Conexus Indiana names 2023 Rising 30 class of young professionals

Honor recognizes up-and-comers in Indiana advanced manufacturing and logistics  

INDIANAPOLIS (May 18, 2023) Conexus Indiana today announced the newest members of the Conexus Indiana Rising 30, an exclusive group of young professionals who are recognized for their early-in-career accomplishments in the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.  

The Rising 30 program is in its third year and is part of Conexus Indiana’s mission to strengthen Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. Rising 30 honorees exemplify leadership and innovation in Indiana’s largest industry sector and are poised to become Indiana’s future industry leaders.  

“It is exciting to see such a rich pipeline of young professionals who already are contributing to Indiana’s largest economic engine,” said Scott Brand, executive vice president of Subaru of Indiana Automotive and chair of the Conexus Indiana Board. “As Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries continue to modernize and embrace the next-generation workplace, we’re in good hands with young people like these making it happen.” 

Rising 30 honorees represent diverse professions, including quality specialists, entrepreneurs and business owners, engineers, educators, CEOs and software designers. The companies they work for range from massive international companies to local start-ups located in cities and towns all across the state, from Bristol to Columbus and Indianapolis to Princeton.  
 
“The young professionals named to this year’s Rising 30 are setting new standards for Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics sector,” said Fred Cartwright, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “Learning about their accomplishments and ambitions made me more optimistic than ever about the future of advanced manufacturing and logistics in Indiana.” 

Rising 30 honorees are nominated by their employer or an industry representative, and winners are selected based on their early-career accomplishments. In the coming year, the Rising 30 honorees will participate in Conexus Indiana’s work by serving as thought leaders on subjects ranging from emerging technology, smart manufacturing, public policy and talent development.  

2023 Rising 30 honorees, listed below, are being honored during a special event this evening in downtown Indianapolis. 

Rising 30 Class of 2023

Caeli Bislich 
Manager, NAMC Regional Communications 
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana  

Austin Borg 
Engineering Manager/Lead Design 
Ember Recreational Vehicles 

Michael Boyle 
Process Engineer 
Smoker Craft  

Morgan Chang 
Former Project Manager, Graduate Student 
Purdue University 

John Coleman  
Manager of Strategic Accounts 
Backhaul Direct  

James Coppock 
Packaging Reduction Specialist 
Subaru of Indiana Automotive  

Ashley David 
Product Marketing Manager 
Endress+Hauser 

Julia Dodson 
Manufacturing Quality Engineer 
Honda Development and Manufacturing of America LLC – Indiana Auto Plant 

Riana Dozier  
Manufacturing Engineer 
Goodwill Commercial Services of Central and Southern Indiana  

Dr. Ana Flavia Petro 
Senior Analytical Chemist 
Heritage Research Group 

Ben Fouch 
VP, Strategy & Operations 
LDI 

Connor Fox 
Project Manager 
Polygon Composites Technology 

Adam Gushwa-Williams 
Production Planning & Control Manager 
Rolls-Royce 

Cydney Huey 
Manufacturing Engineer  
BAE Systems 

Robert Kirch 
Client Relationship Manager 
True Essence Foods 

Nicholas LaNeve 
Full Stack Developer 
LHP Analytics & IoT 

Scott Massey 
Founder & CEO 
anu™ (Heliponix)  

Megan McHale 
Lafayette Order to Delivery Rotational Program – Ops Leadership 
Caterpillar 

Sam Patton  
Continuous Improvement Engineer 
Cook Medical  

John Ragan 
Teacher 
Eastbrook High School  

Nathaniel Rivas 
Senior Software Engineer 
THG Automation 

Natalie Roberts 
Process Automation Consultant 
Flexware Innovation  

Kendal Rosenbaum 
Manager of Quality and Batching 
Circle Beverage 

Michael John Solliday 
Chief Executive Officer 
Wolverine Enterprises 

Caroline Squatrito 
Human Resources Manager 
Arcamed 

Francisco Torres Diaz  
Senior Additive Manufacturing Engineer 
Cummins 

Kelsey Van Scyoc 
Procurement Manager 
Toyota Material Handling 

Johann Villalvir 
Co-founder and CEO 
Gravitate (Formerly Top Notch Leads) 

Nicholas Wright  
Operations Coordination Leader – Midwest Division 
Veryable 

Andrea Zimmerman 
Legislative Director 
Indiana Department of Transportation  

To view bios of each honoree, visit www.conexusindiana.com/rising-30.

Nominations will open for the 2024 class in November. 

About Conexus Indiana 

For more than a decade, Conexus Indiana, one of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) non-profit initiatives, has been positioning the Hoosier State as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to innovate, invest, employ and succeed. By collaborating with industry, academic and public sector partners on a shared vision for an innovative, skilled workforce and stronger business climate, Conexus Indiana has helped to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and logistics companies, prepare Hoosiers to succeed in the state’s largest industry sectors and maintain Indiana’s competitive advantage. For more information, go to www.conexusindiana.com