3 UMSL alumni named to St. Louis Business Journal’s 2016 40 Under 40 class

by Jen Hatton | Dec 23, 2015

With more than 650 people nominated, the UMSL alumni had some stiff competition and are among a group of elite St. Louisans.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis has more than 92,000 remarkable alumni, three of whom have just been named to the 2016 40 Under 40 class by the St. Louis Business Journal.

St. Louis Business Journal's "40 Under 40" With more than 650 people nominated, the UMSL alumni had some stiff competition and are among a group of elite St. Louisans.

The annual list recognizes individuals in the St. Louis community who have made an impact in the business world before reaching the age of 40.

The UMSL alumni honorees are:

Joseph C. Blanner (BS public administration 1998)
Akif Cogo (BA history 2012)
Nikedra (Nikki) D. Doughty (BA communication 2002)

Blanner is an attorney at McCarthy, Leonard & Kaemmerer, LC in Town and Country, Mo. His primary focus is on construction law, municipal law, real estate and commercial and general civil litigation. Blanner has published various articles on construction and real estate law. He was named “Rising Star” by Superlawyer’s Magazine for four consecutive years and received the “Roy F. Essen Outstanding Young Lawyer Award” from the St. Louis County Bar Association.

Cogo is assistant director of custodial services at Saint Louis University. In 2011, he founded the nonprofit organization St. Louis Bosnians. The goal of the group is charity work, advocacy on local, state, national and international levels, and cultural and educational programs for Bosnian-Americans and other interested parties. Currently, St. Louis Bosnians cultivates its mission through the St. Louis Bosnians website, an online database of the Bosnian community in St. Louis.

Doughty is chief operating officer at City Academy, a private, independent school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in St. Louis. She is an active educational leader in the St. Louis community, a trustee and foundation secretary for the Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls and a trustee of the Washington University in St. Louis Women’s Society. She is also involved with Great Circle Agency, InspireSTL and Urban Education Initiatives.

Visit the St. Louis Business Journal’s website for a complete list of honorees. All 40 recipients will be recognized during a dinner Feb. 18 at Chase Park Plaza.