By Paige Gurgainers
The Greater Minden Chamber celebrated the area’s rising stars Tuesday night during the 2025 Class of 15 Under 40 Awards, presented by TG Companies and held at the Minden Civic Center.
This year’s event recognized fifteen young professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and community spirit across a variety of industries including education, healthcare, small business and public service.
Honorees for the 2025 Class of 15 Under 40 include:
Brianna Arrington – Realtor/Owner, Jadore Real Estate
Jessica Bordelon – Controller, Hunt Forest Products
Ashlee Drake – Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, City of Minden
Stephen Dickerson – Foreman/Crew Leader, Mettle Services
Ana Fleming – 1st Grade Teacher, Central Elementary
Krystal Friday – Principal, J.L. Jones Elementary
Reagan Lee – Teacher/Coach, Webster Junior High School
Lance McGuire – Owner/CEO, Championship Carts & Branch Manager, Black Label Services
Dr. Sarah McNeill – Pediatrician, Busy Bee Pediatrics
Neisa Murray – Owner, NeNe’s Corner & Founder, Hearts & Halos: Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness
Hannah Pevy – Instructional Coach, Webster Parish School Board
Tiffany Ritchie – 2nd Grade Teacher, J.L. Jones Elementary
Dr. Chelsea Shaw – Veterinarian, Minden Animal Clinic
Katie Tippen – Membership Engagement Coordinator, Greater Minden Chamber
Kyle Towns – Owner, Kyle Towns Services
Neisa Murray was named the “Top Honoree” this year, presented by her predecessor Sarah Overall. Murray is the owner of NeNe’s Corner LLC, a creative business specializing in graphic design, art and handmade works, as well as the founder of Hearts & Halos: Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness, an organization dedicated to supporting families who have experienced infant or pregnancy loss. A multi-talented entrepreneur, Neisa is also an author, jewelry designer, painter, poet and singer-songwriter who uses her creative gifts to inspire others.
Beyond her business ventures, she serves as a D2BD Glamazon Plus Model for Dare 2 Be Different Fashions by Tori Stylez, promoting confidence and self-love in women of all sizes. Her community involvement includes hosting events like the “Pop-Up & Pose” Juneteenth celebration in Minden, which encouraged empowerment and self-expression. Passionate about uplifting others through art, faith, and advocacy, Neisa embodies creativity with purpose, blending her talents and compassion to make a lasting impact on her community.
Greater Minden Chamber Board Chair Lindsay McClaran said this year’s class represents the future of the community. “This is a dynamic group of young leaders making significant impacts in their industries. Their dedication to both their careers and our community is inspiring, and we look forward to seeing the difference they will continue to make for years to come,” McClaran said.
Serving as this year’s guest speaker was Max Causey, a Louisiana Tech graduate and financial advisor who also serves as an NFL official. Causey shared his journey from “Friday night lights to the Super Bowl field,” encouraging the honorees to embrace discipline, focus and leadership both personally and professionally.
The event, hosted annually by the Greater Minden Chamber, highlights and celebrates the accomplishments of young professionals under the age of 40 who are helping shape Webster Parish’s economic and cultural landscape.