Inside Pueblo's 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders: The Night the Latino Chamber Celebrated a New Generation of Local Talent

PUEBLO, COLO. — The room at CSU Pueblo was packed shoulder to shoulder on a Friday evening, and it stayed that way all night. Forty names had been called. Forty Pueblo residents — bankers, teachers, nonprofit directors, musicians, credit union executives, a Zumba instructor, a future firefighter — had been nominated by the people who know their work best: their peers.

This was the Latino Chamber of Commerce's 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders event, and for one night, Pueblo stopped to recognize the people quietly building its future.

The Elevate Each Other Podcast was on location streaming the event live, with host Freddie Martinez of the Freddie Martinez Agency working the room with a microphone and a list of questions he promised would be "easy" — though almost nobody believed him. Producing the broadcast alongside him was Anthony Burciaga, owner of Everyday People Digital, the Pueblo-based digital marketing agency behind the podcast.

What followed was nearly two hours of unscripted, honest conversation — and it's worth sharing in full, because the answers say a lot about where Pueblo is headed.

What Is the 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders Award?

The Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders award is an annual recognition presented by the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce, honoring 40 local professionals under the age of 40 who were nominated by their peers for leadership, community impact, and professional achievement across Pueblo and Southern Colorado. Recipients span industries — banking, education, nonprofit work, real estate, technology, the arts, and small business.

Here's a look at the leaders who stopped by the mic that night.

Leading With Faith and Family

First up was Dominic Johnson of Mariposa Center for Safety, who admitted the recognition still felt surreal. "I never would've imagined I'd receive an award for simply doing the work that I enjoy," he said, crediting the mentors and supervisors who pushed him to keep going — and to finish his education when he nearly walked away from it. His advice to younger leaders watching: find work that feels less like a job and more like a calling, and lean on faith when things get hard.

Building a Bigger Footprint for Southern Colorado

Helen Montoya of United Way talked about a milestone that had just been announced that very week: United Way Pueblo County officially became United Way Southern Colorado, expanding its reach to 31 of the state's 64 counties. Much of her team's work centers on a data framework called ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — which tracks Pueblo families who are working full-time hours but still can't cover basic needs. "We're really excited about extending this outreach to other regions," she said, "but not leaving Pueblo behind."

Giving Back, One Round at a Time

James, recently rebranded from And Becoming to Zestful Balance, talked about coaching boxing for kids and adults alike through a nonprofit called Zesco Balance. "Just be yourself, be humble, be appreciative, give back to the community that you belong in," he said. His biggest advocate, he added, has been his wife — who keeps him on track every single day.

A Mom, a Business Owner, and Proof You Can Do Both

Karla Lucia of Martini Moment Photo & Booth Rentals had a message for working mothers in the room: "You can raise your little one right next to you and run your business and get the best of both worlds." Her biggest lesson in growing her business wasn't about social media — it was about showing up in person. "It's just a huge game changer," she said of networking face-to-face. She also just joined the Chamber and is looking for ways to give back to other nonprofits in the community.

Bringing Pueblo Water Into the Future

Lauren Kiefer of Pueblo Water described her department's shift away from paper maps and toward integrated technology — a slow-moving but meaningful transformation for one of the city's most essential utilities. Her advice to students juggling school and work: "It's temporary. Grind when you have to, and realize it's gonna pay off in the end."

AI, Education, and a New Generation at PCC

A staff member from Pueblo Community College shared how a surprise nomination email — one she almost mistook for spam — turned into one of her proudest professional moments. Her biggest current challenge: helping the college keep pace with rapidly shifting technology, especially artificial intelligence, while staying connected to the high schoolers and community partners PCC serves.

A Multi-Sport Facility Built for Pueblo's Youth

Crystal and Tim talked about their multi-sport training facility The Shop — turf, weights, a retractable batting cage, and Zumba classes Crystal now teaches herself. Tim, who is working toward becoming a firefighter and recently passed his National Registry EMT exam, credited his parents as his biggest mentors. "We have three sons, and we teach them you can do, achieve, and believe anything in this life," Crystal said.

Technology for the Businesses Everyone Else Overlooks

Noah Parmelee, President of AllTech Systems, didn't shy away from the grind behind the recognition. "I stopped counting" hours worked a week, he joked — though it wasn't really a joke. AllTech recently launched a security essentials product line built specifically for Pueblo's smallest businesses, the ones with fewer than five employees that most IT providers consider too small to serve. The company is also running AllTech Academy, training local residents for careers in technology. Noah gave a special shout-out to his first client, Matt Smith, and to his BNI chapter — including Freddie himself — for showing up for him early on.

A Total Surprise at the Pueblo West Chamber

Carly Kuhn of the Pueblo West Chamber called her nomination "a total surprise and a total shock," especially given she's only held her role since October. Balancing a growing family — three kids and one on the way, plus a house under construction and a master's degree nearly finished — she credited an enormous support system: her husband, her mother, her board, and her best friends Lauren and Michelle. "If it weren't for the support system that I have, it would be a lot more difficult," she said.

