Conexus Indiana News Archives - The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership

Conexus Indiana honors Mark DeFabis, Former CEO of IDS Fulfillment, with 2025 Andre B. Lacy Vanguard Award

Courtney Kerr2025-11-11T09:59:17-05:00November 11, 2025|

INDIANAPOLIS – November 11, 2025 – Mark DeFabis, former chief executive officer of IDS Fulfillment, has been named the 2025 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). Previous honorees include Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College; Eric Holcomb, the 51st 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 [...]

Conexus Indiana opens nominations for Rising 30 2026

Courtney Kerr2025-11-11T10:00:31-05:00October 27, 2025|

Annual awards program celebrates cohort of emerging leaders shaping the future of Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics industries INDIANAPOLIS – October 27, 2025 – Conexus Indiana has opened nominations for the Rising 30 Class of 2026. The sixth annual Rising 30 awards program highlights young leaders who are making a significant impact on Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sector and shaping the future of the industry.As part of Conexus Indiana’s mission to position Indiana as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics, the Rising 30 program was designed to celebrate the next generation of innovators, change-makers and leaders who are advancing the state’s AML ecosystem. The program also encourages pathways to success in these vital industries, which employ more than 800,000 Hoosiers and represent a third of the state’s gross domestic product.“Indiana’s young professionals are already reshaping our manufacturing [...]

Conexus Indiana names two to Board of Directors and promotes Snellenberger to Vice President of Partnerships

Courtney Kerr2025-09-05T14:49:42-04:00September 5, 2025|

Marty Brown, President of Kem Krest and Jeffrey Rhoads, Vice President for Research at the University of Notre Dame, have joined the 22-member Conexus Indiana Board of Directors. “These appointments bring valuable expertise and fresh perspectives to our board at a critical time for Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics sectors,” said Jay Wirts, Conexus Indiana president and CEO. “Marty and Jeff are insightful leaders with proven track records in their respective fields. I look forward to seeing how they work alongside our existing board members to help the industry achieve its aggressive goals.” New Board Members Marty Brown brings substantial commercial leadership and strategic experience to his role as President at Kem Krest, a certified minority-owned supply chain optimization firm headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. Appointed President in January 2025, he leads the company’s growth strategy, talent development and operational oversight. His [...]

Conexus Indiana releases “Future Ready” report identifying the critical manufacturing subsectors and roles driving Indiana’s economic growth

Courtney Kerr2025-08-06T15:54:24-04:00August 6, 2025|

New data reveals aerospace, automotive, life sciences and microelectronics as key drivers of innovation and productivity. Conexus Indiana today released "Future Ready: Advancing Indiana's Productivity Through Critical Manufacturing Subsectors," a comprehensive report identifying the advanced manufacturing subsectors and roles that hold the greatest potential to drive Indiana's future productivity and competitiveness. The report zeroes in on four critical subsectors—aerospace, automotive, life sciences and microelectronics manufacturing—and the high-impact roles that will be essential to their success. These subsectors make up more than 45% of Indiana's manufacturing GDP and 31% of industry jobs, underscoring their outsized role in shaping the economic future of the industry. "Future Ready analyzes the subsectors that are especially well positioned to shape Indiana's global competitiveness in manufacturing," said Jay Wirts, CEO and President of Conexus Indiana. "By focusing on these high impact subsectors—and within them, accelerating technology [...]

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 [...]

Conexus Indiana welcomes Jay Wirts as President and CEO

Courtney Kerr2025-04-03T11:35:06-04:00March 28, 2025|

Following a national search, Conexus Indiana, a statewide organization dedicated to strengthening Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, today announced the appointment of Jay Wirts as its new president and CEO. Wirts brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in the advanced manufacturing sector, with a track record of driving business growth and operational excellence. Wirts most recently served as executive vice president of Smart Infrastructure Solutions at Belden, where he managed a $1.2 billion global business that designs and manufactures broadband and network infrastructure. Throughout his career, Wirts has demonstrated exceptional leadership in developing innovative customer solutions, strengthening supply chains and fostering talent pipelines. “Jay’s extensive experience and passion for advancing industrial innovation make him an ideal leader for Conexus Indiana,” said Scott Brand, chair of the Conexus Indiana Board of Directors and president and COO [...]

Conexus Indiana presents Manufacturing Innovation Award at TechPoint’s 26th annual Mira Awards

Courtney Kerr2025-02-28T11:22:20-05:00February 28, 2025|

Conexus Indiana, in partnership with TechPoint, has named Arcamed of Indianapolis as the recipient of the second annual Manufacturing Innovation Award. The award was announced at the 26th annual Mira Awards gala, commonly known as “The Oscars of Indiana Tech,” at the Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts on February 27. The Conexus Indiana Manufacturing Innovation Award recognizes industrial firms that have taken an exceptional leap into the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) through cutting-edge technology adoption. The 2025 finalists were selected from a group of statewide applicants operating in and serving diverse manufacturing subsectors, including precision parts, fasteners, furniture, medical devices, aerospace and automotive. Collectively, the six firms deployed a broad range of advanced manufacturing technologies like robotics, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), industrial internet of things and machine vision to [...]

Conexus launches strategic plan to grow Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries

Courtney Kerr2025-03-04T15:45:01-05:00February 4, 2025|

Conexus Indiana, a non-profit dedicated to advancing Indiana’s position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML), has unveiled its six-year strategic plan, Conexus 2031: Empowering Bold Industry Transformation, to address key challenges and capitalize on opportunities within Indiana’s AML sectors, which are vital to the state’s economic health.Employing more than 840,000 workers and contributing $151 billion to the state’s GDP, these industries account for 25% of all Indiana jobs and 37% of economic output—well above national averages. This outsized impact underscores the importance of maintaining Indiana’s competitive edge through strategic investment in modernization, advanced technology and workforce development.The creation of Conexus 2031 was shaped by robust industry research, including a recent report from TEConomy Partners and Conexus Indiana, Assessing Indiana’s Progress in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which examines the complex dimensions of productivity, digitization and Industry 4.0 technology adoption and [...]

Central Indiana Corporate Partnership announces senior leadership appointments across BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint

Ronnetta Spalding2024-12-19T00:27:36-05:00December 12, 2024|

INDIANAPOLIS – The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), alongside its branded initiatives BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint, today announces the appointment of three senior leaders who will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of Indiana’s life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics and technology sectors. Douglas Kiehl, Patrick “PJ” McGrew and Casey Osterkamp joined BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint, respectively, in senior leadership roles on December 10. “As we ensure the strength of Indiana’s advanced industries, these strategic hires underscore our commitment to building a thriving, innovative economy,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “Doug, PJ and Casey each bring a depth of expertise that will help us tackle workforce challenges, advance technological adoption and foster cross-sector collaboration. Together, they will elevate our efforts to position Indiana as a global leader in innovation and talent [...]

Fred Cartwright, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana, to retire

Ronnetta Spalding2024-11-04T10:29:41-05:00November 4, 2024|

Fred Cartwright, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana, to retire Fred Cartwright, President and CEO, Conexus Indiana INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Conexus Indiana, an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), announced that Fred Cartwright, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana, will retire at the end of 2024 after more than three years of service with the organization. “Fred’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing Indiana’s role as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics,” said Scott Brand, president and chief operating officer of Subaru of Indiana Automotive and chair of the Conexus Indiana Board of Directors. “His vision, dedication and strategic insight have positioned the organization to thrive. On behalf of the Board, I thank Fred for his leadership and his enduring impact on Conexus and Indiana’s advanced industries.” Cartwright was responsible for Conexus Indiana’s [...]

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