UM-Flint students, alumni and staff recognized in Flint & Genesee Group's '40 Under 40'

From a Flint Farmers' Market kitchen to the Governor's office, University of Michigan-Flint graduates, students and staff are showing up in every corner of Genesee County as the next generation of leaders. In fact, 14 of them earned a spot on the Flint & Genesee Group's 2026 "40 Under 40" list, a biannual program that honors the region's brightest young talent for building meaningful careers and lives in the community. 

Honorees must be under the age of 40, and a review committee scored each nomination based on professional experience, workplace contribution and community involvement. Honorees were evaluated on the quality of their nominations, not the quantity of nominations they received.

"Seeing 14 members of our UM-Flint community honored on this year's 40 Under 40 list speaks to the caliber of leaders this university produces," said Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander. "Our students, alumni and staff carry what they've learned here directly into the work of strengthening Flint and Genesee County. Their commitment to service is exactly what makes this community, and this university, stronger."

Meet this year's honorees with ties to UM-Flint:

Ahmad Alzahabi

Alzahabi earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from UM-Flint's School of Management in 2020. He owns Golden Boy's at the Flint Farmers' Market and has built a following of 18 million people across social media as content creator @TheGoldenBalance, known for easily prepared recipes using accessible ingredients. He won an episode of Food Network's "Chopped" in 2022 and donated the $10,000 prize to the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, a Flint nonprofit he continues to support.

"My community, locally and globally, inspires me," Alzahabi said. "There's lots of negativity and hardship in today's world, and spreading positivity through food is the driving force of my motivation."

Christina Blitchok

Blitchok earned a master's degree in education from UM-Flint in 2014 and now serves the university as director of campaign initiatives and alumni engagement. She has driven a 400% increase in Alumni Relations Gift Fund revenue and a 516% increase in Giving Tuesday revenue year over year, expanded homecoming to four days of programming, and co-launched the second year of the Alumni Career Mentorship Program. She also serves as principal investigator for the Inclusive History Project's "1956 Project," documenting the university's history of inclusion and exclusion.

"I've had the opportunity to host several receptions for UM-Flint alumni, and it has been incredibly humbling to witness the impact our graduates make in our area," Blitchok said.

Jordan Brown

Brown earned an MBA from UM-Flint's School of Management in 2017. As vice president at SIPI, she and her team support more than 100 Flint-area organizations annually, leading strategic planning, organizational development and capacity-building for nonprofits, grassroots groups and entrepreneurs. She serves on the boards of the Shelter of Flint, the Humane Society of Genesee County, the Flint Institute of Arts, Uncle Phil's Adventures in Philanthropy, and GearUp2Lead.

"The grants, the buildings, the businesses … they're all important, but they're never the end goal," Brown said. "People are."

Alexis Frierson

Frierson joined UM-Flint's Department of Public Safety in 2023 and was promoted to detective sergeant in 2024, bringing nine years of law enforcement experience to the role. She volunteers as a coach and scorekeeper with the Flint Police Activities League, serves on the board of Flint Affiliation, mentors girls at the International Academy in Flint and Success Academy in Saginaw, and sits on UM-Flint's Staff Council supporting workplace inclusivity.

"I would not be the person I am today if it had not been for my support system," Frierson said. "During the highs and the lows, my friends and family are always there."

Santino Guerra

Guerra earned a bachelor's degree from UM-Flint in 2020 after becoming the youngest city council member in Flint's history, elected to the Third Ward at age 19. He now works as a federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was appointed to the Mott Community College Board of Trustees in August 2025, where he serves as board treasurer. He founded The Guerra Project to advance structural and social change in Flint and Genesee County.

"I've stayed in Genesee County because it's home for my wife and me," Guerra said, "where I believe I can make the biggest positive impact."

John Guynn

Guynn graduated from UM-Flint in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in English. As neighborhood services director for Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, he has helped hundreds of families access critical home repairs and leads the BRAND neighborhood small grants program, empowering resident-led groups to create lasting change. Outside of work, he's active in conservation efforts with the Ruffed Grouse Society and Trout Unlimited, and performs as a guitarist with the Flint indie-folk band Fernando Silverio Solis y El Sueño.

