(INDIANAPOLIS) — A decisive leader and flexible change agent with a collaborative approach has been named the 2025 Ogletree Deakins Human Resources Professional of the Year. The winner is Ann M. Stevens, the total rewards director at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce honored Stevens today at an awards luncheon in Indianapolis, which is held in conjunction with the 61st Annual Indiana HR Conference.
The Ogletree Deakins HR Professional of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their workplace over the past year through implementation of best practices, organization design and effectiveness, and alignment and accomplishment of the strategic direction of their company. It spotlights those who also are dedicated to giving back to the community and the HR profession.
“Ann has proven herself to be an integral part of the team at Parkview Health since joining the organization in 2000,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders. “The scope of her career experience is extensive, and her value to Parkview is evident by the fact that she’s advanced through the ranks there during a time of great challenges – and opportunities – for human resources executives everywhere.”
At Parkview, Stevens is responsible for directing the design and administration of all compensation and benefits programs and policies, including job evaluation, salary administration, short- and long-term incentive programs, health and welfare, and retirement plans.
Parkview Health is a non-profit, community-based health system serving more than 20 counties in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio with a population of more than 1.3 million. Parkview is the region’s largest employer, with 16,000 employees at 14 hospitals and more than 200 outpatient centers and physician offices.
With a mission of improving health and inspiring well-being, Parkview is a national leader in safety and quality, patient experience and workplace culture.
“Ann is extremely smart, conscientious and thoughtful about her work,” says Hallie Custer, Parkview Health vice president of human resources. “She is cognizant of removing barriers to make things easier, thinks of how we can put our coworkers first, and encourages her team to provide hands-on assistance to each other. This allows us to create a culture at Parkview where our coworkers feel appreciated and supported.”
Stevens has led the creation of several new benefit initiatives at Parkview. Among them is a popular internal pet therapy program to train employees and their dogs to be therapeutic teams – for use in the Parkview system – at no charge to the employee.
“Our coworkers are well-served by Ann and the work she does to not only make sure Parkview’s benefits are implemented well and run smoothly, but to always be looking for that next opportunity to improve well-being and job satisfaction,” Custer adds. “She always has the human front of mind in her daily work in human resources.”
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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.”
