Meet the 2025 class of Northwest Indiana's 20 Under 40

“We come in with a detailed proposal and give homeowners multiple options,” Wagenmaker said. “A lot of companies rely on high-pressure sales, but with us, it’s simple. We explain what needs to be done and present clear options without any gimmicks.”

As owner of Reliance Roof Troop in Schererville, Wagenmaker has always wanted to own a business. Now he owns two.

In December, Wagenmaker will open a franchise location of Bricks and Minifigs, an aftermarket Lego toy shop that will sell new and used Lego sets, at the corner of U.S. 41 and Oakside Avenue in Schererville.

“My goal is to make it more of a community center,” he said. “We will have a party room, community area and WiFi tables, as well as host building and racing competitions.”

A Lego enthusiast, Wagenmaker says he has been planning this new venture for two years. Although owning two businesses can be a challenge, he says he welcomes the opportunity.

“Challenges are not a bad thing,” he said. “The way I see it, challenges are very good things. If I don’t have a challenge, I’m chomping at the bit. Life can’t be simple. The moment it is, you get a little complacent.”

After serving in the Indiana Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves for 15 years, Wagenmaker says his military training solidified who he was as a leader. His experience led to how he interacts with employees and clients, as well as how he approaches struggles that many face either in their careers or lives.

“Going through trials, pain and suffering makes you appreciate when you come out of it a lot more,” he said.

Looking ahead, Wagenmaker says he hopes to spend more time serving at Grace Church in Dyer and becoming even more involved in the community. His roofing company regularly donates more than $20,000 a year to local charities as well.

Wagenmaker says he is also working toward finding a better balance between work and family.

“When you’re at the end of your life, you don’t wish you had made more money,” he said. “You wish you had spent more time with the people you love, and that’s what truly matters.”

When it came time for college, Stupka pursued a degree in business management because he knew the grocery industry wasn’t just familiar — it was a place where he saw real opportunity.

Today, Stupka serves as chief operating officer at Strack & Van Til, where he focuses on ensuring the business runs efficiently and effectively, as well as aligning daily operations with long-term strategic goals.

“I’m passionate about leading teams, improving processes and continuing a legacy of excellence in grocery retail — just like the generations before me,” he said.

Stupka has been recognized with several milestones, including being named Store Director of the Year in 2023 and the President’s Cup Award in multiple quarters in 2024.

“While those recognitions have meant a lot to me personally, they’ve also reinforced something I’ve always believed — that in the grocery business, it all comes down to people,” he said. “When you take care of your team and support those around you, you build an environment where exceptional customer experiences happen naturally.”

Outside of Stupka’s day-to-day work, he says he is passionate about mentorship. Over the years, he says he has had the chance to work with incredible people.

“I see it as a win when someone I’ve worked with reaches a new milestone or achieves a goal, and I take pride in staying available to support them however I can,” he said. “Helping others succeed, even after we’ve moved on from working together directly, is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.”

That journey has also allowed him to look at failure differently than many.

“I’ve learned that failure is a natural and necessary part of growth,” he said. “You won’t get everything right the first time — and that’s OK. What matters most is that you fail fast, learn from it and keep moving forward.”

That mindset has guided Stupka through a lot of uncertainty and change, he says.

“Fear can be paralyzing — it can keep you stuck in places you don’t want to be,” he said. “But I’ve found that when you’re unsure of what to do next, the best thing you can do is just start walking. Even if the path isn’t clear at first, taking action creates clarity. That advice has helped me push through hesitation and stay focused on progress rather than perfection.”

“I get to help people buy their first homes or move out of their homes after 30 years,” he said. “I get to help people through these milestones in life, which can be stressful experiences. Being that rock for them has pushed me further and further in my career.”

Ruvoli credits his father with teaching him resilience and hard work — lessons that carried him from being the kid told he’d never make baseball all-stars to earning a spot on Lake Central’s team, proving that determination can outshine natural talent.

In college, his love for playing the game came to a halt, however, when he got injured. That’s when he turned to playing something different — the guitar. Ruvoli began singing, writing and playing music, but like baseball, mastering the guitar came with a lot of hard work, grit and even some YouTube videos.

