🎉 Announcing Indy's Best & Brightest Finalists!

Image caption: 2024 Indy's Best & Brightest Award Ceremony

Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalists Selected 

Winners to be announced during the awards program on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 

[Indianapolis, IN] Junior Achievement of Central Indiana announces its finalists for the 21st annual Indy’s Best and Brightest event presented by KPMG LLP.   The event honors 100 of central Indiana’s most outstanding young professionals in 10 different industries.   

An awards program and reception to recognize these outstanding professionals will take place on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025, at Fishers Event Center. All 100 finalists will receive an award and the winners in each category will be announced.  

"KPMG is proud to once again serve as the presenting sponsor for this prestigious event, marking our 21st consecutive year of involvement. We continue to recognize the importance of celebrating these exceptional young professionals, who not only excel in their fields but also serve as inspiring role models and mentors for the next generation in our community," said Eric Sutphin, KPMG Indianapolis Managing Partner. 

Jennifer Burk, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana’s CEO, stated, “These dynamic and forward-thinking leaders are driving positive change in central Indiana, and they continue to serve as inspiration for the thousands of young people engaged in Junior Achievement programs.” 

Indy’s Best and Brightest was created by Junior Achievement of Central Indiana (JA) to recognize the outstanding young professionals and leaders in our community. Indy’s Best & Brightest finalists serve as excellent role models to JA students and youth in our community. 

All proceeds from the event go towards JA’s mission to give young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their personal financial success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices.  

The finalists to be honored at the event are listed below, as well as on the Junior Achievement website: https://indy.ja.org/events/indy-s-best-and-brightest  

The categories honored are: Accounting; Banking & Financial Services; Education & Nonprofit; Government, Tourism, & Arts; Health & Life Sciences; Law; Manufacturing, Retail & Services; Media, Entertainment & Sports; Real Estate, Development & Construction; and Technology.   

Sponsorship opportunities are currently available; please contact Alesha Johnson at alesha.johnson@jaindy.org.  Proceeds from Indy’s Best and Brightest benefit Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Inc. 

To learn more information about the event or to purchase tickets online please visit our website at https://indy.ja.org/events/indy-s-best-and-brightest  

2025 Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalists 

Accounting 

• Jack Allgood, Tax Manager, L.M. Henderson & Company, LLP 

• Emily Belcher, Audit Senior Manager, Crowe LLP 

• CJ Bails, MSADA, CPA, Senior Associate, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) 

• Jose Castro, CPA, CIA, Associate Director, Protiviti 

• Sarah Hammond, Partner, Business Advisory Group, KSM (Katz, Sapper & Miller)  

• Terri L. Hicks, Senior Manager, Business Tax Services – Asset Management, KPMG LLP 

• Brendon Howell, Senior Manager, PwC 

• Alyson Severson, Accounting Manager, Republic Airways 

• Justin Verbeten, CPA, Partner, Forvis Mazars LLP 

• Esperanza Wynn, Advisor- Manufacturing Finance Controller, Elanco Animal Health 

Banking & Financial Services 

• Sarah Bateman, Executive Director, JPMorganChase 

• Linda Bricker, Community Relations Officer, Centier Bank 

• Callie Cavanaugh, Vice President of Implementations, Zotec Partners 

• Durrell Cullens, CEO/Mortgage Advisor, Heritage Lending Group Inc. 

• Phil Daubenmire, EVP Investment Real Estate, Merchants Bank of Indiana 

• Andrew Wahl, Certified Mainstreet Business Broker, Indiana Business Advisors 

• Zikeia Walker, Vice President, Community Development Loan Officer, First Internet Bank 

• Demetrius Warren, Director of Edge Fund, Intend Indiana  

• Nathaniel Wayman, Client Services Manager, Capital Group  

• Gina E. Wolters, Vice President: Branch Manager, JP Morgan Chase 

Education & Nonprofit 

• Clara Brown, Registered Apprenticeship Manager, EmployIndy 

• Kelly Comer, Manager of Major Giving, United Way of Central Indiana  

• Dr. Austin Dodd, Director of High School Academies & Pathways, Indianapolis Public Schools 

• Nick Duvall, President and CEO, TeenWorks 

• Mckenna Houston, Development Officer, STARTedUP Foundation 

• Roxy Lawrence, Vice President of Applied Research and Evaluation, Black Onyx Management 

• Bernard J. Mickle, CEO Co-Founder Life Sustained | Chief Violence Reduction Officer, Mayors Office of Public Health & Safety 

• Katie Reigelsperger, CEO & Founder,  KLR Medical Certification Training School 

• Kalyn Rudow, Executive Director of 21st Century Scholars and Inclusive Leadership, Marian University 

• Ellise Antoinette Smith, M.S.Ed Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Indiana University Indianapolis – Division of Student Affairs 

Government, Tourism, & Arts 

• Judge Noell Allen, Federal Administrative Law Judge, Federal Agency 

• Devon Davis, Vice President, Bose Public Affairs Group 

• Stephanie Carter, Project Manager, Egis Group 

• Kelly Doucet, Director, Community Partnerships, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) 

• Meg Kolditz, Owner, Zo-Bot’s Sodas & Fries  

• Ruth Morales, Director of International & Latino Affairs, City of Indianapolis-Mayor's Office 

• Justin Perez, Sign Language Performer, Visual Vernacular Underground 

• Gwen Sunkel, Comedian, Executive Producer, Middle Ground Comedy Festival 

• Ryu Teramoto, HR Business Partner, Won’t Stop Hospitality Inc.   

