Hartford Business Journal

38 Hartford Business Journal • July 20, 2015 www.HartfordBusiness.com 40 Under Forty 2015 Judges Ashley "A.J." Johnson, 30, is a young man of his community and faith, who over the past several years has dem- onstrated his passion, devotion and zeal to see the development and advancement of the Greater Hartford community. In 2008, Johnson graduated with a bachelor's degree in religious studies and education from the W.L. Bonner College of Colombia, S.C. In 2013, after the passing of his father, the late Dr. William M. Johnson, Ashley Johnson took on the responsibility and the challenge of pastoring Urban Hope Refuge located in the heart of the north end of Hartford. In 2014, he was recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as one of the 40 Under Forty award recipients; The Merrilee Milstein Award For Organizing, Activism & Leadership; and The 100 Men Color Award. Today in addition to pastoring in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Hart- ford, he runs an organization called Small Business Night Out, which is devoted to assisting small business owners and young entrepreneurs to advance and stimulate economic development in their local area. John E. Adams is a senior vice president at Tetra Tech, a global leader in providing environmental, engineer- ing and technical services. An active participant in shaping Connecticut's environmental remediation programs, he has served on task forces revising the property transfer program and developing remediation standards. He is a member of the State Board of Examiners of Environ- mental Professionals, the Materials Inno- vation and Recycling Authority Board of Directors, previously served as Granby's first selectman for 10 years and as vice chairman of the Capital Region Council of Governments. John is married to Cindy, and they have two grown children who live in great places to visit. He enjoys skiing, days on the beach and recently completed his first marathon. Diane Whitney practices environ- mental and land use law with Hartford firm Pullman & Comley. She is a graduate of William Smith College, with a master's degree from Colgate University and a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Prior to law school, she taught high school English. She serves on the boards of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Con- necticut Women's Hall of Fame, and the Hartford Club, and she previously served on the boards of Greater Hartford Legal Aid and the University of Connecticut Law School Foundation. Before going into private practice, she was an assis- tant attorney general with the state of Connecticut. She lives in Windsor.

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