The Blazer Fast 40 honors the top 40 fastest‑growing alumni‑led businesses, based on annual growth over the three most recent reporting periods.Congratulate the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 2026 class of Blazer Fast 40 recipients and celebrate their outstanding accomplishments Friday, June 5, at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.
Presented by the UAB National Alumni Society, the Blazer Fast 40 honors the top 40 fastest‑growing alumni‑led businesses, based on annual growth over the three most recent reporting periods. Rankings and verification are conducted in partnership with Warren Averett, LLC. This updated program builds on the legacy of the UAB Excellence in Business Top 25, expanding its reach and spotlighting even more Blazer‑built success stories across industries and regions.
The 2026 class of Blazer Fast 40 is a dynamic group of alumni business leaders whose innovation and growth embody the spirit of UAB excellence.
Kick off the night at 5:30 p.m. with a lively cocktail social hour, then cheer on this year’s honorees during an awards show filled with Blazer pride at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. Register and buy tickets. Complimentary valet parking will be available in the 12th Street South roundabout.
Class of 2026 Blazer Fast 40
- Jose Osorio, graduate of the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, founder and chief marketing officer, 3PH Alliance
- Chris Snuggs, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, president, Ad Spark
- Quinn Bierman, graduate of the School of Public Health, founder and president, Air Hygiene
- Rod Marshall, Ed.S., and Ross Hickman, graduates of the School of Education and Human Sciences, chief executive officer and chief program officer, Alabama Baptist Children’s Home
- Joshua Baker, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, principal owner and managing director, Baker Camp Arnold Capital Management
- Ryan Tripp, graduate of the Collat School of Business, chief financial officer of BluePenguin Payments, Inc., and chief executive officer of The Acceleration Group
- Andy Watkins and Debbie Watkins, graduates of the School of Education and Human Sciences, owners of Bob Watkins Realty
- Jeffrey Cowen, graduate of the School of Engineering, president, Building & Earth Sciences, Inc.
- Dave Karr, graduate of the Collat School of Business, founder and chief executive officer, BuyOrBorrow Music
- Chelsea Maniscalco, DMD, graduate of the School of Dentistry, owner, Central Avenue Dentistry
- Andrew Manning, graduate of the Collat School of Business, managing director, Certified Pro Advisors
- Cory Harris, graduate of the School of Health Professions, and Meghan Pattison, graduate of the School of Nursing and Honors College, chief operating officer and chief clinical officer, Christ Health Center
- April Collins, graduate of the College of Arts and Science, founder, Collins Law
- Troy Wallwork, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Lindsay Hood, graduate of the Collat School of Business, chief executive officer and chief financial officer, DataPerk
- Marc Martinelli, graduate of the Collat School of Business, owner and president, Disaster Dr
- Shaheen Upton, DMD, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Dentistry, and Gary Upton, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Family Care Dental
- Adam Hickman, graduate of the Collat School of Business, president, Foxhound Bee Company
- Joseph Braswell, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, owner, Guin Service
- Natasha Herrine Andrews, graduate of the School of Nursing, chief executive officer, Healthcare Connections NP
- William Breen Jr., DSC, graduate of the School of Health Professions, founder and chief executive officer, Honeycomb Management Group, LLC
- Barry Owens, graduate of the School of Health Professions, owner and vice president, HouseCall Today, Inc.
- Loyd Bittle, graduate of the Collat School of Business, chief executive officer, Innovar Healthcare
- Taylor Jackson, graduate of the School of Engineering, president, Jackson Agrobuilders, LLC
- Kendell Jno-Finn, DPT, and Chantel Jno-Finn, DPT, graduates of the School of Health Professions, founder/principal and administrator, M3 Performance and Physical Therapy
- Tim MacKay, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, chief executive officer, Macmel
- Keymani Isiadinso, graduate of the Collat School of Business, founder and chief executive officer, MihoraCo LLC
- Emily Haynes McGee, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, founder and chief executive officer, Mosaic Interpreting Services
- Lindsey Neal, graduate of the Collat School of Business, founder and chief executive officer, Mpire Concepts Group
- Ben Samuelson, DMD, graduate of the School of Dentistry, owner, Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics Associates
- Albert Hurston Jr., graduate of the Collat School of Business, and Lauren Hurston, graduate of College of Arts and Sciences, owner/chief executive officer and chief operations officer, Right Choice Accounting Solutions
- Stan Roberts, graduate of the Collat School of Business, owner, Roberts Wealth Management
- Ricardo Azziz, graduate of the School of Public Health and Collat School of Business, principal, SPH Consulting Group
- Monica Squires, graduate of the School of Nursing, owner, Springville Pediatrics/Coastal Pediatrics
- Justin Toomey, graduate of the Collat School of Business, chief executive officer, SVN | Toomey Property Advisors
- Jake Lindsey, graduate of the Collat School of Business, chief financial officer and Nick Stone, vice president, The Banyan Foundation, Inc.
- Troy McCawley, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, president, The BOSS Company
- Carrie Bonds, O.D., and Laura Bonds, O.D., graduates of the School of Optometry, president and optometrist, The Family Eye Group
- Nikia Lightfoot, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, owner and chief executive officer, Vujee Vegan
- Alice Westery, graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, executive director, Youth Towers
Sponsorship opportunities are available
Showcase your brand alongside high‑achieving UAB alumni and connect with leaders from the Blazer business community. Sponsors receive recognition during the event and visibility in the Blazer Fast 40 Digital Magazine, distributed to more than 100,000 UAB alumni.