STAR Awards
The annual STAR Awards are ISAE's opportunity to recognize the great achievements of our members.
Celebrate the best of Indiana's association industry!
Association/Organizational Awards
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Golden Shoestring
No Money? No Problem! Tell us how you successfully met a challenge head-on with a budget of under $5,000.
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Exemplary Communications/Marketing Campaign
An exemplary, new or unique way your association marketed a program/event or communicated with its membership. Successful submissions should detail the campaign's objective and goals, as well as how those objectives were achieved. It should highlight the creativity of the campaign and how that creativity conveys the message of the organization. Submissions can include, but are not limited to, print advertising, social media, web, email, etc.
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Exemplary Membership Program
A recruitment, retention, new member, lapsed member, or education program with results that exceeded your expectations. These programs can be general, focused on a particular hot button topic specific to your members, or on a particular program, initiative, or product. Be sure to include the measurable goals and outcomes. What was the feedback from your members, how do you know it worked, what can other ISAE members learn from your entry and how could they replicate it?
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Outstanding Annual Convention
Entries must be a convention that benefits your membership and makes a positive impact on your organization.
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Outstanding Government Affairs Program
Entries should outline how the legislative-specific government affairs program successfully lobbied elected officials or public agencies on a member issue on a local, state or national effort.
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Impactful Community Philanthropic Program
Entries must include public service programs that involved and benefit the greater community and surrounding areas beyond the confines of the specific association.
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Outstanding Individual Program/Event
Any single-day, non-convention event planned by the association for the membership. Focus of the event could be education, advocacy, networking, etc.
Individual Awards
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Association Executive of the Year
Nominee must be a regular, voting member of ISAE and actively involved in a full-time position as the chief staff executive for an association. A minimum of three years association management experience is required. This person has shown dedication, innovation and leadership. This is the kind of executive all association professionals aspire to be.
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Association Professional of the Year
Nominee must be a regular, voting member of ISAE and actively involved in a full-time position as a staff member (not CEO) for an association. A minimum of three years association management experience is required. While not the top person in the association, the nominee is a leader who moves the association to the next level.
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Individual Supplier of the Year
Nominee must be a supplier member of ISAE in a full-time position serving the association industry. Nominee must have a minimum of three years' work experience with associations and provide outstanding customer service to ISAE member associations.
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Rising STAR of the Year
Nominee must be a regular member of ISAE. Nominee must have one to three years' service in or to the association industry. This person is one who makes contributions to his/her association, loves learning new things and provides outstanding service to the membership.
Past Winners
2026 Individual Winners
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Volunteer of the Year
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Volunteer of the Year
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Association Executive of the Year
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Crystal Stone, M.Ed., CAE, PMP
Christ Church Cathedral
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Nicolle Campbell
Visit Fort Wayne
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Katie Feltman, CAE
American College of Sports Medicine
