2026 Indys Best & Brightest Finalists Unveiled

Image caption: 2026 Indy's Best & Brightest Finalists Unveiled

*Winners to be announced during the awards program on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 

[Indianapolis, IN] Junior Achievement of Central Indiana announces its finalists for the 22nd  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 22nd, 2026, 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 22nd 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.

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.    

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  

2026 Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalists 

Accounting 

• Bob Akin, CPA, Senior Tax Manager, CBIZ 

• Darion Harris, Senior Manager, PwC 

• Bailey Martenson, Manager, Sikich 

• Amy Northard, CPA, Founder and CEO, The Accountants for Creatives 

• Ben Irwin, Audit & Assurance Services, KSM 

• Riley Shives, Vice President of Finance, The Garrett Companies 

• Emilee Smith, CPA, Partner, London Witte LLP 

• Justin Verbeten, CPA, Partner, Forvis Mazars LLP 

• Kevin Wittmeyer, CPA, Partner, Slattery & Holman P.C. 

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

Banking & Financial Services 

• Joshua Daugherty, Vice President, Huntington Private Bank 

• Shannon Furlin, Commercial Banker, JPMorganChase 

• Moussa Ibrahim, Financial Empowerment & Community Development Officer, Old National Bank 

• Darrick Jones, VP GCB Middle Market Relationship Manager, Bank of America 

• Mike London, Chief of Account + Credit Operations, Everwise Credit Union 

• Ariana Meiser, Market President, Merchants Bank 

• Sara Robison, Retirement Plan Manager, Capital Group 

• Dan Rojas, Principal Wealth Advisor, Cerity Partners 

• Adam Shaffer, Principal, Centerfield Capital Partners 

• Xiao Ou Yuan, President, Hageman Capital 

Education & Nonprofit 

• John Brady, Middle Division Head, St. Richard’s Episcopal School 

• Martha V. Cortes, Chief Partnerships Officer, KIPP Indy Public Schools 

• Morgan Ellis, Development Director, Camptown 

• C. Daniel Graham (Cory), Co-Founder & Executive Director, InerG Impact 

• LaShatá M. Grayson, Director of Training and Growth, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International 

• Tradara McLaurine, Senior Executive Director of Campus Career and Advising Services, IU Indianapolis 

• Veronica Onofrey, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana 

• Roya Porter, Senior Corporate Counsel, Strada Education Foundation 

• Allison Segarra Hansen, Professor of Education, Marian University & Founder & CEO, Multilingual Education Reform Collective of Indianapolis (MERCIndy),  

• Mike Thibideau, President & CEO, Invest Hamilton County 

Government, Tourism, & Arts 

• Alexandra Casati, Senior Director of Engagement and Analytics, Management Performance Hub 

• Maggie Cunningham, Director of Air Service and Airport Experience, Indianapolis Airport Authority 

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

• Alex Haberfield, Public Outreach Coordinator, Citizens Energy Group 

• Sarah Hayward, First Officer, Republic Airways 

• Eli Laidlaw, Executive Chef, The Alexander Hotel 

• Tiffany Lauderdale Phillips, Owner, Wild Geese Bookshop 

• Andrea Richter-Garry, EVP-Business Development & International Relations, Indy Economic Development 

• Natalie Russell, Director of Public Relations and Client Partnerships, TrendyMinds 

• Brett Sanford, Associate Director of Destination Experience, Sports, Visit Indy 

Health & Life Science 

• Jon Ferguson, Chief of Staff & Deputy Health Commissioner, Indiana Department of Health 

• Taylor Hahn, MD, FACOG, DABOM, MSCP, Founder/Owner, VIA Women’s Health Collective 

• Vachel Hudson, Project Manager, Columbus Regional Health 

• Cecily Johnson Cruz, MSW, Independent Professional 

• Dr. April Krowel, Ph.D., HSPP, Owner; Clinical & Aviation Neuropsychologist, The Brain Center 

• Marciana Laster, MD, MS, Pediatric Nephrologist, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health 

• Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD, HSPP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics | Indiana University School of Medicine 

