Vermont Business Magazine announced the winners of its Rising Stars recognition award. The list is comprised of 40 winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities.

“We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-coming leaders,” said VBM Publisher John Boutin. “We received over a 120 outstanding nominations and the judges had a difficult time getting it down to only 40. These young professionals have chosen to make Vermont their home.  For them, it’s not just about business; it’s about making a difference in their communities.”

Boutin added: “In the third year of this award we have seen an increase in nominations over the first year by over 60 percent.”

FAST FACTS: Of the 40 honorees, there were 22 men and 18 women. There are 27 from Chittenden County, 3 from Rutland County, 3 from Bennington county, 2 from Addison County, 2 from Washington County, 1 from Windsor County, 1 from Lamoille County and 1 from Franklin County. The average age of the winners is just over 32 years old. The oldest is 39 and the youngest is 23.