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Association Professional of the Year
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Rising STAR of the Year
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Individual Supplier of the Year
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Rachel Daeger, CAE, IOM
Raybourn Group International
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Luke Schmidt
The Mattison Corporation
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Josie O'Donnell
Visit Fort Wayne
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2026 Organization Winners
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Impactful Community/Philanthropic Program
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Golden Shoestring
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Outstanding Individual Program/Event
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Outstanding Annual Convention
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Exemplary Communications/Marketing Campaign
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Exemplary Membership Program
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Outstanding Government Affairs Program
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All Past Winners
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Association Executive of the Year
- 1982 – Ronald Wuensch, CAE
- 1983 – T. J. Schmitz, CAE, CFRE
- 1984 – Michael J. Quinn
- 1985 – Frank B. Jones, CAE
- 1986 – Wilford Butler, CAE
- 1987 – Jerry Gorup, CAE
- 1988 – Harold “Hap” Walters, CAE
- 1989 – Richard Poppa, CAE
- 1990 – Ann Craft
- 1991 – Gale E. Coons
- 1992 – Edward J. Bowman
- 1993 – Larry L. Forrester, CAE
- 1994 – Stephen J. Noone, CAE
- 1995 – Jonathan J. Brant, CAE
- 1996 – Gary L. Epperson, CAE
- 1997 – Jeanne Floyd, Ph.D., CAE
- 1998 – Terry Beyl, CAE
- 1999 – Tanya Johnson, CAE
- 2000 – Leslie Murphy, FASAE, CAE
- 2001 – Gary Bolinger, CAE
- 2002 – Kathy Finley, CAE
- 2003 – Brenda Dant, CAE
- 2004 – Lynne Petersen, CAE
- 2005 – Sharon Gorup, CAE
- 2006 – John Livengood
- 2007 – Cindy Bussell
- 2008 – Kevin Mayeux, CAE
- 2010 – S. Joe Dehaven
- 2011 – Lane Velayo, CAE
- 2012 – Scott Wiley, FASAE, CAE
- 2013 – Robert Riggs, CAE
- 2014 – Mark McSweeney, CAE
- 2015 – Addy Kujawa, CAE
- 2016 – Donnie Aldrich
- 2017 – Beth Bauer, CAE
- 2018 – Bill Knopf
- 2019 – David Bottorff
- 2020 – John Poray, CAE
- 2021 – Kristen LaEace, CAE
- 2022 – Mary Ann Passi, CAE
- 2023 – Amber Van Til
- 2024 – Lisa Perius, CAE
Individual Supplier of the Year
(Formerly Associate Member of the Year)
- 1982 – William Roth
- 1983 – Vona Lauman
- 1984 – Anton Piringer
- 1985 – Charles P. Schilling
- 1986 – Judy Gruber
- 1987 – Cindy Wheeler
- 1988 – R. Dale Scott, CHA
- 1989 – Debbie Locklear & Richard Leagre
- 1990 – Charles “Chuck” Markey
- 1991 – Brook Smith
- 1992 – Teresa Shay
- 1993 – Jim Yarnelle
- 1994 – Carole McCormack
- 1995 – Darleen Puzzullo
- 1996 – Velton Showell
- 1997 – David Chic
- 1998 – Dave Stevens
- 1999 – Roe Wright
- 2000 – Russell Cox
- 2001 – Linda Addaman
- 2002 – Matt Middaugh
- 2003 – Deann Patena
- 2004 – Karen Lowry
- 2005 – Starr Peterson
- 2006 – Sue Ellen Potter
- 2007 – Adina Cloud
- 2008 – Sabrina Valentine
- 2009 – Jillian Dampier
- 2010 – Deann Patena
- 2011 – Jodi Massey
- 2013 – Carolyne Wallace
- 2014 – Marcy McKinley
- 2015 – Ashley Vezzoso
- 2016 – Joann McKinney
- 2017 – Kori Peterson
- 2018 – Marcy McKinley
- 2019 – Pat Derksen
- 2020 – Karen Farfsing
- 2021 – Erica Poff, CAE
- 2022 – Megan Heronemus
- 2023 – Shaun Ballard
- 2024 – Meagan Drabik
Association Professional of the Year
(Formerly Staff Professionalism Award)
- 1986 – Brian Long
- 1987 – J. Michael Quinn
- 1988 – Terry Beyl & Liz Freyn
- 1989 – Leslie Murphy, FASE, CAE
- 1990 – Jo Ann Weiker
- 1991 – Jackie Freers Stahl
- 1992 – Deeda Ferree
- 1993 – Laura Shaw
- 1994 – Jayne Admire
- 1995 – Carole A. Snyder, CAE
- 1997 – Brenda Dant, CAE
- 1998 – Kame Reis
- 1999 – Doug Bennett
- 2001 – Cindy Bussell
- 2002 – Kim Allison, CAE
- 2003 – Sherrill Rude
- 2004 – Jill Doyle, CAE
- 2005 – Jay Dziwlik, MBA, CAE
- 2006 – Paul Freeman, CAE
- 2007 – Larry Baile, CAE
- 2008 – Emilie Perkins
- 2009 – Laurie Rees & Jennifer Briggs, CAE
- 2010 – Melissa Heeke, CAE
- 2011 – Chris Bennett, CAE
- 2012 – Dax Denton
- 2013 – Laura Wilson
- 2014 – Thomas Popcheff, CAE
- 2015 – Amber Van Til
- 2016 – Stephanie Parton
- 2017 – Jill Curtis, CAE
- 2018 – Kristen Spriggs, IOM
- 2019 – Jay Dziwlik, CAE
- 2020 – Christopher Whited, CAE
- 2021 – Rod Lasley
- 2022 – Matthew Nance
