Katie Newman, 27
Revenue and reservations manager, Salish Lodge & Spa
RESIDENCE
Maple Valley
EDUCATION
eCornell, master certificate in hospitality, marketing, and revenue management
FIRST JOB
Hostess
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
HOBBIES
Hiking
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HotelTonight
READING
Leadership & Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute
Katie Newman, 27, may be a millennial, but she also is a veteran Salish Lodge & Spa employee.
She was 19 years old when she was hired to serve food and beverages at the picturesque resort perched high above Snoqualmie Falls. “I quickly learned that I love helping people create memories, so I decided to move to the front desk, where I could be more hands-on creating memories for our guests,” she said.
But it wasn’t until she was promoted to revenue and reservations manager that she found her true career calling. “I am able to be a part of the success of the property,” explained Newman. “One of the best parts of my current role is I get to develop my team and see them continue to grow in their roles. This is something that I strongly believe in, as people have helped me grow along the way by delegating projects to me where I had to go out of my comfort zone to achieve these goals.”
When she’s not working, Newman can be found hiking local trails with her husband and their two dogs. She also volunteers at Camp Korey, which helps children and families living with serious medical conditions. — TM

Angela Nordstrom, 27
Marketing and brand development manager, Weldon Barber
RESIDENCE
Kirkland
EDUCATION
Gonzaga University, bachelor’s degree in communications and entrepreneurship; University of Washington, certificate in marketing management
FIRST JOB
Front desk receptionist at Weldon Barber
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier.
HOBBIES
Traveling, skiing, biking, running, hiking, fishing, boating, horseback riding, reading, cooking, theater, fashion, antique hunting, spending time with friends and family
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Basecamp
READING
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, PhD
Angela Nordstrom comes from a family that’s invested much of its time in the retail industry, as you may have guessed from her last name. The 27-year-old’s parents own Weldon Barber, a modern, upscale barber shop brand on the Eastside and in Spokane.
“I am part of a family that works every day to set the standard for excellent customer service in the retail industry and I was fortunate to be raised in this culture,” she said.
But it wasn’t until she was a teenager working behind the front desk at Weldon Barber that she truly realized the value of great customer service.
“Quickly I learned that working in a people business is an awesome and powerful responsibility,” she said.
Now she plays an important role in expanding Weldon Barber. Nordstrom’s instinct to keep setting new goals isn’t contained to her professional life. She plans to get her MBA and pilot’s license before turning 30. — LF

Andrew James O’Neill, 27
CTO and photographer, Clarity Northwest Photography / Co-Founder, IMGDeck
RESIDENCE
Renton
EDUCATION
“Paused studies to build companies.”
FIRST JOB
Self-employed web designer
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
All incumbent institutions and authority — whether political, financial, religious, or corporate — are malleable. If something cannot adapt, supersession is an inevitability.
HOBBIES
Exploring cryptographic decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum, building and flying radio-controlled drones and other fixed-wing aircraft, as well as participating in information activism similar to Anonymous and Wikileaks
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Turo
READING
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
Andrew James O’Neill, 27, has been pushing boundaries all his life. From his childhood of competitive BMX, skateboarding, and skiing, to his current aspirations to explore space, O’Neill is like a nonstop force of nature with an adventurous spirit. Much of that energy is funneled into working 17-hour days running Clarity Northwest Photography and his graphic design boutique, IMGDeck, which is based in the Philippines. Maybe his superhuman energy is a result of the three back-to-back concussions from his extreme sporting days, but O’Neill’s boundless vitality affords him time to build and fly his own drones and spend downtime with his wife. — JK

Jennie Pegouskie Bentot, 29
Director of Marketing, Avenue Properties
RESIDENCE
Seattle
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Bachelor of Arts
FIRST JOB
Grocery bagger at the Fort Lewis Commissary
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.
HOBBIES
Drawing, painting, and photography
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Digit
READING
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Jennie Pegouskie Bentot is the director of marketing for Bellevue-based broker Avenue Properties, where she said she wears many hats. But outside of Avenue Properties, this 29-year-old dons many other hats — and even the occasional hoodie — as a dancer and model. If you think she looks familiar, you’d be right. Earlier this year, Bentot starred in the music video for Ed Sheeran’s song Shape of You. Moreover, she also has toured with Grammy award-winning duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, performing in more than 30 countries over the past four years and appearing on The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and more. — JK

