Celebrate with us at our Annual Meeting
Join us for the highlight of the year—an unforgettable evening filled with live music, unparalleled networking opportunities, and inspiring reflections on our achievements.
Thank you for your interest in the Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Business Excellence Awards!
We are proud to recognize businesses and nonprofits in Fort Wayne and Allen County that set the standard for excellence in their industries. These awards honor organizations that go above and beyond and positively impact their customers, employees, and the community.
Each year, anyone can nominate an outstanding organization that meets the award criteria. The 2025 Awards nominations are now closed. We want to thank everyone who submitted an organization. This year, we received a record number of submissions. We will announce the finalists soon.
Winners will be announced at this year’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 5.
Awards categories include:
Excellence in Small Business
Honoring a small business that demonstrates a high level of excellence through measurable results.
About the Award
Eligibility:
- Be an independently owned and operated
- For profit enterprise with 50 for fewer full-time employees (Full time equivalency, part-time employees count as ½ FTE)
Award Description:
Honoring a small business that demonstrates a high level of excellence through measurable results. Nominate yourself or another small business who is leading the way through innovation, customer experience, growth, collaboration, or other key metrics.
Nomination Questions:
- Briefly describe how the nominee small business achieves excellence in ways such as innovative products or services, customer experience, growth, and/or collaboration. (200 word maximum)
- Briefly describe how the nominee small business is creating sustainability of results to ensure future business success and vitality. (200 word maximum)
- Provide a quote from a customer or employee that illustrates the nominee small business’ commitment to excellence. (400 word maximum)
Excellence in Non-Profit
Honoring a non-profit that demonstrates excellence through inclusivity, collaboration, and/or results.
About the Award
Eligibility:
- Be an IRS-recognized not-for-profit entity
Award Description:
Honoring a non-profit that demonstrates excellence through inclusivity, collaboration, and/or results. Nominate yourself or another non-profit that is making a meaningful difference in ways such as: improving our community’s quality of place, partnering with local organizations to maximize collective impact, and/or driving measurable outcomes that create positive change across Allen County.
Nomination Questions:
- Briefly describe how the nominee non-profit demonstrates excellence through inclusivity, collaboration, and/or results. (200 word maximum)
- Briefly describe how the nominee non-profit makes an impact on Allen County in ways such as population served, needs met, financial support provided, public opinion impacted, etc. (200 word maximum)
- Provide a statement of impact from a recipient of the nominee non-profit’s services. (400 word maximum)
Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Business Excellence Award
Honoring a business of any size or industry whose commitment to excellence is evident.
About the Award
Eligibility:
- Open to a business of any size or industry
- Must be located in and/or doing business in Allen County, Indiana.
Award Description:
Honoring a business whose commitment to excellence is evident in innovation, inclusion, belonging, results, community engagement, customer experience, people-first policies, and/or focus on growing the local economy. Nominees will showcase their achievements in 3 categories in which the organization is leading the way.
Nomination Questions:
Pick 3 of the following 7 categories that showcase your organization’s achievements. If your organization excels in more than 3, pick your top 3.
- INNOVATION – Please briefly describe how your organization is innovative in product, process, service, and/or thought leadership. (400 word maximum)
- INCLUSION AND BELONGING – Please briefly describe programs or practices your organization uses to promote a workplace and/or a community of inclusion and belonging. (400 word maximum)
- RESULTS – Please briefly describe the performative results of your organization through growth, expansion, and/or impact; provide measurable and/or anecdotal examples. (400 word maximum)
- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – Please briefly describe your organizational commitment to community engagement; provide examples of local involvement. (400 word maximum)
- CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE – Please briefly describe how your organization creates an excellent customer experience; provide examples of consumer feedback. (400 word maximum)
- PEOPLE-FIRST POLICIES – Please briefly describe programs and/or practices your organization uses to encourage talent attraction/retention, employee growth and empowerment, competitive benefit and compensation models, and/or other people-first policies; provide examples of the impact on employee attraction and retention, and/or satisfaction. (400 word maximum)
- GROWING THE LOCAL ECONOMY – Please briefly describe how your organization contributes to the development, improvement, and sustainability of our local economy in Allen County. (400 word maximum)
Learn More
To be considered, nominees must:
- A Greater Fort Wayne Inc. member in good standing.
- Located in Allen County, Indiana.
- In business for at least 3 years.
- Excellence in Small Business Award – Be an independently owned and operated, for profit enterprise with 50 for fewer full-time employees (Full time equivalency, part-time employees count as ½ FTE).
- Excellence in Non-Profit Award – Be an IRS-recognized not-for-profit entity.
- Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Business Excellence Award – Be located in and/or doing business in Allen County, Indiana.
- Personalized award to proudly display at the organization.
- Recognition in a community-wide press release.
- Recognition on GFW Inc. social media platforms.
- Recognition as a Featured Investor of the Month in the GFW Inc. Top-5 E-newsletter.
- Complimentary GFW Inc. digital marketing package ($2,500 value)
- Digital content package to share on the organization’s website and social media.
- Nominate your own organization or one you admire for the Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Business Excellence Awards via the online nomination application.
- Preview the application questions above under “About the Award” for each category and prepare your answers before beginning the online form. Once submitted, applications cannot be changed, and duplicates will not be considered.
- Nominations for the 2025 Business Excellence Awards are now closed. We want to thank everyone who submitted an organization. This year, we received a record number of submissions. We will announce the finalists soon.
Nominations open on Monday, March 3.
Nominations close Monday, March 24.
Finalists will be announced on May 5
Winners will be announced on June 5, 2025, at the Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Annual Meeting.
Register to attend the Annual Meeting
2025 Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Individual Award Winners
In addition to celebrating organizations that exemplify excellence, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. also recognizes individuals who are catalysts for positive change and lasting progress across Fort Wayne and Allen County. These awards honor exceptional leadership, bold innovation, and unwavering commitment to strengthening and enriching our community.
This year, we will honor the following individuals:
Lena Yarian – Maclyn Parker Swagger Award for Community Vision and Leadership
This award is given to an individual (or individuals) who exemplifies the persistence and will to make Fort Wayne-Allen County a thriving community by being a strong advocate for economic development.
When Lena Yarian began her tenure at Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana over 35 years ago, the organization reached 16,300 students annually. Under her visionary leadership, that number has grown to nearly 200,000 students each year.
Lena exemplifies the spirit of the Maclyn Parker Swagger Award, serving as a dedicated community leader and steadfast advocate for youth empowerment. Under her guidance, Northeast Indiana has emerged as a national leader, launching innovative programs that have expanded educational access and ignited inspiration in young minds throughout the region.
Pat Pasterick – Barb Smith GFW Inc. Service Award
This award honors exemplary service to GFW Inc. and dedication to Allen County’s economic growth.
Pat Pasterick, a founding partner of Design Collaborative, has made a lasting impact on Fort Wayne, Allen County, and communities throughout Indiana. His architectural work has helped shape the region, reflecting both thoughtful design and a deep commitment to community. In recognition of his contributions, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Eric Holcomb in May 2024. Pat’s influence reaches beyond buildings, touching the lives of those who live and work in the spaces he helped create.
Brigadier General Michael Stroller – Public Official of the Year Award
This award honors exceptional efforts by public officials to build a stronger community by creating the best environment to attract and retain talent and business.
Brigadier General Michael D. Stohler exemplifies a distinguished career marked by dedication, leadership, and service. Brigadier General Stohler serves as the Assistant Adjutant General-Air for the Indiana Air National Guard, overseeing over 2,000 personnel. A command pilot with more than 4,100 flight hours and 161 combat sorties, he has led at every level, including the renowned 332nd Air Expeditionary Group. His decorated career reflects exceptional leadership, service, and dedication to both state and nation.
2024 Business Excellence Award Winners
EXCELLENCE IN SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
MKM architecture + design
This award honors a small business that demonstrates high excellence through measurable results, leading the way through innovation, customer experience, growth, collaboration, or other key metrics.
EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT AWARD
Neighborhood Health
This award honors a non-profit that demonstrates excellence through inclusivity, collaboration, and/or results and who is making a meaningful difference in ways that improve our community’s quality of place and drive measurable outcomes that create positive change across Allen County.
GREATER FORT WAYNE INC. BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Fort Wayne City Utilities
This award honors a business whose commitment to excellence is evident in innovation, inclusion, belonging, results, community engagement, customer experience, people-first policies, and/or focus on growing the local economy.
Also honored at the Greater Fort Wayne Inc. 2024 Annual Meeting were the following:
Barb Smith GFW Inc. Service Award
Commissioner F. Nelson Peters and L. Scott Naltner
This award honors exemplary service to GFW Inc. and dedication to Allen County’s economic growth.
Maclyn Parker Swagger Award for Community Vision and Leadership
John Dortch
This award is given to an individual who exemplifies the persistence and will to make Fort Wayne-Allen County a thriving community by being a strong advocate for economic development.
Public Official of the Year Award
Steve Corona
This award honors exceptional efforts by public officials to build a stronger community—and grow jobs and wages—by creating the best environment to attract and retain talent and business.
Congratulations to all those who were honored that evening.
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