This year's 30 under 30 list spotlights men and women who have attained a significant position in their field, received an award for their work or achieved physical feats.

The list includes East Carolina University and professional athletes, business owners in a variety of fields including mental health, animal services, fashion and tattooing. We've got television reporters, military veterans and even a mayoral candidate.

If you know of someone that we didn't include in this year's list, there's always next year, provided your candidate is 30 or under as of November 2008. Send an e-mail to mixer@coxnc.com to tell us about your candidate.

Age: 26

Occupation: Assistant Director for Graduate Programs at East Carolina University's College of Business

Husband: Joshua

Why we picked her: Armstrong advises ECU students as they progress through their master's of business adminsitration program. In her position, she also recruits students frombusinesses and universities across the state.

Armstrong recently returned from a business trip to Sydney, Australia, as a member of Rotary International's Group Study Exchange program, which gives young professionals the opportunity to experience their profession in another country.

In her spare time, Armstrong immerses herself in the local arts scene. She is a co-founder of the Magnolia Arts Center, which was estabalished in 2005. The center produces plays, holds independent film screenings and works with other arts organizations in Pitt county.

Best part of being under 30: I have lots of energy to put toward my goals and hobbies and I will have plenty of time to watch them grow.

Hobbies and pastimes: In addition to working with the Magnolia Arts Center, I stage manage and am a board member for Farmville Community Arts Council. Recent shows I've worked on are "Chicago," "Ragtime," and "Jekyll & Hyde." I also help with the musicals for Arendell Parrott Academy.

Age: 24

Occupation: WNCT Eyewitness New 9 reporter

Why we picked her: A WNCT Eyewitness News 9 reporter since 2005, Burgos graduated Cum Laude from Florida International University in May 2005.

During her senior year at FIU, Burgos interned for WFOR CBS4 in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area, accompanying experienced reporters during breaking news stories. As an intern, she interviewed Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, translated interviews from Spanish for on-air use, and helped reporters gather information for their stories.

As part of another internship, Burgos co-hosted a four-month gig with 94.9 Zeta radio station. She was on-air Sunday nights on a segment called "En Fuego" or "On Fire," where callers would request their favorite songs from famous Latin rock bands.

Burgos was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and moved the United States when she was a teenager.

Although she misses the culture, food and sights of her native island, she travels as much as possible.

Best part about being under 30: "At 24 years old, life is taking shape for me. I moved from Florida to North Carolina for my career. I love being a reporter. It's a lot of work, but rewarding. Not many people get the chance to tell another person's story, and I enjoy doing that. While I'm not at work, I enjoy being 24. I hang out with friends, go to the movies, relax and, when I get a chance, I travel to my native island Puerto Rico.

"Although being under the age of 30 is great, I can't wait until the next chapter of my life. It'll be a new beginning with new challenges and new goals."

Favorite Quote: "Carpe Diem," which means "Seize the Day."

Age: 30

Occupation: Owner and manager of Moxie Boutique

Husband: Toby Boutilier

Why we picked her: Boutilier opened the clothing boutique Moxie in downtown Greenville nearly two years ago. It was the result of a dream she's had since college. The D.H. Conley alumna received her degree in apparel merchandising and business from East Carolina University.

"This is what I've wanted to do," Boutilier said. She worked in a small business during college and it was appealing to her.

Clothing is her business, but Boutilier says her favorite article of clothing would have to be her See Thru Soul jeans. She wears them all the time.

"You can dress them up or dress them down and I feel comfortable in them," Kelly said.

In the future, Kelly hopes to expand her business, but her family also is expanding. She and her husband, Toby Boutilier, executive chef at StarLight Cafe, are expecting their first child early next year.

Favorite Quote: "Women are created equal and then they accessorize."

Best part about being 30: "Having my whole life ahead of me. I have so much more that I want to do and achieve. I've just scratched the surface. It's an exciting time."

Age: 28

Occupation: Executive Chef at Starlight Café

Wife: Kelly Boutilier

Why we picked him: Boutilier was born into the restaurant business. He started washing dishes at his father's restaurant when he was about 11 years old.

