-9409-9bd8dc48d307-circle.jpg)
Steven Webb
Kroger
![Theo Moore Theo Moore](https://www.opelikachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1759/bb-plugin/cache/Theo-Moore-0d84c519-b587-4a77-8d68-3580e54c5362-circle.jpg)
Theo Moore
Hiztorical Vision Productions