INDIANAPOLIS – Conexus Indiana today announced the newest members of the Conexus Indiana Rising 30, an exclusive group of young professionals who are recognized for their early-in-career accomplishments in the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.

The Rising 30 program is in its third year and is part of Conexus Indiana’s mission to strengthen Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. Rising 30 honorees exemplify leadership and innovation in Indiana’s largest industry sector and are poised to become Indiana’s future industry leaders.

“It is exciting to see such a rich pipeline of young professionals who already are contributing to Indiana’s largest economic engine,” said Scott Brand, executive vice president of Subaru of Indiana Automotive and chair of the Conexus Indiana Board. “As Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries continue to modernize and embrace the next-generation workplace, we’re in good hands with young people like these making it happen.”

Rising 30 honorees represent diverse professions, including quality specialists, entrepreneurs and business owners, engineers, educators, CEOs and software designers. The companies they work for range from massive international companies to local start-ups located in cities and towns all across the state, from Bristol to Columbus and Indianapolis to Princeton.

“The young professionals named to this year’s Rising 30 are setting new standards for Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics sector,” said Fred Cartwright, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “Learning about their accomplishments and ambitions made me more optimistic than ever about the future of advanced manufacturing and logistics in Indiana.”

Rising 30 honorees are nominated by their employer or an industry representative, and winners are selected based on their early-career accomplishments. In the coming year, the Rising 30 honorees will participate in Conexus Indiana’s work by serving as thought leaders on subjects ranging from emerging technology, smart manufacturing, public policy and talent development.

2023 Rising 30 honorees, listed below, are being honored during a special event this evening in downtown Indianapolis.

Caeli Bislich, Manager, NAMC Regional Communications, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana

Austin Borg, Engineering Manager/Lead Design, Ember Recreational Vehicles

Michael Boyle, Process Engineer, Smoker Craft

Morgan Chang, Former Project Manager, Graduate Student, Purdue University

John Coleman, Manager of Strategic Accounts, Backhaul Direct

James Coppock, Packaging Reduction Specialist, Subaru of Indiana Automotive

Ashley David, Product Marketing Manager, Endress+Hauser

Julia Dodson, Manufacturing Quality Engineer, Honda Development and Manufacturing of America LLC – Indiana Auto Plant

Riana Dozier, Manufacturing Engineer, Goodwill Commercial Services of Central and Southern Indiana

Dr. Ana Flavia Petro, Senior Analytical Chemist, Heritage Research Group

Ben Fouch, VP, Strategy & Operations, LDI

Connor Fox, Project Manager, Polygon Composites Technology

Adam Gushwa-Williams, Production Planning & Control Manager, Rolls-Royce

Cydney Huey, Manufacturing Engineer, BAE Systems

Robert Kirch, Client Relationship Manager, True Essence Foods

Nicholas LaNeve, Full Stack Developer, LHP Analytics & IoT

Scott Massey, Founder & CEO, anu™ (Heliponix)

Megan McHale, Lafayette Order to Delivery Rotational Program – Ops Leadership, Caterpillar

Sam Patton, Continuous Improvement Engineer, Cook Medical

John Ragan, Teacher, Eastbrook High School

Nathaniel Rivas, Senior Software Engineer, THG Automation

Natalie Roberts, Process Automation Consultant, Flexware Innovation

Kendal Rosenbaum, Manager of Quality and Batching, Circle Beverage

Michael John Solliday, Chief Executive Officer, Wolverine Enterprises

Caroline Squatrito, Human Resources Manager, Arcamed

Francisco Torres Diaz, Senior Additive Manufacturing Engineer, Cummins

Kelsey Van Scyoc, Procurement Manager, Toyota Material Handling

Johann Villalvir, Co-founder and CEO, Gravitate (Formerly Top Notch Leads)

Nicholas Wright, Operations Coordination Leader – Midwest Division, Veryable

Andrea Zimmerman, Legislative Director, Indiana Department of Transportation

To view bios of each honoree, visit www.conexusindiana.com/rising-30. Nominations will open for the 2024 class in November.

About Conexus Indiana

For more than a decade, Conexus Indiana, one of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) non-profit initiatives, has been positioning the Hoosier State as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to innovate, invest, employ and succeed. By collaborating with industry, academic and public sector partners on a shared vision for an innovative, skilled workforce and stronger business climate, Conexus Indiana has helped to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and logistics companies, prepare Hoosiers to succeed in the state’s largest industry sectors and maintain Indiana’s competitive advantage. For more information, go to www.conexusindiana.com.