Greater Binghamton Chamber honors young professionals

ENDWELL, N.Y. — The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce honored nine young professionals and one mentor with its annual HYPE Awards on Thursday evening at the Riverdale Banquet Hall in Endwell.

The awards highlight professionals under the age of 30 who have demonstrated success in their career and industry in addition to making a significant positive impact in the Greater Binghamton community.

A mix of colleagues, supervisors, businesses, and organizations submitted nominations with up to three finalists selected from each category. A committee of area professionals and previous HYPE Award honorees selected the winners.

“Few realize the strides local young professionals (YPs) are making, and this event is just one way to provide insight to the community and to encourage YPs to continue making their impact,” Morgan White, the Greater Binghamton Chamber’s talent initiatives and special projects manager, said in a release.

This year’s winners are:

• Creative winner – Quinn Singer, founder and producer of Parlor City Burlesque.
• STEM winner – Rainer Lucas, riparian buffer technician and USC Trees for Tributaries Coordinator for the Upper Susquehanna Coalition.
• Business winner – Gene M. Swartz, senior human resources business partner at United Health Services.
• Health and wellness winner – Kayla Velie, manager of workplace wellness at United Health Services.
• Service winner – Jacqueline Wahl, McCoy’s Chophouse.
• Education and training winner – Kyra Hickey, community engagement coordinator at Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement.
• Law and government winner – Evan Maslin, Southern Tier Deputy Regional Director for Sen. Charles Schumer.
• Non-profit winner – Kadidiatou Keita, director of Youth Act at the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference.
• Skilled trades winner – Austin Schmidt, service manager and co-owner at Evans Plumbing & Heating.
• Mentor to a young professional winner – Sandy Jones, Express Employment Professionals.

“The future of Greater Binghamton already lives within our community in our incredible young professionals,” Leadership Alliance CEO Stacey Duncan said. “The HYPE Awards captures only a sliver of the amazing work that our YPs have accomplished so far. By supporting our young professionals, we are supporting the growth of our community as a whole.”