Amidst economic change and uncertainty, one bright spot in the Spokane area is the caliber of our emerging leaders and young professionals. As the second half of what has been a rocky year for many rolls on, it's a good time to highlight the talent and skills of those who represent the future of the Inland Northwest business community. 

The Journal recently named its 2025 class of Rising Stars, a group of 10 individuals under 40 years old who lead in a variety of industries and fields.

The list includes names such as Sonja Jensen, Washington state president for AgWest Farm Credit. Sonja is the youngest person on AgWest's senior leadership team, but according to her award nominations, her scope of responsibilities is among the largest in the organization. She oversees 135 employees statewide who service $8 billion in loan volume and $135 million in crop-insurance premium. 

There's also Lucas Desgrosellier, the 21-year-old CEO of GhoulzTube LLC who started his career as a content creator as a child and is now billed as one of the top 10 Fortnite YouTubers in the world. Far from a basement dwelling gamer, Lucas operates GhoulzTube out of a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in Spokane Valley with 15 employees and subcontractors globally.

Sonja and Lucas are shining examples, but the rest of this year's class of Rising Stars boasts impressive credentials. In reviewing nominations for other candidates, we're confident we could have selected another 10 young professionals who would have been equally as worthy. 

This year's class follows in the footsteps of other executives who have risen through the ranks to lead organizations in some instances and to start new ventures in other circumstances. (To see past winners, go to www.spokanejournal.com/risingstars).

For example, Lauren Murray, a Rising Star from last year's class, was named Spokane-based market executive for Bank of America Merrill Lynch a few months after receiving the honor. Jordan Allen, a 2016 Rising Star who talked about his ups and downs as an entrepreneur as last year's keynote speaker, has expanded his BuyWander return-retail enterprise to Seattle and Portland in the past year. 

Of course, as we've always emphasized, the recognition comes with responsibility. Future leaders will be expected to use their talents to assist in helping to lead business organizations and nonprofits desperately in need of assistance. Indeed, one credit union executive recently told the Journal that she flags the Rising Stars list each year as candidates for boards in which she is involved. 

That approach stands to reason, as one of the many consequences of the silver tsunami of baby boomer retirements is that the pool of candidates for board positions and other civic efforts has grown shallower. Those involved in boards often lament that a relatively small group of people are doing the bulk of the work. That's always been the case to a degree, but it's even more extreme in the current climate.  

We're relying on the new generation of professionals to fill that void and to continue to make quality of life an asset that we can boast for the Inland Northwest. If those involved apply their skills in the community as they have in their careers, the future is indeed promising.