Top Leaders | Under 40 & Future

awards

Top Leaders Under 40

The Top Leaders Under 40 Award recognizes young professionals who are making a meaningful difference in Effingham County through their careers, community involvement and leadership. Recipients demonstrate strong leadership, a commitment to others and pride in their community. Through their work and involvement, they are helping shape the future of Effingham County and positively impact the people who call it home.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients, and thank you for your leadership and commitment to our community!

Headshot Photographer: Nuxoll Photography
Group Photographer: Carrsan Carroll Creative

2026 Recipients

Kristina Arney
Wright Choice Counseling

Kyle Boose
Law Group LTD

Zoe Bridges
CASA for Kids

Traci Bruns
Wright Family Center

Janelle Cain
Kohls

Kelley Grewell
Sarah Bush Lincoln

Drew Hanfland
Drew Hanfland Studio

Emily Kreke
Sarah Bush Lincoln

Mitch Meinhart
The Donsbach-Meinhart Agency | Country Financial

Ethan Miller
W.S. Broom & Co.

Jessie Palmer
Lake Land College

Samantha Probst
HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital

Jadyn Pruemer
Luminous Digital Marketing

Dr. Jonathon Serafini
Stanfield Chiropractic

Jason Smith
HSHS St. Anthony Memorial Hospital

Ashlee Tharp
Goldie's Baking Co.

Brooke Westjohn
J&J Gaming

Kyle Willenborg
Willenborg's Reconditioning

Morgan Wilson
Effingham Unit #40

Madison Woelfer
J&J Gaming

Past Recipients

Aroyn Borries
Nathan Coomer
Emily Debenham
Nicole Deters
Laren Dial
Kayla Duncan
Kelly Frohning
Matthew Grunloh
Erin Hershey
Clint Holkenbrink
Wes Kistler
Laura Koester
Nicole Probst
April Ritz
Sarah Schabbing
Beth Schumacher
Megan Tylka
Abby Welsh
Derrick Zerrusen
Brooke Zerrusen

Layna Bond
Lindsay Budde
Lee Buehnerkemper
Kyle Dasenbrock
Emily Flach
Emily Hille
Brooke Hoene
Hannah Hutchinson
Anthony Jansen
Brandy Kelley
Kasey Kemme
Kylie Koester
Tony Kreke
Megan Lustig
Jessica Reeder
Carissa Snow
Alex Steppe
Allison Stevens
Alec Stevenson
Mallory Weber
Kalen Whitney
Sarah Zerrusen

Alex Anderson
Logan Arney
Kayla Bowling
Ryan Brandt
Michael Brummer
Mike Esker
Chris Etter
Michelle Fombelle
Andrew Grunloh
Clayton Hinton
Jennifer Kinkelaar
Derek Koester
Nick Lechman
Krista Mette
Tyler Micenheimer
Nicole Morrison
Katie Rincker
Christo Schultz
Kayla Schumacher
Henry Siemer
Michelle Smith
Tiffany Wasson
Bailey Whitney
Courtney Yockey

Alecia Booher
Avery Braunecker
Matt Carpenter
Andrew Decker
Dana Devall
Josh Douthit
Austin Eaton
Obie Farmer Jr.
Kelsey Frost
Chelsea Gouchenouer
Rachel Grunloh
Andrew Koester
Olivia Koester
Cayla Meyers
Kristin Niemerg
Jessica Polk
Sara Ruholl
Jared Sudkamp
Megan Wahl
Lindsay Wantuck

Adam Bohnhoff
Lynn Buenker
Shelby Dasenbrock
Kory Doty
Elizabeth Huston
Aaron Jones
Jared & Bethany Nelson
Justin Niebrugge
Michelle Niebrugge
Adam Niemerg
Kellie Niemerg
Tayler Polk
Russ Runde
Chipman John (CJ) Schmidt
Tyler Shoemaker
Martha Stice
Brandon Weber

Dr. Navi Arora
Stacy Dasenbrock
Jody Deters
Ashley Dillingham
Dr. William Fombelle
Stephanie Gobczynski-Uebinger
Jennifer Hecht
Kallee Heuerman
Shelby Hinterscher
Troy Jansen
Jordan Kocher
Corey Lybarger
Dr. Janice Monroe
Trina Niemerg
Travis Oaks
Ashley Vincent

Monica Schumacher
Amanda Kemme
Patrick Kreke
Joe Knabe
Pete Jansen
Deano Tull
Douglas Levi Slater
Kelsey Baker
Billi Jansen
Jodi Thoele
Molly Bushue
Jordan Koerner
Chelsey Koester
Amy Hoffmeister
Zachary Storm
Lexie Caraway
Luke Althoff
Alec Ring
Hailey Niemerg
Amanda Tucker
Lisa Koerner
Jason Addis
Tasha & Dustin Ruholl
Dylan Meadows

Alicia Schuette
Jill Ruholl
Samatha Mulheron-Clawson
Adam Storm
Ryan Fearday
Janelle Garcia
Jennifer Jones
Sarah Dirks
Cindy Mayer
Adam Moore
Brittany West
Jordan Niebrugge
Jake Donsbach
Cody Hinterscher
Zach Scott
Gina Willenborg
Alex Wright
Seth Wilson
Seth Schuler