• Marlon Webb, Manager, Government Consulting, Katz, Sapper & Miller  

Health & Life Science 

• Erik Angelotti, PharmD, Owner and Pharmacist, Ella Community Pharmacy 

• Ryan Bingham, Chief Operating Officer, iA 

• Chris Brown, Research Investigator, Corteva Agrisciences 

• Danielle Burks, Chief Executive Officer/Psychotherapist, Selah House of Healing  

• Jessi Crouse, Talent Acquisition Manager, IU Health 

• Iveta Kancs, Brand Ambassador, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine  

• Amy Kent, Chief of Staff, Indiana Department of Health 

• Marie C. Lewis, MD, Medical Director, Adult Hospitalist Service, Ascension Indiana 

• Cayla Walson MBA, RN, RN Training Coordinator Health Informatics Service, Department of Veterans Affairs and Chapter Advisor, The Next IT Girl - Indianapolis Chapter 

• Derik Wittenberg, Sr. Director - Global R&D Operations and Transformation, Elanco 

Law 

• Charles Ellis Bush II, Partner, Ice Miller LLP 

• Will Gardner, Partner, Taft 

• LaToya Highsaw, Attorney at Law, Paganelli Law Group 

• Katie Jackson-Lindsay, Owner, Attorney, Jackson Legal 

• Abe Jentry Shanehsaz, Partner, Faegre Drinker 

• Sarah Jones, VP of Legal, The Heritage Group  

• Ryan T. Leagre, Partner, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP 

• Tyler Moorhead, Partner, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP 

• Maddie San Jose, Associate Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg LLP  

• J. Cecelia Satterthwaite, Commercial Litigation Associate, MacGill PC 

Manufacturing, Retail & Services 

• Stephanie Bothun, Principal & Founder, Avalon Talent Strategies  

• Nessa Hamman, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Prime 47 Carmel, Prime Catering, Lifetime Green Coatings 

• Andrea Homoya, Co-Founder and CEO, Ash & Elm Cider Company 

• Kyle Krieger, Manager – Strategy & Operations, LDI, Ltd. 

• Michael Lindell III, Business Line Leader III Operations, Abbott Laboratories 

• Grady McGee, Senior Director of Manufacturing, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana  

• Hayley McMahan, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Accelera by Cummins 

• Faith Odiete, Intelligence Analyst & 2nd Lieutenant Military Intelligence Officer, Simon Operational Intelligence Center & Indiana Army National Guard 

• Chad M. Peterman, President & CEO, Peterman Brothers 

• Molly Richardson, Assistant General Manager, Columbia Club 

Media, Entertainment & Sports 

• Michael Cioroianu, Director of Executive Affairs, NCAA 

• Sam Elmore, Director, Business Development, Indiana Sports Corp. 

• Luisa Macer, Senior Manager, Community Outreach and Fan Engagement, Indianapolis Motor Speedway 

• Paige McClung, Senior Events Manager, Victory Field 

• Kelsey Murphy, Chef/Owner, Chef Kelsey Murphy LLC, Inspo by Chef Kelsey Murphy 

• J.R. Rudolph, Engagement Marketing Specialist, WFYI Public Media 

• Krystol Smith, Specialist, Social Media & Content, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team 

• Olivia West, In-Game Host, Olivia West Speaks 

• Leon Williamson, Market President, iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group –Indianapolis 

• Felicia Lawrence, Anchor/Reporter, WTHR-TV, Channel 13 

Real Estate, Development & Construction 

• Audra Blasdel, Division Lead, Waypoint Strategies 

• Andy Cassler, Workforce Planning and Talent Development Partner, Early-In-Career Talent, The Heritage Group 

• John Estridge, Partner, KSM (Katz, Sapper & Miller) 

• Rob Knauer, Senior Project Manager, Keystone Group 

• Silas C. Rich, Director of Field Operations, HMH Contractors 

• Nicholas Schellinger, Director of Business Development, Garmong Construction 

• Carrie M. Sermersheim, Project Development, Architecture + Interiors, American Structurepoint Inc.  

• Erin Shepherd, Vice President of Asset Management, Ambrose Property Group  

• Abigail Sievers, Vice President, JLL 

• Steven Sitkowski, General Manager, Hill Mechanical Corp. 

Technology 

• Losalind Connell, Talent Employer, Senior Manager, TechPoint 

• Randi Doerr, VP of Client Success, ExactHire 

• Sean Klenschmidt Lead Mechanical Engineer, Glassboard 

• Titi Obasanya Vice President, Software, Elevate Ventures 

• Jason Price, CEO, Covideo 

• Ryan Reeves, MS, ATP, CFI/AIM Assistant Professor of Practice, School of Aviation and Transportation Technology (Purdue University) 

• Emma Ryan Marketing Associate, High Alpha 

• Tiffney Vivo CEO & Founder, Therapprove 

• Geoff Zentz Senior Director of Innovation, AgriNovus Indiana 

• Stephanie Zircher VP, Programs, Nextech 

About Junior Achievement of Central Indiana 

Junior Achievement of Central Indiana is dedicated to educating young people about work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Our mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Visit JA of Central Indiana’s website: https://www.jaindy.org and follow us on all social media platforms @jacentralind 

About KPMG LLP 

KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 145 countries and territories and has more than 273,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. 

KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of work purpose to Make the Difference, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity, and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.