Young Professionals
Join us for our annual Young Professionals
Young Professionals
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Sponsored by
The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business’ annual Young Professionals program celebrated its 18th year in 2025.
These business-savvy individuals are local, rising stars who distinguish themselves in their careers and make a difference through charity work, leadership and community involvement.
Mid-Columbia professionals age 40 and under may apply for the contest. Nominations also are welcome.
Judges review applications for career development, leadership, and charity work or community involvement.
Answers form the basis for the profiles featured in our special Young Professionals edition.
In the May issue of the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, we highlight the winners in a specialty publication that will be inserted into the Journal.
Meet the class of 2025
• Yesenia Nely Aquino Bautista, regional assistant director, Heritage University Tri-Cities
• Jordan Hanes, deputy director, Franklin County Emergency Management
• Brianna Harty, director of donor relations & grant management, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties
• Nayeli Berenice Aranda Hernández, migrant graduation specialist, Pasco School District
• Amelia Kittson, president, KIE Supply
• Max Lucas, mortgage consultant, Community First Bank
• Shara Morgan, owner/preschool teacher, Smart Ones Preschool
• Taran Patel, managing principal, A-1 Hospitality Group
• Diane C. Torres, emergency response activity manager, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions
• Michelle Twomey, manager of progressive care unit and respiratory therapy, Kadlec Regional Medical Center
• Quentin Wright, airport manager, Port of Benton
Join us for our annual Young Professionals
recognition event.
May 15, 2024 | 4 - 6 p.m.
Doors open at 4 p.m.
Program begins promptly at 4:30 p.m.
Admission includes appetizers and no-host bar.
Fiction @ J. Bookwalter Winery
894 Tulip Lane, Richland
The event is at Fiction @Bookwalter restaurant – not at the adjacent tasting room off Columbia Park Trail. If the parking lot is full, you may park at the nearby Park & Ride lot.
PAST HONOREES
CLASS OF 2024:
- Raul Contreras, assistant director, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
- Kristy Leitze, director - Therapy Services & Wound Care, Trios Health.
- Josh Lozano, senior government and external affairs specialist, Energy Northwest.
- Melissa McCoy, principal architect and owner, CKJT Architects.
- Nicholas Mercer, wealth advisor, Piton Wealth.
- Ryan Nell, geochemist, INTERA Inc.
- Jaylicia-Jinei "Kanani" Patricio-Young, technical integrations industrial hygiene supervisor, Washington River Protection Solutions.
- Austin Regimbal, marketing and communications director, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
- Melissa Torres, director of fire systems maintenance, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS).
- Sonee Kulaga Wilson, mission services opportunity specialist, Goodwill Industries of the Columbia.
Young Professional winners, from left, Josh Lozano, Jaylicia-Jinei "Kanani" Patricio-Young, Raul Contreras, Melissa McCoy, Nicholas Mercer, Kristy Leitze, Ryan Nell. Not pictured are Austin Regimbal, Melissa Torres, Sonee Kulaga Wilson who were traveling and could not attend.
TO MEET PREVIOUS WINNERS, CLICK HERE.
