Excerpted from BBJ release by S. Rebman. Read the BBJ release.

Harbert College of Business alumni Will Aderholt (BSBA Accountancy 05), Robert Crook (BSBA Finance 07), Jamie Justice (BSBA Finance 09), and Scott VonCannon (BSBA Marketing 08) were recognized as rising stars of the Birmingham, AL, business scene, having been named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s (BBJ’s) 2022 Top 40 Under 40 list.

According to the BBJ, Birmingham’s economy is transforming at a rapid pace, and much of that evolution can be traced to the impact of a dynamic group of young professionals. The latest class of young business leaders were honored at a reception August 18 in Birmingham.

Aderholt, who is with the CPA and advising firm Warren Averett, was the youngest person to ever make partner at the time of his appointment. He manages the second largest book of business, and his practice has been one of the fastest growing groups in the firm, reaching double-digit growth the last three years.

Crook is president of Ironvest Partners, a company he founded in 2018. A fourth-generation commercial real estate broker, he specializes in closing deals in Birmingham’s urban core and industrial sales throughout the state. He has been involved in key projects, including Foundry Yards, Kelly Hotel, American Red Cross Building, Grant’s Mill Station shopping center, Crestwood shopping center, Thomas Building Redevelopment, Founder’s Station, and Queen’s Park.

Justice is director and partner at Colliers | Alabama, a real estate services and investment firm. He has positively impacted Birmingham through projects such as the historical renovation of the Forbes Building, Zinser Building, Carvana Building, Massey Building, and he has represented Third and Urban on the Denham Building. Collectively, he has closed more than $206.8 million in total deal volume during his Colliers career.

VonCannon is chief operating officer at Retail Strategies, where he led its growth from zero client cities in 2013 to currently having relationships with more than 600 cities throughout the country. He also leads a team that has facilitated the recruitment of more than 300 retailers with an economic impact of more than $600 million.

Four other Auburn alumni were also named to the 40 Under 40 List. They are Tiffany deGruy (Liberal Arts) at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; Lauren Gwaltney (Architecture, Design and Construction) at Williams Blackstock Architects; Lindsey Seal (Liberal Arts) at Immediate; and John Smola (Engineering) at Alabama Power.

The BBJ 2022 Top 40 Under 40 event is sponsored by the Harbert College of Business, Truist, and McKinney Capital.