“It took me six months before I could strum through the song I was trying to learn and learn and learn,” he said. “I began with playing covers, and then started writing songs a year and a half to two years in.”

In addition to playing live at local casinos, private events and other establishments, Ruvoli has released original songs in a variety of genres like country, pop, rock and alternative on platforms like iTunes and Spotify.

“It’s really another full-time job for me,” he said. “It’s been amazing the things I’ve been able to experience and the people I’ve gotten to meet. I also try to help other musicians when I can.”

Ruvoli admits becoming a rock star would be a turn in his career path that he would welcome, but in the meantime, balancing careers in real estate and music is a juggling act he’s learned to embrace.

“I get to the office at 9 a.m., and then I have a performance that starts at 6, 7 or 8 p.m.,” he said.

His two worlds have even collided at times.

“People know a different side of me,” Ruvoli said. “They know me as more than a realtor, as someone with a creative side.”

That creativity can come in handy when it comes to marketing his agency.

“It helps keep things fun from a leadership and marketing standpoint,” he said.

As a vice president and business banker team leader with Peoples Bank, Rodriguez assists business clients in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland with their financing needs. He serves businesses in multiple industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, health services and land developers. In addition to managing his own loan portfolio, Rodriguez also manages a team of business bankers who manage their own loan portfolios.

Although he initially pursued a credit analyst role, Rodriguez says a career in business banking has allowed him to interact directly with customers and see first-hand the impact that the bank has on the communities it serves.

“It has also opened the door to so many new professional relationships and opportunities in my career,” he said.

Rodriguez has had a major impact on the community where he lives as well, serving as president of the Town of Cedar Lake Park Board. Cedar Lake established the Park Board in January 2022 and tasked it with building a new Parks and Recreation Department from the ground up.

“This included hiring staff, purchasing equipment and creating a five-year parks master plan for a rapidly growing community in Northwest Indiana,” he said. “I assumed the role of president in 2024 and am happy to say that we are accomplishing much of what we set out to do.”

Rodriguez says the board has a full calendar of parks-sponsored programs and events for all ages, and staff members are making meaningful improvements to the park spaces, including through new park shelters and amenities.

“I am working with the board and the Town of Cedar Lake to continue expanding park programs and amenities, which would include bigger community events and enhanced public lake access for residents,” he said.

Rodriguez says the best advice he has received came from his manager, Greg Bracco — to listen before speaking.

“While it seems simple, I keep this in the back of my mind no matter what situation I am in,” Rodriguez said. “It helps me to make better decisions, strengthen relationships with my business clients and community partners, and offer better solutions.”

“What makes this especially meaningful to me is that it’s not just about managing systems, it’s about being present for her team,” she said. “By staying engaged and aware, I can recognize when a team member needs encouragement, when a store needs extra attention or when someone simply needs to feel heard.”

Her career began back in college when she first started working at Jimmy John’s. What started as a part-time job quickly became something more meaningful.

“I had mentors early on who showed me what real leadership looks like, and I found myself drawn not just to the day-to-day work, but to the challenge of building strong teams and helping a business grow,” Morales said.

In her role as director of training and development, she not only supports her managers, but works to build a culture and foster an environment where both customers and employees feel important.

“It’s been a journey of growth, hard work and dedication, and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building on that path toward becoming an operating partner,” she said.

In the communities where her stores are located — as well as the neighborhoods beyond — Morales is passionate about giving back.

“Even though our stores may not be located directly in every town, I believe it’s important that people see us as part of their community,” she said. “That’s why we actively support local causes and initiatives, whether it’s attending events for Multiple Sclerosis awareness, contributing to Logan’s Love, supporting the local Fraternal Order of Police and fire departments, or sponsoring school extracurricular activities.”

For Morales, it’s more than just business — it’s about showing up and building relationships.

“Being able to give back in these ways not only strengthens our community ties but also reflects the values I try to carry in both my personal and professional life,” she said.

“Everything was going wrong at all times and we couldn’t put out the fires,” he said.

The constant setbacks were frustrating, but it was a conversation with his father that shifted his perspective.

