Courtney Kerr, Author at The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership

Nearly $13 million awarded for statewide career apprenticeship initiative

Courtney Kerr2025-07-09T09:55:23-04:00July 9, 2025|

FuFunds for Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway support regional implementation, Industry Talent Associations, and employer and student engagement The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation has awarded nearly $13 million in funding to eight Indiana organizations working to develop a new pathway for high school and adult students to learn about and train for in-demand careers and help Indiana businesses find and train employees. The first cohort of high school students will begin apprenticeship programs in the new Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP) in the fall of 2026. They will split their time between the workplace and the classroom, with at least 50% of their training taking place on the job to help ensure they are gaining in-demand skills and employers are realizing a return on investment. The students will be paid by their employers and work year-round. Programs for adults will be available [...]

TechPoint announces 2025-2026 executive committee leadership

Courtney Kerr2025-06-23T13:35:43-04:00June 23, 2025|

TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s tech ecosystem, today announced its executive committee members for the 2025–2026 term. The newly appointed leadership reflects TechPoint’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital innovation, developing Indiana’s tech talent, and supporting innovation & entrepreneurship. After distinguished service since 2019, Sherry Aaholm, former Chief Digital Officer of Cummins Inc., is stepping down as Board Chair. Under her leadership, TechPoint significantly expanded its industry networks and secured new philanthropic partnerships, including with Microsoft and the Infosys Foundation. Her tenure also saw the growth of TechPoint’s tech talent initiatives to strengthen Indiana’s talent pipeline, alongside the development of a robust innovation and entrepreneurship strategy that continues to elevate Indiana’s position as a national technology hub. “I’ve seen firsthand the passion and dedication the TechPoint team brings to growing Indiana’s tech community,” said Sherry Aaholm. “As AI [...]

AgriNovus Indiana’s Velocity Announces 2025 Winners, Awards $75,000 to Entrepreneurs at Demo Day Event

Courtney Kerr2025-06-19T11:28:39-04:00June 19, 2025|

Forty-Two Teams Develop Solutions in BioInnovation, Farmer-Focused Innovation and Food is Health; Launches Next Phase of Velocity Program Designed for Scale-Up Companies AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, today announced Chicago, Ill.-based Integrated Dynamics, Indianapolis, Ind.-based NanoBio Designs and South Bend, Ind.-based NutriPop have won Velocity, securing each company $25,000 to advance their tech-enabled businesses that address many of the toughest challenges facing the food and agbioscience economy. In partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Elevance Health, Beck’s Hybrids, Ag Alumni Seed and Gutwein Law, Velocity challenges students, startups and existing companies to create solutions to fill research-defined gaps in three critical areas: bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. “Velocity was launched to inspire innovation that addresses three critical forces of change facing our food and agbioscience economy today and well [...]

TechPoint announces 2026 Mira Awards gala date & venue

Courtney Kerr2025-06-18T09:32:46-04:00June 18, 2025|

TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, today announced its annual Mira Awards gala will be held Friday, April 24, 2026, at The Palladium in Carmel. The annual event is known as the “Oscars of Indiana Tech.” With tech’s transformative roles for all industries, Mira has become Indiana’s biggest night for tech and innovation. “The Mira Awards celebrate the bold ideas, breakthrough technologies, and entrepreneurial grit that are shaping Indiana’s future,” said TechPoint President and CEO Ting Gootee. “As we work to become the most AI-ready economy in the nation, it’s more important than ever to tell the success stories that fuel innovation, inspire talent, and drive economic growth through tech.” More than 1,500 stakeholders were on hand for the 2025 Mira Awards, which was held in February. For the third year in a row, the [...]

