(INDIANAPOLIS) — Well-known Indianapolis employee benefits attorney Melissa Proffitt is the new chair of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She was welcomed during the organization’s annual fall board meeting in mid-November.

Proffitt is the partner-in-charge of client relations at Ice Miller LLP, one of the largest general practice firms in the state and with 10 locations throughout the country.

According to Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders, Proffitt is a perfect fit to advance the organization’s many goals associated with its Indiana Prosperity 2035 vision plan for the state, released last August, and for connecting with more members and partners.

“When it comes to the issues we collectively need to work on so that Indiana keeps up momentum as a place in which Hoosiers and employers can prosper, I can’t think of anyone better to lead us than Melissa,” Sinders says. “She is one of our organization’s strongest advocates and is bringing such passion and commitment to the role, and she has a real knack for coalition building, moving things ahead and achieving results.

“She also knows the Indiana Chamber as well as anyone. Her past contributions helped shape our organization and have played a key role in positioning us as one of the nation’s leading state chambers,” Sinders concludes.

Proffitt’s overall Indiana Chamber participation includes being outside general counsel and serving on the organization’s top volunteer leadership body, the Chamber Executive Committee. She also sits on several policy committees and the PAC group.

Proffitt is eager to work with Sinders, who became CEO in January, to navigate the Indiana Chamber toward the future.

“My number one focus is to help the Chamber in initiating action and implementing policies that align with the goals in Indiana Prosperity 2035, our new Governor and leaders at the Statehouse. I am committed to supporting Vanessa in any way that I can in her second year so she can reach her highest potential,” Proffitt relays. “I also want the Chamber team to continue to challenge themselves and to ‘up our game’ on all fronts – especially as a key player in state policy initiatives.

“It’s an exciting time for the Chamber under Vanessa’s leadership. We are both action-oriented and want to continue to enhance Indiana’s business climate for the betterment of the Hoosier business community,” Proffitt offers.

Aside from the Indiana Chamber, Proffitt’s community engagement is extensive. Her recent board chairmanships include the Indy Chamber, Indy Chamber Foundation, IU’s Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council, and she serves as vice chair of the Indiana Black Expo. Her most recent board activity includes the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee, Indiana University McKinney School of Law Board of Visitors, Mirror Indy (a local news initiative), I.U. Foundation, Star Bank and Indiana Sports Corp, to name just a few.

Recent accolades include being named the recipient of IBJ’s Michael A. Carroll Award (for her devotion to the central Indiana community), honored as an Indiana Historical Society Living Legend, selected to the IBJ Indiana 250 – Most Influential Leaders in Indiana since its inception, as well as recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America 2006-2025.

In addition to leading Ice Miller’s business development operation, Proffitt is the firm’s former managing partner and office managing partner. She currently chairs two practice areas: the food and agribusiness group and the energy group. Proffitt, who previously led Ice Miller’s employee benefits practice, has spent her entire career with the firm.

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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”