“He said to me, ‘Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. If you can’t handle it, get out,’” Moore said. “I felt challenged. We didn’t throw in the towel and we tackled one problem at a time, trying to build momentum and get better each week.”

It was a boost of motivation that helped propel him to where he is today as CEO and owner of Erosion & Construction Solutions. The company offers erosion and sediment control solutions commonly needed at construction sites.

Under the brand, two erosion control devices have been launched — Siltworm and BioWorm. Both serve as filtration devices, preventing sediment migration and erosion along construction sites and land boundaries. Moore says the company often works with home builders, excavators and other types of general contractors across Indiana, Illinois, southern Michigan and southern Wisconsin.

“My job is simple — build people, build product, build systems,” Moore said. “We’ve created jobs, hit the Inc. 5000 three years running, and earned recognition for environmental innovations, while staying values-driven and family-first. I measure success by the opportunities we create and the waterways we protect.”

Moore’s own experiences have fostered his passion for youth entrepreneurship by mentoring teams at local high schools and judging regional pitch competitions through the STARTedUP Foundation and Society of Innovators. He serves on the board for the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest and One Region.

“Do I think every student needs to start a business? Absolutely not,” he said. “But having that entrepreneurial mindset is something that can be used not only in a business, but being great at life.”

Moore also serves as co-owner of élan MED SPA in St John where he is strategic adviser. He also lends his expertise to the Catholic Diocese of Gary Office of Missionary Discipleship & Evangelization, serving as a strategic consultant. He says his faith is an integral part of his life, career and management style.

“I try to lead how I want to be led,” he said. “I aim to identify people’s God-given strengths and gifts, put them in a position to succeed and leave them alone to get it done.”

Throughout high school and college, he continued to work at the store, but didn’t see himself building a career there. Over time, something changed.

“I realized how much I enjoyed the challenge of running a business and the satisfaction of helping customers with their projects and problems,” he said. “One day it really hit me that this was not just a job I had grown up with, but the career I wanted to dedicate myself to. From that point forward, I put my focus into learning every part of the business and preparing myself to carry on what my family had built.”

Now owner and managing partner of Merrillville Ace Hardware, Mansch oversees the day-to-day operations of the store, which includes managing staff, handling ordering and keeping up with the finances.

“At its core, my role is about making sure we are here for our customers every single day,” he said.

Mansch and his wife are advocates for several organizations in the region, including Northwest Indiana No Child Hungry.

“For the past couple of years, we have been major supporters of one of their annual fundraising events,” he said. “With the help of our store, our customers and our vendor partners, more than $30,000 has been raised to feed local children.”

The hardware store also offers a round-up program that encourages customers to round up their purchases to contribute directly to this effort, he said.

Mansch serves his community through the Lakes of the Four Seasons Property Owners Association where he is in his second term on the board and is treasurer. He supports the Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Department as well.

“Through Ace Hardware, we also participate in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign, with our local hospital being Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago,” Mansch said.

He credits his parents and his wife for their support and encouragement in carrying on the family legacy and keeping it strong.

“The retail world has changed so much over the years, and we have had to navigate challenges like competition from big box stores, supply chain shortages and constant pricing pressures,” he said. “Through it all, we have not only been able to keep the doors open, but to thrive.”

From there, his interest in finance only grew and he eventually joined Airey Financial Group in Merrillville as a financial adviser. Five years later, he opened his own firm, Lowden Financial Partners.

It’s here where his unique business style attracts both clients and other financial advisers eager to work with him because of his leadership abilities and distinctive approach to financial management and estate planning.

A former emergency medical technician in addition to having worked in a cadaver lab, Lowden says his experiences trained him to think diagnostically, since both fields demand precision and exactness. He carried that mindset into financial management, where he established internal checks and controls to take a similarly diagnostic and thorough approach.

“We really try to get to the root of the problem and do a physical exam on their finances so we can have a good baseline,” Lowden said. “When I started applying a more clinical approach to my practice, it was a game changer for me.”

Lowden’s entrepreneurial mentality started when he was a child, working at his own lemonade and hot dog stand that was located near where workers would come and go.