Lee Althoff
Stephen Anderson
Nikki Bloemer
Adam Butts
Allison Donsbach
Chad Ely
Eric Emmerich
Shawn Finney
Chad Hawkins
Jake Pals
Ryan Rolape
Fr Michael Rosa
Rob Runde
Dr. Lisa Sasso
Luke Schuette
Drew McGee
Roy Shelley
Katie Smithenry
Chris Swing
Jami Sparks

Sasha Althoff
Dawn Burrow
Greg Bushue
Luke Doedtman
Brian Flach
Ali Habing
Amy Hewing
Lisa Himes
Adam Huston
Justin Krile
Aaron Lock
Alexandra Meyer
Nick Niemerg
Shawna O’Dell
Tyson Reed
Meghan Rewers
Andy Schabbing
Joseph Schumacher
Brittany Whitaker
James Wortman
Julie Zeigler

Dacia Albin
Josh Bledsoe
Ashley Buehnerkemper
Matt Cekander
Christi Donsbach
Kera Emmerich
Jill Feldhake
Bethany Flach
Mike French
Cheyenne Goss
Patrick Johnson
Bryan Kibler
Bobbi Kinkelaar
Becky Kinman
Tasha Hoffman
Michelle Loy
Becca Niebrugge
Brittany Palmer
Matt Pals
Julie Shamhart
Tiffany Toney
Tabitha Welch

Jill Beck
Chad Chojnicki
Matt & Amy Dammerman
Russ Deters
Amanda Emmerich
Tara Flaig
Sara Fuesting
Amy Guy
Tim Hecht
Dr. Matthew R. Jones
Amanda McKay
Mike Meyer
Jason Semple
Elizabeth Short
Ben & Shannon Siemer
Jeff Traub
Jennifer Vahling
Jodi Waymoth
Phil Webster

Pam Apke
Valerie Belusko
Courtney Carr
Rachel Collins
Dr. Alison Conant
Ashli Davidson
Rochelle French
Curtis Frost
Rachel Geving
Brian Henning
Beth Heuerman
Carrie Koenig
Katie Koester
Bill Myers
Chris Overbeck
Jesse Patnaude
Justin Roley
Tyler Sterchi
Jamie Waldhoff
Cody Willenborg
Michael Williamson

Jay Buehnerkemper
Grant Bushue
Vicki Bushur
Angie Buzzard
Niall Campbell
Eric Chojnicki
Matt Dasenbrock
Alex Hagler
Brad Hardiek
Sarah Hewing
Colby Higgs
Jonathan Kabbes
Nick Patton
Diana Robbins
Kevin & Carrie Schultz
Kim Stanfield
Jamie Stang
David Soltwedel
Jay Wallace
Kirsten Wolff-Osteen

Tara Beard
Chelle Beck
Austin Brooks
Ashley Brummer
Travis Franklin
John Gillmore, Jr.
Brittny Gipson
Michael Janis
Heather Mumma
Matt Passalacqua
Mark Probst
Kevin Roepke
Abigail Schuette
Lisa Siemer
Christopher Tingley
Matthew Weidner
Justin Wendling
Bart Willenborg
David Wolfe
Drs. Chuck & Ali Schumacher

Lee Beckman
Tracy Willenborg
Bernie Blanchette
Tina Brumleve
Chris Debolt
Joseph Fearday
Karen Greuel
Robert Grupe
Jeanne Hamilton
Nikki Hilton
Sarah Horner
Kim Jansen
Kelly Sager
Julie Stephens
Kurt Strullmyer
Nicki Suckow
Joey & Manny Trupiano
Kathy Wines
John Zumbahlen

Diane Aherin
Jason Fox
Christy Hakman
Tracie Higgs
Matt Hirtzel
Chris Kabbes
Beth Knierim
Todd Martin
Emily Miller
Tony & Aleyda Munoz
Don Niehart
Deana Nuxoll
Elizabeth Price
Kelly Roepke
Jon & Lisa Schafer
Dr. Michael Schultheis
Dan Starwalt
Chad Thompson
Kelly Willenborg
Sarah Wright

Gina Beall
Glen Howell
Stacia Thomas Bloemer
Emily Hartke
Tom Heischmidt
Ryan Jennings
Tammy Lett
Libby Moeller
Kent Niebrugge
Jim Raddatz
Richard Niebrugge
Johnathon Paholke
Trent Schmid
Tonya Siner
Catherine Griffith
Brad Wallace
Angela Waymoth Lappin
Lisa Wortman
Jason Wrone
Eric Zeller

Future Leaders

The Future Leader Award recognizes the positive impact young leaders are making today and their potential to contribute to the future of Effingham County.

The award is presented to individuals ages 14–20 who are full-time students at an Effingham County high school, maintain a “B” average or higher, participate in extracurricular activities or leadership organizations, and demonstrate leadership through meaningful contributions to their school and community.

Group Photographer: Carrsan Carroll Creative