Business owners, dignitaries and community leaders will gather on Jan. 15 to celebrate the 11th annual Champions of Diversity Awards Dinner. The Indiana Minority Business Magazine (IMBM), published quarterly by the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, will recognize 12 individuals, organizations and institutions that have demonstrated tremendous effort in the areas of diversity and inclusion.
“The music industry has the Grammys, and the film industry has the Oscars,” said Ebony Chappel, marketing manager at the Recorder and IMBM. “For 11 years, the Indiana Minority Business Magazine has made a concerted effort toward recognizing and honoring the true superstars among us, those who work every day to make sure our differences are celebrated and used to make us a better, more inclusive society.”
This year’s event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. A networking reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. with the awards presentation immediately following. A free after-party will be hosted at the hotel following the awards ceremony.
“I look forward to this event every year, it just keeps getting better and better,” Chappel said. “The meal is fabulous, and the beautiful people you get to interact with make it that much more special. The icing on the cake has to be the free after-party.”
Recorder and IMBM President Shannon Williams said it’s an honor each year to recognize the new class of Champions.
“The late Robert Kennedy once said that ultimately, America’s answer to the intolerant man is diversity. I can think of no better time than now to celebrate those who boldly advocate each day for equity and acceptance,” Williams said. “I am overjoyed once again at the opportunity to honor such a deserving class of Champions.”
Read on to learn more about this year’s Champions of Diversity:
Harry and Michelle Dunn — founders, HIM by HER Foundation
Harry C. Dunn III is a third-generation homicide detective with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), and Michelle Dunn has worked in law enforcement for 18 years investigating fatal accidents for the State of Indiana. Together, they created the HIM By HER Foundation Inc., which stands for “helping improve mankind by healing every race.” The foundation works to keep at-risk youth out of the criminal justice system by providing life skills education and training. For adults in the community, HIM by HER offers vocational training programs to enhance employability, especially among adults with criminal histories that limit job prospects.
Kimberly Dunning — manager of supplier diversity and development, Vectren
Kimberly Dunning joined Vectren Corporation in 2010 as part of the Economic Development team. Today, she is the current driver of supplier diversity and development, a position she has held for three years. Dunning’s leadership style is based on the simple principles of managing and cultivating relationships with small and diverse businesses through outreach, active participation in influential advocacy groups and collaborative and transparent internal communication. She has advanced Vectren’s inclusion of diverse suppliers through purchasing policy changes, supplier inclusion metrics with high visibility from an engaged executive team and companywide accountability to Vectren’s corporate goal to be a leader in diversity and inclusion.
Engaging Solutions LLC (William G. Mays Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award recipient)
Engaging Solutions LLC (ES) was established in 2005 as a management consultant firm, and today has an experienced staff of accountants, planners, outreach specialists and project analysts. ES is organized into four sectors to serve a diverse client base: Fiscal Management and Accountability, Planning and Community Outreach, Diversity and Fund Development. As leaders in the diversity services and fund development arenas, ES has created and managed supplier diversity (Minority and Women Business Enterprise) programs for multiple national health insurance companies and generated additional revenue for several not-for-profit entities. ES is also committed to providing 10 percent of its services pro bono to organizations/firms that could not otherwise afford services. ES has contributed close to $300,000 in cash donations, donated services and volunteer stewardship.
Mark and Karen Hill — founders, Collina Ventures (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award recipient)
Collina Ventures is an early-stage investment company that has been involved with more than 40 young technology companies in central Indiana. It operates on the principle that technology companies are inherently people businesses, and it looks to serve and mentor the companies with which it partners. When the Hills are not guiding startups, they are serving in their community. Their board service includes the Central Indiana Community Foundation, The Orr Fellowship and Techpoint. In addition to her role with Collina, Karen Hill serves on the boards of Bluelock and Conner Prairie. Mark Hill serves on the boards of numerous companies, including Interactive Intelligence, KAR Auction Services, Bluelock and TinderBox.
Indianapolis Airport Authority
Established as a municipal corporation by the General Assembly in 1962, the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport and Metropolitan Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 in Airports Council International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. Conde Nast Traveler readers named IND the best airport in America in 2014 and 2015. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to win LEED certification for an entire terminal campus, and it has won additional recognition for excellent customer service, concessions programs and art and architecture.
Indiana Plan
The Indiana Plan was created to correct the problem of low minority participation within the Indiana union building trade industry by helping minorities, women and disadvantaged workers discover a career in the building trades. The organization’s objective is to assist the above populations as they achieve job placement and work toward acceptance into formal apprenticeship programs. Indiana Plan has been in continuous operation for 45 years. It’s the only pre-apprenticeship program registered with the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training and endorsed by the Indiana State Building Trades. Indiana Plan’s mission is to strengthen the community by providing the job skills, education and support necessary to elevate economic growth and stability in Indiana.
