by: Jennifer-Byrd Alvarado and Alison Lai
All of these individuals were nominated and completed an application for consideration. Evaluators scored applicants on professional achievements, community involvement, and leadership.
If you know a young alumnus deserving of recognition for next year’s 20 Under 40 List, please email foundation@sae.net. Individuals must be alumni members in good standing and under 40 years old by March 31, 2024.
ANDREW ANDERSON (PUGET SOUND ‘13)
Andrew is the President of CoolPC, Inc. Under his leadership, CoolPC, Inc. made the 2022 Inc. 5000 List which recognizes the fastest-growing companies in the country. Andrew serves as the Treasurer of the SAE Washington Gamma Alumni Advisory Board. Previously, Andrew founded the Surf Program at the University of Puget Sound and taught over 120 students how to surf.
RYAN PATRICK BOYLAN (NEVADA-LAS VEGAS ‘09)
Ryan is a successful Recording Artist. His band, OTHERWISE, has 5 Top 15 rock singles and has sold 100,000 albums worldwide. Ryan is the Founder and Executive Director of Life By Music, a nonprofit organization. Since 2016, Life By Music has donated 200 guitars, raised over $30,000, and created a children’s coloring and music chord book to share the importance of music education.
LUIS CALLE MENDEZ (EMBRY-RIDDLE [FL] ‘18)
Luis is a First Officer for Air Wisconsin. Luis volunteers at US Strive, Professional Pilots of Tomorrow, and the Air Line Pilots Association. He focuses on mentoring students and young pilot professionals and promoting safety in the aviation industry. For his service, Professional Pilots of Tomorrow recognized him as Mentor of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
CONNOR DUNAWAY (SOUTH CAROLINA ‘15)
Connor is the Co-Founder and CEO of 20North, a digital marketing company. Under Connor’s leadership, 20North’s revenue increased by 233% from 2021 to 2022, and the company was recognized as one of the best places to work in Atlanta in 2022. Connor and his company serve the community by tutoring and providing meals to elementary school children experiencing food insecurity.
JONATHAN HARBIN (SOUTH CAROLINA-UPSTATE ‘08)
Major Harbin is an IT Manager for the United States Army. For his service, he was recognized with multiple awards, including a Bronze Star Medal for his leadership in Afghanistan in 2009 and a Meritorious Service Medal for his leadership in IT. In 2021, the Armed Forces Communication and Electronic Association included him on their 40 Under 40 List.
JOSH HARDESTY (CENTRE ‘13)
Josh is the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association. Additionally, he is the Founder and Principal of Leon Lott Strategies, where his work increased Kentucky’s voter registration. The Governor appointed him to the Kentucky Board of Commissioners in 2020, and he became an Executive Committee Member of the Kentucky Civic Education Coalition in 2023.
SCOTT HILER (WOFFORD ‘18)
Scott is a Construction Project Manager for SpaceX, where he also co-founded an employee action group. In February 2021, the action group worked with a nonprofit to rescue 4,500 sea turtles from harmful cold waters in Texas. He is also the Founder and Owner of Falcon Capital, LLC, where he successfully facilitated a multi-million dollar commercial refinancing agreement within the first six months.
DANIEL HILL (OAKLAND ‘14)
Danny is the Founder and CEO of Tract, LLC, and the CEO and a Board Member of Glyphx. He has been involved with multiple start-up companies, previously serving as the Director of Operations for BonusDrive, which Arthur J. Gallagher acquired. Danny founded the Michael D. Carroll Memorial Fund, which has raised over $250,000 for underprivileged students to attend the University of Notre Dame.
STEPHEN KALAYIL (LOUISVILLE ‘06)
Stephen is a Deputy Director of the United States Customs and Border Protection. He founded the Information Technology Portfolio Management Division within the Office of Field Operations. Stephen is a Co-Founder, and Board Member of Equity Through Sports, a nonprofit organization in Louisville, Kentucky, dedicated to ending prejudice, racism, and injustice through sports and athletic competition.
