ALEXANDRIA, VA – The National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) today announced the inaugural class of its “40 Under 40” recognition program, which honors the most talented young individuals in the investor relations community. 
 
The 40 Under 40 Program recognizes young professionals who have made noticeable contributions to their companies, communities, the IR profession, and to NIRI. NIRI will honor this inaugural class during the 2019 NIRI Annual Conference in Phoenix on June 2-5. This first group includes 50 members -– in celebration of NIRI’s golden anniversary this year. The list of honorees is included at the end of this press release. 
 
NIRI President and CEO, Gary A. LaBranche, FASAE, CAE, said, “This outstanding group of younger members will help lead the IR profession and NIRI into the future. I look forward to congratulating them at NIRI’s 50th Anniversary Annual Conference in Phoenix in June.”  

Each honoree met at least two of the following qualifications:
  • Outstanding leadership in business.
  • Outstanding engagement in community activities.
  • Demonstrated exceptional leadership within a NIRI chapter.
  • Provided collegial and supportive efforts for a NIRI National program or project or was engaged in a meaningful way in serving members.
  • Exceptional growth and development as an IR professional and an aspiration to pursue investor relations as a career.
  • Advancement of NIRI’s public policy agenda.
  • Commitment to NIRI’s Code of Ethics and to advancing best practices in investor relations, corporate disclosure, and informed investing.
  • Attainment of the IRC certification.
 
2019 Class of 40 Under 40
Matthew Abenante, IRC, Senior Vice President, Porter, LeVay & Rose
Ben Ashwell, Editor, IR Magazine
Ariel Babcock, Director, FCLT Global
Jamie Bernard, IRC, Senior Associate, Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc. 
Evan Black, IRC, Vice President, Investor Relations, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc.
Chris Brandon, IRC, Director of Investor Relations, Domino's
Joshua Brodsky, Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Shea Burden, IRC, Lecturer in Accounting, Ohio University
Sarah Burnett, Director, Investor Relations, Discovery
Lyndsey Burton, Senior Manager, Investor Relations, Home Depot
Katherine Chen, IRC, Investor Relations Manager, Flex Ltd.
Jeremy Cohen, Vice President, Investor Relations, Edelman - Financial Communications & IR
Katherine Croft, Vice President of Investor Relations and Director of Media Relations, Casteel Schoenborn
Kris Doyle, Director, Investor Relations and FP&A, Visteon Corporation
Matthew Eichmann, IRC, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Greif, Inc.
Elisabeth Eisleben, IRC, Vice President, Investor Relations, Advanced Auto Parts
Joe Elgindy, Senior Director of Investor Relations & Strategic Planning, Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Brittany Kelley Elsasser, Director of Investor Relations, Meta Financial Group
Kimberly Esterkin, Director, Investor Relations, ADDO Communications
Carlynn Finn, Vice President, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Betsy Frank, Head of Investor Relations, Medidata Solutions Worldwide
Mark Furlong, IRC, Investor Relations Manager, Blackbaud, Inc.
Stephanie Gorman, Manager, Strategy, Corporate Development & IR, EnPro Industries, Inc.
Noah Gunn, Head of Investor Relations, Athene Holding
Kathryn (Katie) Herr, Founder and CEO, Audacia Strategies
Jeanne Hess, Head of Investor Relations, Mass Mutual
Justin Horstman, Investor Relations Manager, TCF Financial Corporation
Steve Hufford, IRC, Manager, Investor Relations, Blackbaud, Inc.
Meredith Kaya, Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Mark Kobal, IRC, Head of Investor Relations, Central European Media Enterprises
Mary Lai, Head of Investor Relations, SYNNEX Corporation
Jacqueline Marcus, Assistant Vice President, Alpha IR Group
James Matyszczyk, Manager, Investor Relations, Arconic, Inc.
MaryKate McGilley, Vice President, Corporate Access and Client Services, Baird
Allison Monat Sobel, Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Darin Norman, Senior Investor Relations Analyst, Xcel Energy Inc.
Jim Ogilvie, IRC, Vice President of Corporate Development, Dynatronics Corporation
Megan Patterson, Manager, Investor Relations, ONEOK
Gabriel Ratcliff, Manager, Investor Relations, Etsy
Brooks Rennie, Investor Relations Analyst, TCF Financial Corporation
Sebastien Reyes, Director of Investor Relations, AMERCO
Andrea (Andi) Rose, Partner, Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Katie Royce, Global Head of Investor Relations, Cognizant Technology Solutions
Steven Rubis, Vice President, IR, Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Timothy Sedabres, IRC, Head of Investor Relations, TCF Bank
Sean Silva, IRC, Associate Vice President, Prosek Partners
Anna Vu, Associate Director, First Republic Bank
Dennis Walsh, Director, Investor Relations, Zillow Group
Timothy Walsh, Director, Investor Relations, Home Depot
Joshua Wannarka, IRC, Vice President, Investor Relations, Crestwood Midstream Partners

 

About the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI)
Founded in 1969, the National Investor Relations Institute (www.niri.org) is the professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, shareholders, securities analysts, and other financial community constituents. NIRI is the largest professional investor relations association in the world, with more than 3,300 members representing over 1,600 publicly held companies and $9 trillion in stock market capitalization. Through its collaborative community, NIRI advances engagement in the capital markets and drives best practices in corporate disclosures, governance, and informed investing.

Contact: Ted Allen, 703-562-7681, mailto:tallen@niri.org