BEDFORD – Yesterday, July 20, the Bedford Young Professionals President Megan Martin announced the winners of the 2023 4 under 40 Award.
BYP is a group open to anyone 21-40 years of age living, working, or doing business in Lawrence County, engineered to facilitate networking and growth among young professionals.
Every year, 4 young professionals aged 21-40 are selected for the 4 Under 40 Awards for their exemplary contribution to our community through:
- Leadership in the community
- leadership in the workplace
- Future goals and likely impact
- and Achievements as an individual or part of a group
The Awards Committee, including Megan Martin, Kayde Fults, Tanner Simpson, Nick Webb, and Brandi Woods, selected the outstanding individuals who would become the winners.
The 2023 winners are:
Apryl Kidd, Sadie Miskuf, Emily Webb, and Ashlynne Bender.
Apryl Kidd
“I am honored to be a recipient of the Bedford Young Professionals 4 Under 40 Award. For 33 years, I have been fortunate to call Lawrence County my home. Many in this community have poured their time, talent, and treasures into me. This award is proof of that investment!
Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to take the first step!
The biggest challenge I have faced has been the fear of change. Nothing halts innovation and change like the phrase “That’s the way we have always done it.”’
Apryl has served as the Director of Initiatives for Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell, and Orleans Schools, titled “COSMOS” since August 2018. in this role, she provides students with educational opportunities to prepare them for careers in manufacturing, education, and healthcare after high school. She has created Manufacturing Week for 8th graders to explore manufacturing careers and Maker Camps for 3-5th graders to experience using 3D printers, laser engravers, robots, and more. She works with local employers to learn their needs and predict future changes so she can assist in preparing high school pathways that align with those needs. This coming school year, COSMOS can offer 11 shared courses between the schools.
Apryl received her Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Special Education and Teaching, and her Master’s of Education focusing on Educational Leadership and Administration through Indiana University.
Apryl was recently awarded the High School Career Development Professional of the Year at the 2023 IMPACT Awards.
She is on several boards, including the Lawrence County Education and Workforce Coalition Core Team. She and her family also frequently volunteer at the Men’s Warming Shelter. Apryl, with her husband Kyle and son Benjamin, loves to travel and Jeep.
Apryl is a leader in her organization in the school systems, and in the community.
Sadie Miskuf
“The biggest challenge has been the roller coaster of growth as a professional. There will be ups and downs, but as long as you are facing forward you’ll be able to enjoy the ride. Never give up! There will be days when you will feel defeated but know this is temporary. Hard work always pays off!“
Sadie is the owner and Managing Broker at Sadie Miskuf Real Estate based in Bedford, closing on $3 million in residential and commercial sales in the first half of 2023.
She contributes to the community in several ways, some of which is being a member and/or on the board with multiple groups, Including Tri Kappa Gamma where she implemented new fundraising techniques to support two local scholarships and brought on 11 new pledges during her term as president. She is also on the BRI Parade Committee, the Limestone Heritage Festival Planning Committee, and the BRI Design Committee.
Sadie is a member of the Bedford Rotary Club, and the Bedford Business to Business.
Sadie continues to fill her schedule with other volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Hope Resource Center, Bedford Clothe-A-child, Orbit Futbol as a coach and sponsor, Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services, and the Indiana Special Olympics.
Beyond her career and all of her volunteering, Sadie and her husband David are the proud rescue parents of three dogs and two cats.
Sadie is a valuable asset to any organization she is a part of with her true passion for helping others and giving back to her community.
Emily Webb
Emily works as the Assistant Director for the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at Hoosier Uplands where she has worked for the past seven years. At Hoosier Uplands, Emily oversees the Employee Wellness Program, and the Hoosier Uplands Scholarship Program, and assists with the Produce for Better Health program. She was also the Coordinator of Lawrence County Safe Night, bringing together over 50 organizations in the community to provide a free, fun, and educational event to families, and attracting around 3,000 people each year.
In her past roles at Hoosier Uplands, Emily worked with the Baby and Me Tobacco Free program, the crib program, which provides free cribs to mothers in need, the car seat program, and worked as an Academic Success Coordinator working with local high school students.
Emily serves on the United Way Committee in Lawrence County and is a member of the Rotary Chapter. She also volunteers with the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, helping to grow the reach of its program by adding additional trees in local businesses.
When she’s not volunteering or working, Emily enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband Justin, and their two boys Anderson and Lincoln.
Emily takes pride in working for a non-profit organization and giving back to her community through her work and volunteering.
Ashlynne Bender
“The effort that I have put into this role and into this community is worth it regardless of the award, but it definitely makes it a lot sweeter.
I always believe taking the risk is worth it. Remember why you have goals and hype yourself up! You will have career ups and downs, you will change careers, you will leave jobs you love for opportunities that don’t turn out in the way you expected, but you have a new opportunity every single day. Believe in yourself and push towards your goals because you are worthy and when you put in the effort, it will pay off.”
Ashlynne graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with degrees in German Studies, Sociology, and Education. Ashlynne worked in Germany as a Program Coordinator for the German American Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she created partnerships with organizations in the US to establish professional opportunities for international students and professionals around the world.
Ashlynne then moved back to Bedford and began working for Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies as the Associate Director of Professional Development, while also teaching as an adjunct instructor.
Ashlynne is currently working on her Master of Public Affairs at Indiana University where she focuses on Public Management and Leadership. Ashlynne will graduate with her MPA this December. Since 2021, Ashlynne has worked for the City of Bedford as the Director of Business and Community Development. In her role, Ashlynne leads public relations and community engagement initiatives. She serves on several boards including the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, the Domestic Violence Coalition of Lawrence County, and the White River Military Alliance to name a few. In addition, Ashlynne has been instrumental in securing nearly $2 million in grant funds for various projects in the community.
Ashlynne was recently honored as an Indiana Global Leader through the 2020 James T. Morris Global Leadership Series and just completed her participation in the regional Opportunity Initiatives Grant Writing Fellowship. Ashlynne sees herself growing in government and/or politics with ambitions to serve in office and impact efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as international affairs locally and globally.
In her free time, Ashlynne enjoys traveling, baking, reading, and spending time with her friends, her fiancé Kody, and their two dogs Lila and Olive.
