If you’re one of those folks who still believes Southwest Florida is the exclusive domain of the retired, where days are dominated by shuffleboard and afternoon naps, think again.

Nearly a third of the population in Collier and Lee counties are ages 20 to 44 and another 22 to 23 percent are children; slightly fewer in Charlotte.

In this issue (p. 23), you’ll meet 40 of the leaders under 40 years old who are shaping the region.
Reading through the record number of nominations we received for this year’s (our fifth) 40 under 40 was downright inspiring. They are lawyers, doctors, bankers, accountants and entrepreneurs in businesses ranging from personal chef to mobile billboard operator to a developer helping pump new life into downtown Fort Myers. Most are in the private sector, but some work in the public sector, heading up a multi-million-dollar housing project and working to build the local economy.

Our panel of judges selected them not only for doing well, but also for doing good. Some have distinguished themselves in their professions, climbing quickly in their organizations or daring to venture into an enterprise untried in this region. Others’ achievements are in their charitable or civic contributions. Almost all have some elements of both.

And in spite of the common refrain that Floridians all come from somewhere else, no fewer than 11 of our 40 are from Southwest Florida, and a number of others are from elsewhere in the state.
Not everyone who deserves recognition made it this year, and I encourage those who nominated them to try again next year.

You’re probably already familiar with many of the 40 under 40. If not, remember their names, because you’ll quite likely be hearing more about them in the future.

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