Five St. Ambrose University graduates are named to the 2026 Quad Cities Business Journal Forty Under 40 list. The list honors young professionals for their leadership and impact across the Quad Cities region.
The SAU honorees are:
- Kristin Gonzales ’08, BA in Marketing
- Lindsey Mack Schneider ’15, BA Accounting, ’18 MSW, MBA
- Bridgette Prince ’16, BA Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology, ’17 MSCJ
- Haley MacDonald ’17, BEd
- Sebastian Mireles ’25, BBA in Marketing
The Forty Under 40 honorees are chosen by a panel that weighs nominees’ professional success and civic and philanthropic involvement.
At just 26 years old, Sebastian Mireles ’25 is the youngest person named to this year’s QCBJ Forty under 40 list. It was only three years ago he transferred to St. Ambrose to finish his degree, after taking a three-year gap upon completing community college. Looking back, he never would have imagined being named to such a prestigious list.
“When I started at SAU, I was in a different mindset,” he said. “Coming back to school and finishing my degree was something I had always dreamed of, especially as a first-generation student. If I had never taken those first steps to come back, I would not be where I am today.”
The marketing major says one of the most impactful things he learned in the College of Business was cultivating a mindset of “business for the greater good.” As the current program and operations manager for the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mireles brings this understanding into his daily interactions with business and nonprofits across the Quad Cities.
“I work with all types of individuals such as small business owners, corporate leaders, and non-profit leaders. With the value of 'business for the greater good' I believe that everyone in the business community should be treated that way.”
Lindsey Mack Schneider’s ’15, ’18 MSW, MBA, work was also shaped by her St. Ambrose education. Coming from a small town in Iowa, the accounting major immersed herself in the many opportunities offered through the university, making connections that would change the course of her life.
“My professors and university staff took the time to understand me as an individual,” she recalled. “It was actually a faculty member for a club that I was involved in who first noticed my underlying passion for social justice. They encouraged that drive and helped guide me toward the social work path I am on today.”
Today, Schneider works as a trauma informed care systems coordinator and change agent for NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley. She spends her days helping organizations across the Quad Cities develop and implement trauma-informed systems, bringing a human-focused lens to their everyday work.
“At the core, my passion is simply to serve our community. Service,” a value she said was fostered through her St. Ambrose education, “is taking my care, empathy, and love for others and turning it into tangible advocacy that promotes a healthy, happy, and resilient community where we all want to live, work, and play.”
Both Forty under 40 honorees have simple advice for the college student today:
“Get involved on campus,” Schneider said. “Go to the events, talk to the stranger sitting next to you, and never be afraid to ask for help. Give yourself the grace to try different things and change your mind. I came into college thinking my path was set in one direction, and I ended up pivoting to a completely different career.
“I walked away from St. Ambrose with multiple degrees, but more importantly, I left with friends who turned into family and an invaluable network of connections.”
“Build a strong network both on campus and outside of campus,” Mireles said. “Being a part of clubs and organizations both on campus and off campus not only helped me with while in school but also helped me once I graduated and was in search of a job.”
See how SAU can help you become who you are meant to be. It all starts with a visit to campus. Schedule yours today.
