- December 15, 2025
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The Business Observer’s 40 under 40 is comprised of young leaders from nine counties on the west coast of Florida.
Half the honorees in the 2021 40 under 40 issue are business founders or owners.
40 under 40 winner Sean Altice and his mom, Kara Altice-Montes, co-founders of Altez Vacations.
40 under 40 winner Aakash Patel, CEO of Tampa-based Elevate Inc., with his father, Minesh Patel.
40 under 40 winner Alicia Dietzen, general counsel of Clearwater-based KnowBe4 .
40 under 40 winner Ryan Boland, chief business officer of Mercola in Cape Coral, with his wife Karol Boland.
40 under 40 winner Missy Hurley, co-founder and principal with B2 Communications, middle, stands with her mentor, Renee Vaughan, right, and Mary Key, left.
40 under 40 winner Brennan Whitley, senior business manager with the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, middle, and Danielle Whitley, left, and Alexis Katranis.
40 under 40 winner Casey Gonzmart Jr., left, owner and operator with the Columbia Restaurant Group with his family. His mentor and dad, Casey Gonzmart Sr., is third from right; Family friend Jim Tollerton is fourth from right.
40 under 40 winner Brandon Snyder, with Roots Tap Room & Wine Bar and Roots Cellar in Plant City and Yvonne Fry, left, and Lauren Turkovitz, middle.
40 under 40 winner Megan Rose, right, with Better Together, and Isis LaRose.
40 under 40 winner Amanda Tullidge, right, with Blalock Walters, and Dan Tullidge.
40 under 40 winner Vanessa Castro with V Partner Solutions Insurance and Payroll and her son Elijah.
40 under 40 winner Aaron Barney, right, with Digital Lead Performance, and his wife April Barney.
The Business Observer has published a 40 under 40 issue every year since 2003.
40 under 40 winner Jeremy Shelby with Elite Life Management in Sarasota wowed the audience with an inspirational toast and call to arm to preserve and never give up.
The Business Observer held an awards ceremony for its class of 2021 40 under 40 winners Oct. 7 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch. Some 200 attendees mingled at a networking cocktail hour prior to the ceremony. Business Observer Executive Editor Kat Hughes presented the awards — telling the audience a little about each honoree as a slideshow played in the background. The theme of the 2021 issue was mentorship, and each honoree selected a mentor that helped shape his or her career; many of the honorees’ mentors were in attendance as well.
Click here for more on the 2021 40 under 40 issue and to read the individual stories. Photos by Lori Sax.
