(INDIANAPOLIS) — The Indiana Chamber of Commerce held its 35th Annual Awards Dinner tonight at the Indiana Convention Center, which featured a keynote speech from Chuck Todd, NBC chief political analyst and former moderator of Meet the Press. Presented by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, the special event recognized four noteworthy individuals and a city.

The honorees were as follows:

 Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year: Allison Barber – The WNBA’s Indiana Fever made a global splash in the sports world after drafting superstar Caitlin Clark. But much of the franchise’s overall ability to capitalize on the unprecedented attention and activity surrounding Clark was made possible by the vision of its then-president Allison Barber. She’s now chair of the Marvella Foundation, which is behind Indiana’s pioneering Marvella sports complex for young women and girls, which is currently in the works.

Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year: Mayor Tom Henry – Having been elected five times, Tom Henry was Fort Wayne’s longest serving mayor before he passed away earlier this year. Known as “the people’s mayor,” Henry leaves a legacy that includes his dedication to enhancing economic development and quality of life. He led with compassion and an unwavering commitment to helping the city grow.

Yamaha Dynamic Leader of the Year: Christopher Day – A push is underway for Indiana’s tech and entrepreneurial scene to be viewed among the nation’s best. Christopher “Toph” Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures, is a key catalyst in that effort with his leadership in innovation, venture capital and more. Over the years and today, Day has excelled at making his and other entrepreneurs’ dreams become reality.

Community of the Year: Madison – Madison possesses a unique charm. The southern Indiana city is a tourist attraction known for its scenic beauty, historic attractions and local shops. But there’s more to Madison, which is in the midst of a business resurgence that includes a variety of new investments and expansions. As part of that, Madison is embracing the future. Using cutting-edge artificial intelligence software, city leaders are striving to grow the area in a more strategic way than ever before.

NextEra Energy Resources Young Professional of the Year: Patricio Daneri – Daneri has an inspiring story. He immigrated to the US from Argentina as a teenager and launched his own successful business when he was only 25. Little more than a decade later, Daneri has a stable of successful enterprises to his name, led by Energy Harness Corporation in Zionsville, which specializes in LED lighting.

“It was a great evening to celebrate some of Indiana’s most impactful contributors – those who have helped shape the state and those who will in the future,” says Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO. “It was especially gratifying to have Mayor Tom Henry’s family and friends from Fort Wayne in attendance to help honor his legacy.”

Earlier in the day, the Indiana Chamber also presented the 2024 Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteer of the Year award to three individuals who helped the organization better serve its members. Honorees were Gerry Dick, president of Inside INdiana Business – a division of IBJ Media; Tim Higgins, vice president of business development for Keramida, Inc.; and Shelley Jackson, partner at Krieg DeVault LLP – for all they’ve done for the Indiana Chamber this past year and beyond.

Feature stories on all of the award winners will be available starting this evening in BizVoice® magazine at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

The speaker sponsor was Zimmer Biomet. The opening reception sponsor is PNC. Corporate sponsors are AT&T Indiana, Eli Lilly and Company, French Lick Resort, Indiana University, IPM Institute, NIPSCO, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Polaris Marine and Tilson.

Contributing sponsors are AECOM Hunt, Cherry Bekaert, Connor Painting, Corteva Agriscience, Indiana Soybean Alliance/Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Inside INdiana Business – A Division of IBJ Media, Markey’s, Subaru of Indiana Automotive and The Kroger Co.

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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.”