"It is the only job I have ever had and worked there (a restaurant) ever since," Boutilier said.

He said that the social interaction and cooking are what he loves most about the restaurant business.

"I just love food in general," Boutilier said.

He trained at the California Culinary Institute in San Francisco and has worked at several restaurants in North Carolina and New Jersey. He is now the executive chef at StarLight Café.

Boutilier describes StarLight, owned by his parents, as an eclectic neighborhood restaurant with a Paris bistro atmosphere.

After moving back to Greenville, he met his wife Kelly at his parent's establishiment, where she was waiting tables. His parents met the same way.

"It is a family tradition," he said.

Boutilier grew up in California, went to high school in Hillsborough and moved back to Greenville after working at a New Jersey restaurant for four years.

Favorite Quote: "There's nothing more serious than pleasure."

Goals for the next five years: "I'd like the café to be recognized as one of the best restaurants in the state. I know we're good enough, but it is hard to get recognized in a small town like Greenville."

Age: 26

Occupation: Tattoo artist and owner of Cape Fear Tattoo in Greenville and Wilmington

Husband: Dixon Broadfoot

Why we picked her: Tattooing for the last seven years, Broadfoot has made her mark this year as the cover model for the May issue of Tattoo magazine and as a featured artist in the June issue.

In addition, she recenly filmed an episode of TLC's "Miami Ink." She was tattooed by Tim Hendricks, one of the show's artists.

"The episode will air in January," Broadfoot said. "It's been a fun year."

In addition to being a tattoo artist, Broadfoot is a mother of 4-year-old Vyvyan and in school to become a nurse. She and her husband, Dixon, who is also a tattoo artist, live in Wilmington but Broadfoot works in Greenville at the couple's shop two days a week. She is a graduate of D.H. Conley High School and a Greenville native.

Favorite quote: "The earth is not my home, I am only passing through."

Best part of being under 30 is: Being under 30!

Miami Ink application video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIWdimaiVUc

On the set of Miami Ink: http://youtube.com/watch?v=sIWdimaiVUc

Age: 23

Occupation: "Momprenuer," owner of Bow Wows & Meows

Why we picked her: Clawson started her business, Bow Wows & Meows, a cookie-cutter factory and online boutique, unknowingly, four years ago.

When Clawson wanted to bake cookies in the shape of a Labrador, she had her husband fashion one out of an old coffee tin. Soon followed other dog and cat cookie cutters. At this point, the animal-shaped cookie cutters were a hobby.

She and her husband, Ken, moved back to Greenville from Sneads Ferry when she found out that she was pregnant.

"I wanted to create a business where I, as well as other families, didn't have to leave their children to go to work, and NOT be a daycare," she said.

Her hobby of making cookie cutters became the framework for Bow Wow & Meows.

"I started from scratch, and built everything from the bottom up," Clawson said.

Bow Wows & Meows just received the Better Business Bureau Online Reliability Seal in July, which means it supports the BBB's services to the public and meets the BBB Accreditation standards.

Goals for the next 5 years: In the next five years, we will definitely open up the factory to the public in some type of retail-like location. The store's been planned down to the last detail, the market and business is there, we're just waiting on the time.

Favorite quote: "Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one." — Bill Gates

Age: 28

Wife: Holly Entzminger

Occuaption: Attorney and Business Law Instructor at Pitt Community College

Why we picked him: At 28, Entzminger has been practicing law in Pitt County since 2003. He opened his own practice in 2005. In addition to his career as an attorney, he teaches part time at Pitt Community College and ran for district judge 3A during the 2004 election.

Entzminger was born and raised in Pitt County. Until he graduated from law school, he worked for his grandfather, George S. Hines, at the Dixie Queen Seafood restaurants. During that 13-year span, Entzminger held various positions at both the Winterville and Farmville locations.

While at Campbell Law, Entzminger served as an intern with the Pitt County District Attorney's office. Also, he worked for three years as a counselor with East Carolina University's Legislators' School for Youth Leadership Development.

