(INDIANAPOLIS) — The Indiana Chamber of Commerce honored its volunteers of the year during a luncheon ceremony today at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Each displayed a passion for enhancing Indiana’s business climate.

The 2015 Indiana Chamber Volunteers of the Year are: Byron Myers (Ice Miller, Indianapolis); Kay Nelson (Northwest Indiana Forum, Portage); and Vince Plank and the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (Indianapolis).

“This award honors those who diligently work with our organization for the betterment of the business community,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “They offered their time and expertise to make Indiana a better place to work and do business.”

Read more about the winners at www.bizvoicemagazine.com (online tonight); brief summaries of why they were selected follow below.

Byron Myers, partner, Ice Miller (Indianapolis)
A longtime policy committee member, Byron Myers has also served on the Indiana Chamber executive committee and as legal counsel since 2010. No matter the role, he brings a thoughtful perspective to important issues.

He stresses clarity and attention to detail in dealing with critical employment law or legislative topics that impact companies and their employees.

Myers: “The (Indiana) Chamber’s mission … is to focus on the business conditions for the state of Indiana. The entire state. What is good for business is good for everyone. If business is thriving, there’s employment opportunities and taxes and healthy opportunities and a healthy state.”

Kay Nelson, environmental affairs director, Northwest Indiana Forum (Portage)
Whether at home in Northwest Indiana or in her role as chair of the Indiana Chamber’s Environmental Committee, Kay Nelson is a convener. She excels at balancing business and environmental interests – from the Great Lakes to throughout the state.

The Indiana Chamber’s vice president of environmental and energy policy, Vince Griffin, credits Nelson with the willingness to ask the difficult questions and the passion to learn about and comprehend the technical issues that often emerge.

Nelson: “I’m just blessed. I’m surrounded by people who do their jobs well, are passionate about their jobs and, more importantly, are willing to share their expertise, knowledge and opinions.”

Vince Plank and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) (Indianapolis)
The annual Indiana Safety & Health Conference has become one of the largest and finest such events in the country, thanks in large part to the efforts of Vince Plank and other dedicated professionals with the Central Indiana Chapter of ASSE.

Plank has served in a variety of roles, including moderating and helping secure industry-leading speakers for the conference.

“Vince shows great enthusiasm for the safety and health industry and educating his colleagues,” praises Kerri Begley, Indiana Chamber vice president of conferences and special events. “He is an excellent resource for industry information and a great communicator. Vince takes his role very seriously and is driven by the knowledge that our collaborative efforts help save lives.”

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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.”