Courtney Kerr, Author at CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership

Celebrating the “Best of Indiana” at the 18th Annual Innovation Showcase

Courtney Kerr2026-06-24T11:05:58-04:00June 24, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. “Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through connection.” When the Venture Club of Indiana (VCI) shared those words on LinkedIn, they captured the exact energy that filled the room last week for the 18th Annual Venture Club of Indiana Innovation Showcase. True innovation isn't just about a single breakout founder or a lone genius working in isolation. It’s about building a connected web of founders, investors, executives, and ecosystem champions who are collectively committed to driving Indiana’s entrepreneurial future forward. With roughly 1,500 startups currently operating across the Hoosier State, the day proved that our ecosystem is maturing into something genuinely formidable. As VCI President & VP of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at TechPoint Chelsea Linder noted, what makes Indiana special is our [...]

AgriNovus taps Purdue DIAL Ventures veteran to lead innovation efforts across state’s agbioscience ecosystem

Courtney Kerr2026-06-18T09:17:57-04:00June 16, 2026|

Former Purdue DIAL Ventures and Serial Startup Veteran Tim Dixon to Focus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Joins AgriNovus Senior Leadership Team INDIANAPOLIS – June 16, 2026 – AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, announced today Tim Dixon as its new senior director of innovation – a role charged with accelerating startup and entrepreneurial activity in the state.Dixon joins the AgriNovus team after more than 30 years of experience in the startup space and will lead the organization’s efforts to accelerate commercial innovation and company creation, building coalitions across industry, academia, capital providers, governments, non-profits and donors to drive awareness around the need for agbioscience innovation and the momentum growing around the state.“Tim brings to the AgriNovus team a unique mix of startup experience, strategic vision and a deep understanding of transforming big ideas into real-world impact,” [...]

Indiana’s Advanced Industries: Powering the State’s Future Workforce and Economy

Courtney Kerr2026-06-24T12:09:59-04:00June 13, 2026|

This conversation with Melina Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer at the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), was originally published by Ascend Indiana. Indiana’s advanced industries are driving innovation, economic growth and opportunity across the state. As technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics continue to reshape the workplace, employers, educators and policymakers are facing important questions about how to prepare Indiana’s workforce for the future. In this Q&A, CICP CEO Melina Kennedy explores the role of advanced industries in Indiana’s economy, the impact of emerging technologies on business and talent needs and the steps stakeholders can take today to ensure Hoosiers are equipped to succeed in a rapidly changing world. What are Indiana’s advanced industries, and why are they so important to the state’s economy and long-term prosperity? Indiana’s advanced industries—including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, technology and [...]

Conexus Indiana honors Chip Edgington with 2026 Andre B. Lacy Vanguard Award

Courtney Kerr2026-06-11T11:55:46-04:00June 11, 2026|

Retired FULLBEAUTY Brands executive and longtime Conexus Indiana board leader honored for decades of impact in Indiana's logistics industry INDIANAPOLIS – June 9, 2026 – Conexus Indiana today announced Chip Edgington, retired Executive Vice President of Operations at FULLBEAUTY Brands, has been named the 2026 Andre B. Lacy Vanguard Award 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). “This recognition means a great deal to me, and I’m appreciative of joining such an exceptional group [...]

More than Startups: Redefining the Entrepreneurial Roadmap in Elkhart County

Courtney Kerr2026-06-15T12:51:20-04:00June 8, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. In the world of economic development, we often treat "startup growth" as the ultimate pulse check for a community’s ecosystem health. It can be tempting to look solely for the next "lone ranger" entrepreneur or the flash of a high-tech unicorn. But what if a region is thriving—boasting high per capita income and declining poverty—while its startup rates remain below average? This is the "Elkhart Paradox" that Dr. Stephanie Fernhaber and her colleagues, Dr. Hessam Sarooghi and Dr. Marleen McCormick Pritchard at Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, set out to explore. In a recent conversation for our INfluence series, Dr. Fernhaber shared how their research challenges the traditional "startup-or-bust" narrative and offers a more nuanced framework for how [...]

