The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 Is Coming in 2027

The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 Is Coming in 2027

Forty people. Forty stories. One celebration of experience, impact and the people helping shape our community — with net proceeds going back into the community through a local nonprofit partner.

For years, “40 Under 40” programs have recognized talented young professionals who are building careers, launching businesses and emerging as leaders.

Those recognitions matter.

But at The Coastal Buzz, we’ve always believed there’s another story worth telling.

What happens after 40?

For many people, some of life’s most meaningful chapters are only beginning.

A business may finally take off after years of struggle. A career change can lead someone toward work they never imagined doing. Decades of experience can turn someone into the mentor younger people depend on. A setback can become the beginning of an entirely different life.

Some people don’t discover their greatest calling until 45, 55, 65 or beyond.

Others have spent decades quietly serving, building, teaching, helping, creating and showing up without ever receiving much public recognition.

We think those stories deserve a spotlight, too.

That’s why The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 is coming in 2027.

Forty People. Forty Stories.

The inaugural The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 — Class of 2027 will recognize 40 people over the age of 40 whose leadership, service, perseverance, creativity and contributions are making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.

Some may have names you already know.

We hope some won’t.

Because this isn’t intended to simply become another list of the most powerful people, biggest titles or most recognizable names in the room.

The CEO can belong on the list.

So can the employee who has quietly served the same organization for 30 years.

The entrepreneur who finally took the chance at 52.

The educator whose influence can be measured in generations of students.

The volunteer who keeps showing up when nobody is watching.

The mentor who has changed lives without ever receiving an award for it.

The person who experienced failure, started over and used what they learned to help someone else.

Impact doesn’t always come with a title. And recognition shouldn’t require one.

Why 40 Over 40?

The idea behind 40 Over 40 is simple:

Experience matters.

By 40, most of us have accumulated more than birthdays.

We’ve made mistakes. We’ve learned lessons. We’ve lost things. We’ve built things. We’ve changed directions. We’ve developed relationships. We’ve discovered what we’re good at — and sometimes what we’re not.

Life experience has a way of changing how we lead, serve and see the people around us.

There is no expiration date on making a difference.

And there certainly isn’t an expiration date on possibility.

The Coastal Buzz was created to spotlight the People, Places & Possibilities shaping our region. The 40 Over 40 Awards are a natural extension of that mission.

The Stories Matter as Much as the Awards

We don’t want 40 Over 40 to simply be a night where 40 names are called and 40 awards are handed out.

We want people to know the stories behind the names.

Leading up to the inaugural celebration, The Coastal Buzz plans to introduce our community to the Class of 2027 and share more about the experiences, contributions and journeys that brought them here.

That’s important to us because some of the most meaningful stories in a community aren’t necessarily the loudest ones.

Sometimes you have to go looking for them.

That’s something we’re committed to doing.

An Awards Event Designed to Give Back

From the beginning, we’ve envisioned The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 as both a community recognition event and a charitable event.

This isn’t being created as a profit center for The Coastal Buzz.

After legitimate expenses associated with producing the event are paid, net proceeds from the inaugural 40 Over 40 celebration will be donated back into our community through a local nonprofit partner.

That means every part of the event can contribute to something larger.

The honorees receive recognition.

The community gets to celebrate them.

Sponsors have an opportunity to support something meaningful.

And a local nonprofit receives resources to continue its work.

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate people making a difference than to allow the celebration itself to make one.

Additional information about the charitable partner will be announced in 2027.

Coming in Late 2027

The inaugural The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 celebration is being planned for late 2027.

We’re announcing the vision early because we want to build this intentionally.

Additional details will begin rolling out in early 2027, including information about the program, community involvement, sponsorship opportunities and eventually the inaugural Class of 2027.

We’re deliberately keeping many of those details behind the scenes for now.

But several principles are already important to us.

40 Over 40 will not be about popularity.

It won’t be about who has the largest social media following.

It won’t simply be about who has the biggest title.

And recognition will not be something someone can buy.

It will be about people, stories and impact.

The Beginning of a Tradition

Our hope is that the inaugural Class of 2027 becomes the beginning of something much larger.

Class of 2027.

Class of 2028.

Class of 2029.

And year after year, another 40 stories added to a growing record of people who have helped shape this community.

Over time, we hope the impact can be measured another way, too — through the money 40 Over 40 is able to put back into local organizations doing meaningful work.

Imagine looking back years from now and seeing hundreds of people recognized and thousands of dollars returned to the community because people came together to celebrate them.

That’s the tradition we want to build.

There Is More Ahead

We’re not ready to reveal everything yet.

Nominations, eligibility, selection, sponsorship opportunities, the charitable partnership, event information and other details will come later.

For now, we’re planting the flag.

The Coastal Buzz 40 Over 40 — Class of 2027.

Forty people.

Forty stories.

One community celebration.

And an opportunity to turn recognition into something that gives back.

Coming late 2027.

More details beginning in early 2027.