Maryland's Rising Stars Award
Meet the Recipients of the Rising Stars Award
Presented annually, the Rising Stars Award honors a motivated future leader or leaders, age 40 or under, inspiring today’s business community. These Rising Stars are doing amazing work to propel their business, employees or colleagues, and community to even greater success.
Now accepting nominations for 2025
We seek 2025 nominees who embody key qualities that include strong leadership and initiative, dedication to their workplaces and communities, commitment to teamwork and collaboration, adaptability and innovative spirit, upward career trajectories and a personification of the future of Maryland business.
Maryland Chamber of Commerce membership is not a prerequisite for Rising Star Award nominees. Self-nominations are welcome. Award winners will be notified by early April and will be recognized at the Maryland Chamber’s annual Inspire MD event on May 8.
Nominations will be accepted now through Feb. 14, 2025.

2024: Jonathan Arons
External Communications & Community Relations Manager at Giant Food

2024: Wayne Dorsey
Founder & President of The Safe Ride Foundation

2024: Arion Long
CEO of Femly

2024: Emily Tunis
President and COO of Hardwire, LLC

2024: Emily Uhlman
Founder of ButterWorks Bakery USA

2023: Robert “RJ” Batts
Inventor & CEO at Picklehead LLC

2023: Courtney DeLatorre
Analyst of Defense Affairs at Emergent BioSolutions

2023: Ali von Paris
CEO & Founder of Route One Apparel

2023: David White
Founder & CEO of Tomorrow’s Bio Today

2022: Sriram Manivannan
Vice President of Product Development at Vorbeck Materials