Indiana to Host Anthropic’s Claude for Small Business Workshop as Part of IN AI Initiative

Courtney Kerr2026-06-15T12:22:26-04:00June 8, 2026|

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 5, 2026) – Indianapolis is one of 10 cities nationwide to host Anthropic's new "Claude for Small Business" workshop series, bringing hands-on AI adoption training directly to Indiana small business leaders as part of the statewide IN AI initiative. The free workshop, scheduled for June 26 in Indianapolis, is part of Anthropic's national spring tour focused on helping small and midsize businesses integrate AI into everyday operations through practical, real-world applications. Anthropic recently launched "Claude for Small Business," a new offering designed to help smaller businesses use AI across finance, operations, marketing, customer service, and administrative workflows through integrations with commonly used business platforms including QuickBooks, PayPal, HubSpot, Canva, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and DocuSign. “We’re excited to bring Anthropic’s Claude SMB Tour to Indiana,” said Lina Ochman, Head of U.S. SMB for Anthropic. “Small and [...]

The Future of Innovation is Headed to Ross-Ade Stadium

Courtney Kerr2026-05-28T14:49:35-04:00May 28, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. The Future of Innovation is Headed to Ross-Ade Stadium There is something incredibly special about watching a startup transition from a bold idea into a market-ready reality. Over the last three months, five dynamic companies have been putting in the work as part of Cohort 2 of the Purdue Innovates Accelerator. This cohort was selected from a highly competitive field of over 80 applications. The program is a three-month, investment-based startup accelerator that gives founders up to $100K in funding, tailored strategic support, and a massive network of mentors, corporate partners, and alumni to help them reach critical milestones and scale. On Wednesday, June 17th, these five teams are [...]

The Future is Bright: Meet the 10 Finalists of the 2026 STARTedUP Challenge

Courtney Kerr2026-05-28T14:39:18-04:00May 28, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. Image credit: STARTedUP Foundation If you ever need a reminder that the future is in good hands, you just need to look at Indiana’s high school student entrepreneurs. The STARTedUP Foundation recently announced the Top 10 Finalists for the 2026 STARTedUP Challenge Finals (formerly known as Innovate WithIN). To say the competition has reached a whole new level this year would be an understatement. We are officially seeing a landmark moment for young innovation in our state. Don’t believe me? Look at the numbers: 1,174 teams submitted ventures this year—more than doubling the 515 submissions from 2025. Student participation skyrocketed by 128%, bringing 2,162 young innovators into the arena. We expanded our footprint to 7 competitive regions by adding West Central Indiana [...]

JagStart winner pursues entrepreneurial dreams with stylish workwear startup

Courtney Kerr2026-05-28T14:56:48-04:00May 28, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. Image credit: Indiana University Indianapolis Ja’Niya Smith’s business experience and clear vision for Miss CEO Essentials lands first-place finish in IU Indianapolis pitch competition Indiana University Indianapolis sophomore Ja’Niya Smith has always been entrepreneurial. At 13, she started braiding hair under the guidance of her grandmother, a hairstylist. By 18, she had a successful small business, Beautifully Braided, providing natural hair care services such as styling, braiding and extensions from a small salon at her family’s home in Muncie, Indiana. But when she came to IU Indianapolis to major in marketing, management and venture creation at the Kelley School of Business, Smith started considering how to spin off [...]

Ascend Indiana Welcomes New Member to its Board of Directors

Courtney Kerr2026-06-24T12:17:07-04:00May 28, 2026|

Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), announced today a new member to its Board of Directors. Taylor Brown, chief people officer at Heritage Construction + Materials (HC+M), a division of The Heritage Group, is filling the board seat that had been previously held by Christy Wilson. “Ascend’s board of directors provides invaluable insight and guidance, and I am pleased that Taylor will join as our newest member,” said Brad Rhorer, president and CEO of Ascend Indiana. “Her expertise in the areas of leadership and talent strategizing is a key ingredient to delivering our mission to ensure all Hoosiers and all employers are equipped to thrive in Indiana’s evolving economy.” In her role at HC+M, Taylor is responsible for leading the division’s people strategy and overseeing its marketing and communications, [...]

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