NICOLAS LINARES (TOLEDO ‘09)
Nicolas is a Partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP focusing on trust and estate planning and elder law. He was recognized as an Ohio Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2023. Nicolas provides pro bono legal counseling to non-profit organizations and individuals. He was also the Chair of Leadership Shumaker for the Toledo location, which supported various local nonprofit organizations.
MICHAEL LOMBARD (NEW HAVEN ‘16)
Michael is the Owner and Operator of Lombard Trucking. In 2022, his business was profitable despite several challenges to the trucking industry, including high inflation rates and fuel prices. He is a member of the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association and the North American Driver Resource Association. He served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Additionally, he is active with his local church.
NICHOLAS MECHAS (LOUISVILLE ‘12)
Nicholas is a Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, and Craniofacial Surgeon and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. He holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. Nicolas published multiple research publications and presented at various conferences. He is a member of many professional associations and serves on the Membership Committee of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.
MICHAEL MENDOZA (NORTH CAROLINA-CHARLOTTE ‘15)
Michael is a Partner at Forterra Investment Partners, a private equity commercial real estate investment firm. He served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, where he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his achievements as the Battalion Supply & Fiscal Officer. He’s a current board member at WorldDenver YP and volunteers with various organizations that support Veterans.
ALAN MOORE (NORTH GEORGIA ‘12)
Alan is the Assistant General Counsel for Privacy and Data Protection at S&P Global. He is a member of the Member Benefits Committee of the State Bar of Georgia and serves as a Certification Exam Reviewer and Tester for the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Additionally, Alan is a Freemason and serves in leadership roles for lodges in the D.C. area.
CHRISTOPHER ODOM (BAYLOR ‘11)
Christopher is an Orthopedic Surgeon for Legacy Orthopedics. He has been published in a number of professional journals, presented at professional conferences, and is a member of several professional associations. In 2019, he spent five weeks in Kenya for a surgical mission trip where he taught trauma and joint replacement surgery to local orthopedic surgery trainees.
ALEXANDER PANCOE (NORTHWESTERN ‘09)
Alexander is a First Vice President of Wealth Management for Morgan Stanley. His portfolio totals over $150 million in asset management. He completed the Explorers Grand Slam by climbing the seven summits and reaching the North and South Poles. While doing this, he raised almost $500,000 for Lurie Children’s Hospital. Alexander serves on the Lurie Children’s Hospital Foundation Board and Lurie Cancer Center Associates Board.
RIED PECKHAM (WASHINGTON STATE ‘08)
Ried is a Senior Business Planner for Microsoft. He has been recognized with many company accolades, including several Top Talent, GM Spot, and launch awards, for his work simplifying business rules & optimizing operational inefficiencies to make it easier to do business with Microsoft. Ried is also a Football Referee and a member of the Pacific Northwest Football Officials Association.
JONATHAN PORTER (FURMAN ‘06)
Jonathan is a Partner at Husch Blackwell LLP and a former Assistant United States Attorney, where he prosecuted the largest fraud conspiracy in the history of the Southern District of Georgia. Jonathan received the DOJ Director’s Award and an award from the FBI Director for his work. He is involved with his church, the Rotary Club, and Savannah Technical College.
R. HAYNES STRADER, JR. (SOUTHERN METHODIST ‘11)
Haynes is the Chief Development Officer at Skybox Datacenters. He serves on the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Executive Board at SMU and is a student mentor. Previously, Haynes was a Teacher for Teach for America. He founded the Friends of Teach for America (Dallas) organization to create a community among Teach for America teachers and raise awareness of the Dallas-Fort Worth education system.
PAUL SIMS (SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI ‘05)
Paul is an Insurance Agent and Owner of The Agency, Inc. He is also the Owner of South Mississippi Crawfish Company and is very involved with his community. He serves as the President of the Avenues Alliance, which hosts community events, and is the past President and current Treasurer of the Hattiesburg Civitan Club. Paul is also Treasurer of the Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp.
