Fred Cartwright, long-time auto industry executive and hybrid technology pioneer, named Conexus Indiana President and CEO

2021-07-12T08:39:12-04:00July 12, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (July 12, 2021) – Fred Cartwright, former General Motors executive and past executive director of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), has been named president and CEO of Conexus Indiana, a statewide organization dedicated to strengthening Indiana's advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. Cartwright succeeds retiring president and CEO J. Mark Howell, who has led Conexus since late 2017. Cartwright has spent his career in manufacturing innovation leadership positions, with an emphasis on automotive technology commercialization, business development, public/private partnerships and leading-edge research park development. He assumes the role of Conexus Indiana president and CEO on July 12, 2021. An Indiana native, Cartwright graduated from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and from Butler University with a master's degree in business administration. He began his career with Allison Transmission, where [...]

Conexus Indiana honors Albert Chen, Telamon Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, with 2021 Andre B. Lacy Vanguard Award

2021-06-23T13:22:24-04:00June 18, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (June 18, 2021) Albert Chen, Telamon Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, has been named the 2021 Andre B. Lacy Vanguard Award recipient, joining an exclusive group of industry leaders recognized for extraordinary leadership and impact. Conexus Indiana presents the Vanguard Award each year to a Hoosier leader who champions the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, models civic and philanthropic leadership and demonstrates a visionary perspective that challenges the status quo. The award is named in honor of philanthropist and business leader Andre B. Lacy who left a large footprint on Indiana as a third-generation leader of his family business, Lacy Diversified Industries Ltd. (LDI). He passed away in November 2017. Previous winners of the Vanguard Award, now in its fourth year, include F. Joseph Loughrey, former president of Cummins Inc. and a founding member of Conexus Indiana, [...]

Manufacturing Readiness Grants extended through 2023, $20M available for Hoosier manufacturers 

2021-06-14T07:35:05-04:00June 10, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (June 10, 2021) – Applications for the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program, which was launched to stimulate private sector investments to modernize Indiana’s manufacturing sector, have re-opened to Indiana manufacturers across the state. Administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in partnership with Conexus Indiana, this program has been extended through June 2023 with matching grants available to help respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic and position Hoosier operations for future growth and prosperity. "The response we received from Indiana businesses to the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program is proof Indiana companies want to modernize and set themselves up for a successful future,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. "With one in five Hoosiers working in the advanced manufacturing industry, this funding can truly go a long way to promote future innovation and provide more quality career opportunities for Hoosiers across the [...]

Thirty young professionals named to Conexus Indiana Rising 30

2021-05-04T10:14:04-04:00April 30, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (April 30, 2021) Conexus Indiana announced the 30 young professionals who have been named to the inaugural Rising 30 cohort. From CEOs, to engineers, educators and innovators, Rising 30 honorees represent Indiana’s top talent under the age of 30 who will drive Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries successfully into the future. The Rising 30 program is part of Conexus Indiana’s mission to strengthen Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industry and create pathways for Hoosiers to succeed in Indiana’s largest industry sector. “The advanced manufacturing and logistics industries are vital to Indiana's economic prosperity, employing 1 out of every 5 Hoosiers and accounting for more than 30 percent of Indiana’s economic output,” said Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “Conexus Indiana is a vital partner in our work to grow Indiana’s largest industry sector and provide Hoosiers with rewarding career opportunities. [...]

Conexus Indiana J. Mark Howell: Pandemic Lessons Will Leave Us Stronger

2021-04-08T18:16:01-04:00April 5, 2021|

J. Mark Howell, president and CEO, Conexus Indiana A little over a year ago, Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics companies were preparing for another banner year. A key contributor in Indiana’s 10 straight years of record economic expansion, the sector was growing, but also critically assessing itself to ensure it would be positioned to fuel the state’s economy well into the future. We know what happened next: As a result of the global pandemic, we all learned new definitions for the word “essential.” [READ MORE] (Sources: J. Mark Howell, president and CEO, Conexus Indiana, Inside INdiana Business)

Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation Grant Opens Doors for Marion County Residents to Get Paid Training and Employment with Local Manufacturing Companies

2021-04-08T18:09:54-04:00March 31, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (March 31, 2021) Marion County has nearly 1,000 manufacturing companies providing an average starting hourly wage of $16/hour, more than 20 percent higher than Indiana’s family sustaining wage. The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation has awarded Conexus Indiana a $350,000 grant to train and place residents in these opportunity jobs and to help fill the nearly 10,000 advanced manufacturing job openings in and around Marion County. Today’s announcement is the first step in Conexus Indiana’s mission to bring its proven career training program to Marion County residents and create pathways for employment and career growth with local manufacturers. Conexus Indiana’s program, Catapult Indiana, is available in five communities around Indiana and has placed on average 85 percent of its graduates in advanced manufacturing jobs. “As employers, advanced manufacturers offer Marion County residents rewarding work making everything from life-changing pharmaceuticals to [...]

J. Mark Howell to step down from Conexus Indiana in June 2021

2021-04-05T16:49:43-04:00March 17, 2021|

J. Mark Howell, president and CEO, Conexus Indiana INDIANAPOLIS (March 17, 2021) The Conexus Indiana Board of Directors announced today that J. Mark Howell, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana, has decided to step down from the organization effective June 2021. “The work that Mark has accomplished in the past three years as president and CEO of Conexus Indiana is nothing short of remarkable,” said Dennis Oklak, chairman of the Conexus Indiana Board of Directors. “Mark came to Conexus and quickly created a strategic plan for the organization, which has served as an effective roadmap for Conexus Indiana’s current work and that will sustain the organization’s efforts for years to come.” Howell joined Conexus Indiana in January 2018 with a focus on preparing Indiana’s  advanced manufacturing and logistics industries for Industry 4.0, defined by the use of advanced [...]

Conexus Indiana releases State of Logistics report; data fortify Indiana’s ‘Crossroads of America’ leadership position

2021-04-05T16:49:44-04:00March 3, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (March 3, 2021) Conexus Indiana today released a comprehensive report of Indiana’s logistics industry, providing a deep assessment of the state’s geographic, public policy, innovation and regional assets that make Indiana a global logistics leader. The Conexus Indiana Logistics Council, comprising statewide logistics and supply chain executives, developed the report in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and with content contributions from the Department of Workforce Development, Commission for Higher Education, Department of Transportation and the Governor’s office. “This report underscores that Indiana not only understands logistics but is perfectly positioned to continue to build this incredibly important industry sector,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “Indiana reduces regulatory burdens and provides stability and access to markets and 21st century talent, making our state attractive to companies around the world.” More than $650 billion in goods move [...]

Conexus Indiana announces two new board members

2021-04-05T16:49:44-04:00February 25, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 25, 2021) Conexus Indiana today announced the appointment of Nick Anthony, executive vice president and chief investment officer for Duke Realty, and Kent Duncan, head of Indianapolis Operations for the Defense Sector at Rolls-Royce, to the 19-member Conexus Indiana Board of Directors. “To deliver on the Conexus mission to accelerate, promote and grow Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics economy, we have assembled a strong and diverse Board of Directors to guide our operations and focus,” said J. Mark Howell, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “With the addition of Nick and Kent, we continue to gain new perspective and expertise, and will benefit greatly from their more than 60 years of collective industry experience.” Both Anthony and Duncan will replace long-time board members from Duke Realty and Rolls-Royce, respectively. Anthony leads Duke Realty’s acquisition and disposition activities, in [...]

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