A commitment to excellence isn't the only common thread among the 40 young professionals honored Thursday night by Lehigh Valley Business at its fifth annual Forty Under 40 awards reception and ceremony.

They also share a dedication to their families.

“We honor these individuals for their accomplishments in their chosen careers, their commitment to their communities and their struggle and hard work to achieve both,” Mike O’Rourke, Lehigh Valley Business publisher, told the audience of nearly 300 at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Longswamp Township. “Yet [they] keep the most important parts of their lives, their family and friends, first on the list.”

[FOR PHOTOS AND BIOS OF THE NOMINEES CLICK HERE]

Each of the honorees was selected for his or her commitment to business growth, professional excellence and the community. An independent panel of judges reviewed the nominees and gave them scores based on their achievements.

“Each has already made their mark in this region, and each will continue to be a leader in business in the Greater Lehigh Valley for many years to come,” said O’Rourke, the evening’s emcee.

“These individuals have faced different and difficult challenges in reaching their goals. They come from varied backgrounds, diverse industries and all parts of our region.”

The event’s major sponsors were DeSales University’s ACCESS and Master of Business Administration programs and J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc. Associate sponsors are Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba PC and Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo.

A photo gallery of the event is posted at www.lvb.com/section/photo-galleries. A 24-page supplement on the Forty Under 40 Class of 2017 will be inserted in Monday’s print edition of Lehigh Valley Business.

Thursday night’s honorees:

Robert Balch

Post & Schell

Alexis Berg-Townsend

Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo

Dr. Natalie M. Bieber

Lehigh Valley Health Network

Matthew Bremner

Duke Realty Corp.

Matt Bubbenmoyer

Monterre Vineyards

Robert K. Cawley

Peerless Business Advisors

Kristofer M. DePaolo

Werner & Co. CPAs PC

Andrew R. Gildner

Keystone Technology LLC

Judianne Harris

Valley National Financial Advisors

Max Harris

Netizen Corp.

Jennifer L. Hartman

Spark Orthodontics PC

Greg Heller-LaBelle

Colony Meadery

Jenique R. Jones

Lehigh Valley Credit Restoration

Pete Kareha

BB&T Insurance Services

Colin Keefe

Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba PC

Zachary Keenan

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP

Damon Kimble

Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group Red Robin

Nicholas Kociolek

The Kiffle Kitchen LLC

Gregory J. Kuhn

Omega Protective Services LLC

Raymond G. Lahoud

Norris McLaughlin & Marcus PA

Levi Landis

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

Jarrett Laubach

City Center Investment Corp.

Dr. Sarah J. Luber

Reading Hospital and Medical Center

Jared Mast

Greater Easton Development Partnership

Judson S. Meinhart

RKL Wealth Management LLC

Justin R. Miller

Milestone Financial Associates LLC

Courtnie E. Nein

Good Life Companies

Kathryn M. Nickischer

Kathryn M. Nickischer LLC

Steve Ott

ArtsQuest

Peter P. Polt

J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc.

Kristin Schaeffer

Klunk & Millan Advertising

Abby M. Silfies

American Cancer Society

Matthew Sommerfield

MTS Design + Manufacture

Matthew Strunk

Strunk Media Group

Kelly-Anne Suarez

Crayola Experience

Morris J. Taylor

Bayou Boys Hospitality Group

Dorrit L. Trate

St. Luke’s University Health Network

Christopher M. Turtell

Herbein + Co. Inc.

Don Wenner

Dream Live Prosper (DLP) Companies

David Michael Wieller

Borton-Lawson Engineering