“One summer, I made $1,000 because I set up next to a construction site,” he said. “I always enjoyed the idea of commerce and participating in it.”

His goal may be to build the business, but for Lowden, it’s about more than money. Ultimately, he says he wants to help people, and that includes clients who can’t afford financial advising.

“The firm takes on several pro bono cases each year,” Lowden said. “We’re a big believer in pro bono work. We also have relationships with non-profits including Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center.”

Lowden also serves as vice chairman for Franciscan Health Foundation, is a board member for the Schererville Civic Funds Board and avid supporter of Hospice of the Calumet Area. When not working or giving back to his community, you might be able to catch him up in the air.

“Every few years I go skydiving,” he said. “There’s a motto that I live by from Guy Lombardo, a singer and musician in the 1950s and ‘60s: Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.”

“Production started at 3 a.m., but I was told to come in at midnight,” he said. “On my very first day, I was handed a bat and a shovel and sent to knock ice off the freezer walls.”

From there, he gradually worked his way through every department. After college, Linz relocated to Panama City, where he immersed himself in the culture and learned Spanish. After seven months, he returned to run the company’s cutting room for two years before transitioning into the office where he became familiar with internal systems. Over time, he moved into operational leadership, began contributing to sales and eventually took on the role of director of operations.

“As the company grew, I grew with it,” he said.

One of the biggest turning points of Linz’s career came during the construction of the company’s new facility. He was entrusted with overseeing and designing the operational floor layout — an opportunity that allowed him to apply everything he had learned from years on the ground. He also coordinated the move itself, which was executed in a single weekend.

“By Monday morning, production was up and running without missing a beat,” he said. “It was a high-pressure operation, but one that showcased the strength of our team and the importance of detailed planning and execution.”

The meat industry is full of moving parts, long hours and high stakes, Linz says.

“A single mistake or misjudged decision can set the company back,” he said. “Expectations are high, competition is always knocking and customers expect nothing less than perfect. There are rarely second chances.”

He says he has learned that success in the industry takes sacrifice.

“My word has to mean everything,” he said. “If I say something will get done, it has to happen. Trust and honesty go a long way, and having the right people by your side is everything. This business demands a lot, but it's the only one I know. And I take pride in carrying our family’s legacy forward, one day at a time.”

To guide him, Linz relies on the advice, “One thing you can never buy is time.”

“That simple line changed the way I approach everything, whether it’s business, personal goals or daily tasks,” he said. “It taught me to avoid distractions and stay focused on what’s right in front of me. Time is the one resource you never get back, so I’ve learned to use it wisely.”

“At the time, my children were both under the age of 3, and I was working as an assistant manager at a different credit union,” she said. “I went from feeling content in my role to realizing I needed to step up as the sole provider in my family.”

Determined to create a better future, Leonard began applying for new opportunities and came across a posting for a branch manager at Everwise Credit Union.

“That role became more than just a career move,” she said. “It introduced me to community involvement, helped me develop as a leader and connected me with an organization whose values of integrity, service and growth continue to guide me today.”

In 2021, she faced another life-changing challenge when she was diagnosed with five heart blockages and underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery. Complications followed, and she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.

“Managing these health issues forced me to re-evaluate both my life and career,” Leonard said. “At the time, I was overseeing two branches, but I realized I needed a role that offered more flexibility while still allowing me to make an impact.”

That’s what led her to commercial lending — a perfect fit where she could help businesses grow but no longer had a team that relied on her constant physical presence. In her current role, she focuses on supporting business owners and helping ease their financial pain points.

“Despite the setbacks, I choose gratitude every day,” she said. “I remind myself that I’m still here, still breathing, and that perspective keeps me moving forward with purpose.”

Leonard says she is passionate about several causes, including the American Heart Association and Opportunity Enterprises. She also served as president of Sunrise Kiwanis and the Valparaiso Creative Council.

“Perhaps most personal of all is my dedication to supporting veterans,” Leonard said. “After losing my husband to service-connected PTSD, I’ve made it my mission to share our story in hopes of helping other families and encouraging veterans to seek help before it’s too late.”