• Morgan Leigh Miller, CEO, Miller Co Medical Device 

• Justin Ochoa, Founder/Owner, Gem Sessions 

• Montira (Mint) Tangsangasaksri, Formulation Scientist, Corteva Agriscience 

Law 

• Grant Achenbach, Attorney, Krieg DeVault 

• Marina Blackburn, Associate Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg LLP 

• Jaclyn Flint, Partner, Riley Bennett Egloff LLP 

• Katelyn H. Juerling, Partner, Norris Choplin Schroeder LLP 

• Tyler Moorhead, Partner, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP 

• Alejandra Reichard, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP 

• Rhyan J. Smith, JD., Director of Institutional Equity and Title IX Coordinator, Butler University 

• Connor Sullivan, County Attorney, Hamilton County 

• Andrea K. Townsend, Partner, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP 

• Steve Wolff, VP of Governmental Affairs & Procurement, The Corydon Group, LLC 

Manufacturing, Retail & Services 

• Andrew Adeniyi, CEO, AAA Solutions 

• Aaron Berghoff, Value Stream Leader, dormakaba USA, Inc. 

• Christi Hubler, Dealer Principal, Christi Hubler Ford & Christi Hubler Chevrolet 

• Kristina Hurley, National Multifamily Business Development Manager, Allegion 

• Jak Kramer, Principal, Gibson Insurance 

• Heidi Melton, Global Strategic Account Manager, Convergix 

• Chad Peterman, President & CEO, Peterman Brothers 

• Joy Smith, Talent Attraction & Community Outreach Lead – Manufacturing & Quality, Lilly 

• Austin Thomas, Data Engineer, AMPG 

• Brad Westerfield, CFO, Nutrition 101, LLC 

Media, Entertainment & Sports 

• Carly Cripe, Senior Specialist, People Advisor, Arrow McLaren 

• KJ Dullen, Actor/Writer, Let Em Use Ya Productions 

• Maxwell Freeman, Director of Marketing, Indianapolis Indians 

• Peter Hanscom, Chief Development Officer, Free Press Indiana 

• Abriana Herron, Business Reporter, Inside INdiana Business 

• Ashleigh Newbold, Vice President, Engagement, Indiana Sports Corp 

• Tyler Nicole, Assistant Athletic Director (Athletic Assistant) – Teacher, Westfield Washington Schools 

• Leigh-Ann Richardville, VP, Marketing & Communications, Hirons 

• Nate Spangle, Founder, Get Indiana 

• Tori Witter, Managing Partner & Creative Director, RADL 

Real Estate, Development & Construction 

• Erin Drake, Director of Marketing, Browning Real Estate Partners 

• Nelson S. Frech, Senior Project Manager, Team Leader, Skender 

• Anthony Gary, Vice President, Village Capital Corporation | Managing Broker, Indy Dwell Real Estate 

• Sam Hurley, CFO, The Annex Group 

• Ken Olson, Indiana Transportation Director, American Structurepoint, Inc. 

• Will Schuler, CEO & Owner, Will Power Excavation 

• Dylan Seesman, PE, NOMA, Principal, Director of Operations, JQOL 

• Caitlin Vergon, CPA, Manager – Real Estate Services Group, Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM) CPAs and Advisors 

• Kionna Louise Walker, AIA, NOMA, Founder & CEO | Next Generation Architects, LLC and Founder & Principal | NGA Design Studio, LLC 

• Krystin Wiggs, Realtor, Public Relations, IU Health 

Technology 

• Logan Metzger, Technical Project Manager & Team Lead, ASG 

• Chelsea Linder, VP Innovation & Entrepreneurship, TechPoint 

• Twanyea Donaldson, Audience Data Analyst, Informa Markets 

• Nida Ansari, Founder and CEO, Karmic 

• Casey Osterkamp, SVP/COO, TechPoint (CICP) 

• Leanna Adeola, Vice President, Marketing, Aunalytics 

• Geng Wang, CEO, Civic Champs 

• Devyn Mikell, Co-Founder & President, Qualify & GTM Enablement Lead, Humanly 

• Lindsay Szostak, Senior Director of Brand and Experience, EXOS 

• Amber Haantz, Project Manager, Associate, Offprem Technology