Class of 2027
Find a Pro WNY 30 Under 30
Recognizing the next generation of Western New York’s skilled trades and home-service business owners.
Find a Pro WNY is searching for 30 exceptional business owners under 30 helping build, repair, improve, and care for homes and properties across Erie and Niagara Counties.
Nominations close .
About the program
Recognizing the owners building WNY’s trades
30 Under 30 recognizes 30 owners under 30 of Western New York trade, contracting and home-service businesses — and shares the stories behind them. It is an editorial, community-recognition program: not a vote, contest, sweepstakes or paid award.
Quality work and a strong reputation
Customers trust them, and their work shows it.
Entrepreneurial initiative
They took the risk of starting or taking over a business.
Business growth or momentum
New customers, new crews, new services — the business is moving.
Leadership and future potential
They are building something that will last, and bringing people with them.
Positive impact on customers or the community
Their work makes Western New York homes and neighborhoods better.
Eligibility
Who can be nominated
Requirements
- Age: 18 to 29 years old on (born between and ).
- Ownership: an owner or co-owner of the business.
- Active business: active and legally operating.
- Erie or Niagara County: headquartered there, or primarily serving it. The inaugural class is these two counties only.
- Trade or home service: a skilled trade, contracting, construction, property or home-related service.
Good to know
- Self-nominations are welcome, and so are nominations from customers, colleagues and anyone else.
- No purchase necessary. Nominating is free, and no paid Find a Pro WNY membership is required.
- No listing required. The business does not need to be on Find a Pro WNY.
- No chamber membership required.
- Age, ownership, service area and business status may be verified privately before anyone is selected.
Businesses that may qualify
- General contractors
- Remodelers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- HVAC contractors
- Roofers
- Landscapers
- Excavators
- Concrete & masonry
- Painters
- Flooring
- Carpenters
- Cleaning companies
- Tree service
- Pest control
- Property maintenance
- Other home & property services
What recipients receive
Each member of the Class of 2027 receives:
- Recognition as a member of the Class of 2027, the program’s inaugural class
- One complimentary year of a Premium Find a Pro WNY listing (approximate retail value $228: $19 a month for 12 months) — your logo, a photo gallery, a website link, your full service list, additional service categories and an enhanced quote form, with quote requests emailed to you. Premium does not change where a listing ranks in search results. It ends after 12 months with no automatic renewal and no payment card required
- A “30 Under 30 Honoree” mark on your Find a Pro WNY listing, linked to your spotlight
- An individual editorial spotlight
- An official 2027 30 Under 30 digital badge
- Social-media recognition
- Inclusion in the complete class announcement
- Potential inclusion in local-media and partner coverage
- A potential professional headshot or business portrait, subject to scheduling and final program planning
Recognition is awarded to the individual owner. The complimentary Premium year applies to the recipient’s business listing and does not change where it ranks in search.
How recipients are selected
Find a Pro WNY evaluates each eligible nomination on:
- Business achievement and momentum
- Quality of work and reputation
- Entrepreneurship and personal story
- Community impact
- Leadership and future potential
Trade, geographic and community representation may also be considered. The number of nominations someone receives, and social-media engagement, are not selection criteria — and not every eligible nominee can be selected.
Timeline
Key dates
Deadlines are in Eastern Time.
- Nominations open
Now
- Nominations close
- Review period
- Recipients notified
- Class announced
FAQ
Questions and answers
Who is eligible?
Owners and co-owners of an active, legally operating trade, contracting, construction, property or home-service business headquartered in, or primarily serving, one of these two Western New York counties: Erie or Niagara. The nominee must be 18 to 29 years old on January 15, 2027 — born between January 16, 1997 and January 15, 2009.
My business is in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Genesee, Orleans or Wyoming County — can I be nominated?
Not for this class. Find a Pro WNY lists businesses across all eight Western New York counties, but the inaugural 2027 30 Under 30 is limited to Erie or Niagara — the two counties where the program's community partners and local press are. You can still list your business free at findaprowny.com.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes. Self-nominations are welcome and are considered in exactly the same way as nominations from others.
Can I nominate someone else?
Yes — a customer, employee, colleague, supplier, teacher, family member or anyone who knows the owner’s work can nominate them. We may contact the nominee to confirm details before they are considered.
Does the business need to be listed on Find a Pro WNY?
No. An existing Find a Pro WNY listing is not required, and neither is a paid membership.
Does the nominee need to be a chamber member?
No. Chamber of commerce membership is not required.
Is there a cost?
No. Nominating is free and no purchase is necessary. Recognition cannot be bought.
What types of businesses qualify?
Skilled-trade, contracting, construction, property and home-service businesses: general contractors, remodelers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, roofers, landscapers, excavators, concrete and masonry, painters, flooring, carpenters, cleaning, tree service, pest control, property maintenance and other qualified home and property services.
How is age verified?
The nomination form only asks for confirmation that the nominee meets the age requirement — not a date of birth. If a nominee advances to eligibility verification, we will privately ask for proof of age. It is never published.
Can more than one person nominate the same owner?
Yes. Related nominations are reviewed together. The number of nominations an owner receives is not a selection criterion.
Are nominations determined by popularity?
No. This is an editorial recognition program, not a vote or contest. Nomination counts, social-media engagement and popularity play no part in selection.
How are recipients selected?
Find a Pro WNY reviews each eligible nomination for business achievement and momentum, quality of work and reputation, entrepreneurship and personal story, community impact, and leadership and future potential. Trade, geographic and community representation may also be considered.
Does being a Find a Pro WNY customer or sponsor help?
No. Nominating is free, and whether someone is a Find a Pro WNY customer, advertiser, sponsor or partner has no bearing on selection. Sponsorship has no influence on nominee selection.
Does recognition mean a business is vetted or guaranteed?
No. Recognition reflects our editorial judgment of the nomination and the information we verified about eligibility. It is not an endorsement or a guarantee of anyone’s work, licensing or insurance, so please make your own checks before hiring any contractor.
What happens after someone is nominated?
The nominator receives a confirmation email with a reference number. After nominations close on November 30, 2026, 11:59 PM ET, eligible nominations are reviewed, and we may ask for more information. Selected recipients are expected to be contacted privately in December 2026.
When will the class be announced?
The Class of 2027 is scheduled to be announced January 15, 2027.
Will nomination information be made public?
No. Nominations are private. Nothing about a nominee — their name, story or photos — is published unless they are selected and have reviewed and agreed to the publicity terms themselves. A nomination by someone else is never treated as permission to publish.
Read the official rules or email carl@findaprowny.com.