- 2023 – Michael Sanserino
- 2024 – Evan Hoffmeyer
Rising Star of the Year
- 1999 – Staci Schneider
- 2001 – Jenni Metzinger
- 2002 – Cyndee Howell
- 2003 – Betsy Ward
- 2004 – Nate Hardesty
- 2005 – Alyssa Pfennig
- 2006 – Kelly Miller
- 2007 – Maureen Hoffmeyer, LPN, CPC
- 2008 – Sherri McKeen
- 2009 – Chris Walsh
- 2010 – Andrea Cowan
- 2011 – Courtney Kincaid
- 2012 – Ali Paul
- 2013 – Mark Lewis
- 2015 – Jess Halverson Bowyer
- 2016 – Bradley Coffey, MA
- 2017 – Mike Thibideau
- 2018 – Denise Wade
- 2019 – Natalie Shryock
- 2020 – Kate Martin
- 2021 – Emily Wrinkle, DES
- 2022 – Raevyn Harris
- 2023 – Abigail Hopf
- 2024 – Catalina Gallegos
Volunteer of the Year
- 2011 – Robert Riggs, CAE
- 2012 – Christine Robinett
- 2013 – Erin Erdmann
- 2014 – Brenda Dant, CAE
- 2015 – Rachel Daeger, CAE
- 2016 – Jaime Smith, CMP
- 2017 – Kim Paugh, CAE
- 2018 – Emilie Perkins, CMP, CAE, CMM
- 2019 – Nick Estrada, CMP
- 2020 – Paige Riley
- 2021 – Jayme Little
- 2022 – Chris Beaman
- 2023 – Christopher Whited, CAE
- 2024 – Stu Kushner, CAE
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Supplier Company of the Year
- 2005 – Stevens & Stevens
- 2006 – Markey’s Rental and Staging
- 2007 – Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites at Keystone at the Crossing
- 2008 – Bright Ideas
- 2009 – ICVA
- 2010 – Horizon Convention Center
- 2011 – SpinWeb
- 2012 – Horizon Convention Center
- 2013 – Caesars Entertainment
- 2015 – White Lodging: Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, JW Marriott, Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza
- 2016 – Indianapolis Conference Center
- 2017 – Horizon Convention Center
- 2018 – Fair Oaks Farms/Farmhouse Restaurant & Conference Center
- 2019 – MemberClicks
- 2020 – Visit Evansville
- 2021 – Hendricks County & Embassy Suites Plainfield
- 2022 – Visit Hamilton County
- 2023 – Explore Evansville
- 2024 – Discover Boone County
Impactful Community/Philanthropic Program
- 2002 – Indiana Bowling Centers Association
- 2003 – Indiana State Bar Association
- 2003 – Indiana Broadcasters Association
- 2004 – Community Bankers Association of Indiana
- 2004 – National Committee on Planned Giving
- 2005 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2006 – Air Conditioning Contractors of America – Central Indiana (ACCA)
- 2007 – Indiana Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
- 2007 – Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
- 2008 – Indiana Perinatal Network
- 2009 – Bose Public Affairs Group
- 2009 – Greater Indianapolis Hotel & Lodging Association
- 2009 – Indiana Perinatal Network
- 2010 – Indiana State Bar Association
- 2010 – Kappa Delta Pi
- 2011 – Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association
- 2011 – Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
- 2012 – Autism Society of Indiana
- 2012 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2013 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2014 – Upstate Alliance of Realtors
- 2014 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2015 – Midwest Political Science Association
- 2016 – American Planning Association: Indiana Chapter
- 2016 – Indiana Construction Roundtable
- 2017 – Indiana Academy of Family Physicians
- 2018 – American Association of Orthopaedic Executives
- 2019 – American Association of Orthopaedic Executives
- 2020 – Indiana State Police Alliance
- 2021 – Indiana Apartment Association
- 2022 – Radio Television Digital News Association
- 2023 – Rebuilding Together
- 2024 – Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology
Exemplary Communications Program
(Formerly Best Total Communications Program)
- 2002 – Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau
- 2003 – MP Records Communications
- 2004 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2004 – Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Supplier)
- 2005 – Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association
- 2006 – Tau Kappa Epsilon
- 2017 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2018 – American College of Sports Medicine
- 2019 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2020 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2021 – American Legion
- 2022 – Sigma Kappa
- 2023 – Radio Television Digital News Association
- 2024 – Indiana State Bar Association
Golden Shoestring
- 2002 – Apartment Association of Indiana
- 2002 – Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
- 2003 – Apartment Association of Indiana
- 2003 – Indiana Lumber and Builder’s Association
- 2003 – Markey’s Audio Visual
