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Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of ������Ƶ, has been named the 2024  recipient, joining an esteemed group of leaders recognized for their extraordinary impact in Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.

Conexus Indiana presents the Vanguard Award annually to a Hoosier leader who champions these industries, models civic leadership and challenges the status quo. The award is named in honor of Andre B. Lacy, a philanthropist and business leader with a lasting impact on Indiana as the third-generation leader of Lacy Diversified Industries Ltd. (LDI).

Previous honorees include Eric Holcomb, the 51^st Governor of Indiana; Thomas V. Easterday, retired senior executive vice president of Subaru of Indiana Automotive; F. Joseph Loughrey, former president of Cummins Inc.; Cathy Langham, president and CEO of Langham Logistics Inc.; Robert Koch, chairman of Koch Enterprises Inc. and Albert Chen, founder and executive chairman of Telamon.

“From my time as an industrial engineer, state legislator, Lieutenant Governor and now as the president of ������Ƶ, I have been proud to champion Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries and the work of Conexus to support their growth. I could not be more honored to be in the company of past Vanguard Award recipients,” said Dr. Ellspermann. “This award reflects not only my personal passion for these industries, but also the collective efforts of ������Ƶ’s dedicated faculty and staff, who are equipping students with the skills needed for Indiana to continue leading the nation in advanced industries while increasing Hoosier prosperity.”

Dr. Ellspermann has spent over 30 years in education, economic development, industry and public service, with a focus on preparing Indiana’s workforce for the advanced industries. Since becoming ������Ƶ’s first female president in 2016, she has led Indiana’s largest postsecondary institution’s work to align its more than 70 degrees and credentials with employer needs while ensuring access, quality, and affordability for all Hoosiers.

Under her leadership, ������Ƶ launched the nation’s first Industry 4.0 associate degree and Ivy+ Career Link, a transformative approach to career development services to all students and employers seeking to train and upskill their existing workforce. ������Ƶ completed multiple successful campus transformations in high manufacturing-intensive locations and supported dozens of economic development initiatives in key regions across the state, amounting to billions of dollars of investment and the creation of thousands of jobs with employers such as Eli Lilly, Toyota, SK hynix, Amazon Web Services and more.

Her commitment to aligning Indiana’s education and workforce development system to meet the needs of employers was her focus long before she joined ������Ƶ. As Indiana’s 50^th Lieutenant Governor from 2013 to 2016, Dr. Ellspermann served as vice chair of the Indiana Career Council and it was a focus of her efforts in 2010 when she was elected as District 74’s State Representative.

“Dr. Ellspermann’s deep understanding of, and appreciation for, Indiana’s advanced industries likely stems from her time working in operations and engineering at Frito-Lay, Michelin Tire Corporation and General Motors early in her career,” shared Conexus Indiana President and CEO Fred Cartwright. “As her career has progressed, she’s continued to be involved in the advanced manufacturing and logistics community in countless ways, even having served as a Conexus Indiana Advanced Industries Council partner and valued member of the Conexus Indiana board of directors.”

Today, Dr. Ellspermann continues her history of civic leadership as chair of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Board of Directors and a member of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, Indiana Chamber, Indy Chamber of Commerce, Applied Research Institute, Strada Education Foundation and Center for Leadership Development boards.