Business & Tech
Danbury, New Fairfield Men Among CT Magazine's 40 Under 40 List
CT Magazine unveils its 40 stars living in the state under the age of 40 for 2016. See who made the cut from Danbury and New Fairfield.
By Brian McCready
Connecticut Magazine has compiled its latest list, ‘40 Under 40: Class of 2016’ edition, which features some really well-known celebrities and some not so recognizable up-and-coming stars.
The list, which doesn’t rank the 40 individuals in any specific order, features names from television, the arts, business, sports, movies and influential people in the community.
Danbury restaurant owner Tony Pham, 30, owns Pho Vietnam. Connectocut Magazanice chose Pham for their list because:
“Ramen and pho noodle mania has become a part of the Connecticut dining scene, and Pham is partially responsible. In 2006, he opened Pho Vietnam in Danbury with his mother, Oanh Pham. The establishment has long been serving hot bowls of pho noodle deliciousness. In 2013, he followed that up by opening Fairfield’s Mecha Noodle Bar with Richard Reyes—Mecha serves both ramen and pho, and Pham and Reyes recently opened a second Mecha Noodle Bar in Norwalk.”
Connecticut Magazine said Alex Schwartz, 28, of New Fairfield made the list because:
“Schwartz got his start in the tech world working at his family’s Danbury computer store; today he is the CEO and chief scientist of Austin, Texas-based video game studio Owlchemy Labs. The company is at the crest of the virtual reality (VR) world and is responsible for the BASE-jumping VR game “Aaaaaculus!” and the multi-platform VR launch title “Job Simulator,” as well as smartphone games “Snuggle Truck,” “Jack Lumber” and “Dyscourse.””
Some of the highly recognizable names include last year’s American Idol Winner Nick Fradiani, of Guilford, and former NHL Stanley Cup Champion Jonathan Quick of Hamden.
Several Connecticut television news personalities made the list, along with chefs, business leaders and a politician.
Below is the full list as compiled by Connecticut Magazine, which includes selections by editors there and nominations from residents around the state.
Let us know in the comments section who else you would have suggested for inclusion on the list.
*Here is the top 40 list as compiled by Connecticut Magazine:
NICK FRADIANI, 30, GUILFORD, Singer
JASON ALEKSA, 33, FAIRFIELD, Designer and fabricator
ERICA HILL, 39, CLINTON, News correspondent, co-anchor
MIKE MARQUES, 35, WEST HARTFORD, Photographer and artist
KRISTEN SKELTON, 35, AVON, Founder of The Nutmeg Collective
KATE SIRIGNANO, 32, SOUTHINGTON, Marketing consultant
RORY (30), CALLIE (33) & ADDY (35) GALE, HARTFORD, Creators and owners, Hartford Prints!
LESLYE HEADLAND, 33, WESTPORT, Director
ALONDA BAIRD-JUHASZ 31, STRATFORD, Artist, entrepreneur
EMILY WOODWARD, 35, WINDSOR, Baker
JAKE SULLIVAN, 39, NEW HAVEN, Foreign policy adviser
JESSICA EWUD, 28, REDDING, Executive director of Save-A-Suit
JONATHAN QUICK, 30, HAMDEN, NHL goalie
MARAIAH POPELESKI, 36, WINDHAM, Manager of CLiCK Inc.
DARRYL BRACKEEN, 27, NEW HAVEN, Connecticut state director for Young Elected Officials Network
CAROLYN KUAN, Mid-30s, HARTFORD, Hartford Symphony Orchestra music director
JOHN BRENNAN, 31, NEW HAVEN, Chef
ASHLEY J. (AJ) JOHNSON, 31, HARTFORD, Pastor, community organizer
MARCELL DAVIDSEN, 32, LITCHFIELD, Chef
TIANA V. HERCULES, 33, HARTFORD, Attorney
ALEX SCHWARTZ, 28, NEW FAIRFIELD, CEO
STEPHANIE J. COAKLEY, 39, WATERBURY, Director of Education
PETER BECKER, 38, WASHINGTON, Educator
MIKE ‘MUNCHIE’ SANTINI, 25, RIDGEFIELD, Development director
KEN TUCCIO, 33, NORWALK, Podcast host
KEVON JOHNSON, 18, HARTFORD, Food justice advocate
KATIE SCOTT, 27, MILFORD, Food policy coordinator
LAURIE ACOSTA, 36, CHESHIRE, Entrepreneur
SAM KANTROW, 28, EAST HAVEN, Weatherman
MICHAEL SMITH, 36, FARMINGTON, TV host
ROBERT BLANCHARD, 27, MIDDLETOWN, Politician, community organizer
TABETHA BOYAJIAN, 36, WOODBRIDGE, Astronomer
TONY PHAM, 30, DANBURY, Restaurant owner/chef
PATRICK GANINO, 39, DURHAM, Mural artist
KRISTEN GRIEST, 27, ORANGE, Soldier
KWADWO ADAE, 39, NEW HAVEN, Artist
DAVID MCGUIRE, 34, WEST HARTFORD, Lawyer
DANIEL J. WEISE, 35, MIDDLEBURY, Arborist
Read the full explanation on why each person was nominated and selected for inclusion into Connecticut Magazine’s list here.
Pho Vietnam Facebook Photo
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