The Indiana Chamber of Commerce hosted its 36th Annual Awards Dinner at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, with Daymond John, founder of FUBU and investor on ABC’s Shark Tank, delivering the keynote address.
The event, presented by Meijer, Inc., honored four individuals and one county for their contributions to business and community in Indiana. Jim Ryan, chairman and CEO of Old National Bank in Evansville, received the Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year award. Ryan stated, “The key to leadership is knowing that you can’t do it all yourself. It’s got to be a team. There are no individual successes, there are only team successes.”
Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner was named Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year. She said, “I think the potential for impact (is the best part of my job). That’s what feeds me. What feeds me is making it better. The potential for impact in this space is immense.”
Kosciusko County was recognized as Yamaha Community of the Year. Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber, commented: “The area’s vibrant ecosystem of public and private partnerships works together for the collective good and demonstrates inspiring servanthood leadership.”
Dan Elsener, president of Marian University in Indianapolis, received the NextEra Energy Resources Dynamic Leader of the Year award. He advised attendees: “Do your best. Everybody gets one shot. We all have a first breath and a last in between. You get to choose what you’re going to do with it. And I have a calling to education.”
Vanessa Green Sinders reflected on the evening by saying: “It was a wonderful evening honoring Indiana’s most influential contributors in the past year… We celebrated key leaders who have shaped our state’s economic growth and prosperity thus far and those who are paving the way for an even brighter future. The night was a true tribute to Indiana’s spirit of leadership, collaboration and innovation.”
Earlier in the day, Scott Brand—president and COO of Subaru of Indiana Automotive—was introduced as chairman of the board for the Indiana Chamber.
Additionally, three individuals were presented with the 2025 Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteer of the Year award by Goelzer Investment Management: Bill Barrett (Williams Barrett & Wilkowski LLP), Aubrey Noltemeyer (Kightlinger & Gray LLP), and Matthew Rust (Indiana University). Their work supported activities such as political action committee efforts, business education events focused on workers’ compensation, and student work-based learning initiatives.
Feature stories about all honorees will be available at BizVoice magazine at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.
Sponsors included Zimmer Biomet as speaker sponsor; PNC as opening reception sponsor; Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield; AT&T Indiana; Ball State University; Eli Lilly and Company; French Lick Resort; Harrah’s Hoosier Park; NIPSCO; Pacers Sports & Entertainment; Parkview Health; Polaris Marine; Tilson among others.
Contributing sponsors featured AECOM Hunt; Cherry Bekaert; Connor Painting; Fineline Printing; Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council; Inside INdiana Business – A division of IBJ Media; Maple Leaf Farms Inc.; Markey’s; Subaru of Indiana Automotive.
