Published on September 23, 2022 by Kameron Brown  
2022 23 Digital BBJ 40 under 40 graphic 3UP
Photo courtesy of Birmingham Business Journal

Three Samford University alumni have been recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal for their work. The Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 spotlights young professionals who are making strides as leaders in the metro Birmingham area. The three alumni include: Nisu Patel ’18, Lacy Smith ’04 and Katie Voss ’11.

Patel currently serves as a financial adviser and a growth and development director for Northwestern Mutual. Born in India, Patel and his family immigrated to Montgomery, Alabama when he was a few months old. After attending Samford’s Brock School of Business, Patel fell in love with Birmingham. Since graduating, Patel was named top intern several times and after only one year of working full time, his practice grew by 400%. Additionally, he has been consistently ranked among the top young advisers nationwide. His entrepreneurship and financial business now cater to serving the Indian community in Birmingham and mentoring young advisers.

Since graduating from Samford’s School of Health Professions, Smith co-founded Cahaba Medical Care where she serves as the chief medical officer, chief operations officer and senior associate program director. Under her leadership, Cahaba Medical Care grew from 11 employees to more than 500. She has opened five new health centers, a dental clinic and five school-based health centers across central Alabama, including the student health center at Birmingham-Southern College. In 2021, she garnered attention from The Washington Post for the equitable distribution of 45,000 COVID-19 vaccines.

Voss graduated from Brock School of Business and went on to work for Brasfield & Gorrie where she now serves on their risk management team. She has developed a team of over 20 employees who jointly oversee the company’s subcontractor compliance, subcontractor default protection and corporate insurance and bonding programs. Voss says she fell in love with Birmingham, the job opportunities it provides and the excellent culinary scene. Along with raising her family, she plans to continue working and living in the Magic City and mentoring other young professionals in the construction industry.  

To read more, go to the Birmingham Business Journal website.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.