Sojourner’s Truth

2025 Award Recipients Announced

Special to The Truth

The 30th Annual 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Awards honored the region’s emerging leaders on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Valentine Theatre. The evening celebrated 153 outstanding candidates nominated for their professional accomplishments and community service, with the following 20 individuals selected for this year’s prestigious recognition:

  • Rebecca Marie Bennett, Oregon Economic Development Foundation
  • Mahjida Berryman, Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
  • Ebony Carter, Minority Business Assistance Center / Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Amanda S. Davis, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department
  • Keenen J. Fisher, Workspring
  • Rachel Hart, City of Toledo
  • Jessica A. Hinks, Hixon Zuercher Capital Management
  • Zachary Huber, Toledo Lucas County Public Library
  • Chris Kaspar, Rudolph Libbe Inc.
  • Brian Kelbley, Sun Federal Credit Union
  • Billy Mann, Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo
  • Alissa K. Mauter, groundUp Creative Agency
  • Michael A. Miller, KWIK Parking
  • Daniel Pfaltzgraf, Nationwide / University of Toledo / Toledo Mud Hens / Wiley
  • Tim Polakowski, Monarch Grief Center
  • Shayna Lynn Pothast, University of Findlay
  • Chad J. Rutkowski, Premier Academy
  • Zachary Schmidt, Bowling Green State University
  • Alexander Schrinel, Buehrer Group Architecture and Engineering
  • Ashley Shaffer, Mission Increase Northwest Ohio

 

Here are a few of the honorees:

Ebony Carter receives
“20 under 40” Leadership Recognition Award

Toledo, Ohio… Ebony Carter, Vice President of Minority Business Services at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, received a 2025 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award on Monday, November 3, at the 30th annual 20 Under 40 awards ceremony. She was among the top 20 selected from a field of 153 candidates.
Carter has been recognized as a powerhouse leader whose transformational impact continues to inspire change across the region. In 2025, she received the YWCA Milestone “Women on the Rise” Award, celebrating her dynamic leadership and vision for advancing equity. She was also named one of Toledo’s 100 Most Powerful Black Leaders, an honor that reflects her influence, resilience, and commitment to lifting others. In addition, she received Kappa Alpha Psi’s Women of Achievement Award, recognizing her outstanding leadership, community service, and impact as a role model.
Through her work and her voice, Carter has demonstrated a rare ability to bridge communities, create opportunities, and empower others to lead with courage and purpose. Her recognition as a 20 Under 40 honoree highlights her dedication to building a stronger, more inclusive future for the Toledo region and beyond.
The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or in the community. An independent panel selects the 20 candidates for recognition. It is intended that the program will further motivate young leaders in our area. Since 1996, 600 young community leaders have been recognized through the 20 Under 40 program.

Amanda S. Davis receives
“20 under 40” Leadership Recognition Award

Toledo, Ohio… Amanda S. Davis, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, received a 2025 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award on Monday, November 3, at the 30th annual 20 Under 40 awards ceremony. She was among the top 20 selected from a field of 153 candidates
Davis serves the community every day as a firefighter and EMT for the City of Toledo, where her dedication to public safety and quick response has saved countless lives. Beyond her professional service, she is the founder of Down for a Clause, a nonprofit that has raised more than $205,000 since 2011 to provide a “dream Christmas” for over 700 children across the community.
Her leadership extends to civic engagement as well. Davis is the chair of the United Way’s African American Leadership Council where she helps guide efforts to build stronger, more equitable communities. She is also a passionate advocate for teaching safety to youth throughout the City of Toledo, working to empower the next generation with the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves and others.
Her recognition as a 20 Under 40 honoree reflects her multifaceted impact as a first responder, community leader, and advocate who continually invests in the well-being and future of the Toledo region.
The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or in the community. An independent panel selects the 20 candidates for recognition. It is intended that the program will further motivate young leaders in our area. Since 1996, 600 young community leaders have been recognized through the 20 Under 40 program.

Keenen J. Fisher receives
“20 under 40” Leadership Recognition Award

Toledo, Ohio… Keenen J. Fisher, Member Experience Coordinator at Workspring, received a 2025 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award on Monday, November 3, at the 30th annual 20 Under 40 awards ceremony. He was among the top 20 selected from a field of 153 candidates.
Fisher is a mission-driven leader whose work is grounded in service, mentorship, and youth empowerment. He has led the Alpha Beautillion program, which received a mayoral proclamation for its cultural and community impact in uplifting Black male youth. Through his leadership, the program has inspired excellence, personal growth, and academic achievement for young men across the region.
In addition, Fisher has mentored more than 45 young men through the Alpha Esquires program, providing guidance, encouragement, and a foundation for success. His influence extends into athletics as well, where he has coached three junior varsity basketball championship teams and supported Notre Dame’s historic 2025 State Final Four appearance, reinforcing his belief in the power of sports to teach discipline, teamwork, and leadership.
Fisher’s recognition as a 20 Under 40 honoree reflects his unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and creating pathways for youth to thrive.
The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or in the community. An independent panel selects the 20 candidates for recognition. It is intended that the program will further motivate young leaders in our area. Since 1996, 600 young community leaders have been recognized through the 20 Under 40 program.

 

Alissa K. Mauter receives
“20 under 40” Leadership Recognition Award
Toledo, Ohio… Alissa K. Mauter, CEO and Founder of groundUp Creative Agency, received a 2025 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award on Monday, November 3, at the 30th annual 20 Under 40 awards ceremony. She was among the top 20 selected from a field of 153 candidates.
Mauter founded groundUp Creative Agency, where she has helped more than 100 small businesses build brands and increase revenue, empowering entrepreneurs and driving local economic growth through innovative marketing and strategy.
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Influential Community Leaders and a recipient of the Young, Gifted & Black Award, Mauter’s contributions to the business community have had a transformative impact on the region’s growth and vitality.
Beyond her business achievements, Mauter has served in key leadership roles, including Vice President of the Northwest Ohio Young Black Democrats and Council Member of the African American Leadership Council, demonstrating a strong commitment to civic engagement, community advocacy, and leadership development.
Her recognition as a 20 Under 40 honoree reflects her dedication to building businesses, empowering entrepreneurs, and fostering stronger communities in northwest Ohio.
The 20 Under 40 program focuses on individuals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or in the community. An independent panel selects the 20 candidates for recognition. It is intended that the program will further motivate young leaders in our area. Since 1996, 600 young community leaders have been recognized through the 20 Under 40 program.
Editor’s note: Mauter resides in Rossford, Ohio.

 

Nominations for the 2026 program are open now at 20Under40toledo.com.
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Sponsors & Partners
Program Sponsors: Eastman & Smith, Fifth Third, Plante Moran, The Andersons, The University of Toledo and for 2026, SSOE.
Partners: Leadership Toledo, Community Partner; and Telex Communications, Inc., Founding Partner.
Creative Partners: WGTE, Ulrich Pinciotti, THREAD Marketing Group, and Hardy Communications.
Supporting Community Organizations: EPIC Toledo, Imagination Station, The Toledo Repertoire Theatre, The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Opera, Toledo Rotary, Toledo Zoo, National Museum of the Great Lakes, and the Valentine Theatre. These partners provide tickets, discounts, and gifts to candidates and honorees.