It was standing room only Thursday night at the Mulberry, where a banquet was held introducing the inaugural class of The Vicksburg Post and the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce’s Top 20 under 40 award.

The Top 20 under 40 designation was given to the top 20 people under 40 years of ag as voted on by the public from an initial group of more than 100 young men and women making positive marks on Vicksburg and Warren County.

Thursday’s event was hosted by Justin Clarkston, director of business development for The Vicksburg Post, and Warren County Chamber of Commerce Corporate Programs Director Chris Rials.

“Tonight, we’re here to celebrate the movers, shakers, leaders, and community builders under the age of 40 who are already making a tremendous impact on our city and region,” Rials said during Thursday’s event.

This year’s Top 20 under 40, which will be featured in a special magazine published in July by The Vicksburg Post includes: Dr. Misty Austin, owner of Austin Family Dentistry; Mary Kaylin Gray, floral and interior designer; James K. Lewis, director of athletics and activities for the Vicksburg Warren School District; Kristen Harris, City of Vicksburg, Office of the Mayor, Chief of Staff; Jabaris McDaniel Sr., Vicksburg Fire Department; Heather Calnan Sumners, occupational therapist; Lindsay Dedeaux, State Farm agent; Latoria Kerr, chief of Campus Police for the Vicksburg Warren School District; Kacey Myers, teacher and offensive line football coach at Warren Central High School; LaToya Gibson, founder of Heavenly Hands Institute; Natalie Burks, owner and formulator behind Glowe Apothecary; Hannah Bonelli, cake artist behind HannMade Cakes; Michael B. Foley Jr., relationship manager with Cadence Bank; Airrion T. Galloway Jr., IT analyst at Ameristar Casino and Hotel; Tiffany Pendleton, attorney behind Tiffany Pendleton Law; Mallory Kate Bridges, team leader at Robyn Lea State Farm Insurance Agency; Robert W. Arledge, attorney with Teller, Hopson and Schrader; Rett Verhine, contractor and owner of Rett Verhine Builders; Ariel Wilson-Hardy, owner of Pink Sugar Bakery; and Brittany Brown-Simpson, administrative assistant and founder of Bless’d Beyond Beauty.

“I would also like to take a moment to thank the incredible people and partners who helped make tonight happen,” Clarkston added Thursday night. “First off, a huge thank you to our event sponsor, Ameristar Vicksburg, because let’s be honest, great nights like this don’t just fall from the sky. They come with good planning and great partners.”

Clarkston and Rials also thanked the Mulberry for hosting Thursday’s event; Rachel Hollowell with Bella la Vita Photography for taking photos for this year’s publication; and nomination and voting sponsors, Robyn Lea State Farm and Waterview Casino.