“Chester County is one of the most amazing places in the world,” said Matthew Holliday, the Executive Director of the Chester County Bar Association. “People here are very neighborly and look after each other. We have excellent schools and safe communities.”

Not to mention a crop of millennials who are as accomplished as anyone, anywhere, under the age of 40.

Holliday was among the members of the inaugural class of VISTA Millennial Superstars, a new initiative that VISTA Today recently launched, in conjunction with the Chester County Economic Development Council, to honor emerging leaders who are leveraging their skills to ensure a bright future for the county.

Hundreds of guests gathered at the North American headquarters of Saint-Gobain earlier this month for the first annual VISTA Millennial Superstars Awards Reception. With the support of executive sponsors Wilmington University and Brumbaugh Wealth Management and nonprofit sponsor Chester County Food Bank, the event celebrated the young professionals who are breaking down walls, shattering expectations, and doing remarkable work, either in their careers or communities.

“I think it’s really great that the sponsors got together and decided to recognize the up-and-coming leadership in Chester County,” said VISTA Millennial Superstar Lauren Harrell, the Head of Commodities for the Financial Institutions Group at Chatham Financial in Kennett Square. “I think it’s important that we highlight the individuals that are learning from the great ones who came before us.”

Members of the inaugural class of VISTA Millennial Superstars represented an array of fields, including education, medicine, politics, tourism, law, services, media, banking, and finance.

“There’s such a wealth of great people, great talent, great companies in Chester County,” said VISTA Millennial Superstar Patrick Hayakawa, the CCEDC’s Vice President of Innovation & Emerging Technologies. “The names and the accomplishments of the people who were picked makes you go, ‘Wow, I’m pretty lucky!’”

“Working and living in Chester County provides me with an opportunity to give back to an area that’s given so much to me,” said VISTA Millennial Superstar Jeffrey Scharf, the President of Canna Botanical Dentistry. “I just want to thank VISTA for all of their support and putting on this wonderful event.”.