FORT WAYNE, Ind. –- Nineteen local leaders and mentors have been nominated for Greater Fort Wayne Inc.’s 2020 Champions of Change Awards. The awards, which will be distributed at a luncheon on April 23, celebrate those who mentor and empower women in Allen County.
“Every one of these nominees makes an incredible impact every day by providing opportunities, encouragement, and a strong support system to the women in our community,” said Brenda Gerber Vincent, VP of community and corporate impact at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. “We’re proud to highlight these individuals and the difference they make. Any of them would be a deserving Champions of Change Award winner.”
The awards are given each year by the GFW Inc. Women’s Network to two extraordinary individuals from Allen County–one female and one male. Wendy Moyle and John Dortch were the inaugural winners in 2019.
The nominees for 2020 are:
| Jim Anderson, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo | Rob Kee, Rob Kee Solutions |
| Sen. Justin Busch, Indiana State Senate | Kara Kelley, Asher Agency |
| Tomi Cardin, Redemption House Ministries, Inc. | Corinna Ladd, PNC Financial Services Group |
| Michelle Chambers, Signing Closers LLC | Aaron Lane, Parkview Health |
| Donovan Coley, The Rescue Mission | Martin Pastura, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne |
| Palermo Galindo, City of Fort Wayne | Katy Silliman, Three Rivers Distilling Company |
| Alexandra Hall, AH Public Spaces Consulting, LLC | Wendy Spitznagel, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne |
| Amy Hanna, The RespectTeam | Tishamarie (Stotlar) Strasser, Bring It – Push It – Own It |
| Amy Houston, UAW Local 2209 / General Motors | Margaret Sturm, Ivy Tech Community College |
| Paula Kaufman, Out of a Jam |
Nominations were submitted online by members of the Allen County community. Nominations will be reviewed and scored on a blind basis by a panel of chamber of commerce leaders from outside Allen County.
The GFW Inc. Women’s Network will host the Champions of Change Awards luncheon on April 23 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, where all nominees will be recognized for their contributions to the community. Tables and individual admissions are available; to learn more and to register, visit champions2020.gfwinc.com.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Ind., as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention and community engagement.