Preserving Pueblo's Past for a New Generation

John Wendt represented the Pueblo County Historical Society and Heritage Museum, an organization that's operated since 1975 and run the Heritage Museum since 1997. As a new executive director, John sees the recognition as proof that "Pueblo is in safe hands in terms of its past, its heritage, and its future." The museum is currently working to purchase its building from the city and is building education pipelines that start as early as fourth grade and run through internships with CSU Pueblo students.

Teaching Financial Literacy Before the Real World Does

Joey Gravado, Program Manager of Experiential Learning for Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, oversees financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programming across Southern Colorado. "Students are bright, creative minds," he said. "You just need to water the seed and let the plant grow."

From Gary, Indiana, to a Leader in Her Adopted Hometown

At just 24 years old, Shay Wilson, a CSU Pueblo student studying social work, gave one of the night's most personal reflections. Originally from Gary, Indiana, she moved to Pueblo in 2021 and was immediately welcomed into the community. "It means a lot to be recognized by the community that I'm serving and the community that also supports me as well," she said. She credited Dr. Marie Humphrey as her biggest mentor and shared her plans to pursue a Master of Public Administration after finishing her Master of Social Work — with her sights potentially set on Denver or Washington, D.C. (Also: if you're ever in Pueblo, she recommends the crab boil at Lynn's Express or the pho at Pho 50. Both, if you can manage it.)

Twenty Years in Banking and Still Going

Valerie Martinez of Colorado Bank and Trust has spent two decades in community banking, much of it shaped by her mentor Andy Trainer, one of the founders of Legacy Bank, who literally started that bank on the back of a napkin. Her advice for the next generation eyeing finance: do it for the right reasons, and stay agile. With interest rates holding steady at elevated levels, her tip for the room was simple — "stack cash, don't borrow money unless you have to."

Nearly 90 Years of Local Banking, Looking Ahead to a Future Built on Community

Nathan Cape, CEO, and David Purfield, CFO, of Minnequa Works Credit Union, represented an institution founded in 1937 by steelworkers pooling their money together. The credit union just marked its 89th anniversary on the way to its 90th. Both leaders pointed to community-first banking — serving everyone from a kid's first savings account to retirees — as the throughline of their work. "Southern Colorado is home," Nathan said.

Teaching Pueblo's Youth Through Music

Philip Ortiz Gonzalez, known on stage as CJ Gonzalez, is opening a private music school in partnership with Grupo Folklórico de Pueblo (GFDP), teaching mariachi and other instruments to students ages 7 to 80. A professional musician who performs across genres — mariachi, Tejano, reggae, rock, and more — Philip's biggest challenge has been simply finding affordable instruments for students, something he solves through flea markets, Facebook Marketplace, and a fair amount of his own money. "Don't let people tell you you can't do it," he said. "Try it."

Bringing Food Trucks — and Community — to Mineral Palace Park

Rounding out the evening's conversations was Andy, co-founder of the Food Truck Union, now in its fifth season. Every Friday from April through October, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 10 to 12 food trucks set up at Mineral Palace Park, drawing from a roster of 24 registered vendors. By day, Andy runs Collaborative Curators, a marketing company — and she's put that skill set directly to work growing the Food Truck Union into a Pueblo institution. Her advice to anyone wanting to start something similar: get fully licensed first, and treat the city as a collaborator, not an obstacle.

A Night That Was Really About Pueblo

By the end of the evening, one thing was clear: this wasn't really an awards night for 40 individuals. It was a night about what Pueblo looks like when its younger leaders are given a microphone — credit unions celebrating their 89th year alongside a 24-year-old grad student just getting started, multi-generational family businesses next to brand-new nonprofits, bankers and musicians and museum directors all in the same room, all pulling in the same direction.

As Freddie put it to honoree after honoree throughout the night: the peers are watching, and they know what you're doing.

This event recap was produced by the Elevate Each Other Podcast, hosted by Freddie Martinez of the Freddie Martinez Agency, and produced by Everyday People Digital, a Pueblo, Colorado digital marketing agency. To every 40 Under 40 honoree who stopped by for an interview that night — thank you for sharing a few minutes of a very big evening with us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Elevate Each Other Podcast? Elevate Each Other is a nonprofit podcast based in Pueblo, Colorado, dedicated to elevating local voices and community stories. It is produced by Everyday People Digital.

Who hosts the Elevate Each Other Podcast? The podcast is hosted by Freddie Martinez of the Freddie Martinez Agency, alongside producer Anthony Burciaga of Everyday People Digital.

What organization presents the 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders award in Pueblo? The award is presented by the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce, recognizing 40 local professionals under age 40 who are nominated by their peers for leadership and community impact.

Where was the 2026 40 Under 40 event held? The event was held on location at Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo).