Three Union College alumni – Ted Eveleth '87, Kate Hedgeman '96, and John Vero '97 – have been selected as young area business leaders in the annual “40 Under 40” program.
Now in its fifth year, the program recognizes outstanding members of the business community under the age of 40. The list of winners includes entrepreneurs, CEOs, bankers and small business owners from companies throughout the Capital Region. Selections were made by a panel of area business leaders from nearly 200 nominations.
Ted Eveleth
Eveleth is president and chief executive officer of Cyclics Corp., a manufacturer of plastic products based in Schenectady and Schwarzheide, Germany. After graduating from Union with a degree in economics, Eveleth received an MBA from Cornell University and worked for companies in Boston and Washington, D.C. Upon returning to the Capital Region, he founded Cyclics with former Union classmate (and “40 Under 40” recipient) John Ciovacco.
Cyclics has grown from a 5-person company to one with nearly 100 employees on two continents and a $40 million production plant. It was named The Business Review's Most Promising New Enterprise in 2003, and the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding New Enterprise in 2002. Eveleth has encouraged employee involvement in the community through participation in United Way and with Junior Achievement.
Kate Hedgeman
Hedgeman, a native of Albany, graduated magna cum laude from Union with a degree in political science. After a year in Washington, D.C., working in government relations, she returned to attend Albany Law School. She received her law degree in 2000 from Albany Law, where she was an associate editor of The Albany Law Review and awarded the Dominick Gabrielli award for excellence in Appellate Moot Court.
Hedgeman is an associate attorney with the Albany law firm of Hiscock & Barclay, LLP, where she practices in the areas of commercial and civil litigation municipal law and government relations. She is a recipient of the 2004 New York State Multiple Sclerosis Society Corporate Achievers award for excellence in community service. She also founded GenNEXT, a business council of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce for business professionals ages 23-40.
John Vero
Vero graduated from Union with a degree in political science and went on to receive a law degree from Albany Law School. He is an associate at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna in Albany as a member of the firm's corporate, commercial real estate, healthcare and governmental relations practice groups. While at Albany Law, Vero was a member of the National Moot Court Appellate Team and managing editor of research and writing for the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology. He is also a former member of the School's board of trustees (2000-2003).
Vero is a member of the board of associates at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, and a member of the Union College Alumni Council. In addition, he is vice chair and steering committee member of the GenNEXT Council and a member of the Board of Managers of the Albany YMCA.
“40 Under 40” is sponsored by the Capital District Business Review, Fox 23 News and Key Bank. Winners will be recognized at a luncheon on May 5 at the Crowne Plaza in Albany.
Previous winners include Union alumni John Ciovacco ‘87, chairman of Cyclics Corporation in 2004 and Wayne MacDougall '86 in 2002, the chief financial officer of MapInfo Corporation.
In addition, business magazine Crains NY, announced their list of ‘40 under Forty' for 2005 this winter as well. Union alumni Kevin Rampe and Devin Wenig, both from the class of 1988, were chosen. Rampe is president of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Wenig is president of Reuter's Customer Segments.
“We look for business people under 40 who work in New York City and are doing exceptional work in a broad range of fields,” said Valerie Blockman of Crains. “They are judged on their contribution to the success of their companies, which can be measured through revenue growth, new initiatives, and prominence in their fields among other factors.” The list is 17 years old.