Nominations for 40 Under Forty must be received by close of business of the last working day in the month of May of the nomination year.

The 40 Under Forty Selection committee will receive all nomination packets no later than two weeks after the nomination deadline.

40 Under Forty Class Selection Committee:

• Comprised of two (2) past YPI Chairs, the most recent (1) 40 Under Forty Young Professional of the Year recipient, one (1) representative from the Greater Shreveport Chamber, one (1) representative from the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, and one (1) representative from the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce.
• In the event that there is a five-way tie, the current YPI Chair will serve as a tie breaker, judging all nomination packets.
• In the event that the current YPI Chair’s vote does not break the tie, the current YPI Chair-Elect will serve as the tie breaker, judging all nomination packets.

 40 Under Forty Class Selection Process:

• The 40 Under Forty Class Selection Committee will be given two weeks to review and grade each nomination packet. Each Selection Committee member will score each nominee on four categories (outlined below) for an individual judge’s score out of 20.
• The selection committee members’ scores will then be compiled to give each nominee an overall score out of 100.
• The nominees receiving the 40 highest scores will be selected for the current 40 Under Forty class.
• Once a candidate has received this award, they are ineligible to receive again.

Young Professional of the Year (YPY) Selection Committee:

• Will be comprised of 5 business leaders drawn from diverse backgrounds who are not involved in the Class Selection Committee Process
• YPY Committee members will be selected by the YPI Chair and Greater Shreveport Chamber Staff
• Where possible, at least 2 individuals will be selected from outside Shreveport-Bossier.

Young Professional of the Year Selection Process:

• The YP of the Year is selected from among the 40 Under Forty Class selected above.
• The YPY Committee will be given two weeks to review and grade the 40 nomination packets.
• Each YPY Committee member will score each nominee on four categories (outlined below) for an individual judge’s score out of 20.
• The YPY Committee members’ scores will then be compiled to give each nominee an overall score out of 100.
• The nominee receiving the highest score will be selected as the YP of the Year.
• Once a candidate has received this award, they are ineligible to receive again.

 Judging Criteria:

• Career: Information on career path, highlighting promotions, management positions, entrepreneurial projects, certifications/certificates, growing enterprises and specialties. (0-7 points)
• Community Involvement: Professional and civic memberships, emphasizing specific leadership involvement, including board or committee roles and special projects (0-5 points)
• Professional Development: Continuing education efforts and skill development, certifications/certificates, trade and industry-specific learning (0-5 points)
• Volunteerism: Volunteer efforts and charitable works with civic organizations or on an individual basis (0-3 points)