- 2004 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2004 – Montoya Management for International Association of Speakers Bureaus
- 2005 – Air Conditioning Contractors Association of Central Indiana
- 2006 – Indiana Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
- 2007 – Northern Indiana Apartment Council
- 2007 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2008 – National Committee on Planned Giving
- 2009 – Northern Indiana Apartment Council
- 2010 – Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association
- 2011 – Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- 2012 – Interior Design Educators Council
- 2012 – Indiana Academy of Family Physicians
- 2013 – Indiana Construction Roundtable
- 2014 – Indiana Veterinary Medical Association
- 2015 – Association of Indiana Solid Waste Management Districts
- 2016 – Midwest Building Suppliers Association
- 2017 – Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association
- 2017 – Coalition for Construction Safety
- 2018 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2019 – Indiana Association of School Psychologists
- 2020 – Indiana Construction Roundtable
- 2021 – National Association for Legal Support Professionals
- 2022 – Midwest States Environmental Consultants Association
- 2023 – Order of the Golden Rule
- 2024 – ACEC Indiana
Outstanding Government Affairs Program
- 2003 – Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association
- 2004 – Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- 2004 – IN Hotel & Lodging Association
- 2005 – Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association
- 2006 – Indiana Apartment Association
- 2007 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2008 – American Forestry and Paper Association
- 2009 – Indiana Academy of Family Physicians
- 2010 – Indiana State Bar Association
- 2010 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2011 – Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- 2011 – Indiana Chamber
- 2012 – Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology
- 2012 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2013 – Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology
- 2013 – Indiana Chamber
- 2014 – Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology
- 2014 – American Association of Orthopedic Executives
- 2015 – Indiana Music Education
- 2015 – Indiana Chamber
- 2016 – American Council of Engineering Companies
- 2016 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2017 – American Association of Orthopaedic Executives
- 2018 – Corporate Housing Providers Association
- 2019 – Indiana State Police Alliance
- 2020 – Academy of Model Aeronautics
- 2021 – Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police
- 2023 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2024 – Indiana State Police Alliance
Innovation of the Year
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Best Annual Convention
- 2005 – Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association
- 2005 – The Community Bankers Association of Indiana
- 2006 – Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association
- 2007 – Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association
- 2008 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2008 – FFA
- 2009 – National Chimney Sweep Guild
- 2010 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2010 – Alpha Chi Omega
- 2011 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2011 – Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
- 2012 – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
- 2012 – Vacation Rental Managers Association
- 2013 – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
- 2013 – Vacation Rental Managers Association
- 2014 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2014 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2015 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2015 – Tau Kappa Epsilon
- 2016 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2016 – Key Club International
- 2017 – Tau Kappa Epsilon
- 2018 – National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
- 2019 – Tau Kappa Epsilon
- 2020 – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
- 2021 – Association for Information Systems
- 2022 – Tau Kappa Epsilon
- 2023 – Corporate Housing Providers Association
- 2024 – Tau Kappa Epsilon
Exemplary Membership Program
(Formerly Innovative Membership Program)
- 2006 – Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association
- 2007 – Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau
