(INDIANAPOLIS) — A human resources and wellness professional, a longtime entrepreneur and an employment law attorney were recognized today by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as the 2022 Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteers of the Year. Accepting the honors were Lisa Day, benefits and wellness specialist, HR Center of Excellence at Kimball International in Jasper; Larry Garatoni, CEO of Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation in Mishawaka; and Bonnie Martin, managing shareholder of the Ogletree Deakins Indianapolis office.
“Lisa, Larry and Bonnie span varied industries and regions of the state and each have made significant contributions to the Chamber and the business community in their own ways,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “I would like to thank them and all our volunteers who contribute so much. Their leadership and expertise benefit all Hoosiers as we work together to enhance economic prosperity in Indiana.”
Day has been a volunteer for the Wellness Council of Indiana (WCI), a subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber that evaluates and guides workplaces and communities through the development of their own comprehensive health and wellness strategy. Efforts promote active living, community engagement and corporate social responsibility.
Day’s involvement spans more than a decade.
“It’s that connection with the employees,” she shares. “Your health and wellness is one of the most personal things we do with our employees. I have my 2,400 employees (at Kimball), but the beauty of the Wellness Council is that with collaboration, we reach the whole state.”
Garatoni has leveraged entrepreneurial success to spur monumental change in St. Joseph County and beyond – including launching the Career Academy South Bend charter school among other endeavors. Garatoni is an ardent supporter of the Indiana Chamber Foundation and the Indiana Chamber’s political action committee, Indiana Business for Responsive Government.
Improving Indiana by thinking differently about education is a passion for Garatoni.
“K-12 schools are a creature of the Legislature, so if you want improvement you have to work with the Legislature and bring these things to their attention,” he asserts. “Every legislator I’ve run into in Indiana is there for the right reasons and are trying to do what’s best for the state.”
A Florida native, Martin has made it a point to improve her adopted home state in many ways. This includes lending her time and talents to the Indiana Chamber for years. Martin serves as a go-to resource on many employment law-related conferences, including workshops on workplace harassment prevention and more.
“The Indiana Chamber’s mission so closely aligns with the mission of our clients, which are employers,” Martin stresses. “The work that we get to do with the Chamber is hand in glove for what we try to do for our clients, educate them … and provide advocacy for issues that are important to them.”
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 33rd Annual Awards Dinner, presented by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, will feature a celebration of the Indiana Chamber’s 100th anniversary.
Awards will also be presented to the Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year (to be named at the event); Elaine Bedel of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, the Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year; Rupal Thanawala of Trident Systems, the NextEra Energy Resources Dynamic Leader of the Year; and Columbus, the Cummins 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.”
