The 2019 Indiana Chamber Volunteers of the Year (l to r): Casey Stanley, Ontario Systems in Muncie; Donna Niesen, Katz, Sapper & Miller in Carmel; and Larry Gigerich, Ginovus in Fishers.
(INDIANAPOLIS) — An economic development leader, a CPA and a marketing professional were recognized today by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as the 2019 Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteers of the Year. Taking the honors were Larry Gigerich, executive managing director at Ginovus in Fishers; Donna Niesen, partner at Katz, Sapper & Miller in Carmel; and Casey Stanley, vice president of marketing and business development at Ontario Systems in Muncie.
“Whether it’s helping shape public policy at the Statehouse that impacts a company’s bottom line or being a valuable resource for our staff, Larry, Donna and Casey have truly made a difference,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “I would like to thank them and all our volunteers who share their time and talents with us. Their leadership and expertise benefit all Hoosiers as we work together to accomplish the Chamber’s mission of making Indiana a place of great prosperity.”
Gigerich chairs the Indiana Chamber’s Economic Development Committee, is active in the tech policy group and enjoys weighing in and impacting public policy matters. He is all about helping bring more jobs to Indiana.
Gigerich: “I think for me it was partly being able to see the results of your work. Knowing that when you work on a project, people are going to get jobs, a community’s going to see investment and it really creates a positive economic outcome for an area. Being able to see tangible results was really important.”
Niesen is an expert in state and local tax issues and a “go-to” member of the Indiana Chamber Tax Policy Committee. She also serves on the Commissioner’s Tax Advisory Council, established in 2017 by the Indiana Department of Revenue.
Niesen: “I’m more of the practical application voice in the room. I’m not an attorney; I’m a CPA. When we think about legislation, I’m also thinking about, ‘How is this going to work in an audit situation? Or how are we going to practically apply this?’ ”
Stanley is a valued board and committee member at the Indiana Chamber; he is willing to speak out to represent both his company, the broader business community and his Muncie home.
Stanley: “Where I want to spend my limited resources of time, energy and money – a good fit for me is finding ways to serve the community through supporting business. A healthy thriving business community is absolutely critical and necessary for a healthy thriving community and families.”
Each of the volunteers is featured in the new edition of the Indiana Chamber’s business magazine, BizVoice®, available at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.
Later today, the 30th Annual Awards Dinner, presented by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, will feature guest speakers Donna Brazile and Dana Perino of Fox News.
Awards will also be presented to Chuck Surack of Fort Wayne’s Sweetwater Sound, the Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year; Gov. Eric Holcomb, the Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year; Indianapolis entrepreneur John Thompson, the Dynamic Leader of the Year; and the city of Plymouth, the Republic Airways and LIFT Academy Community of the Year.
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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.”
