LBF’s 2026 Forty Under 40 features 23 Cardinals
The annual list from Louisville Business First honors local leaders excelling in their careers and community involvement July 29, 2026
UofL alumni are making bold moves in Louisville.
Each year, Louisville Business First (LBF) identifies a fresh batch of forty young professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers across the city who are making positive impacts in our local communities. For LBF’s 2026 Forty Under 40 cohort, it’s no surprise that more than half the list of honorees are University of Louisville alumni, reflecting the values and mission-driven purpose learned as a Cardinal.
Selected from a pool of nearly 600 nominees, the 2026 Forty Under 40 honorees represent a wide range of academic achievement from various schools and colleges at UofL. Meet the Cardinals honored on this year’s list below:
- Amy Vanover Barney-McCoy ’15
Director, training and culture, senior housing, Trilogy Health Services
Bachelor’s degree in communication
College of Arts and Sciences - Rachel Bratcher ’19
Vice president, associate wealth advisor, Mercer Wealth Management
Bachelor’s degree in marketing
College of Business - Lauren Brown ’10
President/Co-owner, Michaelis Events, LLC
Bachelor’s degree in business administration
College of Business - Liz Todd Byron ’13, ’15
Executive director, experiential learning and community engagement, Bellarmine University
Master’s degrees in history and secondary education and teaching
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education and Human Development - Katie Cameron ’19, ’22
Director, strategy, resources and compliance, Blueprint502
Master’s degree in social work
Doctoral degree in social work
Raymond R. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science - Diana Duran ’13
CCaaS category manager, Humana Inc.
Bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene
School of Dentistry - George Eklund ’19
Director, education and advocacy, Coalition for the Homeless
Master’s degree in public administration
College of Arts and Sciences - Souhila EL Moussaoui ’19
Senior vice president, associate general counsel, Republic Bank & Trust Co.
Juris doctorate
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law - Rudy Ellis ’16
Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Juris doctorate
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law - Marcus Goodwin ’11, ’18
Director, human resources and operations, Muhammad Ali Center and Education Center Inc.
Bachelor’s degree in sociology
Master’s degree in human resources and organizational development
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education and Human Development - Kiara James ’17, ’22
Hospital violence intervention supervisor, UofL Health
Bachelor’s degree in public health
Master’s degree in health administration
School of Public Health and Information Sciences - Lindsey Meares ’14
Partner, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC
Juris doctorate
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law - Jordan Mitchell
President, ENCON Equipment
Project management certificate
College of Business - Ryan O’Hare ’13
Founder and creative director, Apostrophe
Bachelor of fine arts
College of Arts and Sciences - Carlos Hernandez Ocampo ’15, ’18
Managing partner, Emergence Law PLLC
Bachelor's degree in fine and studio arts
Juris doctorate
College of Arts and Sciences
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law - Sarah Pierce ’21
EveryHome program manager, Metropolitan Housing Coalition
Master’s degree in sustainability studies
College of Arts and Sciences - Luis Castillo Shulgin ’15, ’18
Vice president, Golden Hill Ingredients LLC
Bachelor’s degree in finance
Master’s degree in business administration
College of Business - Amber Stickler ’11
Regional president, Mortenson Dental Partners
Bachelor’s degree in business administration
College of Business - Courtney Thurman ’17
Oncology program manager, Baptist Health Louisville
Bachelor’s degree in molecular biology
College of Arts and Sciences - Charlie Todd ’18, ’20
Director, financial planning and analysis, Stored Value Solutions
Bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance
Master’s degree in business administration
Accounting certificate
College of Business - Randy Whetstone Jr. ’13
Clinical assistant professor, University of Louisville
Bachelor’s degree in sports administration
College of Education and Human Development - Brandon Young ’19
Founder and CEO, Pascal Tags
Bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering
J.B. Speed School of Engineering - Adal Yousef ’12
Chief operating officer, Denton Floyd Real Estate Group
Master’s degree in accounting
College of Business
This year’s honorees will be celebrated at an event on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Churchill Downs Racetrack First Turn Club. Full profiles of the honorees will be published by LBF the week of Sept. 25.
To view the full 2026 Forty Under 40 list, visit LBF’s website.
Michael Jester is the sr. manager of publications and content for the Office of Communications and Marketing, joining UofL after a career in advertising as an award-winning copywriter. In his role, he serves as the editor for UofL Magazine, helping to highlight stories and good works happening throughout the university and its alumni community. Jester holds a bachelor of arts from UofL, where he was an individualized major, and is currently pursuing a master of arts in higher education administration.
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