VIA Oakland County
Post Date: 05/04/2026 - 10:00 AM
Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, joined by sportscaster and 2025 honoree Brad Galli, announced today the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, recognizing 40 emerging leaders who are driving positive change across Oakland County and throughout our region.
This year’s class was unveiled in a special video announcement featuring Coulter and 2025 honoree Brad Galli, underscoring the program’s growing network of influential leaders and its continued momentum in spotlighting the county’s rising talent.
“Each year, this program highlights the very best of our young leaders who are making a difference today and helping to build a stronger future for all of us,” Coulter said, “And it shows the incredible depth of talent and innovation that exists across Oakland County.”
Selected by a committee of community leaders and county officials, the Class of 2026 includes professionals from a wide range of industries, including business, law, public service, education, nonprofit leadership and the arts. Throughout the year, honorees will participate in events designed to foster collaboration, connection and continued community impact. All live or work in Oakland County.
Complete list of the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2026:
Fernando Bales of Pontiac, Chief Product Officer of Citizen Robotics
Cescily Barnes of Farmington Hills, Public Health Project Leader for the Detroit Health Department
Alexandria Bingham of Waterford, City Clerk for the City of Birmingham
Nicholas Blackmond of Grosse Pointe Woods, Quality Improvement Manager at the Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic in Pontiac
Jamar Bray of Southfield, Assistant Economic Vitality Manager for the City of Pontiac
Cristia Brockway of Livonia, Economic Development Director for City of Farmington Hills
Kimberly S. Buddin of Novi, Senior Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union
Brynn Cooksey of Belleville, Owner of Air Doctors Heating and Cooling and HVAC U in Southfield
Bruno Alejandro Olvera Diaz of Detroit, Director of Diversity Supplier Development at Stellantis in Auburn Hills
Kanika Ferency of Rochester, Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office
Mike Greene of Royal Oak, City Administrator for the City of Lathrup Village
Dr. Reda Jaber of Bloomfield Hills, Director of Enterprise Innovation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Shweta Kapur, Ph.D., of Troy, Visiting Assistant Professor at Oakland University
Ashley Kemp-Watkins of Farmington, Senior Analyst for Workforce, Training and Economic Development at Magna Services of America, Inc.
Aaron R. Martinez of Novi, Attorney at the Law Offices of Jason Waechter and Novi City Councilman
Amanda May of Madison Heights, Chief Behavioral Health Officer at Honor Community Health
Sam Miller of Huntington Woods, Deputy Chief of Investigations for the Michigan Department of Attorney General
Emily Mueller of Farmington Hills, Director of Community Investments for United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Emad Nawasreh of Bloomfield Hills, CEO of Cyber Firm Solutions
Christopher Okoye of Novi, CEO and Founder of Chinedu and Associates, Vice President of ICare Home Help
Katie Chaka Parks, Ph.D., of Oakland Township, Director of Education at The Zekelman Holocaust Center
Jody Paulan of Waterford, Project Manager/Senior Business Development Analyst for NorthStar Clean Energy
Sara Pitchford of Hazel Park, Clinical Mental Health Therapist at Nature’s Playhouse
Melanie Plank of Brighton, Owner and Instructor of Play and Grow in Milford
Gisele Poole of Waterford, Director of Quality & Data at Community Housing Network
Monica Rattee of Hazel Park, Bookkeeper/Event Coordinator for Hazel Park Promise Zone
Davida Reed of Pontiac, Owner of Divine Twenty Six
Judge Kwamé L. Rowe of Pontiac, Judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court
Jake Serwer of Bloomfield Hills, Founder & CEO of Espresso Public Relations LLC
Paul Shkreli of Lake Orion, Attorney at Shkreli Legal PLLC
Andrew Skandalaris of Clarkston, Partner and Founder of Quantum Services Group, an Oakland County–based technology services company
Angelina M. Sulaka of Franklin, Attorney and Chief of Court Unit Security Branch for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Art Thompson III of New Hudson, Chief Information Officer for City of Detroit
Raghavender Tummala of South Lyon, EV Safety Subject Matter Expert for General Motors
Ashley R. Turner of Highland, Attorney at Patrick and Associates, PLLC
Adrian J. Walker of Royal Oak, Regional Manager of Corporate & Government Affairs at DTE
Kory Woods of Pontiac, Detroit Lions Beat Reporter for MLive
Joann Wrobel of Birmingham, Public Health Nutrition Supervisor at the Oakland County Health Division
Chantelle S. Yancy, Ph.D., of Troy, Supervisor of Wellness and Community Engagement at Troy School District
Zach Zuchowicz of Waterford, DEI and Community Engagement Coordinator for Oakland County Parks
For more information about Oakland Together 40 Under 40, visit OakGov.com/40under40.