"I have always known that I wanted to do something that made an impact on the lives of others," Guynn said, "and having the opportunity to put my skills to work for Genesee County Habitat for Humanity has been a huge motivator."

Ja'Nel Jamerson

Jamerson earned four degrees from UM-Flint: a bachelor's in English in 2012, a master's in education in 2014, an education specialist degree in 2019, and a doctorate in education in 2022. A first-generation college student, he now serves as president and CEO of the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, where he leads efforts to build a place-based educational ecosystem for Flint children. He helped establish the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network and the Flint Early Childhood Collaborative and was instrumental in developing Educare Flint following the water crisis.

"I'm motivated by Flint kids," Jamerson said. "They're brilliant, dynamic and so much greater than the challenges our community has faced."

Kayla McAuley

McAuley is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology at UM-Flint. The Grand Blanc resident serves as executive director of the Security Credit Union Foundation, a role she stepped into after enhancing the organization's visibility as a community engagement specialist. She's active with Flint & Genesee Young Professionals and serves as a district leader for the Michigan Credit Union League Young Professionals.

"My family is my biggest 'why,'" McAuley said. "They remind me every day to lead with kindness, work hard, and leave every community a little better than I found it."

Steve Simmons

Simmons earned a bachelor's degree in music education from UM-Flint in 2014 and now teaches music for Grand Blanc Community Schools. He founded Grand Blanc Youth Arts, a nonprofit that has served more than 300 students in two years, and secured 44 grants totaling more than $273,000 to support youth arts programming. He created Michigan's only Zimbabwean-inspired marimba band program and hand-built 22 marimbas now used by students across Genesee County.

"Watching my students find their creative passion and see it grow is incredibly rewarding," Simmons said.

Xzavier Simon

Simon graduated from UM-Flint in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. A journalist, editor and community storyteller, he serves as managing editor at Flintside, directing news coverage focused on culture, education and equity, and is founder and publisher of The Modern Queer Magazine and its companion podcast. He also serves as interim associate director of GEAR UP at Central Michigan University and chairs the Equality Caucus of Genesee County, and he collaborated with local organizations to launch "Queer Brunch @ Night" at the Flint Institute of Arts.

"I love this city," Simon said. "If I have the power to move it forward and change its perception, I will."

Levi Todd

Todd graduated from UM-Flint in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in political science after serving as Student Government president. He founded The Nathaniel Group, a government affairs and public relations firm, and has facilitated more than $50 million in public investments across infrastructure, economic development and community revitalization throughout Michigan. He previously worked in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office and served as a political manager for Sen. Elissa Slotkin's campaign.

"My greatest motivation is paying forward the opportunities I was given," Todd said. "Others invested in me, and I am committed to reaching back and helping the next generation lead, serve and succeed."

Ciara Vendittelli

Vendittelli graduated from UM-Flint in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. As community impact manager at Financial Plus Credit Union, she oversaw 251 community events in 2025 and coordinated more than 1,500 volunteer hours from employees. She co-chaired Pink Night Palooza for three years, raising more than $200,000 in 2025 for Hurley Medical Center's Breast Cancer Navigation Fund, and grew FPCU's Certified Financial Coach program from four coaches to 42 in a single year.

"Being able to turn ideas into action and connect people around a shared purpose is the greatest accomplishment of my career so far," Vendittelli said.

Percy Whitmore

Whitmore earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from UM-Flint in 2022. As an external affairs specialist in the State of Michigan Governor's Office, he works to bridge local and state priorities, building on earlier roles in education and community development. A recipient of the Flint Promise scholarship, he launched a mentorship initiative to build youth confidence.

"Today, I have the privilege of being in the room where those conversations happen," Whitmore said. "Instead of only responding to the effects of policy, I now help identify innovative ways to address concerns before they become barriers."

Asa Zuccaro

Zuccaro earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and Africana studies from UM-Flint in 2014. Since 2018, he has served as executive director of the Latinx Technology & Community Center, growing it into a hub for bilingual services, educational programming, interpreter services and workforce assistance for thousands of Flint and Genesee County residents.

"I'm motivated to create a stronger, more connected community," Zuccaro said, "so the next generation, including my own family, has a better foundation to build upon."

See the full 2026 "40 Under 40" list on the Flint & Genesee Group website.