INDIANAPOLIS (May 15, 2025) Conexus Indiana today announced its fifth annual Rising 30 class, recognizing outstanding young professionals making significant early-career contributions to Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sectors.
The Rising 30 program, presented by Purdue University, continues Conexus Indiana’s commitment to strengthening and promoting Indiana’s vital manufacturing and logistics ecosystem. These honorees represent exceptional talent under the age of 30 who are already reshaping Indiana’s largest industry sector and will lead it into the next era of innovation.
Selected for their remarkable achievements and forward-thinking approaches, this year’s cohort embodies the bright future of Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics industries.
“When I visit our manufacturing facilities across Indiana, I’m always struck by the ingenuity of our young talent,” said Jay Wirts, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “These Rising 30 honorees aren’t just building products—they’re building the future of Hoosier manufacturing and ensuring our families and communities thrive. Each one of them represents why Indiana continues to strengthen its position as a global manufacturing and logistics powerhouse for generations to come.”
The 2025 honorees span a wide range of specialties – from engineering and operations to research and development, technical services and strategic leadership. They represent organizations ranging from established global corporations, emerging startups, and local family businesses distributed throughout Indiana’s manufacturing hubs from South Bend to Jeffersonville.
Rising 30 candidates are nominated by their employer or an industry representative, and winners are selected based on their career accomplishments to date. In the coming year, the Rising 30 honorees will participate in Conexus Indiana’s work by serving as thought leaders on topics including technology adoption and workforce development.
The 2025 Rising 30 class will be celebrated at a recognition event this evening in downtown Indianapolis, bringing together industry leaders to honor these exceptional young professionals.
Brantley Armour
IT Systems Manager
MAVPAK Warehouse LLC
Rod Baradaran
CEO
rScan
Makayla Barrett
Senior International Supply Chain Planner
Allison Transmission
Kaitlin Baxter
Chief Process Officer
Antique Candle Co.
Spencer Brown
Design/Product Engineer
Ember Recreational Vehicles
Scott Clark
Manufacturing Engineer
Cook Medical
Logan Glaze
VP of Sales and Marketing
Glaze Tool & Engineering
Isabel Gomez
Project Manager
Acción Performance
Peyton Heckaman
Co-founder & CEO
Heckaman & Hollar Group
Sayge Hopwood
Vineyard Supervisor
Hopwood Cellars & Winery
Brianne Hovde
Associate Director, Technical Services/Manufacturing Science
Eli Lilly & Co.
Christian Huber
Winemaker and Master Distiller
Huber Winery & Starlight Distillery
Shaun Hughes
Director of Marketing
True Essence Foods
Zoe Hughes
Production Supervisor
MSP Manufacturing
Michael Jackson
President
Kent Machine
Ashley Jeffirs
Manufacturing Engineer II
Zimmer Biomet
Alex Kortepeter
Director of Strategy & Operations
Polygon Composites
Swapneel Kulkarni
Battery Engineer II
Ateios Systems
Emily Lazaga
Legal and Compliance Generalist
Hitachi Astemo
Emily Lintott
Senior Supervisor, Instrument Operations
Roche Diagnostics
Jonathan Lozada
Sales and Engineering Manager
Innovative Designs
Georgiana Morar
Operational Excellence Analyst
Oasis Lifestyle LLC
Cristhian Padilla
Senior HSE Engineer
Cummins
Angela Perez
Plant Operator and Engineer
FiberX Incorporated
Kaylie Pruiett
Program Manager
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership
Sam Reshad
Assembly Engineer
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana
Jennifer Skelton
Formulation Scientist
Corteva Agriscience
Jianxiang Tao
Computer Vision Scientist
anu
Nick Will
Design Engineer
Tactile Engineering
Paul Williams
Senior Manager Operations
MACHYNE at 16 Tech
To view bios of each honoree, visit www.conexusindiana.com/rising-30. Nominations will open for the 2026 class in November.
###
About Conexus Indiana:
Conexus Indiana, a branded initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), is dedicated to advancing the Hoosier State’s position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Working closely with industry, academia, and government partners, Conexus Indiana drives workforce development, economic growth, and innovation across the state. For more information, please visit ConexusIndiana.com.