Mainebiz will recognize the first class of 40 under 40 at an awards reception from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 9 at Portland’s Ocean Gateway. The 40 young leaders are shaking up Maine’s business community and leading the state into the future, the organization said in a press release. These individuals will be part of a special class of upcoming business leaders who share a commitment to business success, personal growth and a passion for helping strengthen the communities in which they live and work.

Honorees include businesspeople in and around the Midcoast: John Boyan, president, Sam’s Italian Foods (Brunswick, Freeport and Lisbon Falls); Thomas Kennedy II, director of business development, Steel-Pro Inc. (Rockland); Erin Plummer, chief marketing officer, Hancock Lumber Co. (Brunswick); Rebecca Roche, chief advancement officer, Maine Maritime Museum (Bath); and Nate Wildes, executive director, Live + Work in Maine, founder, Flight Deck Brewing (Brunswick).

“This year Mainebiz introduced ‘NextUp: 40 under 40’ as a way to recognize young business leaders,” said Mainebiz Editor Peter Van Allen. “They are from a wide range of industries and encompass many skills. They are already leading and inspiring others, including those older than them.”

The rest of the 40 under 40 include:

• Michael Adams, attorney, Preti Flaherty.

• Randy Albert, vice president finance, operations vice president of analytics, Northern Light Health.

• Michelle Anderson, president/CEO, Junior Achievement of Maine.

• Martin Beavers, owner/founder, Soul Food Paradise.

• Katie Brann, financial advisor, Golden Pond Wealth Management.

• Marpheen Chann, community impact manager, Good Shepherd Food Bank.

• Adam M. Desrosiers, vice president, electric operations, Central Maine Power Co.

• Katie Doherty, president and CEO, Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce.

• Allison Economy, attorney, Rudman Winchell.

• Amberlynn Esperanza, commercial lending development officer, Mascoma Bank.

• Ryan M. Fecteau, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, state representative for District 11.

• Daniel Finnemore, president and CEO, Box of Maine.

• Peter Handy, president and CEO, Bristol Seafood.

• Katie Hill, vice president, bank operations manager, Katahdin Trust Co.

• Michael-Corey F. Hinton, lawyer, Drummond Woodsum.

• Jake Holmes, financial literacy outreach coordinator, Maine Credit Union League.

• Jenny Kalanges, director of global membership, 1% for the Planet.

• Jason Kroot, president, Renaissance Selections, co-founder, Starting Line Run Studio.

• Jenn Lever, president, Baxter Brewing Co.

• BJ McCollister, president and founder, the Resurgam Group.

• Taylor McFarlane, associate broker, buyer’s agent, McFarlane Field at Portside Real Estate Group.

• Derek McKenney, director of corporate engineering, Puritan Medical Products LLC.

• Becky McKinnell, founder and CEO, iBec Creative and Wildwood Oyster Co.

• Nate Moody, retirement plan advisor, director of business development and marketing, Lebel & Harriman Retirement Advisors.

• Carolyn Nishon, executive director, Portland Symphony Orchestra.

• Janene Oleaga, founding attorney, Oleaga Law LLC.

• Sara Rademaker, president, American Unagi.

• Sumit Sharma and Ban Sharma, co-founders, Rupee Beer.

• Abdikhadar Shire, founder and co-executive director, AK Health and Social Services.

• Josh Soley, president, Maine Realty Advisors.

• Kristan Vermeulen, founder and host, “Makers of the USA.”

• Katie Weiler, founder and president, Viable Gear.

• Alexander White, senior vice president, head of leasing, Waterstone Properties.

• Chris Wolfel, head of entrepreneurship and venture creation, Roux Institute at Northeastern University.

Tickets to the Nov. 9 reception are $55. A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to the Next List Alumni Scholarship Fund, a designated fund that will provide scholarship assistance to third- or fourth-year students at the University of Maine and the University of Southern Maine who are pursuing a business degree. The NextUp: 40 under 40 awards recognition program is sponsored by CFA Society of Maine, Drummond Woodsum, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, KeyBank and WEX. For more information or to register, visit mainebiz.biz/NextUp22.