Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalists Selected

Image caption: 2023 Best & Brightest winners on stage at Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Indianapolis, IN Junior Achievement of Central Indiana announces its finalists for the 20th 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 Thursday, March 21st, 2024, at the Biltwell Event Center downtown Indianapolis. All 100 finalists will receive an award and the winners in each category will be announced.

"KPMG is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor for this noteworthy event for the 20th consecutive year. We understand the importance of honoring these young professionals, who also serve as outstanding role models and mentors for the youth of our community," said Eric Sutphin, KPMG Indianapolis Managing Partner.

Jennifer Burk, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana’s CEO, stated, “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.”

The Best and Brightest event was created by Junior Achievement to recognize up and coming talent and the next generation of leaders in our community. Finalists in each category are judged on professional accomplishments, civic contributions, character, and leadership qualities.

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 Kacy Wendling at Kacy@jaindy.org or 252-5900 ext. 8. 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

About Junior Achievement of Central Indiana

Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Inc. (JACI), in partnership with the business and education communities, empowers young people to own their future success. JA educates and inspires young people in the areas of career exploration, employability/life skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and philanthropy through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for children in preschool through high school.

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.

2024 Indy’s Best and Brightest Finalists

Accounting
• Kingsley Agho, Assistant Controller, Craftmark Bakery LLC
• Jose Castro, CPA, CIA, Senior Manager, Protiviti
• Jeremy Davis, Managing Director, CBIZ Somerset
• Eric W. Flueckiger, Partner, FORVIS LLP
• Kyla M. Greenhoe, CPA, Principal, CLA CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
• Annie Hagan, Manager, BGBC Advisory, LLC
• Madeline Kurcz, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Marian University
• Zee Malik, CPA, Partner, Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP
• India Newkirk, Director, Accounting, Ambrose Property Group
• Alyson Severson, Accounting Manager, Republic Airways

Banking & Financial Services
• Josh Daugherty, Senior Client Advisor, VP, Huntington Private Bank
• David Goldberg, Actuarial Associate, OneAmerica
• Lindsay Graham, AVP, Retirement Plan Services Manager, Capital Group Companies
• Derek Grimmer, CFP®, CPFA®, Financial Advisor, Hurlow Wealth Management Group
• Monique Jackson, Vice President, Treasury Management Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co
• Suzie Kovatch, CFA, Executive Director, Head of Investments & Advice – Indiana, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
• Jared Luegers, CFA, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Valeo Financial Advisors & President, CFA Society Indianapolis
• Owen Riley, FP&A Analyst, The Heritage Group
• Ryan Thompson, Vice President, Syndications and Investor Relations, Merchants Capital
• Keia Walker, VP Community Development Lender, First Internet Bank

Education & Nonprofit
• Jonathan -Coffin- Coffington, Associate Vice President for University Communications, Indiana University
• Beth Bowling, Director, K-12 Programs, EmployIndy
• Samantha Burke, Executive Director, Pass the Torch for Women Foundation
• Porsche Chisley, CEO, Chisley Consulting Group & Design Thinking Coach, Teach Indy
• Willie Eaton, Operations Director, Indy Black Chamber of Commerce
• Corey Emery, Regional Director, Goodwill Education Initiatives
• Riley Hill-Kartel, Director of Advancement, Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick
• Christina Huffines, Founder, President, Executive Director, Indy Hygiene Hub
• Rob Panos, Chief of Staff, Sagamore Institute
• Brad Sever, Assistant Principal, Carmel High School, Carmel Clay Schools

Government, Tourism, & Arts
• Vincent Ash Jr., Chief of Staff, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
• Kyleigh Cramer, Public Relations Director, Indiana Department of Transportation- INDOT
• Annie Dixon, Senior Planner I, Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Sasha Higgins, Owner & Operating Partner, Drybar Indianapolis
• Alison Keefer, Owner, Gallery Pastry Group -Gallery Pastry Shop, Gallery Bistro & Bar, Gallery on 16th
• Matt Lewis, Deputy Sr. Director, Operations and Maintenance, Indianapolis Airport Authority
• José Medina, Director of Workforce Initiatives, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
• William Robinson, Soloist, Indianapolis Ballet
• Blake Roebuck, Vice President of Corporate Relations, Indy Chamber
• Ryu Teramoto, Director of Culture, Won't Stop Hospitality

