The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP), a unified organization advancing the interests of businesses while fueling economic and community growth, announced business and community award winners at their inaugural Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Ford Center on Wednesday, September 22.
The Annual Meeting & Dinner celebrated regional victories, solidified nominations in board leadership and awarded outstanding business and community leaders. At this signature event, the following awards were presented:
Community Champion of the Year was presented to Matthew Nix, Lindsey Nix and Adam Nix of Nix Companies, Inc. for their strong culture of team success, entrepreneurial capacity to scale up the business and a commitment to strengthening their home community. The “small” Nix Companies is no longer the business we thought we knew, and our region is the beneficiary.
Ron Romain was awarded as the Distinguished Business Leader of the Year for his servant leadership, quiet ability to move regional initiatives forward and desire to make what is good-great. His commitment to support early childhood education and leadership with the Korn-Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Financing were highlighted.
The Business of the Year award was presented to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana for their ability to deliver safety, precision, and excellence around every turn. Their collaborative spirit and leadership extends well beyond their Princeton campus to drive our region forward. Toyota Indiana President, Leah Curry accepted the award. Toyota celebrates 25 years of shaping the region through business and community investment with a future investment of 1,400 jobs and $803 million on the horizon.
Merged April 1st of this year, E-REP formed by building on the trusted relationships and legacy of its predecessor organizations: the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, and the Southwest Indiana Chamber. The inaugural event safely gathered a limited number of attendees including E-REP Members, elected and appointed officials, key community leaders and strategic regional partners. The Annual Meeting & Dinner is the largest E-REP business and networking event of the year.