Lucas Pinto, 25
Real estate professional, Lucas Pinto Real Estate Group
RESIDENCE
Bellevue
EDUCATION
Some college
FIRST JOB
Selling newspaper subscriptions
HOBBIES
Reading, boating, yoga, traveling, business
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Tesla Motors
READING
Be Obsessed Or Be Average by Grant Cardone
A first-generation immigrant from Brazil, Lucas Pinto said he grew up in poverty. With his parents struggling to make ends meet, Pinto knew when his family relocated to Seattle that it was up to him to make his American Dream a reality.
After arriving in the United States, Pinto said he was told something that would change his life forever: “Provide more value to others than they could ever expect.” This lesson has stuck with Pinto, as has the mentorship he received from Bellevue real estate broker Ed Laine.
Today, the 25-year-old is the owner and top producer at Lucas Pinto Real Estate Group, and he pays the meaningful mentorship he received forward to other bright-eyed youth as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. — MG

Photo courtesy Gordon James Fine Diamonds.
Matthew Raine, 27
Jeweler, Gordon James Fine Diamonds
RESIDENCE
Seattle
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Bachelor of Arts, Gemological Institute of America GG 2014
FIRST JOB
Neighborhood lawn mower. “It taught me there is work if you find it.”
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
If it’s too good to be true, it isn’t.
HOBBIES
Hiking, skiing (snow and water), and reading
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Waze
READING
The Hike by Drew Magary
Matthew Raine’s family has a long history in the Pacific Northwest. His parents, Gordon and Gretchen, are Puget Sound natives who have been in the diamond business for more than 35 years and own and operate Gordon James Fine Diamonds in downtown Bellevue.
So it wasn’t too surprising when Raine decided to learn more about the industry and help run the family business.
“I’m lucky to have parents who have diverse experiences,” said 27-year-old Raine.
When he’s not helping his parents run the family business, he spends time volunteering at local food banks. — TM

Marissa Sandberg, 26
Teacher, Open Window School
RESIDENCE
Seattle
EDUCATION
Seattle Pacific University, master’s in teaching
FIRST JOB
Summer camp counselor
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
Your education is one of the most important things you will ever do, because once you have it, no one can ever take it away from you.
HOBBIES
Ballet and tap dancing, gardening, and cooking
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The Knot — “I’m getting married next summer!”
READING
Everything by food writers Mark Bittman and Michael Pollan
Marissa Sandberg’s grandpa used to corner her with life advice. He’d go on and on about the things he felt were most important. But one of his points especially stayed with her: ”Once you have (an education), no one can ever take it away from you,” he said.
Sandberg, 26, is now a teacher at Open Window School, an elementary and middle school for gifted students in Bellevue. She is constantly evolving her lesson plans to keep her students engaged and challenged. Her class of first-graders created laser-cut puppets to perform their own fairy tales. She also works diligently to make her classroom a comfortable place for all her students.
“Last summer, I spent my time religiously perusing yard sales so that I could revamp our room to include lots of different seating options for my varied learners,” she said. Sandberg also loves to dance. She performs at low-income nursing homes during the holidays and is always ready to “bust a move.” — LF

