Recorder Media Group has announced winners of the 2025 Champions of Diversity Awards. Winners will be recognized during the group’s annual awards dinner on January 17, 2025, at the JW Marriott Indianapolis from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST.
Now in its 18th year, the Champions of Diversity Awards celebrate individuals and organizations across multiple industries who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion. This annual event brings together a diverse group of leaders and influencers to recognize those making a profound impact on their communities through their dedication to equity.
“I am extremely excited to continue the Champions of Diversity tradition,” said Robert Shegog, president and CEO of Recorder Media Group. “This year will be our biggest celebration yet. The growth of Champions of Diversity is a direct result of the community’s increasing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in every aspect of life. People want to align themselves with an event that stands for something meaningful, and Champions of Diversity does that by shining a light on those who lead with purpose.”
The 2025 Champions of Diversity Award Winners include:
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award – Dennis E. Bland, President, Center for Leadership Development
- Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award – Shannon Williams, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, The Mind Trust
- William G. Mays Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award – Reginald and Tracey Jones, Owner Operators, McDonald’s
- Lifetime Education Achievement Award – Andrea L. Neely, President and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Youth Foundation, Inc.
- Amos Brown Community Advocate Award – Marshawn Wolley, President & CEO, Black Onyx Management
- President’s Choice Award – Deana Haworth, Chief Executive Officer, Hirons
- Community Impact Award – Fred Payne, President & CEO, United Way of Central Indiana
- Social Innovation Mastermind Award – Tamira Chapman, CEO, Storehouse in A Box LLC
- Visionary Leader Award – Dr. Lorenzo L. Esters, President, The Indianapolis Foundation
- Sapphire Diversity Maverick Award – Sharon Barner, Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, Cummins
- Civic Empowerment Award – Kanwal Prakash “KP” Singh, Founder & Owner, KP Singh Designs (A Partnership)
- Master of Finance Award – Clarissa Nowlin, Chief Financial Officer & Controller, Professional Management Enterprises, Inc.
- Distinguished Business Achiever Award – Daryle L. Johnson, Vice President of Strategy, Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council
- Bridge to Impact Award – Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) – Melina Kennedy (Chief Executive Officer) and Latoya Alexander Botteron (President & Chief Financial Officer)
- Rising Star of Excellence Award – Darryl Lockett, Health Equity Director, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Indiana
- Innovation in Tech Leadership Award – Dennis Trinkle, Senior Vice President, Talent, Strategy and Partnerships, TechPoint
- Changemaker Award – Tamara Cypress, Associate Director, Communications & Creative Design, Carrier Corporation
- Breaking Barriers Award – Travis Brown, Founder + CEO, Mojo Up Marketing + Media
- Golden Heart Award – Patrina Williams, CEO, Cherishing Lives Personal Care Services
- Stewardship Young Leader Award – Leon Williamson, Market President iHeart Media Multiplatform Group, iHeartMedia Indianapolis
- Beacon of Hope Award – Intend Indiana – Steven Meyer (Chief Executive Officer) and Stephanie Quick (President)
- Social Justice & Equity Award – Zachary Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Department of Justice
- Exemplary Service Award – Katie Lucas, President, Lucas Oil
- Emerald Leadership Award – Seth Morales, Chief Executive Officer, Morales Group, Inc.
- DEI Trailblazer Award – Tracy Ellis-Ward, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
“At Recorder Media Group, it is our mission to empower and educate our community,” Shegog said. “Champions of Diversity is a significant way we can do that. These awards continue to inspire a new generation of leaders and advocates who prioritize inclusion and equity as core values in their professional and personal lives. Businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to attend and invest in the future of diversity by supporting the event through sponsorship or participation.”
For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit www.indianapolisrecorder.com or contact us at ChampionsofDiversity@IndyRecorder.com or (317) 924-5143.
