(INDIANAPOLIS) — A thought leader known for building trust at all levels of her organization, Lisa Allen, vice president and chief human resources officer at Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana, has been named the 2026 Ogletree Deakins Human Resources Professional of the Year Award winner.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce honored Allen today at an awards luncheon held in conjunction with its 62nd 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 organization. It spotlights those who also are dedicated to giving back to the community and the HR profession.
“Lisa exemplifies the values this award represents,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders. “Her leadership at Goodwill demonstrates how human resources can be strategic and deeply human‑centered. She leads with compassion and a clear focus on supporting employees and the communities they serve.”
In her current role, Allen oversees the strategic direction of Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana’s human resources department and leads its team of HR professionals as the organization looks to continually build a best-in-class, people-focused operation.
Before being promoted to her current role in 2022, Allen – who has been with Goodwill for 16 years – served as senior director of total rewards, where she led the design and implementation of Goodwill’s compensation, benefits and wellness strategies; experience that continues to inform her executive leadership today.
Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities by helping people achieve stability and economic opportunity through work. Through its network of retail stores, employment and training programs, and mission services, Goodwill supports individuals facing barriers to employment by providing education, skills training and job placement opportunities.
“Since joining Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana in 2010, Lisa Allen has not only impacted the organization’s implementation of total rewards and employee wellness, she has also greatly influenced and directed the organization’s strategy overall,” says Noelle Gray, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana’s marketing and communications manager. “During her tenure, she brought people analytics to HR, improved data integrity and led teams to build dashboards and reports to drive decisions.”
Allen was a key leader in the 2017 merger with Goodwill of Southern Indiana. More recently, she led the merger with Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois and had an immense role in the merger with Horizon House, ensuring the cultures of the merged entities meshed smoothly.
“Lisa has been a trusted leader at Goodwill for more than a decade, and throughout that time she has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to our employees, our mission and our business,” says Kent Kramer, president and CEO of Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana. “She brings a rare balance of strategic thinking and genuine care for people, ensuring that our organization’s human resources practices support not only operational goals but also the wellbeing of the individuals who carry out our work every day.
“What sets Lisa apart is the way she approaches leadership,” Kramer adds. “She listens carefully, brings people together around solutions and consistently leads with empathy and integrity. Colleagues across the organization know they can rely on her thoughtful guidance, whether navigating complex challenges or exploring new opportunities to better support our workforce.”
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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.”
