Aspire Announces Winners of Business Awards
Award recognizes business success and employers’ innovative talent attraction strategies
Johnson County, IN – Aspire Economic Development + Chamber Alliance today announced the winners of its Business Awards. Aspire’s Business Success Award recognizes those that demonstrate qualified success and creativity in the face of adversity. And its Excellence in Talent Award spotlights employers demonstrating excellence in talent recruitment and retention. Finalists were previously announced on April 21. The winner in each category was revealed at the annual “Celebrate Aspire” event held on April 28th at the Garment Factory in Franklin.
Winners by category are:
Business Success, Small Companies (1-49 Employees)
Hoosier Brewing has grown from a small pole barn operation to a mainstay of Old Town Greenwood in just eight years. The company turned the obstacles of the pandemic into opportunity by manufacturing hand sanitizer, keeping the business afloat, its employees employed and producing a needed commodity for us all. Now Hoosier Brewing Company features a broad lineup of lagers, ales, and stouts, and has found its niche in fruited sours made with real ingredients. The company has a rating of 3.96 out of 4 on the geosocial networking app Untapped and is licensed to distribute beer in five states with strategic growth opportunities in their business plan.
Business Success, Large Companies (50+ Employees)
Indiana Foundation Services strived to find ways to better serve their customers. The company partnered with a national foundation repair company to access more products, processes, and services to achieve their growth goals. The pandemic then caused a spike in employee resignations. The company adapted and revised its orientation program, providing each new hire with a single mentor to guide them through the process and make introductions to other team members. Last year, they added 83 new employees and promoted 29 others and 2021 sales were up 37% over 2020 and nearly double from 2019.
Business Success, Nonprofits
Festival Country Indiana is tasked with marketing Johnson County to attract visitors, retain resident spending, and increase tourism product like attractions and events. The Festival Country Visitor Center features eight interactive exhibits, all staff have received training based on Disney and Super Service training principles, and the organization is investing in new attractions such as an extreme fitness course, a temporary ice-skating rink, and events. Over the last couple years while other counties were cutting staff and advertising, Festival Country kept fully staffed and launched its biggest ad campaign, winning industry ad awards and experiencing a 78% increase in revenue over the last year.
Excellence in Talent Development, Small Employers (1-49 Employees)
ALL IN Painting had record-breaking sales in 2021 and needed to recruit and retain 20 painters. The biggest challenge the company faced was only 30% of applicants showed up for in-person interviews. All-In Painting adopted a revolutionary strategy of using group interviews to sell their company to groups of candidates at one time. This process has resulted in a 90% turnout rate for the final in-person interview and has saved the company hundreds of dollars in recruitment advertising, with 2021 being their best year ever for employee retention.
Excellence in Talent Development, Large Employers (50+ Employees)
AECOM Hunt is a local construction manager and general contractor that was facing workforce challenges and needed new hires. The company created a new innovative recruiting program, creating a hiring team of current employee volunteers to represented various roles within the company at hiring events, allowing potential candidates to speak directly with staff that have firsthand knowledge of the roles they would be applying for. This approach led to AECOM Hunt hiring 11 new staff members and 10 interns.
In presenting the awards, Aspire Board of Directors President Marisol Sanchez said, “Aspire is thrilled to have received so many worthy nominations, showcasing businesses that have found a way to grow and succeed in a challenging economy and labor market.”
“Business success does not come easy. Business leaders navigate ever-changing technology, shifting consumer trends, supply chain disruptions, labor competition, and macroeconomic pressures – all before lunch. This year’s finalists impressed us. Each winner and finalist embraced challenges and found new ways to achieve success.”
The “Celebrate Aspire” event was sponsored by Franklin College. Aspire’s 2022 business awards were sponsored by Citizens Bank and Indiana Members Credit Union.