Future 5 Award Winners
The Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) established the Future 5 Award in 2013 as a way to support and recognize upcoming leaders in the community. This award is presented to five area young professionals ages 21-40 who are presently growing and excelling in their respective fields and will continue to positively influence the growth, prosperity, and quality of life in Fond du Lac County well into the future. 2023 nominations are now closed. Thank you for all of the nominations.
2023 Future 5 Awards
Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Future 5 award. Five individuals have been recognized for their outstanding growth, service and leadership in their professional careers and in the Fond du Lac community. The 2023 Future 5 recipients are:
- Kim Bresser, Mercury Racing
- Grace Bruins, Horicon Bank
- Rhiannon Diederichs, First Weber Realtors – Fond du Lac
- Jim Misudek, Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Tyler Schulz, Werner Harmsen
2022 Future 5 Awards
Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Future 5 award. Five individuals have been recognized for their outstanding growth, service and leadership in their professional careers and in the Fond du Lac community. The 2022 Future 5 recipients are:
- Charlie Kudy, Village Administrator, Village of Campbellsport
- Michael Leb, President, LEB Insurance Group
- Josh Michels, Director of Manufacturing, Wisconsin Lighting Lab, Inc. (WiLL)
- Becca Schumacher, Marketing Manager, Wisconsin Lighting Lab, Inc. (WiLL)
- Jon Venhuizen, Partner/Financial Consultant, SIA Insurance Services
2022 Young Professional of the Year, Jon Venhuizen
Jon Venhuizen believes communities need participation, collaboration, and cooperation; the values that shape his work in the Waupun community. As a Partner and Financial Consultant for SIA Insurance Service, Jon helps people achieve their life goals, whether it be through times of transition, saving for the future, or creating gifting strategies for those who want to give back. Jon not only leverages the aforementioned values professionally, but also builds a better community through volunteer work. Jon serves as a County Board Supervisor for Fond du Lac County, is an active board member of Pillar & Vine Foster Care Agency, Waupun Kiwanis Club, Foundation for Christian Education in Central Wisconsin, and is active as a coach and volunteer for other community organizations.
2021 Future 5 Awards
Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Future 5 award. Five individuals have been recognized for their outstanding growth, service and leadership in their professional careers and in the Fond du Lac community. The 2021 Future 5 recipients are:
- Kaitlyn Kenealy, Kenealy Counseling
- Jason Zellner, First Weber & Winfield Homes
- Hannah Scherer, Michels Corp.
- Joseph Fenrick, Fond du Lac School District
- Jackie Runge, South Hills Golf & Country Club
2021 Young Professional of the Year, Kaitlyn Kenealy
Kaitlyn of Kenealy Counseling as the YP of the Year for 2021. Committed to bringing mental health awareness to the Fond du Lac community, Kenealy spreads her important message across a variety of platforms, including her private practice, podcast, newsletter, and her upcoming book. To further create awareness surrounding mental health, she co-chairs both the Suicide Prevention Committee and Mental Health Access Committee. Additionally, Kenealy facilitates mental health training and workshops and serves as an executive contributor for Brainz Magazine.
2020 Future 5 Awards
Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 Future 5 award. Five individuals have been recognized for their outstanding growth, service and leadership in their professional careers and in the Fond du Lac community. The 2019 Future 5 recipients were:
- Megan Schueller, National Exchange Bank & Trust
- Alicia Hans, Catalpa Health
- Alison Faris Helleberg, United Manufactures, Inc./Faris Gourmet Popcorn & Treats
- Liz Morrell, The Arc Fond du Lac
- Maeghan Greeno, National Exchange Bank & Turst
2020 Young Professional of the Year, Maeghan Greeno
Maeghan is a Commercial Loan Officer with National Exchange Bank & Trust. She is involved with YPF on the 2021 Advisory Board, as the chair of YP Week, chair of Breakfast with Champions, and committee member of programming and events. She also serves on the board of directors of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership and Fond du Lac Festivals, Inc. She serves as a team mentor with the North Fond du Lac School District INCubator Project, is a committee member with the Fond du Lac Elf Contest and is currently a participant in the Leadership Fond du Lac program. At work, she is on the wellness committee and co-chairs the corporate challenge.
2019 Future 5 Awards
Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Future 5 award. Five individuals have been recognized for their outstanding growth, service and leadership in their professional careers and in the Fond du Lac community. The 2019 Future 5 recipients were:
- Shawn Fisher, Agnesian & Ripon Medical Center Foundations
- Jessica Kimball, The Arc Fond du Lac
- Vicente Lezama, Hair Lounge
- Craig Much, Horicon Bank
- JJ Raflik, Fond du Lac Family YMCA
2019 Young Professional of the Year, Vicente Lezama Morales
As a new Downtown Fond du Lac business owner, Vicente Lezama has already begun putting down deep roots in the community through his community activism and commitment to providing necessary diversity and inclusion work. As owner and cosmetologist of Hair Lounge, Lezama has accomplished a lot in the five years since graduating from the Advance College of Cosmetology in Waupun. From being a manager of a salon in Forest Mall to renting a booth and becoming a milk_shake product line educator, he was able to build a strong clientele that supported his every move.
2018 Future 5 Awards
Young Professionals of Fond du Lac (YPF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Future 5 award. Five individuals have been recognized for their outstanding growth, service and leadership in their professional careers and in the Fond du Lac community. The 2018 Future 5 recipients were:
- Larissa Clinard, J.F. Ahern Company
- Ben Giles, Fond du Lac Family YMCA and Fond du Lac City Council
- Taylor Moret, Society Insurance
- Sadie Parafiniuk, Congressman Glenn Grothman
- Shavana Talbert, Fond du Lac School District
2018 Young Professional of the Year, Larissa Clinard
Larissa Clinard, Fleet Manager at J.F. Ahern Company, has continued to pave the way in her career since joining the company as an office manager in 2007. Clinard credits her Army career for her “failure is not an option mentality” that has motivated her to continue to tackle challenges in her career. In 2012, she was promoted to the newly created role of Fleet Manager in which over the past few years she has implemented a telematics program for over 500 vehicles, developed driver risk management programs and consolidated over $7 million in fleet spend. Most recently, she expanded the department to include the organization’s delivery logistics – an initiative to support sustainable growth for Ahern.