In addition to being married, he has two daughters, Olivia Suzanne and Eliza Grayce

Hobbies and pastimes: I have enjoyed playing basketball since I was a little boy. I played in high school at Greenville Christian, and enjoyed playing intramural basketball at Campbell University. While I have slowed down quite a bit, I still try to play at least once a week, and look forward to the Med-Law Classic game every year. In addition to playing basketball, I also enjoy lifting weights, cutting hair, and, in my law school days, playing Madden on the PlayStation 2.

Favorite quote: My favorite quote comes from the great legal mind of former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, in the case of Buck v. Bell, which challenged a compulsory sterilization law in Virginia. While siding for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and thereby upholding the law, Justice Holmes stated the well-known legal truth that "three generations of imbeciles is enough."

Age: 27

Occupation: Co-owner of Wash On Wheels

Wife: Brenda Gaddy

Hobbies and pastimes: Stargazing with Old Man

Goals for the next 5 years: Expanding Wash On Wheels and embarking on new businesses.

Age: 27

Occupation: Co-owner of Wash On Wheels

Significant other: Erin Gray

Hobbies and pastimes: Watching sports, long walks on the beach and bubble baths.

Goals for the next 5 years: Finishing degree, getting married to Erin Gray, and embarking on new businesses.

Why we picked Gaddy and Robert Jones: The pair started their business while in college because they wanted something that could be worked around their school schedules.

"We started out as a mobile detailing service, going to our customers, washing and detailing their cars while they were working," Gaddy said.

Within a year, the part-time mobile detail business turned into a full-time total exterior cleaning business.

Wash On Wheels now does contract cleaning from Virginia to South Carolina, providing fleet cleaning and exterior cleaning for major corporations.

In 2006, Gaddy and Jones were named Microenterprise of the Year for Lenoir County, an award given for outstanding entrepreneurship. The business partners both live in Greenville.

Age: 28

Occupation: Owner of ICON Boutique

Why we picked her.: Greer took ownership and management of ICON clothing boutique in Arlington Village in August. The store was opened by Lauren Mirra in May 2006.

After graduating with a degree in communications from the University of Rhode Island, Greer moved to Los Angeles and held various positions in the entertainment industry.

Greer eventually moved to the public-relations department of James Perse, an upscale clothing line supplied to such stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. She later joined a firm representing several high-end brands such as Sue Wong, Tree and Streets Ahead.

Earlier this year, she moved back to Greenville to be closer to her parents, Elliot and Jo Ann Greer.

She said the Greenville area represents a promising market for high-end clothing lines aimed at both men and women.

Best part of being under 30: Being young enough to learn from your mistakes and enjoying your successes.

Goals for the next 5 years: To fabulously expand my business.

Age: 24

Occupation: Professional BMX rider

Why we picked him: Guettler wasted little time making his name known in the world of freestyle BMX after moving from Australia in 2003 to Pro-Town USA.

The 24-year-old earned a bronze medal in his first-ever X Games appearance before returning to the podium again in 2005.

Guettler's success didn't stop at X Games. He earned the Dew Cup for the season points championship in the dirt and park competitions during the AST Dew Tour's inaugural season. The victories earned him more than $150,000 in bonuses and a solid reputation in the BMX community.

Guettler has appeared in several videos and earned numerous endorsements during his brief BMX career. He is one of seven riders who ride for Dave Mirra's MirraCo bike company.

Best part about being under 30: Have a lot to look forward to in life ... I can still go to 519 and not be the creepy guy in the corner.

Hobbies and past times: Photography is always exciting. You can take a photo of anything and always have that moment to look back on.

Age: 24

Occupation: Executive director of PiCASO

Why we picked her: Hardison began working with PiCASO, the Pitt County AIDS Service Organization, as an intern in January 2005 while she was an undergraduate working on a bachelor's degree in health education and promotion.

"I wanted to learn more about HIV and AIDS," she said.

After she graduated from East Carolina University, Hardison was hired in August 2005 as a case manager and health educator.

