Will Sears, founder and chief executive officer of W.Bradford, a Cincinnati-based marketing agency, has been named to the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2025 Forty Under 40 list, an annual recognition honoring the region’s most dynamic young leaders shaping the future of business and civic life.
Sears, 39, founded W.Bradford in 2017 to help brands stand out through bold creative strategy and a pragmatic, market-driven approach. Since its founding, the agency has earned national recognition for its specialized work in manufacturing, lighting, automotive, fashion, professional services, and healthcare industries, and has partnered with more than 200 clients globally.
In 2024, W.Bradford was named to the Courier’s “Fast 55” list, recognizing it as one of the 55 fastest-growing companies in Cincinnati and its surrounding 15 counties.
“As a transplant to Cincinnati, I don’t consider this award as just a trophy,” Sears said. “It is an embrace from a city where, for the last six years, I’ve solidified the essence of who I am. The people I’ve befriended, the clients my business has served, and the honest spirit of the area make this honor meaningful to me and my exceptionally talented team.”
The Forty Under 40 award is one of the Courier’s most competitive honors, with hundreds of nominations each year. Honorees are selected by an independent panel of judges based on professional achievements, community impact, and leadership potential.
Sears joins a cohort of business, nonprofit, and civic leaders whose work is driving the region forward.
W.Bradford, the only certified LGBTBE marketing agency in Cincinnati, is based downtown at 311 Elm Street and serves an international roster of clients with full-service marketing capabilities.
Members of the 2025 Class Include:
- Alen Amini, 38, Executive Director, Starfire Council of Greater Cincinnati
- Samy Broyles, 37, Regional Director of Community and Alumni Engagement, Miami University
- Sarah Cameron, 39, Managing Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl (Northern Kentucky Office)
- Adam Centner, 39, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
- Jackie Congedo, 39, CEO, Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center
- Endia Crabtree, 38, Principal Product Risk Scientist, Boston Scientific Corp.
- Elizabeth Desrosiers, 33, Director of Marketing and Communications, Cincinnati Open
- Katie Dulle, 34, Strategic Initiatives Program Manager, Oracle
- Steven Ferneding, 31, Financial Adviser, Northwestern Mutual – Cincinnati
- Sydney Fine, 34, Senior Director of Impact, ArtWorks
- Justin Freeman, 37, Vice President of Operations, Stanton Millworks
- Christin Godale, 31, Executive Director, LifeSciKY
- Nicholas Groman, 34, Senior Wealth Adviser, Concentric Wealth Management
- M. Zack Hohl, 38, Partner, Bricker Graydon LLP
- Olivia Jaworek Frias, 38, Patient Navigator for Fertility Preservation, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
- Ryan Kilpatrick, 39, Partner, GBQ Partners
- Ashley Kirklen, 39, News Anchor, WLWT News 5
- Chad Kolde, 38, COO, CFO, and Principal, Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC
- Jeff Levine, 36, Partner, Strauss Troy
- Eric Loftus, 39, Partner and Financial Adviser, Wealth Dimensions Group
- Lauren Lohmann, 39, Director of Administration, Jancoa Janitorial Services Inc.
- Katie Mahon, 36, Program Manager, Sheakley
- Geoff Marsh, 38, Managing Partner, Amend Consulting
- Lily Maynard, 36, Director of Global Conservation, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
- Megan Meyer, 36, Executive Search Consultant, Gilman Partners
- Ashley Morris, 36, Vice President of Marketing, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
- Peter Niehoff, 39, Adjunct Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of Cincinnati
- Andrew Nordquist, 38, Senior Relationship Manager, Key Private Bank
- Emily North, 36, Marketing and Internal Communications Manager, Christ Hospital Health Network
- Emma Off, 39, President, CEO and Partner, CincyTech
- Tarita Preston, 39, Founder, Tarita Preston Coaching
- Matt Reckman, 39, President of Property Management, Model Group
- Colleen Reynolds, 32, Partner, DSD Advisors LLC
- Brandon Rudd, 37, Director of the Center for Research & Data, Cincinnati Regional Chamber
- Tim Ruge, 38, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Paycor
- Will Sears, 39, Founder and CEO, W.Bradford
- Brandon Simmons, 37, Managing Director, KMK Consulting Co.
- Nathaniel Sizemore, 39, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Sizemore & Co. LLC
- Brittany Speed, 38, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Beech Acres
- Marissa Staples, 38, Account Manager, The Katalyst Group
