Finalists named for ‘Indy’s Best and Brightest’

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 04:31 PM EDT
By Alex Brown
The winners of the 2022 Best and Brightest awards (photo courtesy of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana)

Junior Achievement of Central Indiana on Tuesday unveiled the finalists for its Indy’s Best and Brightest event. The annual event honors 100 young professionals from 10 industries in central Indiana.

The organization said the finalists in each category are judged on professional accomplishments, civic contributions, character and leadership qualities.

“These innovative, passionate leaders are changing central Indiana for the better, and serve as inspiration for the thousands of young people participating in Junior Achievement,” Jennifer Burk, CEO of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, said in written remarks.

The honorees will be recognized at an awards program and reception on March 23 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Each finalist will receive an award and the winners from each category will be announced.

This year’s finalists include:

Accounting

  • Kingsley Agho, Craftmark Bakery LLC
  • Allison Allen, Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP
  • Sarah Ames, Dauby, O’Connor & Zaleski, LLC
  • Alice Cheng, Crowe LLP
  • Almamy Diaby, Deloitte
  • Nicholas Eichelman, FORVIS, LLP
  • Madelyn Heron, Ernst & Young, LLP
  • Kayla May, Blue & Co., LLC
  • David Rabb, FORVIS, LLP
  • Trinh Vo, Republic Airways

Banking & Financial Services

  • Justin Haney, Centerfield Capital Partners
  • Sarah Arthur, CFP®, CEPA®, RICP®, Valeo Financial Advisors, LLC
  • Bryce Burnworth, KPMG – Advisory, Financial Services
  • Daniel Diehl, KeyBank – Central & Southern Indiana
  • Monique Jackson, J.P.Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  • Steven Kofkoff, OneAmerica
  • Terry Oznick, Merchants Bancorp
  • Nate Richey, Capital Group
  • Shaq Thomas, Merchants Capital
  • Nicole Woodson, First Internet Bank

Education & Nonprofit

  • Ashley Parker, Buckingham Foundation
  • Beth Bowling, EmployIndy
  • Dr. Sheila Dollaske, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana
  • Willie Eaton, Indy Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Steven Emch, Orr Fellowship
  • Whitney Johnson, Indiana Youth Institute
  • Jose Medina, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
  • Daniel Poynter, Carbon Neutral Indiana
  • Rachel Santos, MPA, Indiana Latino Institute
  • Keeanna Warren PhD, Purdue Polytechnic High Schools

Government, Tourism, & Arts

  • Charlee Beasor, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
  • Matthew Cooper, Artist
  • Devon Davis, Bose Public Affairs Group
  • Madelyn Harris, netlogx LLC
  • Karrah Herring, J.D., Office of Governor Eric J. Holcomb, State of Indiana
  • Andrew Merkley, City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety
  • Jordan Rodriguez, City of Indianapolis/Marion County
  • Greg Stowers, Indianapolis City County Council
  • Macyn Vogt, Indianapolis Ballet
  • Regina L. Warren, MBA, US Army Reserve

Health & Life Science

  • Jennifer Bontrager, Community Health Network MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Alexander Brethauer, Cook Medical
  • Shelley Clayton, MSN, FNP-BC, Ageless Aesthetics
  • Michelle Clegg, Center of Wellness for Urban Women, Inc.
  • Dr. Amber Comer, Indiana University
  • Loretta Davidson, Eli Lilly and Company
  • Shane Hatchett, Indiana Department of Health
  • Isaac Janson, PhD, Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center (IHTC)
  • Russell J. Ledet, MD, PhD, MBA, The 15 White Coats and Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Javeria Masood, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.

Law

  • Michael Allen, Ice Miller LLP
  • Lauren M. Box, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
  • Morgan A. Decker, Rubin Levin, P.C.
  • Christopher Engel, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
  • Amber Finley, Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County
  • Julian Harrell, Faegre Drinker
  • Steve Henke, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
  • Katelyn H. Juerling, Norris Choplin Schroeder LLP
  • Allison Jean Smith, Frost Brown Todd LLP
  • Rachel Vilensky, Child Advocates

Manufacturing, Retail & Services

  • Vincent Ash, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  • Ashley R. Brooks, A. Rose Hospitality
  • C. Perry Griffith III, Denison Parking
  • Jarrett Harris, The Blue Avocado
  • Kara Hawkins, Taste of Innova Wings + Greens and Innova Artis
  • Jessi Kahlo, Valkyrie’s Vault
  • Consuelo Lockhart, Latinas Welding Guild Inc.
  • Katie Lucas, Lucas Oil Products
  • Brodie Sears, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana
  • Joy Smith, Eli Lilly and Company

Media, Entertainment & Sports

  • Leslie Bailey, Indy Maven & Maven Space
  • Whitney Ball, 16 Tech Community Corporation
  • Lacy Clagg, Lacy Clagg Photography
  • Shalonda Johnson, Identity Marketing & Branding
  • Mel McMahon Stone, Indiana Owned and Indiana Gifts and WIBC Radiothon
  • Amber Peckham, DemandJump
  • Adam Pintar, Indianapolis Indians
  • Myron Russell, Myruss Films LLC
  • Paul Swartz, Hoosier Shooting Academy
  • Lucy Wright, JD|Finish Line

Real Estate, Development & Construction

  • Bonnie Alexander, A&F Engineering
  • Taylor Brown, Heritage Construction + Materials
  • Kevin Dick, Bradley Company
  • Kimber Kinsley, CBRE
  • Eddie Layton, Schmidt Associates, Inc.
  • Shannon McDonald, Taylor Bros. Construction Co., Inc.
  • La-Tisha Pirtle, MVGeneral Construction Services
  • Danny Scheidler, JLL
  • Alexis Sowder, MBA, KSM Location Advisors
  • Elliott Thomasson, Ambrose Property Group

Technology

  • Ariel Crawley, Indy Women in Tech
  • Donnell Dewayne Duncan, Duncan Diversity Group
  • Kate Gundlach, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team
  • Laura Hansen, eimagine
  • Mallory Marrs, Beacon Hill Staffing Group
  • Nick Noblet, hc1
  • Mike Pirtle, Enthrall & ELITE Media Group
  • Ariel Relf, Cummins Inc.
  • Gundeep Singh, Carrier Corporation
  • Aaron Williams, Google
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