When the executive-director position was vacated, Hardison filled that role for three months as the interim director before being named the executive director.

"I'm doing more of the adminsitration end of things now," she said. "writing grants and dealing with policies."

Since she took on the executive-director role, she's introduced on-site HIV and AIDS testing. Hardison hopes to expand the organztion by hiring two case managers and a health educator.

"With more than 100 clients, I'm trying to get the agency to grow and get the community involved," she said.

Best part about being under 30: Being able to accomplish all that I have thus far!

Hobbies and pastimes: I love spending time with my 4-year old daughter T'nyia and other family. Also, I love going to church and praising the one who has blessed me with all that I have.

Age: 29

Occupation: Owner of Che Bella Boutique

Husband: Scott Harris

Why we picked her: Harris juggles quite a bit. She's married, a mother to 3-year-daughter, Riley, and she owns her own business.

Harris opened Che Bella Boutique in November 2003. She says the most difficult thing about owning your own business is time management.

"I am constantly busy with the day-to-day tasks," she said. "Traveling for the (trade) shows, keeping up with the paperwork, marketing and sales and taking care of my family. Owning a business is a 24-hour-a-day job that is really hard to take time off from," Harris said.

Harris started in the fashion business because of her husband Scott, owner of Fusion Surf and Skate, located next to Che Bella. Harris began ordering the girls' apparel, accessories and swimwear for Fusion.

"It was something I started off doing as a side job and I ended up enjoying it so much that I decided it was time to do it full time. It was my husband that encouraged me to leave my other career and start my own business," she said.

The 2000 East Carolina University grad moved around a lot as a child while her father was in the Air Force. Her family settled in Maryland after her father's retirement.

Hobbies and pastimes: "I am really interested in photography, photo art and interior design. I love taking pictures of my family and friends. I'm working on finishing a black-and-white photo wall in my house. I'm also constantly redecorating or painting different rooms in my house, which is a hobby my husband just doesn't understand!"

Favorite quote: "Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Love as if this is all there is." — Mary Anne Radmacher

Age: 29

Husband: Joseph Holten

Occupation: Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Outpatient Therapy program director at Personalized Therapy and Adjunct Instructor with ECU's College of Human Ecology's School of Social Work Master of Social Work Program

Why we picked her: As the program director at Personalized Therapy, a for-profit mental-health agency, Holten oversees six therapists in addition to working with her own clients.

She has earned a master's of social work from East Carolina University and is licensed as a clinical social worker and clinical-addictions specialist. But Holten's credentials don't end there. She's also earned a graduate certificate in social work practice with the deaf and hard of hearing.

"I'm American Sign Language fluent," Holten said. "I'm not an interpreter."

As an undergraduate at the University of Arizona, Holten took American Sign Language and found that she really liked it. Following her graduation, Holten wanted to pursue her master's of social work and earn a graduate certificate in social work with deaf and hard of hearing.

"I maybe the only one in Greenville able to work with substance-abuse patients who are also hard of hearing or deaf," she said.

In Holten's spare time she likes working on her 1966 Mustang

"I'm restoring it," she said. "I got into cars because of my dad."

She said that there is something very statisfying about being able to do her own mechancial work.

"It takes people off guard sometimes because they see me all dressed up for work," she said, "but then I can also talk shop."

Hobbies and pastimes: I enjoy doing a variety of things: reading, dancing, teaching, clogging, yard work, gardening, sewing, taking care of my animals, swimming, and working on my 1966 Mustang, to name a few.

Favorite quote: "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." — Mark Twain

Ages: 29 and 25

Occupation: Owners E&B Boarding

Why we picked them: Emily and Barrett opened E&B Boarding, a pet-boarding and grooming facility, on their property a year ago with 20 air-conditioned runs and two fenced-in play areas.

In that time they've built a dedicated client base that gave them rave reviews on Yahoo! In addition to their full-service boarding business, the couple also foster dogs on their property.

