Juliana Almanza is chief of staff of the West Sacramento-based construction trade association Associated General Contractors of California.

Gerardo Aceves and Amit Dhugga are CEO and president of Platinum Express, a Yuba City-based company with a fleet of 100 trucks.

Momentum is shifting in the Capital Region, and young professionals are leading the charge. General skepticism is being replaced with emerging optimism and a renewed energy that’s providing the catalyst for growth and innovation across our cities.  Here are the top ten young leaders we think you should be watching. They are driving the Capital Region’s evolution, and we anticipate you’ll see them at the forefront in 2015 and decades to come.

Dr. Vanessa Walker is medical director of the Sutter Health Valley Area’s electronic ICU, a telemonitoring program in which doctors and nurses monitor ICU patients through video, remote diagnostic tools and other technologies.

As assistant director of the Placer County Office of Emergency Services, Holly Powers brings together a variety of partners to prepare for, respond to, and lead the recovery from natural or human-made disasters.

In 2016, Kevin Phan founded the Capital Asian American Professional Society, which provides resources, educational programming and events around civic leadership and business development.

To ensure the safety of the young professionals being photographed for our annual showcase, Comstock’s Art Director Carly Cornejo and photographer Terence Duffy brought the shoot outdoors. 

Chelsea Minor has spent the months of the coronavirus pandemic ensuring that customers are informed about new measures and adaptations at the 126 supermarket locations that Raley’s operates. 

Lisandro Madrigal knew 2020 would be a landmark year for Chando’s Enterprises, the Mexican restaurant group he started in 2010. But after dining rooms closed in March, every taco, burrito and mulita had to be packaged to go.

Chris Kay is a marketing executive, owner of an imported-foods business and, as of July 1, president of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce.