Indiana Minority Business Magazine, the sister publication of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, will honor five individuals for their tremendous business acumen. The individuals will be recognized for breaking barriers and exemplifying diversity and inclusion exceedingly above and beyond others in their respective industries.
Nathan and Debbie Oatts, founders of Nubian Construction and Oatts Trucking, will receive the William G. Mays Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award; Jim and Nancy Cotterill, founders of UNITE INDY, will receive the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award; and Gurinder Singh Khalsa, chairman of SikhsPAC, will receive the Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award. Each of these individuals has demonstrated an unmatched commitment to improving the lives of all Hoosiers.
In addition to the distinguished recipients listed above, 11 more Hoosiers will receive Champions of Diversity awards during the January 18, 2019 dinner. The recipients for 2019 are:
Alkeyna Aldridge — Director, Engagement Economic Empowerment, City of South Bend
Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud — President, Urban League of Northwest Indiana
Sue Ellspermann — President, Ivy Tech Community College and former Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Darrell Gordon — CEO, Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center
Tysha Hardy-Sellers — Executive Director, Edna Martin Christian Center
Leslie Craig Henderzahs — Partner, Church, Church, Hittle and Antrim and president-elect of Indiana Bar Association
Maureen Mitchell — Regional Vice President, Meijer Central Region
Pat Gamble Moore — Vice President, Indiana Market Manager, PNC Bank
Bryan Roach — Chief of Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Dr. James Wimbush — Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, and Dean of the University Graduate School, Indiana University
Dr. Curtis Wright — CEO, Eskenazi Medical Group
“This year’s honorees are living testimonies that diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded in Hoosier values,” said José Lusende, Vice President of Strategy and External Relations. “They exude these ideals in their daily lives. They also inspire us to embrace the culture of promoting inclusion, peace and harmony among all people, regardless of our varied backgrounds.”
The 2019 Champions of Diversity awards ceremony will take place on Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. A networking reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.; dinner and the awards program will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. followed by a free after party at 8:30 p.m. Local television personalities Rafael Sanchez of RTV6 and Ericka Flye will be back by popular demand to serve as masters of ceremony.