Casey Foyt, Kalen Irsay, Carlie Irsay-Gordon — vice chairs/owners, Indianapolis Colts
Casey Foyt graduated from Indiana University with a degree in sports marketing. Following graduation, Casey worked for the NFL in London, England, planning the first regular season NFL game played outside North America, as well as special events associated with the game. She joined the Colts in May of 2007 and focuses her energy on marketing and community relations. Casey helped revitalize the Colts Women’s Organization and planned the group’s first major fundraiser in 2007.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon is in her fourth season as vice chair/owner. She joined the Colts as vice president in July of 2008. Raised in and around the Colts organization, Carlie interned with the Colts in the football and marketing departments while pursuing her undergraduate degree. She also has represented the team at NFL Owners Meetings since 2004.
Kalen Irsay is entering her fourth season as vice chair/owner. She joined the team in June 2010 as vice president. She graduated with honors in 2010 from Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and marketing. On a daily basis, Kalen is involved in corporate sales and community outreach programs, and currently serves on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana. She is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization and has also represented the team at NFL Owners Meetings.
Barry Magee — assistant director for diversity education, Indiana University
As assistant director for diversity education at Indiana University, Barry Magee oversees the school’s diversity and inclusion programs and training. Under Magee’s leadership, IU has been a leader in efforts promoting inclusion and equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community. In working toward inclusion, the university has implemented public gender-inclusive restroom facilities, single-user restrooms on residential floors and mixed-gender residential floors. A revamped student ID program lets students use their preferred name on their official university ID. Most recently, Magee was instrumental in the creation of Spectrum, the school’s new learning community for LGBTQ students and their allies. The residence is designed to support students of all gender and sexual identities, allowing them to feel comfortable in their home-away-from-home.
The Oaks Academy (Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award recipient)
The Oaks Academy is a Christ-centered school that exists to provide a rich, classical education to children across diverse racial and socioeconomic barriers. This unique school addresses the need for a quality, faith-based education in neglected parts of Indianapolis; the school’s founders purposefully established the school in an area of the city known for its high crime rate, extreme poverty and rampant drug abuse. Beyond preparing students to succeed in rigorous secondary educational programs, the school aims to instill spiritual, social and emotional maturity in students, while fostering friendships among students of different backgrounds. Since its founding in 1998, The Oaks Academy has opened two additional locations in neglected urban communities.
Patricia Payne — Former director of multicultural education, Indianapolis Public Schools
Indianapolis native Patricia Payne completed more than 50 years of service with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), beginning with 25 years as a second-grade teacher. During her time with IPS, Payne helped design and direct the district’s Office of Multicultural Education. She later became the director of the Crispus Attucks Museum of African/African-American History when the facility opened on the high school’s campus. Throughout her career, the 1984 IPS Teacher of the Year has traveled to study in Nigeria, Egypt, Israel and Palestine. Payne has been selected for numerous honors, including the Sagamore of the Wabash from the State of Indiana, the Senator Julia Carson Community Service Award, the Trailblazer Award from the Kennedy King Memorial Initiative, Living Legend Award from Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Award for Leadership in Education from the Indianapolis Education Association and more.
John Schnatter — founder/CEO, Papa John’s Pizza
John Schnatter, a native of Jeffersonville, Indiana, is the founder and CEO of Papa John’s Pizza. After graduating with a business degree from Ball State University, Schnatter bought used restaurant equipment to begin making and selling pizzas out of the back of his father’s bar. The first Papa John’s opened in 1985. By 1999, the 2,000th restaurant opened, and the company topped $1 billion in systemwide restaurant sales. Papa John’s has consistently rated high in customer satisfaction surveys and was the first pizza chain to offer national online ordering. Papa John’s believes commitment is the key ingredient for making communities better places to work, live and play; that’s why it supports organizations such as Junior Achievement, the University of Louisville and the WHAS Crusade for Children. Since 2012, Papa John’s has contributed more than $1 million toward disaster recovery and relief.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. (SIA) employs more than 3,800 Hoosiers at its Lafayette, Indiana, plant, producing Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback vehicles. In addition to being an industry leader in environmental stewardship, SIA implements an extensive community outreach program that includes charitable contributions, corporate sponsorships, hosting charitable events on-site, donating vehicles and parts to educational institutions and encouraging employee volunteerism, supporting hundreds of non-profit organizations and schools throughout Indiana each year. SIA has established and given $3 million to the SIA Foundation, which is dedicated to helping Indiana organizations improve life for all Hoosier residents. In December 2015, the SIA Foundation gave more than $65,000 to several programs, including those benefiting underserved children, adults with disabilities and schools. SIA also demonstrates dedication to employee wellbeing and safety.
For more information about the Champions of Diversity Awards Dinner or to purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com and search “Champions of Diversity.”
