MANHATTAN, KS (January 7, 2026) The Junction City, Manhattan and Wamego Chambers of Commerce have released the 4th Annual 20 under 40 class of young professionals making a difference in their communities.
Winners of 2026’s 20 under 40 will be recognized at a special reception in their honor at 5 p.m., Jan. 22, at the Museum of Art + Light. If you would like to attend the reception honoring the 2026 top young professionals, go here.
“We are incredibly honored to recognize such a distinguished group,” said Jason Smith, president and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our membership has been committed to engaging young professionals for the past several years and we feel very strongly that one way to engage is to recognize achievement.”
Winners were nominated from the three counties that make up the Manhattan MSA (Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary). Nominees were then asked to complete an application that outlined their achievements in their profession as well as work in the community. From the nearly 75 nominees and over 60 applicants, an appointed committee selected the final 20.
The 2026 winners are:
- Lindsay Adams, CGN Advisors
- Garric Baker, Baker McMillan Architects
- Kevin Bryant, Kevin Bryant State Farm
- Erica Buckwalter, Sunset Zoo
- Christy Chase, Anderson Knight Architects
- Ashley Fuhrman, Wareham Hall
- Spencer Jones, Jones Family Angus/Flint Hills Stockyards
- Ellen Knackendoffel, The Trust Company
- Doran Herbel, WTC Fiber
- Grant Hill, Kansas State University
- Claudia Hissong, Kansas Farm Bureau
- Jessica Hollenbeck, Crossroads Real Estate & Auction
- Tyler Holloman, Frontier Development Group
- Logan Hoover, Addair Law, Chtd.
- Jordan McCann, Junction City Mainstreet
- Daphne McNelly, Flint Hills ATA Bus
- Zach Mitchell, McCownGordon Construction
- Tiffany Oppelt, TheraPie
- Garrett Seuser, USD 379
- Casey Woltje, Ebert Construction Co., Inc.