published: Friday, July 03, 2009

Clermont's Thompson and Jones among '40 under 40' honored by OBJ

ROXANNE BROWN

Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- Two Clermont business owners -- Bret Jones and Robert Thompson -- were spotlighted as two of the region's 40 top young business and civic leaders by the Orlando Business Journal.

Thompson, 27, is a founding partner of the PR firm, Thompson, Wesley, Wolfe. Jones, 29, is the managing attorney for Bret Jones PA. Both companies are based in Clermont.

"It was a definite honor to even be considered. It's a pretty large field people are picked from," Thompson said. "I attribute it to the hard work of the people in our firm however, because they've helped build a good name for me over the years and I think it speaks volumes for our role in Central Florida."

Jones called it "a cool thing."

The fact that there were two from Clermont on the list also says a lot about South Lake County and how it's grown and developed, Jones said. "I'm glad that the OBJ and the entire Central Florida area is taking notice of South Lake County. That's the high point for me."

The OBJ's 40 under 40 list, announced annually since 1996, can be found in the June 19-25 edition and was prefaced with an introduction that said those selected showed consistent, outstanding professional achievement and a commitment to community service.

Publisher Ann Sonntag said that 160 nominations were received and whittled down to 40.

Sonntag said criteria were nominees had to be under 40, moving up the corporate ladder, establishing a good name for themselves as business professionals, and being involved in their communities.

Thompson lists the Clermont City Council and LifeStream Behavioral Center Foundation as two of his contributions to the community. Thompson is on the board of directors of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce. Thompson's greatest business achievement is listed as the moment he hired his first employee, realizing that his company was growing.

Two of Jones' community contributions are the Cornerstone Hospice Foundation and the Lake-Sumter Community College Foundation. Jones is an active member of the South Lake Chamber. Jones' great business achievement is having started a law firm and gaining the trust of people and businesses.

"We are very proud of these two guys here in South Lake County and I think the sky is the limit for them," said Dr. Chuck Mojock, chairman of the chamber's board of directors and president of Lake-Sumter Community Collee. "It says a lot of the community when you have young people who are recognized for what they are doing already and for what their potential is as future community business leaders."