AV Freight Readiness Assessment: How Indiana can lead in automated freight transportation

Courtney Kerr2025-08-20T09:14:34-04:00June 17, 2025|

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National Search Underway for AgriNovus Indiana’s Next President and CEO

Courtney Kerr2025-06-19T15:26:05-04:00June 16, 2025|

AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, has launched the search for its next President and CEO following Mitch Frazier’s departure from the organization after a five-year tenure. Indianapolis-based Medallion Partners, a national organization development and executive search firm, will lead the search with the help of a committee of industry leaders identified by the AgriNovus Executive Committee. Members include: Karen Plaut — executive vice president for research at Purdue University – chair of the AgriNovus Board of Directors and committee lead Trent Torrance – chief operating officer at United Animal Health – vice-chair of the AgriNovus Board of Directors David Pugh – chief financial officer at AgReliant Genetics Jeff Simmons – CEO of Elanco Wes Sprinkle – CEO of Indiana Farmers Insurance “Growing and advancing agbioscience innovation is critical to Indiana’s economy,” said Karen Plaut, executive [...]

IU unveils architectural design plan for IU LAB at 16 Tech

Courtney Kerr2025-07-10T10:02:22-04:00June 13, 2025|

Originally posted by IBJ on June 12, 2025. Read original press release here. Indiana University said Thursday that its board of trustees has approved an architectural design plan for the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, or IU LAB, building in the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis. The five-story, 150,000 square-foot building will be built next to the Herron School of Art and Design’s Eskenazi Fine Arts Center on Indiana Avenue. The facility will include research and teaching labs, classrooms, collaborative workspaces as well as startup and incubator space. In a news release, IU said IU LAB is place where “biosciences and technology converge, serving as a hub for discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships.” Construction is scheduled to start this fall with an expected completion in summer 2027. IU LAB officially began operations in January. In December, IU announced [...]

AgriNovus Indiana to award $75,000 to entrepreneurs at Velocity Demo Day June 18 in Indianapolis

Courtney Kerr2025-05-21T10:33:58-04:00May 21, 2025|

Three winners to receive $25,000 each for solutions to challenges in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, will host its first Velocity Demo Day from 3 to 6 p.m. on June 18 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, awarding three winning teams $25,000 each. In partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Elevance Health, Beck’s Hybrids, Ag Alumni Seed and Gutwein Law, the event culminates a six-month startup accelerator designed to inspire creation of tech-enabled businesses that address research-defined challenges in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. “Velocity is designed to accelerate development of solutions to some of the toughest challenges facing the food and agricultural economy in Indiana and around the globe,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus. “Demo Day will spotlight entrepreneurs [...]

Mitch Frazier, AgriNovus President and CEO to Step Down

Courtney Kerr2025-05-20T10:20:37-04:00May 16, 2025|

Organization Launches National Search for New President and CEO AgriNovus Indiana announced today it is launching a search for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of its current CEO Mitch Frazier who will depart from the organization June 6. Frazier, who has served as president and CEO of AgriNovus since June 2020, will become President of IBJ Media Corporation June 16. “It has been an honor to serve alongside the team at AgriNovus and work with partners across the state and around the world to build the next chapter of the agbioscience economy in Indiana,” said Frazier. “Together we have built a powerful engine to accelerate growth in this economy, and I know the passion that fuels this team will continue to deliver results well into the future.” During Frazier’s tenure at AgriNovus, the organization refined its [...]

Conexus Indiana names 2025 Rising 30 cohort of emerging industry leaders

Courtney Kerr2025-05-16T09:42:50-04:00May 15, 2025|

Conexus Indiana today announced its fifth annual Rising 30 class, recognizing outstanding young professionals making significant early-career contributions to Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sectors. The Rising 30 program, presented by Purdue University, continues Conexus Indiana’s commitment to strengthening and promoting Indiana’s vital manufacturing and logistics ecosystem. These honorees represent exceptional talent under the age of 30 who are already reshaping Indiana’s largest industry sector and will lead it into the next era of innovation. Selected for their remarkable achievements and forward-thinking approaches, this year’s cohort embodies the bright future of Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics industries. “When I visit our manufacturing facilities across Indiana, I’m always struck by the ingenuity of our young talent,” said Jay Wirts, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “These Rising 30 honorees aren’t just building products—they’re building the future of Hoosier manufacturing and ensuring [...]

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