Congratulations to Ben Stallwitz, Bella Schilling, and Christian Romo for being named Top 20 Under 40 award recipients by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. Photos by Shaun Scott-Jones and Adam Baker. Graphic by Ashley Hildebrandt.
Across the Texas Panhandle, millennials are making a name for themselves at work, home, and in the community. Nowhere is that more evident than at Pantex, where the mission touches national security.
This year’s Amarillo Chamber of Commerce “Top 20 Under 40” features three honorees whose paths are distinct yet deeply aligned: Christian Romo, Ben Stallwitz, and Bella Schilling. Their leadership illuminates a shared belief in disciplined execution, service to others, and the power of opportunity. Together, they embody a culture where character, craft, and community are inseparable and where young professionals are reshaping what’s possible.
Christian Romo, Pantex Field Office Performance Assurance manager
For Christian Romo, being named “Top 20 Under 40” is a reflection of the people who poured into her and a reminder of the standards attached to her role.
“Serving as the performance assurance manager carries a profound responsibility to national security,” Romo said. “This honor reinforces my commitment to bringing excellence, accountability, and disciplined leadership to our mission every day.”
Romo’s path might surprise those who assume technical leadership requires a technical degree. She graduated from West Texas A&M University with dual majors in advertising/public relations and mass media, broadcasting and journalism. She started as an administrative assistant at Pantex and was later selected for a position at the Pantex Field Office serving as the Performance Assurance Manager.
“Credibility isn’t built overnight; it is forged through consistent, disciplined execution,” she noted. “Distinguish yourself by bringing actionable solutions, not just pointing out obstacles.”
Grounded by Amarillo roots, Romo serves the community through Make‑A‑Wish of the Texas Panhandle and other volunteer organizations.
To her younger self, she’d say, “Trust the process, embrace your unique perspective, and never let perceived limitations define your ceiling.”
Ben Stallwitz, Pantex Quality Assurance acting division director
Ben Stallwitz traces his recognition back to where it began: a farm in Dumas, where his dad, uncle, and grandad modeled work ethic and service. He’s quick to credit his mentors and his wife for the support that made his career possible.
“I don’t think the award says a lot about me,” Stallwitz reflected, “but it sure says a lot about the people who have influenced me. It becomes a responsibility for me to do the same for others.”
Stallwitz sees Pantex at an inflection point with a younger workforce, accelerating retirements, and a mandate to streamline and become more agile to support a growing mission. The result is a generation being asked to deliver in ways unseen.
“I think the opportunity that we have at Pantex has always been unique, but when you combine all those factors and you watch how this generation is making it happen, we’re at an elite point in Pantex history and we all should have immense pride in that,” Stallwitz stated.
Community is integral for Stallwitz, who measures involvement through the lens of raising five kids and being involved through church and community.
“People in the panhandle are salt of the earth, and they create a backdrop that we want to raise our family in,” Stallwitz emphasized. “I am usually looking through the lens of ’how can I help maintain a place that I want to raise my kids and help them thrive?’”
To his younger self, he’d offer a different kind of optimization: “I’d try to worry less about things I can’t control and embrace change as an opportunity.”
Bella Schilling, Pantex Process Engineering section manager
Bella Schilling doesn’t see herself as someone who naturally stands out but as someone who has been taught, supported, and pushed by people around her.
“The people here truly make the difference. I’ve had coworkers and leaders who took the time to teach me, support me, and push me when I needed it,” Schilling said. “You’re trusted with meaningful work early on, and you’re surrounded by folks who genuinely want you to succeed. That kind of environment changes your confidence and your trajectory.”
Before she felt completely ready to take on manager roles, Schilling accepted the challenge early on in her career. She learned by doing, making mistakes, asking for help, and growing through experience.
“Those early leadership moments shaped me far more than any formal plan ever could,” she reflected. “I’m grateful for the people who trusted me before I fully trusted myself.”
Her commitment to Amarillo is rooted in belonging to a place where people know you, care about you, and show up. Giving back is how she honors what the community gave her.
“I’ve been shaped by this community, and giving back feels like the natural way to honor what it’s given me,” she said. “I want others to feel the same sense of belonging and opportunity that I did.”
Schilling’s advice to rising professionals is simple.
“Give yourself more grace. You don’t have to rush, and you don’t have to have all the answers,” Schilling explained. “Trust your instincts a little more and your fears a little less. Eventually, everything connects in ways you never expect.”