- 2008 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2008 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2009 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2010 – Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
- 2010 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2011 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2011 – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
- 2012 – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
- 2012 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2013 – Meeting Professionals International – Indiana Chapter
- 2013 – Organization of American Historians
- 2014 – Indiana Subcontractors Association
- 2014 – Wellness Council of Indiana
- 2014 – Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity
- 2015 – Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
- 2015 – Zeta Beta Tau
- 2016 – Indiana Society for Healthcare Engineering
- 2016 – Sigma Kappa
- 2017 – Indiana Apartment Association
- 2018 – Society of Broadcast Engineers
- 2020 – Phi Kappa Theta
- 2021 – Coalition for Construction Safety
- 2022 – Indiana Construction Roundtable
- 2023 – Indiana Water Environment Association
- 2024 – Indiana CPA Society
Outstanding Individual Program/Event
- 2007 – Northern Indiana Apartment Council
- 2007 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2008 – Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives
- 2008 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2009 – Greater Indianapolis Hotel & Lodging Association
- 2009 – Indiana Apartment Association
- 2010 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2010 – Meeting Professionals International – Indiana Chapter
- 2010 – Indiana Chamber
- 2011 – Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association
- 2011 – Indiana Apartment Association
- 2012 – Indiana Chamber
- 2013 – Top Notch Indiana
- 2013 – The Arc Indiana
- 2014 – Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association
- 2014 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2015 – Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association
- 2015 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2016 – Construction Family Assistance Foundation
- 2016 – Sigma Kappa
- 2017 – Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
- 2017 – Construction Family Assistance Foundation
- 2017 – Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association
- 2018 – Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers
- 2019 – Pi Alpha Phi
- 2019 – Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana
- 2020 – Indiana HVAC Association
- 2021 – Indiana State Bar Association
- 2022 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2023 – Indiana State Bar Association
- 2024 – Radio Television Digital News Association
Exemplary Marketing Campaign
(Formerly Innovative Marketing Campaign)
- 2009 – American Software Testing Qualifications Board
- 2009 – Association of Indiana Counties
- 2010 – Indiana Economic Development Association
- 2010 – Indiana Restaurant Association
- 2010 – National Chimney Sweep Guild
- 2011 – Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
- 2011 – Interior Design Educators Council
- 2012 – Digital Pathology Association
- 2012 – Vacation Rental Managers Association
- 2013 – Indiana Music Education Association
- 2013 – Key Club
- 2014 – Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
- 2014 – Partnership for Philanthropic Planning
- 2015 – Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
- 2015 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2016 – Indiana Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association
- 2016 – The Arc Indiana
- 2017 – Indiana CPA Society
- 2017 – Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
- 2018 – Indiana Construction Roundtable
- 2019 – Corporate Housing Providers Association
- 2020 – Sigma Kappa
- 2021 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2022 – KPD
- 2023 – Indiana Construction Roundtable
- 2024 – College Sports Communicators
Impactful Technology
- 2017 – Indiana Bankers Association
- 2018 – Organization of American Historians
- 2019 – Midwest Building Suppliers Association
- 2019 – Society of Broadcast Engineers
- 2020 – Association for Information Systems
- 2021 – Indiana Music Education
- 2022 – Corporate Housing Providers Association
- 2023 – Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group
- 2024 – Coalition for Construction Safety
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Past Winners for Awards No Longer Presented
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