From The Editors: June 20, 2018

Once again, we're extremely honored to present this year's class of "40 Under 40" honorees. This will mark our sixth year for this feature, and as far as worthy candidates, we believe we've just begun to scratch the surface.

As Erie finds itself in an ongoing shift toward revitalization, we must look to our future now more than ever. Our young people are out there working long hours and looking for new solutions. We need their capable hands to steer our city in the right direction. In this issue, we highlight 40 people under the age of 40 who we believe are doing just that.

This year we set a new benchmark for ourselves, having received the most nominations to date. Defying some expectations, this feature continues to grow and grow.

As we look ahead to next year, we have a well-earned hope that this tendency will continue. Nominations are already open on ErieReader.com and we're eager to see what the class of 2019 shapes up to be. If you know someone who you think deserves recognition, don't hesitate to go online and tell us today.

Each year we seek out individuals who are involved and invested in the community. We're looking for people who show potential for great things, and who are taking every step to make sure those things happen. Whether they have a laser focus on one particular discipline, or they're involved in a multitude of efforts, they're bound to be busy either way. And that's what we need. Whether it be through art, academia, technology, or entrepreneurship, these are the people doing something to make our region bloom in new ways.

People of any age can make a difference, of course, not just those under two score. It's that youthful spirit of innovation that we want to promote above all; we just happened to slap a number on it. The willingness to take risks and set out on new paths is something that's essential to success. Ask anyone on this list and they'll probably tell you that they've experienced failure just as often as they've succeeded. Navigating through the randomness of life, facing challenges head on, and not being afraid to put their neck on the line has gotten each of them where they are today.

Even though our city is over 220 years old, we stand here today with a youthful outlook, hungry and ready for change. Taking calculated risks, and being able to adapt is something that's essential for that success, and the individuals in this issue are at the forefront. Congratulations to everyone, and thank you for your hard work.

Special thanks to our team of writers that worked with our honorees to assemble such an epic feature: Jonathan Burdick, Aaron Mook, Dan Schank, Ben Speggen, Cara Suppa, Matt Swanseger, Nick Warren, and Jim Wertz. Special thanks as well to our photographer Maitham Basha-Agha for capturing more than three quarters of the 40 portraits in these pages.