Even through her toughest challenges, she says she has worked to stay positive.

“Positivity has been key to my success,” she said. “It’s what helps me face challenges head-on, find opportunity in setbacks, and keep moving forward. That mindset has carried me through the hardest times of my life and continues to shape how I lead, grow and succeed today.”

Growing up in a small business household, she saw firsthand the hard work and passion it takes to be an owner, as well as the ripple effect a successful business can have on its community. That’s when Hutchinson decided to join the same organization that helped her parents’ business, starting with an internship where she quickly fell in love with commercial real estate financing.

She now serves as the marketing and business development manager where she gets to combine her love for storytelling that she strengthened in journalism school, with the ability to make a tangible difference.

“I love the challenge of learning the SBA’s eligibility requirements, and most importantly, seeing small business owners step into their new spaces and facilities,” Hutchinson said.

In her role with the RDC, Hutchinson leads the organization’s digital marketing efforts, from managing its social media presence and email communications to creating content that connects with audiences. She also uses data analytics to keep the RDC’s strategies sharp and relevant.

“On the business development side, I focus on building relationships with brokers, municipalities, contractors, developers and local chambers of commerce, and most importantly, business owners,” she said.

In addition to attending community events, Hutchinson maintains strong ties with borrowers and organizes signature events throughout the year.

“Every part of my role centers on promoting the SBA 504 Loan Program, supporting economic growth and helping businesses get the tools they need to succeed,” she said.

Stepping into a career in finance with no background has been one of her Hutchinson’s greatest challenges.

“In the beginning, I sat in my office with stacks of flashcards, determined to learn everything I could,” she said. “It’s taken hands-on experience, a lot of studying and endless questions to get to where I am today. I’ve learned so much already, but I know there’s still plenty more to master, and that’s exactly what keeps me excited about what I do.”

Despite these setbacks, Harvey found ways to exceed expectations.

“I took this roadblock and made it a milestone,” he said.

An 11th grade student at Merrillville High School, Harvey is in the process of developing a device called Signal Safe.

“It is a haptic device watch that alerts hard-of-hearing youth when there is a fire or carbon monoxide,” he said. “I am also extending its usage for early-onset dementia patients to alert them of critical activities.”

The project, which is in the fund development stage, is just one of several ambitious goals taking shape for Harvey, whose goal is to attend MIT to obtain a degree in biomedical engineering. This past summer, he was inducted into the Congress of Future Medical Professionals at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

“The event was inspiring, as I witnessed accomplished medical professionals share their experiences and insights, transforming what once seemed like daunting challenges into opportunities for growth and impact,” he said.

Harvey also served as a moderator for Victory4Kidz Health Expo, facilitating conversations between health care professionals and students interested in the medical field.

In addition to completing a summer internship with the Centers for Disease Control where he gained hands-on experience in public health initiatives, Harvey also spent two weeks studying neurology at Notre Dame, completed a fellowship through Purdue University’s Women and Minorities in Water and Energy Sectors and participated in the Making it Count Summer Program at Purdue where he researched how vital science programming is for youth in Lake County. He partnered with the U.S. Space Force to research how the agency’s support could impact learning from theory to practice.

“These experiences not only deepened my understanding of medicine and research but also reinforced my passion for contributing meaningfully to the medical field and the broader world of science,” he said.

Harvey says his mindset of being unyielding has been his key to success so far in life.

“I think about it in terms of the scientific method: keep experimenting, learning and trying until it works,” he said. “Failing the first time doesn’t mean you’ll fail forever, it's just part of the process toward success.”

A volunteer spin class teacher at the Duneland YMCA and pilates teacher at Hot Body Pilates in Portage, Goodson also has worked with the Chesterton Parks Department to bring Pilates in the Park to town every other Saturday during the summer months.

“In addition to encouraging the community to move, my biggest life purpose is empowering young girls and women’s interest in STEM activities,” she said.

After being a part of various local community STEM outreach programs, including STARBASE and NiSource’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Goodson created the STEAM Like a Girl event — a collaborative effort between Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) and the Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus.

