Employees celebrate at our annual Best Places to Work event.
Award Programs
Company Honors
Community Honor
Individual Honors
Company Honors
Best Places to Work in Indiana
Annual program honoring the top companies in the state as determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. Winners selected and ranked from four categories: small companies of between 15 and 74 U.S. employees; medium companies of between 75 and 249 U.S. employees; large companies of between 250 and 999 U.S. employees; and major companies with 1,000 or more U.S. employees. Out-of-state parent companies eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.
- Program registration: 2027 program enrollment will open in August of 2026.
- Application form: available here during the application period
Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana
Competition celebrating the state’s long manufacturing history. It’s for companies who make all kinds of things – manufacturers and remanufacturers. Companies entered in the tournament face off in a single-elimination bracket format. Winners are chosen through public fan voting. Each winner goes to the next round until we reach the coveted final four teams and an ultimate Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana champion.
Entry in this tournament is free. To participate, a company does not need to be headquartered in Indiana, but the product entered must be manufactured in the state. Companies are limited to having one product nominated.
- Program registration: 2025 applications are closed.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- Rankings revealed and awards were presented at the 2026 Chamber Day at the Statehouse lunch on February 10.
Governor’s Workplace Safety Awards
Annual awards are a result of a partnership among the Indiana Department of Labor, on behalf of the Governor, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals. Focus is on best practices for eliminating job-related accidents and illnesses, and saluting those organizations for which safety is the top workplace priority.
Awards are offered in four categories: innovations, partnerships, education and outreach, and construction (residential, specialty contractor or general contractor.) The safety awards are open to all organizations, regardless of size or number of workers affected. All Hoosier businesses, unions, municipalities, schools, service organizations, nonprofit organizations or individuals are eligible to apply for the awards. To qualify, a company must be deemed to be free of compliance disputes concerning all applicable local, state and federal statutes and regulations.
- 2026 applications are now closed.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- 2026 award winners were announced February 25, 2026, at the Annual Indiana Safety and Health Conference.
Innovative Program of the Year – Work and Learn Indiana Impact Award
Annual award given to an Indiana organization with an inventive effort to meet workforce needs and provide meaningful work-based learning outcomes, collaborating at the local, regional or state level.
- 2026 nominations are closed.
- Award winners announced at the Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference featuring the Annual Impact Awards Luncheon in January.
Outstanding Employer of the Year – Work and Learn Indiana Impact Award
Annual award honoring an employer who displays a successful approach to a work-based learning program, forms meaningful project work, and provides learners with professional mentoring and networking opportunities.
- 2026 nominations are closed.
- Award winners were announced at the Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference featuring the Annual Impact Awards Luncheon in January.
TikTok Small Business of the Year Award
This award celebrates the state’s small business sector and the important role the sector plays in Indiana’s overall prosperity. Nominations can come from the small business itself or an outside organization or state lawmaker.
- 2026 applications are closed.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- Award winners announced at the Chamber Day at the Statehouse luncheon.
Community Honor
Yamaha Community of the Year
Annual award honoring a deserving Hoosier community for significant contributions to its local business climate and overall image. Past recipients of the prestigious award include Carmel, Anderson, Evansville, LaPorte, Muncie, Warsaw, Fort Wayne, Bluffton, Muncie, Columbus, St. Joseph County, Kendallville, Indianapolis, Elkhart, Batesville, Rochester, Jeffersonville, Lafayette, Noblesville, Valparaiso, Terre Haute, Kokomo, Bedford, Bloomington, Fishers, Goshen, Jasper, Columbus, Boone County and Madison.
- Nominations are open and due June 19, 2026.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- Award winner announced August/September and presented honor November 5, 2026, at the Chamber’s 37th Annual Awards Dinner (in Indianapolis)
Individual Honors
Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year
Spotlights a government leader who has displayed dedication to advancing the business environment in the state of Indiana.
