Southern Indiana Business Report
INDIANAPOLIS – Nominations are being accepted for the Conexus Indiana 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 sector and shaping the future of the industry.
Previous honorees from the Radius Indiana region include:
- Swapneel Kulkarni, a battery engineer who works for Ateios Systems in Newberry, 2025 class.
- Brooklyn Kiefer, Northeast Dubois Jr/Sr High School student and production manager at Jeep Engineering and Manufacturing, 2024 class.
- Michael John Solliday, White River Valley High School student and CEO of Wolverine Enterprises, class of 2023.
- Max Faiman, a product engineer with Indiana Furniture of Jasper, 2022 class.
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 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 and logistics landscape,” said Jay Wirts, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana in a news release. “Rising 30 celebrates these emerging leaders who are embracing new technologies and driving transformation across our state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics sector. Their contributions are essential as we position Indiana at the forefront of the industry and ensure our workforce is prepared for the future. “
Nominees for the Rising 30 Class of 2026 must be 30 years or younger by the end of the 2025 calendar year. Ideal candidates are those who are driving innovation, and transformational change within the industry, making a meaningful impact both inside their companies and in their communities and inspiring others through their leadership. Individuals with direct employment in AML, as well as those from supporting professions such as education, marketing and the public sector, are eligible for nomination. Full nominee criteria and details about the nomination and selection process are available via the Class of 2026 nomination primer.
The Class of 2026 honorees will be celebrated at a special event in Indianapolis in May 2026.Nominations are open now through Jan. 9, 2026, with honorees being notified in early March. To learn more about the criteria and submit a nomination, visit www.conexusindiana.com/rising-30.