“A small but mighty group of amazing women, who call ourselves STEAM TEAM, was created,” she said. “My hopes are that the legacy of this event are everlasting. We plan to commit to an annual STEAM Like a Girl event. To me, this is just the beginning. Northwest Indiana has so many amazing opportunities for collaboration, I cannot wait to see what else stems from this program.”

Goodson began her career at NiSource as an intern in the chemical compliance department and was later promoted to chemical lab supervisor for the Michigan City Generating Station. After working in the lab for four years, she joined the environmental compliance team where she has been for three years. In April, she was promoted to team lead in Environmental Compliance-Generation & Renewables.

“For the last couple of years, I have been supporting renewable generation as it pertains to environmental compliance,” she said. “This has been challenging but rewarding in the best ways.”

In her newest role with NiSource, Goodson says one of her goals is to become a leader people can trust, count on and enjoy being around.

“I want people to know that I am always in their corner cheering them on,” she said. “My goal is to build a reliable, high-functioning team that knows how to get things done in the most effective way possible.”

“When I graduated in 2009, the stock market went south and there weren't any jobs,” Cooper said. “My parents convinced me to try accounting, so I went back to Northwestern for evening classes to sit for the CPA exam.”

Now shareholder and director of accounting services at the same firm he spent many hours as a child, Cooper has proven himself to be a strategic thinker, community leader, mentor and advocate for Northwest Indiana.

As director of accounting services, Cooper’s areas of expertise include client advisory services, tax planning and preparation, business valuation, auditing and financial reporting. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in both Indiana and Illinois, and holds additional designations including as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA).

In his role at McMahon & Associates, Cooper helps business owners and executive teams improve operational efficiency, reduce waste and implement data-driven strategies. He also works with clients to teach them how financial reporting can be used for more than compliance — it can also be used as a strategic tool that drives growth, improves forecasting and empowers decision-making.

“Better reporting is better decision-making, and better decision-making can lead to better dollars for our clients,” he said. “If we can bring value to our clients, we’re going to have clients for the long term. I don’t want to have a two-year client — I want to have a 20-year client.”

As a member of the Northwest Indiana Forum, Cooper promotes regional economic growth and professional collaborations. He has also volunteered his time as a guest speaker at Indiana University Northwest, where he earned his master of business administration degree, to talk to students about professional development, ethics and the role of civic responsibility in the accounting profession.

In his leadership role at the firm, Cooper focuses first on building strong connections with his team — believing that when colleagues feel supported, they in turn build stronger relationships with clients.

“Relationships very much matter, yet every employer struggles with finding employees who care,” he said. “I want to see people be successful, and I think that has really allowed me to get to where I am today.”

“Having personally experienced the impact of suicide, I am committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma and advocating for accessible mental health resources,” she said. “This cause is close to my heart, and it motivates me to contribute to creating a world where people in crisis can find hope and help.”

Collins oversaw the expansion of the center’s 988 crisis response program after the Crisis Center was selected as one of the state’s call centers. What was once a small, part-time volunteer service has grown into a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week operation that is part of the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The Crisis Center program employs more than 30 staff members who answer thousands of calls from individuals experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts or mental health concerns. The center has also been recognized as a high-performing provider in the national 988 network for meeting standards in response time, quality and compassionate care.

“One of my main goals is to help the Crisis Center expand both the variety of services we offer and the reach of our support,” Collins said. “I’m also committed to strengthening partnerships and fostering innovation to better address the evolving challenges our community faces.”

One example of this is the upcoming HOPE (Helping Overcome Painful Experiences) Initiative, a program Collins created and is in the process of building with the center’s new HOPE coordinator. The program will offer support for families who have lost a loved one to suicide or homicide by providing grief support, peer connections and referrals to other needed services during times when many families feel isolated and overwhelmed.

As a self-described servant leader, Collins says she leads by working alongside her team and being actively involved.

“I focus on making people feel valued and supported, creating an environment of trust and collaboration,” Collins said. “By putting the needs of my team first, I help empower them to do their best work and stay connected to our shared mission.”

Collins says she has carried one key mindset into her role as executive director that has been central to her success.