Emily was born in Yokosuka, Japan, but has lived in Greenville for nearly 10 years. Barrett is originally from Seattle. Both are graduates of East Carolina University.

Goals for the next five years: We would like to continue to build our clientele and expand some aspects of our services, including a comprehensive grooming service, some obedience training, and a larger day-care program. We have several acres that we would like to fence in to provide a more dog-park feel to our day-care program and to our facility. We would also like to become more active in the dog community and continue to help more homeless dogs find homes through our foster program.

Random, interesting fact: Barrett and Emily went to the same high school — Nile C. Kinnick — at the same time in Yokosuka, Japan, but knew nothing of each other. Barrett, however, was friends with Emily's sister, Jessi.

The couple met when Barrett and a friend from Japan decided to bicycle down the East Coast visiting old friends from high school. Emily's sister in Greenville was one of his stops.

Age: 28

Occupation: Special assistant to Sen. Elizabeth Dole

Single/married/attached: Attached.

Why we picked him: Jones graduated from East Carolina Univeristy in 2004 with a degree in political science. Following an internship in Sen. Walter B. Jones' office, he stayed in Greenville and took a position as a special assistant in Sen. Elizabeth Dole's eastern regional office. In his role as special assistant, he works with outreach and assistance to federal agencies, such as the IRS or Social Security offices.

But Jones hasn't settled yet. Soon he'll be working toward a law degree.

In August, Sen. Dole referred to Jones and his co-worker, Janet Bradbury, as her "eyes and ears" on the ground. " ... and they do a terrific job for me everyday," she said.

Goals for the next five years: To go to law school and become an attorney.

Favorite quote: "I can live with the consequences, but I can't live with the fear."

Age: 24

Husband: Himanshu Patel

Occupation: Television news reporter for WNCT-TV 9

Why we picked her: Joshi joined the Eyewitness News 9 team as a general-assignment reporter in January. Prior to that, she was as a producer, assignment editor and field producer at WLOS in Asheville.

Joshi's roots are not far from the Tar Heel state. She was born and raised in Anderson, S.C., and graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina in 2005 with a degree in broadcast journalism.

In just a short time, Joshi's work has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hearst Foundation.

Joshi always wanted to be a news reporter. She owes her passion for journalism to her parents, who made sure news was a central part of her life every day.

Aside from reporting, Joshi also is an avid dancer.

"I started dancing when I was 4 years old," said Joshi. "I've had extensive training in Bharata Natyam, the classical dance of India."

When she was 18, Joshi earned what would be equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Bharata Natyam, which requires an Arangetram — a graduation performance — for the community and their teacher.

"Training for my Arangetram took about seven years," Joshi said. "After that I continued training to obtain the next level of achievement, which is a work in progress."

She hopes to be a certified Bharata Natyam teacher in the next five years in addition to working as a reporter.

Hobbies and pastimes: I enjoy reading, working out and, of course, watching and reading as much news as I can!

Favorite quote: I read this in a Hallmark book: "To be a star you must shine your own light, follow your own path and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when stars shine brightest."

Age: 29

Wife: Aisha LaBarrie

Occupation: Assistant Coach for East Carolina University men's basketball team

Why we picked him: A 2001 graduate of Georgia Tech, LaBarrie was an assistant basketball coach during the 2006-2007 season at Campbell University before taking the position with East Carolina University.

LaBarrie earned three letters at Georgia Tech. He helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2001 NCAA Tournament and received his bachelor's of science degree in management that year. He began his collegiate career at Florida A&M, where he earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman before transferring to Tech.

A native of Decatur, Ga., LaBarrie was named first-team all-state and DeKalb County Player of the Year as a senior when he led Tucker High School to a state title.

While pursuing his master's of science degree in sports administration from Georgia State, LaBarrie spent two years as a graduate assistant at Tech. He worked one year in general athletics administration, then with the men's basketball program.

LaBarrie and his wife, Aisha, are parents of an infant daughter, Sydney Ayelle.

Goals for the next five years: I hope to be a head coach for a Division 1 university in the next five years.

