The annual list of outstanding young professionals in the Greater Hartford area was published in the most recent edition of the Hartford Business Journal.

West Hartford resident Scott Kluger, founder and president of Hartford Baking Company, is one of the Hartford Business Journal’s ’40 Under Forty” for 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

Six individuals who either live or work in West Hartford will be among those honored at the Connecticut Convention Center on Sept. 14, 2016, when the Hartford Business Journal presents its 20th annual “40 Under Forty” awards “black tie and blue jeans” gala.

Each year 40 young professionals from throughout the Greater Hartford area are given the award, and honored at a gala presented by the Hartford Business Journal that is attended by hundreds of other movers and shakers, offering a great networking opportunity for business leaders.

According to the Hartford Business Journal, the theme for this year is “standing the test of time,” and the latest issue of the publication not only features this year’s winners, but also takes a look back at winners from past years with a “see where they are now” update. Some past winners from West Hartford (a few have moved away, but lived in town at the time) include Brendan Fox, Sonia Plumb, Brad Hutensky, Gary Dinowitz, Chuck Coursey, Mary Coursey, Greg Alcorn, Amy Barzach, Robert Laraia, Mark Sinatro, Kevin O’Connor, Brian Newman, Mark McGovern, Susan Christensen, Chip Gengras, Kelly Kennedy, Kristin Beth Ferris, Jason Jakubowki, Betsy Udal, Scott Aronson, Jason Newman, Rebecca Stewart, Jessica Tagliarini, Julie Krug, Scott Slifka, Kim Margolis, Peter Murphy, Jarrett Solomon, and Melissa Lambright.

According to the Hartford Business Journal, the class of 2016 is one of the “most diverse classes ever, both in terms of our winners’ backgrounds and their careers and journeys to early success,” with some entrepreneurs growing successful businesses without a college education and others with a slew of professional degrees.

Judges for this year’s contest, all previous “40 Under Forty” winners, were Duby McDowell, Wilson Camelo, and McKinley Albert.

“Young leaders are the future of Hartford and the state of Connecticut,” Hartford Business Journal Editor Greg Bordonaro said in his introduction to this year’s feature.

Winners with ties to West Hartford are listed below with links to their profiles in the Hartford Business Journal:

Elizabeth F. Ahlstrand; 37, West Hartford resident; equity partner with Seiger Gfeller Laurie LLP in West Hartford

Mehmet Bakkaloglu; 37, West Hartford resident, CFO of OFI in Newington

Kathryn Gonnerman; 36, Avon resident; director of the Center for Innovative Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford in West Hartford

Matthew Hoffman; 39; West Hartford resident; vice president and dealer principal with Hoffman Auto Group in West Simsbury and East Hartford

Aaron Isaacs; 32; West Hartford resident; assistant dean of students for Goodwin College in East Hartford

Scott Kluger; 33; founder and president of Hartford Baking Company in West Hartford and throughout Connecticut

For the full listing of the “40 Under Forty” class of 2016 winners and to read the article in the Hartford Business Journal, click here.

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