“I approach challenges with a ‘yes, we can do that’ attitude, believing that with effort and creativity, solutions are always possible,” she said.

“I have a passion for getting to know people on a personal level and professional level, and I love meeting new people,” she said.

Before accepting the new role, Cartwright served as an assistant vice president — a role she will retain alongside her new position — and banking center manager. She was recognized as 1st Source Bank’s Banking Center Manager of the Year in 2024.

“I’ve had really phenomenal mentors over my career who have pushed me to continue growing in the organization,” she said.

As a branch manager, she carried those lessons forward — challenging her team to grow just as her mentors once challenged her.

“I defined success when my team was successful,” she said. “I loved helping my team realize their strengths and continue to grow.”

She embraces her ‘3G’s’ philosophy — gratitude, growth and grit — in and out of the workplace.

“Gratitude changes our attitudes and can bring more positivity to the workplace,” Cartwright said. “Growth is something we should always continue to do — to grow and learn. And grit gives us the perseverance to keep going.”

While Cartwright’s mission is to help other people and businesses succeed, that passion extends beyond her professional role. An avid volunteer, Cartwright learned from her father the power of giving.

“My father was self-employed and did really well for himself for many years,” she said. “He was always helping people in the community. At Christmas and during different holidays, he would invite someone off the street who may have been struggling, and we had strangers at our table for the holidays.”

Her mother volunteered as well, inspiring Cartwright to honor their legacies of giving back by volunteering with several community organizations like the United Way Northwest Indiana, where she serves as the board’s vice chair and resource development committee chair, as well as Meals on Wheels, GracePoint Church and Valpo Events.

“Aligning with those goals and being transparent about their progress helps harness and leverage their own motivation,” he said.

Still, Carlson acknowledges he wasn’t always certain of the direction his career would take.

“Two years into my career, lacking a clear vision of my goals, I was encouraged to take a risk and move my wife and son to the South Bend area,” he said. “My time there allowed me to be myself, establish career goals, create incredible relationships, and raise and grow our family.”

Carlson joined the Indiana Beverage team in the company’s facilities department before joining the sales team when he relocated to the South Bend area. His 10 years of experience on the sales team allowed him to learn the ins and outs of the business as a merchandiser, sales assistant and sales consultant, before he was offered the opportunity to lead a team as a district manager.

“Since returning to Valparaiso in 2021 as business development manager, I’ve helped to navigate the expansion of our portfolio into non-alcoholic beverages, and more recently, spirit-based ready-to-drink products,” he said. “I work with a great team that collaborates directly with our supplier partners, retailers and consumers.”

While Carlson says he has faced challenges, it’s through those experiences that he has learned to embrace adversity as an opportunity to create better outcomes.

“Those challenges have consistently turned into valuable experiences, and often, even blessings,” he said.

Although change is inevitable, Carlson says embodying the mantra of “embracing change” has been vital to him.

“It is an important mindset for when change finds you, to thrive in a new situation,” he said. “It is also applicable in seeking change, thinking differently and being creative in providing solutions that may differ from the traditional way.”

Through Indiana Beverage partnerships, Carlson has developed a passion for supporting organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“My wife and I had the opportunity to visit the hospital in Memphis,” he said. “Being there and seeing firsthand their passion for finding cures and commitment to their patients and families, all while embodying joyous energy, was an incredible thing to witness.”

“In veterinary medicine, you are navigating a combination of owner values, finances and the patient’s biology to achieve favorable outcomes,” he said. “This is something we have training to tackle in school and navigate them day to day.”

Entrepreneurship has provided an entirely new and exciting set of challenges, he says.

“We have overcome them in a very similar way as tackling a new diagnosis on a patient,” Brahos said.

He credits his first boss, Dr. Ron Guzman of Grants Pass, Oregon, with greatly influencing both his approach to veterinary medicine and the way he runs his clinic.

“He was the one who first taught me that if you treat your clients right, and practice quality medicine, then the business aspect of veterinary medicine will take care of itself,” Brahos said.

Brahos is working to instill those same values in his own practice.