Favorite quote: "Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions." — Edgar Cayce

Age: 28

Occupation: Co-owner of ReStart

Why we picked her: What began as an idea between two classmates in college blossomed into a full-fledged human-resources company.

Lee and friend Dennis Mitchell founded ReStart in 2003. The agency, which primarily serves children 18 and under, started out with residential facilities and has flourished into a large mental-health company in just three years.

"We have probably about 150 clients," Lee said. "That is children and adults, but primarily children."

Lee earned her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University in child development, family and community services. Lee also earned a master's degree in adult education from ECU.

"I was still in school when we started the business," she said. "I think I had two or three jobs at the time, too."

Finding a balance between school, jobs, her daughter, and starting a new business was tough, but Lee perservered.

"It was a lot of hard work," the Goldsboro native said, "Where at some point I had to ask myself, 'Is this really what I want?'"

Lee's company prides itself on its quality of work, providing a nuturing and therapeutic rehabilitiative environment.

"Sometimes you get so wrapped up in the children," she said. "You want to take them home with you and love them, but you know that's not possible. There's a thin line where you have to balance that therapeutic boundary and personal boundary."

Goals for the next five years: Obtain my doctoral degree, become a Licensed Professional Counselor, own some property and maybe teach part-time.

Favorite quote: "The only thing in the world constant ... is change."

Age: 29

Occupation: Professional freestyle BMX rider

Wife: Tonya Mancuso

Why we picked him: Mike Mancuso is one of only a couple of local BMX riders who are originally from Greenville. He has been competing on the contest circuit since 1994, and two years ago, Mancuso started Protown BMX — a team of riders that performs throughout the country.

Mancuso has competed in multiple X Games, the AST Dew Tour and the LG Action Sports Tour events over the years. With a schedule that also requires a handful of trips out of the country each year, Mike says traveling is one of the best aspects of his job.

"It doesn't matter whether it is in the country or out of it, there is so much stuff that I've never seen," Mancuso said. "It's great to have the chance to see some of those things and meet new people."

Goals for the next five years: I would love to be completely debt-free in five years. And I might like to have a little Mancuso running around.

Favorite quote: "Dream big."

Age: 26

Husband: Kelly Mayo

Occupation: Pitt County Schools public information officer

Why we picked her: As the public information officer for Pitt County Schools, Mayo has her hands full with 36 schools under her jurisdication.

Mayo, a Spivey's Corner native, is an East Carolina University graduate with a bachelor's of arts in communication. But at 26, there are plenty of her graduating class still trying to break into her field.

"I got very lucky with being in the right place at the right time," Mayo said.

She started out with Pitt County Schools as in Information specialist under Deborah Long. Long then went on maternity leave and decided that she was not going to return to her position. At the time, Mayo was the interim public relations director.

Goals for the next five years: Pursue a master's degree in communication and achieve my accreditation in public relations (APR), a voluntary certification program for public-relations professionals.

Favorite Quote: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Hobbies and pastimes: I enjoy reading and spending time with friends and family.

Age: 27

Fiancee: Addie Chlebnikow

Occupation: Sales representative for Package Craft

Why we picked him: Miller came to Greenville on a golf scholarship to East Carolina University.

His golf scholarship was transferred to a football scholarship in 1999, when he became the kicker for the Pirates. Miller surpassed Heath Miller's previous record as all-time leading scorer record in 2002 with 251 points. It's a record he still holds today. He was on the Conference USA All-Freshaman team and named Freshman All-American.

In 2005, Miller was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and had the opportunity play NFL football in Europe as a member of the Berlin Thunder in Berlin, Germany. Living in Berlin for five months, he lead his team to the 2005 World Bowl.

Following his football career, Miller caddied for two years on the PGA tour for his friends Cameron Yancy and Greenville's own Will MacKenzie. He even participated in the 2004 PGA U.S. Amateur and tied for third in the Eastern Amateur in Portsmouth, Va.

In addition to his successful sports career, he's active in the organizing and planning of the Drew Steele/Skip Holtz Golf Classic, which raises awareness and financial support for the Special Populations of Pitt County and the Drew Steele Endowment Found.

