The Abilene Young Professionals (AYP), a program of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, is thrilled to announce 2021’s Top 20 Under 40 recipients.
Allison Alvarez, Arrow Ford Mitsubishi; Holly Bearden, Community Broadcast Partners; Dayton Borger, First Financial Bank; Rosten Callarman, Interested Citizens of Abilene North; Dillon Cobb, Wealth Management and Financial Planning; Jesiree Driskell, Hendrick Health, Nathan Hathorn, Silverthorne Insurance Brokers, LLC, Silverthorne Investments LLC; Jason Hernandez-Marshall, Crunch Fitness Abilene; Katie Howe-Trevino, The Domain Abilene; Christopher Jones, United States Air Force; Patrick Lewis, Community Foundation of Abilene; Miller Loudermilk, Homes By Design, Sendero Properties, LLC; Nathan Lowry, Big Country Title; Tiffany Nichols, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau; Brandon Osborne, Abilene Youth Sports Authority; Andy Russell, Hendrick Health, Texas Midwest Emergency Physicians; Garrett Smith, Condley and Company LLP; Jonathan Spencer, Germ Killer, Breathe In Technologies; Addison Templeton, Directors Investment Group, Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company; Brandi Terry Cisco College, b. marie bakery.
The program recognizes 20 young professionals who are outstanding in their field and are making a difference in the Abilene community. This year’s class will be recognized in June, at the West Texas Young Professionals Leadership and Professional Development Summit.
About The Recipients
Allison Alvarez is the Marketing Director at Arrow Ford Mitsubishi with a passion for advertising and connecting with people. Allison has been a member of Abilene Young Professionals since 2015 and in 2020, she was a part of the Young Professionals Summit Planning Committee. She is also involved at the Texas Exes Abilene Chapter, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, Bunco for Breast Cancer Tournament, and more. In her free time, she enjoys watching the Texas Longhorns compete in football and basketball.
Holly Bearden describes herself as “nostalgic” and serves as the Marketing Consultant and Account Executive at Community Broadcast Partners, also known as 95 One the Wolf and Q Country 96.1. As an Abilene area native, Holly has witnessed first-hand expansion and has come to love the “night life” atmosphere of downtown and in the SoDA District. Her involvement includes, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Leadership, Business Expo and Celebration Planning Committee, Abilene Young Professionals Membership and Steering Committee, and the Junior Achievement of Abilene.
Dayton Borger is the Senior Vice President in Commercial Lending for First Financial Bank. He enjoys building relationships, playing golf, and spending time outdoors. When Dayton is not in the office, he is involved at the United Way of Abilene, Highland Church of Christ, is a Steering Committee Member for the Abilene Young Professionals, and more. Three daily habits that have helped him become successful are waking up early, creating task lists each day, and spending uninterrupted time with his family at the end of the day.
Rosten Callarman works as the Executive Director for Interested Citizens of Abilene North (ICAN) where he helps tear down economic barriers to establish community. He attributes his grandfather, Rosten Head, for his passion on how the Gospel intersects with social justice. Rosten serves as the board president for The Men of Nehemiah Abilene, is the founding member of the Eden Community, and is involved in the West Texas Homeless network. Four rules he gives for doing business are to show up, be yourself, add value, and play nice.
Dillon Cobb tokens “empathy” to doing business well. As the Relationship Manager, CPA, CPF Professional at Wealth Management and Financial Planning, he enjoys making complicated issues simple to understand. The best advice Dillon has ever received is to “act as if you know nothing and people are likely to share a lot more with you.” He is a Leadership Abilene 2009 graduate, and is involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement of Abilene, Southern Hills Church of Christ, and much more.
Jesiree Driskell describes herself as “perceptive.” As the Director for Marketing and Communications at Hendrick Health System, she takes hold of the opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of her community every time she goes into work. Jesiree is a worship team member at Champions Church, involved in the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Center for Contemporary Arts. Her three daily habits that helped her become successful are to start early, prioritize priorities, and to connect with others.
Nathan Hathorn serves as the President at Silverthorne Insurance Brokers and Investments LLC(s). From mowing lawns at just eight years old, he learned to save money, work hard, run a business, and sacrifice temporary discomfort for greater things later in life. An Abilene Christian University (ACU) alumnus, Nathan is involved at The Well Church, Abilene Board of Realtors, Network Abilene, and more. He is also a 2019 graduate of Leadership Abilene.
As someone who loves to motivate others, Jason Hernandez-Marshall works as the Group Fitness Coordinator at Crunch Fitness Abilene. He attributes napping to his energized persona and believes in building meaningful relationships with everyone he encounters. Jason has been a pro dancer for Dancing with the Abilene Stars for nine years and is involved in countless organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Alliance for Women and Children, and is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Abilene.