Carmine (left) and Philip (right) Smeraldo.
Carmine & Philip Smeraldo
Co-owners and operators, Carmine’s
Carmine Smeraldo, 26
RESIDENCE
Seattle
EDUCATION
UCLA, Bachelor of Arts in economics
FIRST JOB
Busboy
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
Take time out of the week to enjoy the beauty of doing nothing.
HOBBIES
Playing harmonica, playing guitar, cooking, and barbecuing
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ESPN
READING
The Stranger by Albert Camus
Philip Smeraldo, 24
RESIDENCE
Seattle
EDUCATION
University of Washington Foster School of Business, bachelor’s degree in business
FIRST JOB
Valet
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
Grow up.
HOBBIES
Playing basketball, blackjack, video games, and Settlers of Catan
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NBA
READING
Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan
From a young age, Carmine, 26, and Philip, 24, Smeraldo worked in their family’s Seattle-based restaurant, Il Terrazzo Carmine, whenever they were on break from school and sometimes even when they weren’t.
Busing tables, doing dishes, or acting as a valet instilled in the young men an attention to detail as well as “professional pride, and the dignity in honing a craft,” according to Philip.
However, just as Carmine was finishing his junior year at UCLA and Philip was gearing up to start classes at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, the family patriarch suddenly died. As if the loss of a parent wasn’t enough to rattle the brothers, they had their family’s business to think about. The boys’ father, Carmine Sr., had owned and operated the restaurant since 1984, when he arrived in the United States by way of Naples, Italy.
“I spent the rest of my time at UCLA traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and Seattle, finishing my degree while helping my mother and brother steady our family business,” Carmine said. “The restaurant’s staff and patrons were reeling after the sudden loss of my father.”
The brothers didn’t just keep the legacy going; they expanded it. Today, they own Intermezzo Carmine, a craft cocktail bar adjacent to the original Seattle location, as well as a new full-scale complement to their father’s restaurant, Carmine’s Bellevue.
Despite the challenges the brothers have faced, who can argue with the results? Droves of hungry Eastsiders flock to the brothers’ elegant Italian eatery in the historic Old Bellevue neighborhood to enjoy signature crafted cocktails and fare inspired by their father’s roots. — JK

Becky Taylor, 28
Influencer Relations manager, Riot Games
RESIDENCE
Issaquah
EDUCATION
Fitchburg State University, bachelor’s of science in communications media
FIRST JOB
Computer technician
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
If you can make it through the morning, you can make it through the day.
HOBBIES
Playing video games and cooking
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Amazon Alexa
READING
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Becky Taylor isn’t a run-of-the-mill hobby gamer; rather gaming has permeated every aspect of her personal and professional life. Growing up in an agricultural area in Massachusetts, Taylor had plenty of room to run around, but boredom and weather often forced her inside, where she escaped into a virtual world. From ages 5 to 7, Taylor worked to complete a game called Robot City (while dabbling in many others). After completing the story-like game, Taylor made a discovery: Games can change people’s lives.
Since then, the 28-year-old has been hooked. “They’re a form of storytelling that lets you be who you could probably never be in real life,” she said. “You can explore the tombs of Egypt, fight bad people and invading aliens, explore space, or be an animal surviving in the wilderness.”
When a severe ear infection in her teens required partial removal of her skull, resulting in a titanium plate in her head, dreams of forensic computing and a stint in the Marine Corps were dashed, so she went back to her old standby, gaming. Most recently, Taylor has worked as an evangelist for Innervate but will be traveling south to Los Angeles this summer to start a new position as relations manager for Riot Games. — JK

Stewart Waliser, 23
Owner, Stew’s Self Service Garage
RESIDENCE
Kirkland
EDUCATION
Some college
FIRST JOB
Utility with Crew Services televising the Mariners live to Japan
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE
“While you’re out there partying, horsing around, someone out there at the same time is working hard. Someone is getting smarter, and someone is winning. Just remember that.” — Arnold Schwarzenegger
HOBBIES
Baseball and motorsports
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Alaska Airlines
READING
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Stew Waliser went to college with the full intention of attending medical school afterward. However, it didn’t take long for Waliser’s career trajectory to change course. He dropped out of school but today, still does consider himself a type of doctor — he just happens to operate on cars instead of humans.
As the owner of Stew’s Self Service Garage in Kirkland, the 23-year-old entrepreneur said he takes on many roles. “On any given day, I’m the marketing director, the payroll accountant, the bookkeeper, the HR department, receptionist, one of the professional mechanics, the customer service manager, IT guy, the web developer, the handyman, or any other job that pops along the way,” said Waliser. “It’s great fun, and there is always something new.” — MG