Indiana Chamber Honors ‘Difference Makers’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of its 31st Annual Awards program. The chamber says Tuesday’s virtual ceremony reflected the current healthcare crisis as the winners were recognized as “difference makers” in the battle against COVID-19.
- Eli Lilly and Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Ricks was named Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year.
- Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box was named the Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year.
- Chairman and CEO of Indianapolis-based hc1 Brad Bostic was named Indiana Wesleyan University Dynamic Leader of the Year.
“The individuals saluted in 2020 share a common bond – being on the front line of the health care response to the pandemic. The efforts of these leaders and their teams not only helped Hoosiers in numerous ways but they also literally saved lives,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar.
Also honored was the City of Fort Wayne which was named in September as the PNC Community of the Year. The winners participated in a moderated discussion highlighting some of their achievements in the current year and prior.
Comments from the recipients:
Dave Ricks spoke of his company’s rapid response to COVID-19.
“We appreciate in new ways how the skills that the company has, the assets we have could be uniquely valuable for certainly not just our community or our shareholders, but for the planet because we’ve mobilized an effort that I think will end up saving lives with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr. Kristina Box has led the state’s medical response to the outbreak.
“People need to feel that you’re confident, that you have in place the team that you need. That you have the eyes and the ears and the support of the Governor’s team and that they are evidence-based, data-driven individuals who are going to make decisions for the health and safety of the state of Indiana.”
Brad Bostic’s company launched a COVID-19 Lab Testing dashboard to help health officials track testing rates and results by using mounds of data.
“Let’s just put it this way. I used to have to explain to people why lab data was so important,” Bostic shares. “And now it’s front page news in the Wall Street Journal every day.”
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry spoke for the city which has seen a revitalization to its downtown – to the tune of $681 million in projects this year.
“We decided some time ago that we could no longer afford for the rivers (St. Marys, St. Joseph and Maumee) to be an enemy of our community. We needed to embrace our rivers and make them an active part of not only the economic development effort of our community but a place for leisurely activity and social gatherings.”
To view the entire list of recipients, click here.