Health & Life Science
• Dr. Nicole Colòn Carriòn, Scientist and Educator, Corteva Agriscience
• Dr. Amber R. Comer, Professor of Health Sciences and Medicine, Indiana University & Director of Ethics Policy, American Medical Association
• Chunia Graves, Equity Catalyst, Mental Health Perspectives, VOICES Corp.
• Jalysa King, Program Outreach Manager, Indiana Area Health Education Center -AHEC-, Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
• Darryl Lockett, Director of Whole Health & Health Equity, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield
• Justin Miller, MD, Spine Surgeon, Indiana Spine Group
• Morgan Leigh Miller, President, Miller Co Medical Devices LLC
• William Saddler, Clinic Director, We Grow Hair Indy
• Derik Wittenberg, Sr. Director – Global R&D Operations & Transformation Strategy, Elanco Animal Health
• Ashley Zappia, Lead Regional Systems Support Engineer, Roche Diagnostics

Law
• Benjamin Blair, Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
• Matthew T. Ciulla, Shareholder, MacGill PC
• Kimberly S. DalSanto, Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP
• Katie Jackson-Lindsay, Attorney and CEO, Jackson Legal Services, P.C.
• Sarah Jones, Partner, Krieg DeVault LLP
• Zechariah Lee Banks, Commercial Litigation Associate, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP
• Keith Mundrick, Partner, Amundsen Davis LLC
• Joanne R. Sommers, Partner, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP
• R. Alexander Swider, Corporate Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
• Rachel Vilensky, Director of Direct Representation Program, Child Advocates, Inc.

Manufacturing, Retail & Services
• Stephanie Bothun, Principal, Avalon Talent Strategies LLC
• Marcela Cabello, Managing Director, Research & Policy, Cabello Associates, Inc.
• Morgan Donnelly, Communications Manager – Digital Brand Reputation, Cummins Inc.
• LaMar Holliday, CEO, The Holliday Collaborative Agency
• Alex Jacobsen, CFO, Tube Processing Corporation
• Consuelo P. Lockhart, Executive Director & Founder, Latinas Welding Guild Inc.
• Andrianna Moehle, Director of Governmental Affairs, Indiana Manufacturers Association
• Jaelin Roseman, Consultant, netlogx
• Brad Westerfield, CFO, Bath Experts LLC
• Melissa Wonser, Vice President of Marketing, Lucas Oil

Media, Entertainment & Sports
• Leslie Bailey, cofounder + CEO, Indy Maven + Maven Space
• Michael Cioroianu, Director of Executive Affairs, National Collegiate Athletic Association -NCAA
• Anna Heiny, Co-Founder and SVP of Operations at Dreamfuel
• Greg Hurt II, Founder of More Than Productions & Executive Assistant for Enthralld Branding
• Lauryn Keegan, Vice President of Business Development, Dittoe Public Relations
• Kylie Kinder, Director of Community & Partnership Activation, Indianapolis Indians
• Luisa Macer, Community Outreach and Fan Engagement Manager, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Matt Rhinesmith, Senior Manager, Partnerships, Arrow McLaren INDYCAR Team / McLaren Racing
• Shayna Sangster, Director of Marketing, Indiana Fever, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
• Alexander Westrick, Owner, Foxwind Films LLC

Real Estate, Development & Construction
• Clarke Arnold, Executive Vice President, Operations, Birge & Held Asset Management
• Isaac Bamgbose, Founder & CEO, New City Development
• Matthew Dodson, Owner, Business Development, Roberts Glass and Service
• Jade Dugger, Director of Talent and Culture, Compass Commercial Construction
• Aletha Dunston, AICP, Director of Indianapolis Economic Development, Develop Indy
• Andrew Eckrich, EIT, LEED AP ID+C, Mechanical Engineering Graduate, Schmidt Associates
• Danny Scheidler, Executive Vice President, JLL
• Dylan Seesman, Principal, Director of Structural Engineering, JQOL Global
• Amy Tharp, Vice President, Veritas Realty
• Marlon Webb, Senior Director, Regional Economic Development, Indy Chamber

Technology
• Cassandra Bautista, Software Engineer, Preventia Group
• Corey Callahan, Senior Instructional Designer, IU Health
• Grant Chapman, CEO, Glassboard Product Development
• Donnell Dwayne Duncan, Principal, Data Driven Growth, Duncan Diversity Group
• Darcy Lee, CEO & Founder, Vita Nova Consulting and Board Member, Women & Hi Tech
• Mallory Marrs, Senior Managing Consultant, Beacon Hill Technologies
• Lindsay McGuire, Associate Director of Content & Campaigns, Goldcast
• Cory Nation, President & Chief Architect - Embark EMR & Scrum Master, Digital Thread - Rolls-Royce
• Aaron Pierce, CEO, Pierce Aerospace
• Ariel A. Relf, Corporate Digital Communication Specialist, Cummins, Inc -Diesel Engine