Ten young professionals were recognized at the sixth annual 10 Under 40 Awards luncheon Tuesday afternoon.
Recipients were Chip Baker, Jessica Easterwood, Brady Sidwell, Chris Fagan, Jessica Nickels, Ashlee Gore, Valerie Trojan, Tim Campbell, Clint Claypole and Demetrius Office.
Baker is founder and CEO of Bennie’s Barn Equine Therapy and Riding Facility. Easterwood is director of pharmacy at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Sidwell is owner and president of Enterprise Grain Co.
Trojan is an occupational therapist at St. Mary’s, and Campbell is plant manager for the 54th street facility for AdvancePierre Foods. Claypole is a shareholder and president for Long, Claypole and Blakely Law, and Office is the CEO and Performance Coach for Makarios Developments LLC.
All of the recipients have additional involvement in the community, or have won a variety of awards and recognition for work they have done.
The luncheon’s presenting sponsor was Edward Jones, and the keynote speaker was Brent Price.
“Congratulations to each one of the 34 nominees. You have shown passion and heart for the community through your involvement, and for that we thank you,” said Jake Voss, of Edward Jones.
Price, born in Shawnee and who later graduated from Enid High School, is a former NBA player who was drafted by the Washington Bullets, and played on other teams including the Houston Rockets, Vancouver Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings.
Today, Price is the co-owner of Jenkins and Price Industrial Chemical Supply and Ross Healthcare in Enid, and lives in Enid with his family.
“After my adventures in the NBA after 11 years of playing professional basketball, I could think of no better place that I wanted to come back and raise my little children than Enid, Oklahoma,” Price said.
Price talked about his basketball career, Enid and his “three Ps of success” during the keynote speech. His first “P” is purpose.
He said his second key to success is passion.
“Understanding your purpose will help fuel your passion. I love to be around passionate people … it’s contagious, isn’t it? People that have a passion for life, a passion about what they’re doing,” Price said.
His final “P” is persistence.
“No matter what you’re doing, in your profession, in your home life, in my career, you’re going to go through some tough stuff. That’s the way life is, and I was the same. There were many points in my career that I wanted to quit … I’m so thankful I did not quit. My life would have a very different narrative right now,” Price said.
Price said purpose, passion and persistence are a model he used in his career, as a husband, father, in the community and as a businessman.
“I would encourage all of you young professionals to spend time around these old professionals. A lot of wisdom, a lot to be learned. Congratulations on your honor today,” Price said.
