Two Parkland College Staff Members Honored at Forty Under 40

Hundreds of area young professionals and business leaders have been recognized

Two Parkland College staff members, Cayla Waters and Laura Wright, were recently honored in this year's class of Central Illinois Business Forty Under 40 in October.

Waters serves as associate director in contract training and professional development at Parkland’s Community Education.

"Being named among the Forty Under 40 is an honor that motivates me to keep finding new ways to serve our community and empower others through education," Waters said. "It’s a reflection of the many partnerships, collaborations, and people who make it possible. It’s also a celebration of the people who have supported and believed in me along the way such as my family, colleagues, and mentors."

Waters started at Parkland in Community Education in 2022 as a professional development program manager before moving into her current leadership role in 2024.

"Receiving this recognition encourages me to keep growing as a leader and stay focused on creating opportunities for others," Waters said. "It validates the path I’ve chosen and inspires me to keep learning, creating, and leading with purpose."

Wright serves as a labor and employee relations consultant in Human Resources at Parkland College.

"Like many in this year’s class, the work I’ve done at Parkland or in the broader community was not for the purpose earning recognition before turning 40," Wright said. "This honor is an unexpected and deeply meaningful acknowledgment of my professional efforts at Parkland, and my volunteer work with local organizations."

Wright served in the college’s Accessibility Services from 2017 until 2025 when she moved into her current role.

"This award strengthens my commitment to continue investing in the kind of community I want to help build—one rooted in service, growth, and connection," Wright said. "I see this award not as a finish line, but as a call to action for myself and those around me to keep striving toward a better, more connected community."

Two faculty members at Parkland College were also honored, including WCIA meteorologist Jacob Dickey. He features the college in his ongoing Community College Connections segments and serves as an adjunct professor at Parkland, teaching Introduction to Meteorology. Sergeant Sean Ater with the Champaign Police Department serves as a response training instructor at Parkland’s Community Education.

Since 2008, Central Illinois Business Magazine has recognized hundreds of area young professionals and business leaders. More information about this year’s class of honorees can be found online at The News-Gazette.