Nominations were put forward by community members based on the young professionals’ contributions to the community through civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
All nominees will be recognized at FLEX Presents on Thursday, April 24, at Forever Farms in Franklin between 6-8pm where we will name the 2025 Young Professional of the Year!
The 2025 nominees are:
MADDISON BAKKER
Maddison Bakker is a Funeral Director licensed in Pennsylvania, with an Associate degree in Specialized Business and Funeral Service Management from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Over the past three years, she earned multiple certifications, passed national and state exams on the first attempt, and completed a year-long internship. She serves the community through various outreach programs, including Healing Grief Through Art and Wreaths Across America. A member of Hope Ministry and FLEX, she’s dedicated to personal growth, supporting local initiatives, and providing compassionate care to grieving families.
JOSEPH BROOKER
Joe Brooker is the Chief Operating Officer at Brooker Kidney Care. He graduated from Clarion University with an MBA in Healthcare Administration in 2022. He was appointed Development Chair of FLEX in 2024 and is currently enrolled in Leadership Venango, Class of 2025. He also serves as a member of the Sponsorship Committee for Venango Pride in the Park 2025. At Brooker Kidney Care, he recruited and hired two provider-level employees for his practice and assisted in the opening of an additional office location.
MARK CANGEMI
Mark Cangemi is the Training Specialist and Brand Ambassador at Deets Mechanical and Founder/CEO of Elevated Hunting Solutions LLC. In 2024, he trained over 20 new employees at Deets and graduated from the New Business Jump Start program. He also placed 2nd in the Penn State TechCelerator entrepreneur competition. Mark led a life safety equipment initiative supporting over 150 jobs and launched Elevated Hunting Solutions, a PPE manufacturer in Grove City. He’s helped connect five local residents to employment and is working toward expanding the plant to add up to 10 more jobs in 2025. Mark also volunteers with the Cranberry Area Food Bank.
NOAH COWLES
Noah Cowles is the owner of King of Spades Landscaping, which has grown 8x since its founding in 2021. The business now employs 8 people with 4 trucks and crews, serving 80+ weekly lawns and completing 100+ landscape jobs annually. Noah sponsors local sports teams, volunteers at Cranberry Elementary, and coaches middle school football at FASD. He participates in community events like the Light Up Night parade and May Mart booth and presents to Franklin High School’s business class. Additionally, he supports local schools through career days, tree planting, and community events.
MATT CRAIG
Matthew Craig is a Training and Development Instructor at Webco Industries and a John Maxwell Certified Coach. He was elected to the Oil City Council and is a graduate of the Leadership Venango Program. He serves as a Board Member for the Oil Region Alliance and Chairman of the Oil Region Campus Advisory Board. Additionally, he is a member of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and a proud promoter of the Venango Ready program. He is also a Certified Be Here Ambassador.
MARA FOSTER-GRAY
Mara Foster-Gray is a Case Manager and Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist at the Venango County Association for the Blind. She holds a Master’s in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy from Salus University and is nationally certified through ACVREP. Passionate about community service, she volunteers with the Girl Scouts as a Troop Leader and Service Unit Events Coordinator. She is also a member of FLEX and coordinates the VCAB Vision Bowl fundraiser, demonstrating her commitment to both professional excellence and community engagement.
HANNAH GAMBLE
Hannah Gamble is the owner of Iron Furnace Coffee, which she opened in 2022 at the age of 22 with a 6-month-old baby. In 2024, she expanded Iron Furnace to host Weird Fish Records and was elected to the executive board of the Franklin Retail Association. In 2025, she hosted the FHS Ceramics Club’s spring show at Iron Furnace, further supporting arts and culture in her community.
JULIET HILBURN
Juliet Hilburn is the Annual Giving Officer for the Northwest Hospital Foundation, supporting UPMC Northwest in Seneca. She leads fundraising efforts for technology, education, patient hardship, and quality-of-life initiatives. With a master’s in strategic communications from Arkansas State University and a certificate in fund raising management, she is dedicated to philanthropy. An active community leader, she serves as FLEX Membership Chair, Oil City Rotary Foundation Chair, and a Leadership Venango participant. She is also a Be Here Ambassador and a member of Zonta and AFP Northwest PA.
KOBE KAHLE
Kobe Kahle is a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Oil City Fire Department. He became a certified EMS Instructor in 2022, teaching EMT courses at Clarion and Venango County Career Centers. In 2023, he earned Pro Board certifications for Firefighter 2 and Fire Pumper Driver/Operator. He was elected Union President of the Oil City Firefighters, IAFF Local #700, and joined the Northwest Pennsylvania Healthcare Coalition. In 2024, he became EMS Coordinator for the Oil City Fire Department and a member of Western PA Pullin’ 4 A Purpose charity.
ELIZABETH “LIBBY” KEIFER
Libby Kiefer is a Therapist at Regional Counseling Center, focusing on children and adolescents. She coaches softball at Oil City Middle School and volunteers at the Venango Pride Event. Set to graduate with honors with a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, Libby works in the children’s partial hospitalization program. She is passionate about helping children and families, collaborating with schools and support systems to assist individuals in transitioning back into their homes and communities.
KALEB LEWIS
Kaleb Lewis is the owner of The Fallen Shoppe and a Special Makeup Effects Artist. Kaleb has hosted numerous community events such as Open Mic Nights, holiday parties, and art galleries. Highlights include live makeup demos at BridgeFest, Eerie Horror Fest, and Wildcat Mansion Zombie Invasion. He also founded The Hannah Project, an organization that supports at-risk youth. Kaleb has provided makeup demonstrations at Transworld Halloween Show in St. Louis and Erie Comic Con, and led makeup seminars at Douglas Education Center and Oil Region Ballet, showcasing his expertise in special effects and community engagement.
RANDILYN LEWIS
Randilyn Lewis is a Clinical Education Specialist and Assistant Professor at UPMC Northwest. She recently completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and was promoted to Assistant Professor. She was awarded a federal HRSA grant to provide advanced nursing education to rural communities, training professionals to become sexual assault nurse examiners. Additionally, she became a member of the Franklin Rotary, further engaging in community service and professional growth.
ELSA TOVAR
Elsa Tovar is the Master Planner / Floor Planner Supervisor at Matric Group, where she has earned multiple promotions. She also serves as President of the Safety Committee, advocating for workplace safety. Beyond work, Elsa is an Assistant Coach for Oil City Cheerleading and a passionate supporter of small businesses. She believes in giving back to the community and encourages shopping local. With a strong commitment to both her career and community, she strives to make a positive impact in every role she takes on.