North Idaho Business Journal honors 40 young leaders shaping region's future

About 150 people filled the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn Wednesday evening as the North Idaho Business Journal honored 40 leaders under 40 whose work is already shaping hiring, service, construction and community growth across Kootenai County.

The third annual 40 Under 40 program was built to recognize more than business success. The honorees were selected from community nominations by a panel of judges, with self-nominations allowed and up to two letters of support permitted but not required. Candidates had to be 39 or younger as of Dec. 31, 2025, nominations were due Jan. 30, winners were notified in February, and the class was celebrated in the April 2026 issue and at the banquet in Coeur d’Alene.

Several honorees offered a clear picture of why the program has become a local marker of influence. Jessica McMurray, founder of Fox Contracting Services, was recognized for building a business in one of the county’s most visible sectors, construction. Nicole Rumpel of Avista said the honor reflected the time and effort she has put into community outreach, a reminder that utility work in North Idaho often extends beyond infrastructure into civic relationships. Drew Lakin of Visiting Angels pointed to the growth and demand behind his service business, a sign of the pressure and opportunity in the region’s home-care market.

That mix of founders, managers and service providers helps explain why the awards matter beyond a banquet. The Business Journal said the program also recognizes people involved on community boards, government boards and councils, placing public service alongside entrepreneurship and professional achievement. In a county where employers compete for workers and families track the quality of local services closely, the names on this list are already part of the daily economy.

Clint Schroeder, president and executive publisher of Hagadone Media Group, has framed the program as a test of how long someone stays engaged in a community. At a previous 40 Under 40 ceremony, he told the group, “You’re the future of North Idaho.” That message fit again Wednesday night, as the event underscored succession in real time, from firms expanding their workforce to nonprofit and civic leaders taking on more responsibility.

The region already has a pipeline for that kind of leadership. Kootenai County Young Professionals, founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, says its mission is to connect and empower members through community involvement, personal and professional development, social interaction and leadership. With 210 nominations in the 2024 cohort and 10 winners under 30, the 40 Under 40 recognition has become a snapshot of who is rising fastest in North Idaho, and who is likely to shape what comes next.