He's engaged to be married to his finance, Addie Chlebnikow, on Dec. 28.

Best part of being under 30: You are old enough to realize who you are and what you believe in and young enough to enjoy it.

Hobbies and pastimes: Golf, playing cards, ECU athletic events, anything sports related, traveling and working out.

Age: 21

Occupation: Student at East Carolina University taking health education and promotion

Why we picked him: Following a series of injuries during 2005-2006 season, Pinkney was named the starting quarterback for ECU in early September just before the rivalry game against North Carolina.

He was on the depth chart as a third-string quarterback but moved up quickly following teammate Rob Kass' one-game suspension and demotion from first string.

Pinkney's a soft spoken young man, but a force to be reckoned with on the football field. The Fayetteville native is the son of former ECU defensive back Reggie Pinkney (1974-76), a first-team All-Southern Conference performer who was a sixth-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1977.

Goals for the next five years: Pinkney hopes to have earned his degree in health education and promotion. If he's not in the National Football League, he'd like to work in the field of cardiac rehabilitation.

I like working with older people," Pinkney said. "I want to give back to my community."

While he was a recreational player, he and his team would visit retirement communities.

Hobbies and pastimes: Watching TV and playing cards.

"The First 28" on A&E is his favorite show.

"It's so intense," Pinkney said. "I like anything to keep my mind going."

Age: 26

Occupation: Food Production Manager at Pitt County Memorial Hospital/Aramark

Fiancee: Katie Hogan

Why we picked him: The Pitt County Memorial Hospital chef traveled to Europe recently as part of the Aramark International Guest Chef Exchange. It's the highest honor bestowed by Aramark, the food-service giant that handles dining at numerous large employers worldwide.

"I toured Europe for three weeks showcasing American regional cuisine," he said.

Smythe's European tour found him cooking alongside other winning chefs at several key Aramark accounts.

Smythe was promoted in 2006 from PCMH chef to the hospital's production manager for food services.

Hobbies and pastimes: Cooking, eating out — which he considers research, fishing, ECU Athletics and Panthers football

Favorite quote: "Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like bananas." — Author Unknown

Age: 27

Occupation: East Carolina University student majoring in physics

Single/married/attached: Attached

Why we picked him: Teller is an Iraq war veteran and student at East Carolina University who has immersed himself in several projects to help better the community.

As a member of the national organization Iraq Veterans Against the War, he speaks publicly at colleges and activist groups across the state.

He also started and is currently president of his own campus group called ECU Peace and Justice. The group has organized events such as the visual art display on torture and the "Eyes Wide Shut" exhibit, which include more than 100 pairs of combat boots. His organizations also works to provide transportation to events such as the Schools of America protest in Washington, D.C.

Along with friends, Teller also made his mark on Meade Street by organizing a bicycle cooperative for underprivileged children. He gathered discarded bicycle parts, set up a big pot of lemonade and taught about 30 children how to fix 12 bikes, which he kept on his porch for them to use all summer long.

"It's about creating something out of nothing, teaching cooperation and putting a smile on a kid's face," Teller said.

Oh, yeah — he's also running for mayor.

Age: 26

Occupation: Broker with Prudential Prime Properties

Wife: Rachael Tyre

Why we picked him: Tyre was with the U.S. Marine Corps for four years and was on a tour to Iraq before returning to Greenville to work in real estate.

A couple of days after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Tyre joined friends with The Memorial Baptist Church to aid in relief efforts. He had visited the city just a year before, but even after military training, says he could never have expected what he saw in Louisiana.

"To see your own people in your own country in that state ... it was an eye-opening experience," Tyre said.

He is an individual broker with his own team, The Homer Tyre Team, after four years of working with Prudential Prime Properties.

Random fact: "After graduating from high school in Alabama, I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Throughout my four-year service, I was stationed in five different countries, including a five-month tour in Iraq. Upon completion of my duty at age 22, I had achieved a rank of E-5, Sergeant."

