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Transforming Talent

20th Annual Impact Awards

As Indiana employers continue to seek skilled, career-ready talent, the Institute for Workforce Excellence (IWE) is recognizing the people and programs delivering results.

At its 20th annual Impact Awards, presented February 12 in Noblesville during the 2026 Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference, IWE honored exemplary learners, employers and education partners who are helping build the state’s future workforce. The awards program, launched in 2007, received 78 nominations this year across multiple categories.

The 2026 Impact Award winners:

• Work-Based Learner of the Year (College): Julius Choga: Franklin College (Franklin), Indianapolis Airport Authority (Indianapolis)
• Work-Based Learner of the Year (High School): Shayna Stevens: Indian Creek High School (Trafalgar), CREEK Design Lab (Trafalgar)
• Work-Based Learner of the Year (Adult): Melissa Cotton: Aspire Health (Indianapolis)
• Career Development Professional of the Year (College): Briannah Bieghler: Marian University (Indianapolis)
• Career Development Professional of the Year (High School): Jennifer Snyder: Rochester High School (Rochester)
• Career Development Professional of the Year (Adult): Chelsea Harris: Fort Wayne Community Schools (Fort Wayne)
• Work-Based Learning Supervisor of the Year: Brett Mesalam: Thompson Thrift (Terre Haute)
• Outstanding Employer of the Year: Thompson Thrift (Terre Haute)
• Innovative Program of the Year: Growing Minds Farm Stop (Madison)
• David R. McKinnis Community Partner of the Year: Pepper Construction (Indianapolis)

A subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, IWE also celebrated its Work and Learn Indiana (WLI) program’s 25th anniversary.

“Work and Learn Indiana began 25 years ago – then known as Indiana INTERNnet – with a simple but urgent goal of showing young talent that meaningful career opportunities exist right here at home,” remarks Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders. “The Impact Awards bring that mission to life by celebrating the Hoosier employers, educators and learners who are not only developing talent, but helping Indiana grow and compete for the future.

“We congratulate all the winners and nominees who represent what’s possible when education and industry work together.”

The Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference drew a sold-out crowd of over 500 to hear best practices and share ideas toward growth and partnership within workforce and education.

Access more information about WLI by calling (317) 264-6852 or visiting www.workandlearnindiana.com.

Profiles on three of the 2026 Impact Award honorees:

Chelsea Harris (Fort Wayne Community Schools)
Career Development Professional of the Year (Adult)

Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS)’s adult education program counts Parkview Health among its collaborators.

“Chelsea Harris (continuing education coordinator and career coach for FWCS) is a one-woman show when it comes to connecting adult education learners to work-based learning opportunities in the community,” lauds media relations specialist Steve Garbacz. “She’s been an excellent partner for Parkview Health. (Her role) has helped the system hire several new co-workers to fill needed positions in our hospitals and physician offices.”

Serving individuals age 18 and older, the initiative is supported with funding through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and local organizations. Thus far, Harris has helped 260-plus students successfully complete their career training certifications.

Placing students is just the first step in connecting students and employers; she lends her expertise throughout the entire experience – and beyond. Among examples:

• Conducting regular check-ins with students (surveys, phone calls, emails or in-person meetings)
• Serving as the point of contact for employers to communicate expectations for students’ achievements
• Checking in with employers and troubleshooting if any issues arise

“Chelsea continues to stay in contact with students who complete the program to see how they’re doing in their new role, follow up on their progress and see if they need any additional support,” Garbacz offers. “Her work with the adult education program is not just getting students a career certification but about helping them change their lives.”

Brett Mesalam: Thompson Thrift
Work-Based Learning Supervisor of the Year

A 12-week internship stint at Thompson Thrift last summer taught Shannon Mashindi about the multifamily development construction business – and how to build leadership skills.

She credits her mentor, director of development Brett Mesalam, with catapulting her confidence and technical expertise.

“From day one, Brett provided me with the resources and tools needed to succeed in my role,” Mashindi asserts. “Under his guidance, I was able to hone technical skillsets such as tap and impact fee analysis, development budget preparation and the compilation of site investigation reports. Every action item and milestone felt attainable because Brett would walk me through each step of the process, answering every question with patience and clarity. … His guidance, encouragement and willingness to share his expertise made me feel supported, capable and inspired to push myself further than I thought possible.”

He exhibited compassion while challenging her to develop preliminary site plans, assess parking capacity, attend strategic meetings, broaden her network to include individuals in other departments and more.

“Brett always … created a safe, approachable space to explore my interests and career path,” she stresses. “He provided step-by-step guidance, real-time feedback and opportunities to see how individual tasks fit into larger development decisions, which allowed me to build both technical expertise and strategic thinking.”

She cites the following as key factors that set him apart as a work-based learning supervisor: a genuine kindness and sincere investment in the development of those he mentors, a focused and intentional approach to learning and his accessibility/approachability.

Growing Minds Farm Stop
Innovative Program of the Year

A fruitful endeavor through Madison Consolidated Schools (MCS) is helping high school students grow professionally while operating their own farm stop. Serving as a capstone for the school’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) curriculum, it combines disciplines ranging from agriculture, culinary arts and manufacturing to graphic arts and business.

“Students apply their classroom knowledge in a practical setting, gaining hands-on experience in high-wage, high-demand fields,” notes Janet McCreary, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at MCS. “This initiative challenges the status quo of traditional learning by allowing high school students to manage a real-world business from the ground up, with a goal of engaging youth in the local food system as leaders and innovators.”

The Growing Minds Farm Stop features three tiers of student engagement: a management team, store operations and student producers. At the center of the program is collaboration at the local, regional and state levels.

“This model not only gives students valuable real-world experience, but also instills core values such as community, kindness and sustainability, empowering them to become well-rounded, responsible young adults and community leaders,” McCreary declares.

The Farm Stop’s business model, developed with direct guidance from Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, operates on a consignment basis allowing local farmers and producers to earn 70% of the retail price.

“That’s a significant increase from the national average of 16%,” McCreary observes. “Additionally, the initiative focuses on improving food access for low-income households by using surplus products to enhance school lunches in priority communities. It also serves as a community hub, offering educational classes and events that foster a sense of belonging and promote local culture.”