2020 Indiana Chamber Annual Awards

Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar began last week’s 31^st Annual Awards program with the words, “Good afternoon.” It was, of course, a different greeting as the traditional reception and dinner event transformed into a virtual celebration of Indiana business.

Brinegar followed the opening with, “But that’s OK. In fact, it’s better than just OK.” No truer words could be uttered. The program honored seven winners – adding the HR Professional of the Year and two Chamber Volunteers of the Year to the four traditional selections (more below).

The opening video (view at the top of this newsletter) recognized our heroes and captured the struggles – and resiliency – of 2020. A closing musical tribute from a talented Hoosier sent the message (both at the time of its summer release and today) that indeed There’s Hope.

If you missed the celebration, want to revisit some of the key portions and/or access the additional coverage of the award winners, this is your opportunity:

• Full 90-minute program
• BizVoice® Digital interactive edition:
  • Dave Ricks, Eli Lilly and Company: Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year
  • Kristina Box, Indiana State Department of Health: Bayh-Lugar Government Leader of the Year
  • Brad Bostic, hc1: Indiana Wesleyan University Dynamic Leader of the Year
  • Fort Wayne: PNC Community of the Year
• Volunteers of the Year: Melissa St. John, Relocation Strategies; Ken Siepman, Ogletree Deakins
• Ogletree Deakins HR Professional of the Year: Laura Bickle, Eli Lilly and Company
• IN Chamber Podcasts:
  • Ricks
  • Box
  • Bostic (November 20 release)
  • Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry (November 24 release)

We shared how the program began. At the close, Brinegar reinforced the messages that Indiana will be stronger as a result and we will be better together. Good phrases to embrace as we prepare to close out 2020 and move into the new year.

The Annual Awards program was presented in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The speaker sponsor for the Indiana Chamber’s 31st Annual Awards program was OneAmerica.

Corporate sponsors were AT&T Indiana, CBRE, French Lick Resort, NIPSCO, Tilson and Zimmer Biomet.

The contributing sponsors were: AECOM Hunt; Community Health Network; Corteva Agriscience; Fineline Printing Group; Indiana Soybean Alliance/Indiana Corn Marketing Council; Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick; KERAMIDA Inc.; Markey’s Rental & Staging; MCM CPAs & Advisors; Subaru of Indiana Automotive; Sweetwater Sound, Inc.; The Kroger Co.; UPS; and Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company.