CBJ Editorial
This week’s edition celebrates 40 of the region’s best and brightest leaders under the age of 40.
Talent, workforce, whatever you want to call it — these leaders represent the high achievers we need to retain, attract and celebrate in the Corridor region.
Celebrating young leaders through these unique awards is now a 15-year tradition for the Corridor Business Journal.
Each year, we have many incredible people on the Forty Under 40 list, and this year is no different. We have a group of roughly half who are in the nonprofit sector and half in the for-profit sector.
Most of the people on the list do a considerable amount of volunteering. It is often difficult to discern between their volunteering and their “real jobs” because they are giving so much to both. It is also difficult to see how they manage and have time for their families, which many of them have, but we are better for them and their hard work and tireless involvement.
While these 40 individuals received a physical award and public recognition last Thursday night at an awards dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton, they deserve much more than that and something much simpler — our thanks.
If you see one of the 40 winners in one of their many activities giving back to the Corridor or just walking down the street, be sure to say, “thank you.”
As the Corridor continues to think about the next steps in combating its workforce challenges, taking a deep look at these young leaders and understanding what motivates them and why they choose to make the Corridor their home would be a good place to start.
Alumnus of the year
When Josh Schamberger was named the Iowa City Press-Citizen’s 2010 Person of the Decade, the person he topped was Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz.
That’s a pretty remarkable achievement and gives you an idea of his leadership.
Mr. Schamberger has offered amazing leadership to the Corridor for nearly 20 years and was recognized as the CBJ’s first Forty Under 40 Alumnus of the Year last week. He was in the first Forty Under 40 class in 2005.
In leadership style, Mr. Schamberger is best described as someone who builds relationships and gets things done without regard to politics, political boundaries or past or perceived challenges.
The number of events and quality-of-life initiatives he has successfully spearheaded are unmatched in the Corridor and perhaps the state. These include the early development of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, Herky on Parade, FRYFest, USA Wrestling Olympic Team Trials, UWW World Cup, Cyclocross World Cup, RAGBRAI, RUN CRANDIC and now the new Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Mr. Schamberger has also served the region through strong board leadership roles with numerous organizations including the Eastern Iowa Airport Commission, where he became Johnson County’s first airport commission member.
We congratulate Mr. Schamberger on this well-deserved award and for his continued leadership in the Corridor. •
