MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Greater Memphis Chamber today announced the ten honorees of the 2026 NextGen Awards, recognizing the young professionals who are shaping the future of Memphis business, civic life, and the region’s fast-growing innovation economy.

Now in its established run as one of the Chamber’s most anticipated recognitions, the NextGen Awards celebrate leaders under 40 who demonstrate exceptional professional achievement, meaningful community impact, and a clear commitment to Memphis.

The 2026 NextGen Award Winners are:

  • Art Richey, Regions Bank
  • Breeann Wilson, City Leadership
  • Clay Presley, SouthWorth Capital Management
  • Demar Roberts, First Choice Global Sales & Merchandising
  • Elijah Campbell, FedEx
  • Kirsten Desiderio, Boyle Investment Company
  • Lucas Drumond, AutoZone
  • Mia Harvey, Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority
  • Sara Benson, Peer Power
  • Trey Moore, EDGE

“This class represents exactly the kind of talent Memphis is producing and retaining,” said Duncan Williams, Interim President & CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Greater Memphis Chamber. “These ten leaders are already moving the needle across finance, logistics, aerospace, education, real estate, and economic development. They are the people who are helping us carry Prosper Memphis 2030 across the finish line, and they are proving every day why our city is one of the most exciting places in the country to build a career.”

The 2026 honorees reflect the full breadth of Memphis’s economic engine. From FedEx and AutoZone to the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority and EDGE, this year’s class spans the industries driving job creation, capital investment, and workforce growth across the region.

Honorees will be formally recognized at the 2026 NextGen Awards celebration, bringing together Chamber investors, civic leaders, and Memphis’s growing community of young professionals.

For more information on the NextGen Awards and the Greater Memphis Chamber, visit www.memphischamber.com.

About The Greater Memphis Chamber:

One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers. For additional information, please visit www.memphischamber.com