- Nominations are open and due June 19, 2026.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- Award winner announced August/September and presented honor November 5, 2026, at the Chamber’s 37th Annual Awards Dinner (in Indianapolis)
Career Development Professional of the Year – Work and Learn Indiana Impact Award
Annual award given to a high school, college/university and adult learner career services professional. This award honors those who assist learners with work-based learning opportunities, communication with learners/employers and coaching learners on work-based learning professionalism and career development.
- 2026 nominations are closed.
- Award winners announced at the Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference featuring the Annual Impact Awards Luncheon in January.
Everyday Safety Hero Award
Annual award is a result of a partnership among the Indiana Department of Labor, on behalf of the Governor, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals. Award given to individual who has championed workplace safety and health excellence in their respective workplace. The nominee is not required to be a safety or health professional. In fact, this award looks to acknowledge and recognize the contributions, participation, and impact that a frontline employee plays in Hoosier workplace safety and health.
- 2026 applications are closed.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- 2026 award winners were announced February 25, 2026, at the Annual Indiana Safety and Health Conference.
Indiana Women’s Collaborative Empower Award
At our Indiana Women’s Collaborative Luncheon, we will honor a female professional who has made significant contributions to empowering women and, in the process, had a meaningful impact on her organization and larger community. Notably, the Empower Award recognizes efforts that foster opportunities for Hoosier women to succeed and lead. The recipient will be chosen for her advocacy, leadership and impact in advancing women in business.
- 2026 nominations are open and due by July 17.
- Application form: Available here during the application period.
- 2026 winners will be announced at the Indiana Women’s Collaborative on August 27.
Jackson Lewis Emerging Leader of the Year
Honors a young leader who has positively contributed to the Hoosier business landscape this year. Individuals must be 45 years old or younger and Indiana residents.
- 2026 nominations are open and due by August 3.
- Application form: Available here during the application period.
- 2026 winners will be announced at the Emerging Leaders Forum on October 7.
NextEra Energy Resources Dynamic Leader of the Year
The NextEra Energy Resources Dynamic Leader of the Year recognizes an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact that extends beyond their organization by working in support of the goals outlined in the Chamber’s Indiana Prosperity 2035 plan. Past winners represent innovative leaders, exemplary role models and/or strategic collaborators. Additionally, the honoree will display a staunch commitment to positively influencing others in their workplace and community.
- Nominations are open and due June 19, 2026.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- Award winner announced August/September and presented honor November 5, 2026, at the Chamber’s 37th Annual Awards Dinner (in Indianapolis)
Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year
Honors an Indiana business leader who has demonstrated excellence in enhancing both their own organization and the broader business community through industry expertise and leadership.
- Nominations are open and due June 19, 2026.
- Application form: available here during the application period
- Award winner announced August/September and presented honor November 5, 2026, at the Chamber’s 37th Annual Awards Dinner (in Indianapolis)
Ogletree Deakins Human Resources Professional of the Year
Annual award open to all full-time human resources practitioners in Indiana. Individuals who have made significant contributions to their company/organization over the past year through implementation of best practices, organization design and effectiveness, and alignment and accomplishment of the strategic direction of their company are encouraged to apply. Nominees for Ogletree Deakins HR Professional of the Year should also have a proven track record of giving back to the community and the HR profession. Nominations can be by self-nomination, peer, subordinate, supervisor or other, but must be accompanied by a sponsorship letter from the nominee’s organization.
- Applications for 2026 are closed.
- Nomination form: available here during application period
- Award winners will be announced at the Human Resources Awards Luncheon on April 28-30, 2026 as part of the 62nd Annual Indiana HR Conference.
Work-Based Learner of the Year – Work and Learn Indiana Impact Award
Celebrates a high school, college and adult work-based learner that made a positive impact in their role, showed growth in leadership skills and always expressed professionalism in the workplace.
- 2026 nominations are closed.
- Award winners announced at the Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference featuring the Annual Impact Awards Luncheon in January.
Work-Based Learning Supervisor of the Year – Work and Learn Indiana Impact Award
Recognizes a specific individual at an organization who provided their interns or work-based learners with excellent opportunities, outstanding leadership, professionalism and mentorship.
- 2026 nominations are closed.
- Award winners announced at the Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference featuring the Annual Impact Awards Luncheon in January.
