(INDIANAPOLIS) — An HR consultant and two attorneys were recognized today by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as the 2021 Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteers of the Year. Accepting the honors were Andrea Butcher, president of HRD Advisory Group in Carmel; Joshua Christie, a partner at Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis; and Edward “Skipp” Kropp, an attorney at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Indianapolis.

“The ongoing challenge of economic recovery requires tireless buy-in from business leaders, and Andrea, Josh and Skipp have gone above and beyond in that regard,” 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 enhance economic prosperity in Indiana.”

Butcher has served on the Indiana Chamber Board of Directors since 2018 and is part of its Membership Ambassadors program. In addition, she’s led educational training events for businesses and of late has offered guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“The work that I do, I take so seriously – because leadership is hard, and a lot of times, leaders feel lonely,” Butcher imparts. “It’s hard work figuring out, ‘Who am I and how can I show up in a way that reflects that and reflects my values?’ We live and work in a very pressure-driven society. I feel blessed and grateful to be able to come alongside leaders.”

Christie’s expertise played a vital role in partnering with the Indiana Chamber to lead webinars and offer one-on-one guidance to help businesses navigate the short- and long-term obstacles presented during the pandemic.

“We’d have 1,000 people on these (webinars) and they were asking smart questions,” Christie recalls. “To help businesses navigate these unprecedented times has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my career.”

Kropp has been an engaged Indiana Chamber member and active volunteer since 2012. He’s on the group’s energy and environmental policy committees and is an integral part of its planning committee for the Indiana Chamber’s annual Energy Management Conference. He also organizes Indiana Industry Day activities and coordinates with senior Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials.

“I never saw life as a spectator sport,” Kropp explains. “There’s only one way I know to make a difference, and that’s as an active participant. So that’s the way I’ve lived my life.”

Each of the volunteers is featured in the new edition of the Indiana Chamber’s business magazine, BizVoice®, available at www.bizvoicemagazine.com starting tonight.

Later today, the 32nd Annual Awards Dinner, presented by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, will feature a conversation about auto racing and entrepreneurship with legendary IndyCar owner Roger Penske and Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Awards will also be presented to Jeffrey Harrison of Citizens Energy Group, the Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year; State Sen. Mark Messmer of Jasper, the Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year; Megan Glover of 120Water, the Dynamic Leader of the Year; and Greater Lafayette, the NextEra Energy Resources 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.”