Katie Howe-Trevino is the owner of The Domain Abilene. She enjoys staying home with her family, putting puzzles together, and playing with her dogs. She credits her inspiration to start her own business to Eddie Meza and her parents for teaching good work ethic. Katie describes herself as “extra!” and keeps a daily “to-do” list to keep her on track. She participates in the Abilene Start-up Community, Christian Businesswomen’s Network, and Profoundry’s Inner Circle.
Christopher M. Jones serves as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal for the United States Air Force. His advice to someone starting out in his field is to, “take care of your people and they will take care of you.” In the next ten years, Christopher hopes to be retired from the service and educating the next generation in the field of agriculture. He is a Jim Ned sports volunteer coach, Dyess Air Force Base Civil Engineer Booster Club President, and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.
Patrick Lewis is the Finance Director for the Community Foundation of Abilene where he helps donors make smart charitable investments. The best advice he has ever received was from his dad saying, “whatever amount of money you make; it will never be enough. If money is your only goal, you’ll never be truly fulfilled.” In his free time, he volunteers at the United Way of Abilene, Big Brothers Big Sisters, attends the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, and serves as Treasurer for the Abilene Zoological Society.
Miller Loudermilk describes herself as “loyal.” She works as the Design Coordinator and Real Estate Agent at Homes by Design, Sendero Properties, LLC. Three habits that have helped her become successful are to pray in the morning, plan out her day, and spend time with her family. Miller is active at Big Country Homebuilder’s Association, Professional Women in Building and serves as a Community Group Leader and Children’s Ministry volunteer at Wylie United Methodist Church.
Avid outdoorsman, Nathan Lowry serves as the President and Owner of Big Country Title. He enjoys helping people through the process of buying and selling homes, ranches, and businesses. The best advice he has ever received is to, “leave it better than you found it.” He is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Abilene and is involved in the Abilene Association of Realtors, American Land Title Association, the United Way of Abilene, and more.
Tiffany Nichols is the Visitor Services Manager for the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. She describes herself as “tall” and has a passion for sports, traveling, and her four miniature dachshunds. She advises someone starting out in her field to, “not be afraid of hard work and taking on challenges.” She is involved at Beltway Church, Abilene Centerstage, the Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Abilene Sports Alliance.
ACU alumni Brandon Osborne serves as the Executive Director at Abilene Youth Sports Authority. His mission is to reach one million student athletes with a ball and Christian leadership. The best advice he has received is to “be the change you want to see!” Brandon enjoys taking road trips with his family and anything basketball related. He is a part of the Abilene Sports Alliance, Abilene Convention and Visitor Bureau, and is a youth worker at Minda Street Church of Christ.
Combining his interests of science and service, Andy Russell serves as the Emergency Medicine Medical Director at Hendrick Health/Texas Midwest Emergency Physicians and is in the Army Reserve. At his first job, he worked as a ranch hand for Ed Sayre where he says, “I’m pretty sure I got more from his mentorship than he got from my labor.” A few organizations that Andy is involved in are First Care Health Insurance, Abilene Meals on Wheels, Texas Police Commissioners Association, and First Central Presbyterian Church.
Garrett L. Smith is a Partner at Condley and Company, LLP where he loves interacting with all kinds of different people and businesses in the Abilene community. Three habits he implements into his day are listening to audio books in the morning and evening, using a daily to-do list, and investing time into things that he enjoys doing. Garrett is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Abilene, holds a leadership position at Friends of the Abilene Public Library and is involved at the Day Nursery of Abilene.
From his first summer job at Summer Haven Resort, Jonathan Spencer is now the President and Share Owner of Germ Killer, Breathe in Technologies. He describes himself as “persistent” and his goal is to help minimize the spread of disease. He enjoys hockey and is involved as a referee, volunteer, Executive Director, and Past Chairman at Abilene Hockey, the SCHL, and more. He is also active at Beltway Church, Meals on Wheels, Mission Hockey College, and was named the Abilene Chamber Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018.
Addison Templeton serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Directors Investment Group/Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company. The best advice he has received is, “if you want to be happy and joyful, use your influence to help others succeed.” In the next ten years Addison wants to continue to serve in his company by leading and developing others to achieve more than they thought possible. He is involved at Beltway Park Baptist Church and describes himself as a “listener.”
Brandi Terry is both the Owner of b. marie bakery and the Agriculture and Business Pathway Leader, Agriculture Professor at Cisco College. Describing herself as “tenacious,” she encourages people to, “start each day with the same passion, grit, and determination as you did on day one.” Brandi is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Abilene and is involved in the Abilene ISD Agriculture Advisory Committee, Children’s Performing Arts Series, and the Agricultural Business and Management FOS Advisory Committee.
For more information on this year’s recipients, visit abileneyp.org.
If you would like to nominate someone for next year’s 20 Under 40, they:
Must work in Abilene
Must be under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1, 2022
Must not have been a previous 20 Under 40 honoree