Top 30 Under 40 nominations are open through Nov. 5

If you have an outstanding young person working in your organization, office, business or company, now is the time for name-dropping.

The Kootenai County Young Professionals is hosting its second year of the Top 30 Under 40 program, which encourages community members to nominate hardworking and remarkable young people who are making a difference in North Idaho.

"Just like anyone, it feels good to be recognized, and it feels good to recognize others. Sometimes I think recognizing others feels better," said KCYP secretary and 2017 30 Under 40 winner Ashley Yates, 27. "It’s so important to people in all different stages in life."

Entrepreneur and business owner Ali Koski, 32, of Coeur d'Alene, was anonymously nominated and received a 30 Under 40 award last year.

"Who doesn’t want an award to put in their office so that when somebody walks in, customers are immediately like, ‘Well, somebody thinks this person’s the real deal,'" she said. "It was that someone in the community who I don't know who said, ‘Hey this person’s deserving of this award and here’s why.’"

The nominations are anonymous and simple to complete.

Nomination requests must include:

•Name of nominee

•Work position, title and employer

•Explanation of why you are nominating the candidate

•Contact information for candidate (email and phone preferred)

Email nominations to contactkcyp@gmail.com with subject line “Top 30 Under 40 Nomination."

Once someone receives a nomination, the candidate will fill out a form that asks about employment and personal accomplishments, goals, awards, volunteer efforts and other qualifying information.

Nominees can be from any industry. They don't have to wear a tie to work. Stay-at-home parents and anyone else younger than 40 who is making an impact is eligible.

"We’re talking about anybody in the community that’s young and they're working hard to make this place a better town for everybody to live in and for businesses to prosper," Koski said.

An independent judging panel of business and community leaders in Kootenai County will select the winners. Judges will review applications and select the winners in November. Winners will be announced in December and celebrated during KCYP's grand event, Elevate, in January.

"That award really celebrated me as a whole person, not just an entrepreneur, but also a steward of the community and active participant in different groups and organizations," Koski said. "That award isn't just who has a job who’s under 40 years old, it’s who’s doing positive things in the community, who is making their mark as a young professional? And that was really validating to be recognized. And again, now I have a shiny award that gives me credibility when someone walks in.”

The Top 30 Under 40 nomination deadline is 11:59 p.m. Nov. 5.

Info: www.kcyp.org