EVERETT — Samantha Love, an autism specialist who helped reduce the long list of children waiting to be tested for the disorder, was named the winner of The Herald Business Journal’s Emerging Leader award on Tuesday night.
Event coordinator Kathy Solberg announced the winner in front of more than 100 people including 11 other nominees or their representatives at APEX Everett. It was the 10th year where the best and brightest of Snohomish County under 40 were honored for their service.
“This has been the biggest blessing imaginable to ever be up here,” Love said after receiving the award.
Because of the death of her 62-year-old father earlier this year, Love said she almost considered skipping the interview process for emerging leaders. Love is glad she didn’t withdraw but never thought she would win.
Love was one of four finalists named Tuesday night before being announced as the winner.
The other three finalists were Natalie Given, a spokesperson for The Everett Police Department; Christina Strand, a community engagement specialist with Community Transit; and Melinda Cervantes, a volunteer at many community organizations.
For Love, this is the second win in her life in less than a month. Love, a professional weightlifter with multiple sclerosis, took first place in the USA Masters weightlifting competition in the women’s 64- kilogram adaptive athletic category late last month in Boise. She is blind in her left eye from multiple sclerosis.
“The weightlifting helps keep my multiple sclerosis in remission,” Love said, who was diagnosed at 21 while on duty with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan as a human intelligence collector. In her role, Love interrogated the enemy and worked as a Farsi interpreter. She learned the language as part of her Army training.
Her main focus has been to help children with autism and their families.
“I just have a soft spot in my heart for supporting kids with autism and noticed that the wait list was years long in the region and the area,” Love said after receiving the award Tuesday.
Love began offering services in clients’ homes t0 reduce the backlog, and reduced fees to families in need of an evaluation.
Love holds a master’s degree in education and is pursuing a doctorate in psychology.
Solberg, who owns the CommonUnity consulting firm, said committee members received 100 applications for this year’s competition. That number was narrowed down to the 12 finalists who were honored on Tuesday night.
CommonUnity was a co-sponsor of Tuesday’s’s event.
Solberg told the attendees at the event Tuesday that the judges were struck by Love’s vision: “Make sure no individual or family feels stuck or ignored when it comes to support for neurodiverse needs.”
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the job title for Christina Strand. She is a community engagement specialist with Community Transit.
Randy Diamond: 425-339-3097; randy.diamond@heraldnet.com
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