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

Dr. Melissa Lambright, owner and founder of SIGHT Eye Health in West Hartford, is one of the HBJ’s ’40 Under Forty’ this year. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

Eleven individuals who either live or work in West Hartford will be among those honored at the Connecticut Convention Center on Sept. 30, 2015, when the Hartford Business Journal presents its 19th annual “40 Under Forty” awards.

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 and offers a great networking opportunity for business leaders.

According to the Hartford Business Journal, judges for this year’s contest were John E. Adams, Ashley “A.J.” Johnson, and Diane Whitney.

“HBJ’s 40 Under Forty identifies young leaders who have already had success but who already have potential to lead the professional world of tomorrow. These individuals want to lead in the board room and in life in general,” Hartford Business Journal Managing Editor Brad Kane said in his introduction to the article in this year’s feature.

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

Stephanie Higgins Bealing; 33; West Hartford resident; president of Replacement Lens Express in East Hartford

Michael Byrne, Jr.; 32, West Hartford resident; associate director of Portfolio Management for UBS Global Asset Management in Hartford

Megan Carannante; 34, West Hartford resident; attorney with Pullman & Comley LLC in Hartford

Rebekah Castagno; 36; West Hartford resident; development coordinator for The Village for Families & Children in Hartford

Dan Clark; 35; West Hartford resident; partner in Clark Insurance/May, Bonee & Co. in Hartford

Stephen Frenkel; 38; West Hartford resident; change manager at CIGNA in Bloomfield

Tara Gerber; 33; West Hartford resident; senior director of Strategy & Partnerships for the Travelers Championship in Hartford

Jonathan A. Kaplan; 33; West Hartford resident; attorney at Pullman & Comley in Hartford

Melissa Lambright; 38; West Hartford resident; founder of SIGHT Eye Health/Eye Wear in West Hartford

Todd R. Regan; 38; West Hartford resident; partner at Robinson & Cole LLP

Kathryn Shafer; 32; policy analyst at Partnership for Strong Communities in Hartford and vice chair of West Hartford Housing Authority

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

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