(INDIANAPOLIS) — Hard work, vision, energy and passion are a few of the traits that make for a successful chief executive officer. Jim Hallett, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of KAR Auction Services, possesses those qualities and more. He has helped make the Carmel-based auction services organization the 12th largest public company in Indiana.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has named Hallett the 2018 Dynamic Leader of the Year, citing his success in business as well as his passion for helping grow the local and state technology and innovation ecosystem. He is the fourth Dynamic Leader of the Year recipient; last year’s honoree was technology investor and advisor Scott McCorkle.

Hallett is responsible for the strategic vision of the group of companies that comprise KAR Auction Services, which provide the wholesale used vehicle industry with technology-driven remarketing solutions. The company has approximately 17,500 employees (1,600 in Indiana) worldwide and includes the sale of more than 5.5 million units valued at over $40 billion through the company’s auctions in 2017.

Hallett began his career in the retail automobile industry in his native Canada and opened his own automobile auctions in the 1990s. He relocated to Indianapolis in 1996 to serve as president and CEO of ADESA (a business unit of KAR Auction Services) until 2005. He returned to ADESA in 2007 and in 2009 was promoted to his current role at KAR Auction Services.

Additionally, Hallett is owner and chairman of the Indy Fuel hockey team, which is entering its fifth season in the city. Hallett says while he loves hockey, that’s not the reason he’s invested in the sport.

“I didn’t do the Fuel because I like hockey. I did the Fuel because I love my community. And I want to find that way to get rooted in the community,” Hallett offers. “At the very, very core, it’s all about my love for Indianapolis. I’m never leaving here. I love how this community has embraced me and my family. I like how it’s embraced our company and our employees, and it’s a great place to live and work.”

“Jim Hallett is a great example of what it means to be a Dynamic Leader,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “Jim has created a company that is nimble, innovative and highly successful. He envisions a state where people want to come to live and work, and we’re pleased to recognize Jim as our 2018 Dynamic Leader of the Year.”

Hallett will be honored during the Indiana Chamber’s 29th Annual Awards Dinner, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, on November 13 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Three additional awards will be given: Government Leader of the Year and Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year, as well as Community of the Year.

Jasper has been named the 2018 Republic Airways and Lift Academy Community of the Year. The recipients of the Government and Business Leader awards will be announced in the next two weeks, September 18 and 25, respectively.

J.D. Vance, author of the New York Times best-seller Hillbilly Elegy and focused on supporting business development in the Midwest, will keynote the Awards Dinner. Tables of 10 or individual tickets can be purchased at www.indianachamber.com/ad or by calling Nick at (800) 824-6885.

The opening reception sponsor is PNC; the speaker reception sponsor is Hirons.

Corporate sponsors are AT&T Indiana; CBRE; French Lick Resort; NIPSCO; OneAmerica; Tilson; and Zimmer Biomet.

Contributing sponsors are AECOM Hunt; Allison Transmission; Community Health Network; Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont; DISHER; FedEx; Fineline Printing Group; IGT Indiana; Indiana Soybean Alliance/Indiana Corn Marketing Council; Indiana Wesleyan University; Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick; KERAMIDA Inc.; The Kroger Co; Markey’s Rental & Staging; MCM CPAs & Advisors; Pacers Sports & Entertainment; Roche Diagnostics Corporation; Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.; Vectren; Vera Bradley; WFYI Productions; and WGU Indiana.

Additional sponsorships are available by contacting Jim Wagner at (317) 264-6876 or jwagner@indianachamber.com.

Media interested in covering the event should contact Rebecca Patrick at (317) 264-6897 or rpatrick@indianachamber.com.

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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.”