“I think one of the greatest strengths a veterinarian can have is the ability to practice empathy,” he said. “To be able to put yourself in the mindset of your patient or to be able to put yourself in your clients’ or staff members’ shoes is invaluable.”

Open for just a few months, an adoption center for stray and orphaned animals through Great and Small Animal Clinic has helped find forever homes for 12 kittens and puppies. Brahos also volunteers his time with veterinary outreach programs through organizations like the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association and Purdue University, as well as performs spay demonstrations at the Indiana State Fair.

“The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is that the first thing you should do is to put pen to paper and come up with a solid set of core values that guide the way you want your business to run,” Brahos said. “If you can come up with, ‘this is what this clinic stands for’ or ‘this is what I, as a veterinarian, stand for,’ it makes all of the decisions, big and little, that you need to make day to day very easy.”

His leadership is grounded in the belief that Portage can “be its own anchor,” fostering opportunity from within rather than depending on neighboring communities.

“Portage has always been a safe place to live, but one of the big things you see is how many people live here but drive 20 minutes away for shopping and restaurants,” he said. “I felt there was more we could be doing to bring opportunities here to the city.”

While Portage has a quaint downtown area, it’s just 5 miles from the recognizable steel mills along Lake Michigan. Behind Bonta’s desk, he keeps a painting called “Blast Furnace Kite” that features a boy whose kite has become stuck outside a blast furnace.

“It represents Northwest Indiana, where we have a great industrial heritage, and at the same time, we’re trying to figure out how to blend recreation and fun in this beautiful area,” he said. “I keep this painting here because it means something to me.”

Before taking the helm as mayor in January 2024, Bonta was a special education teacher with Portage Township Schools and co-owner of the SoundTide Music School with his wife, Meg, which they have run since 2016.

Appointed to the Portage Plan Commission in 2016, Bonta gained an inside look at how the city operated by reviewing development plans and proposals. That experience inspired him to push for changes that would make Portage a more business-friendly place to invest and grow.

“We began changing our city’s policies and procedures when it came to opening a new business in our city,” he said. “A lot of that was changing the culture to a ‘say yes’ culture. A lot of people couldn’t even get a phone call back, and they gave up and went to another city that was easier to work with. We still have a long way to go, but it’s been noticed just how much easier the city is to work with on the user side.”

Bonta has also worked on updating the city’s sewer infrastructure and updating the city’s fee schedule to be more in line with Porter County’s. The city’s Market on the Square gatherings on Fridays during the summer at Founders Square have also seen a resurgence.

“I think geographically something is changing,” Bonta said. “As people are moving east and south, Portage is shifting where we aren’t the edge of the Region. We’re more in the middle of the Region, and I think that’s giving residents ideas that we can have nice things and expect good things in our city. I’m very much a glass-half-full type of person.”

Balbo, 39, now harnesses that passion and expertise as director of Martech and Digital Technology at Centier Bank to use digital innovation to create experiences that support and empower the bank’s clients.

“Technology changes fast, and the best way to stay ahead is to approach every challenge with curiosity and a willingness to evolve,” he said. “Pairing that with a hands-on, data-driven mindset has allowed me to pivot when needed and find the best path forward.”

Before joining Centier Bank, Balbo helped to drive multi-year growth in startups and large organizations through the use of data and technology.

“These experiences taught me that milestones can be both large and small and that success comes from pairing vision with execution,” he said. “That lesson continues to guide the way I approach my work at Centier, where our goal is to use digital innovation to create experiences that truly support and empower our clients.”

While Balbo says he has faced moments where the path forward was unclear and the pace of change felt overwhelming, he has learned to approach challenges with calmness and logic, leaning on data to guide decisions rather than emotions.

“One lesson that has stayed with me is that setbacks often bring the best opportunities to grow and learn, if you stay open to them,” he said.

Early in his career, Balbo delivered internet safety presentations to parents and students across Indiana, and he continues to remain passionate about education, mentorship and helping others see the possibilities that technology and learning can open.

Mentors who have helped shape his perspective in unique ways have come from all walks of life and industries.

“I believe that diversity of influence has kept me centered and helped me understand that leadership is about listening and learning from others just as much as it is about guiding them,” he said.