Best part about being under 30: "Being one of the youngest brokers in the area and having served in the Marine Corps, I have the ability to relate to a diverse demographic sector. My previous military training has helped me to develop a solid work ethic and strong desire to succeed. My youth, accompanied by my military background, gives me an inexhaustible level of energy while maintaining a great sense of accountability and pride in my work."

Age: 30

Occupation: Creative director/owner of Seven By Design and publisher of The Greenville Times

Marital status: Single.

Why we picked him: After graduating from East Carolin University in 1999, Webb opened Seven By Design, a freelance graphic design company.

He learned of an opportunity to purchase The Greenville Times through business with the Washington Daily News.

He has also been on the Uptown Greenville Board for at least five years and is actively involved in community events including Freeboot Fridays and the RiverRock Festival. Community involvement is Webb's way of improving the area and its artistic culture.

"I think it's important because I can try to improve the quality of life of everyone in the city," Webb said.

Goals for the next five years: I've recently purchased a building on Dickinson Avenue to renovate and use as office space. I'm looking forward to seeing the project completed and doing some of the work myself. The revitalization of Uptown Greenville is very important to me. I am on the executive board for Uptown Greenville, and I enjoy working on projects that improve our center city. I would like to continue to be involved in these endeavors.

Favorite quote: "You miss 100 percent of the shots that you do not take." — Wayne Gretsky

Age: 28

Occupation: East Carolina University student in physical education

Husband: George

Why we picked her: Wylie is the ultimate multitasker. She's a mom of two children, a full-time physical-education student at East Carolina University, and she's the children's programs coordinator at Gold's Gym of Greenville.

"Yes, I'm a very busy person, but I can do everything because I take one thing at a time," she said.

While working at Gold's Gym, Wylie noticed in 2002 that children coming into the facility were getting heavy.

"The ones who were old enough would want to play video games or watch movies," Wylie said.

So in 2005 she decided to enroll in the physical-education program at ECU.

With a "one child at a time" theory, Wylie is energized in combatting childhood obesity.

She has taught children's exercise classes at Gold's in addition to coordinating birthday parties, the monthly customer appreciation night and all the summer pool actitivies.

Best part about being under 30: Not Being OVER 30.

Goals for the next five years: Become a great physical education teacher and live life to it's fullest!!

Age: 20

Occupation: East Carolina University student in communications and criminal justice

Why we picked her: As a freshman on the ECU women's basketball team, Young became the first Pirate in the school's history to earn freshman-of-the-year honors. She was also named to the C-USA All-Freshman team, becoming the first Pirate to do so in in C-USA history.

Young finished the season ranked among C-USA leaders in six categories and was the only Pirate to start in all 29 games.

As a sophomore guard, Young was named Most Valuable Player at the 2007 East Carolina women's basketball awards banquet. The award is the second straight honor for Young.

A native of Richmond, Va., Young had a sensational sophomore season, leading the team in assists (164), 3-point field goals (43), 3-point field goal percentage (27.9), steals (79), and minutes played (1152). Young, who ranked 36th in the nation in assists per game (5.0), averaged a team second-best 13.4 ppg and started in 32 of the 33 Lady Pirate contests. In Conference USA, she ranked sixth in steals (2.25 spg), third in assists (5.75) and eighth in assist to turnover ratio (1.30).

Young continued to rewrite the Pirate record books by moving into the school's single-season top-10 in three categories. At the conclusion of last season, she ranked tied for ninth in 3-point field goals made (43), fourth in steals (79) and sixth in assists (164). She racked up on post-season honors in C-USA as she was named to the second-team, All-Defensive Team and the All-Tournament Team. Young also was presented with the Deflection Award.

Hobbies and pastimes: Shooting pool, especially at her coach's house.

Goals for the next five years: She hopes to be playing basketball overseas or in the WMBA and going back to school for a master's degree.

The 30 under 30 profiles were compiled by staff writers Kristin Day, Beth Gunderson, Brock Letchworth and Kelley Kirk-Swindell.