Congratulations to the following winners of the One Southern Indiana 2024 ONCE Awards.
One Southern Indiana (1si), the chamber of commerce and state recognized local economic development organization for Clark, Floyd, and Scott counties, Ind., is proud to celebrate the winners of the 2024 ONCE Awards. This event honors excellent businesses and business professionals from Southern Indiana and the Louisville Metro area.
Finalists for the ONCE Awards are chosen by a panel of judges on a variety of metrics. In addition, 1si members vote online for their favorite, which accounts for 10 percent of the score. Ten of Southern Indiana’s and metro Louisville’s ‘best and brightest’ companies and individuals were honored on Thursday, November 14, at Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth, Ind.
German American Bank Business of the Year Award ( 51 or more employees )
C & M Smith Restaurants dba Taco Bell
C&M Smith Restaurants Inc. was founded in 1988 by Clinton Smith, Sr after working for Taco Bell Corporate from 1980-1987. Clinton started the company with capital provided by a small business loan and a partner in his brother Mike Smith, who is in the car service business. They were partners up until Clinton, Sr. bought out Mike in 2000. The restaurant company is now owned by partners Clinton Smith, Jr. and Chris Smith, who run the day-to-day operations of the company. The company currently operates 27 locations in Southern Indiana and Kentucky, employing 900 people. Their corporate office is in New Albany, Indiana.
Cherry Bekaert Business of the Year Award ( 50 or Fewer Employees )
LL&A Interior Design
LLL&A Interior Design is a premier, full-service interior design firm known for its comprehensive expertise in transforming spaces across various sectors. Specializing in everything from residential to commercial projects, LL&A Interior Design offers a wide array of services including corporate environments, healthcare facilities, hospitality spaces, outdoor areas, certified commercial and real estate staging, online design, and AirBnB design, among others.
Ivy Tech Community College Jerrol Miles DE&I Initiative Award
Global Payments, Inc.
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN) is a leading payments technology company delivering innovative software and services to customers globally. Their technologies, services and team member expertise allow them to provide a broad range of solutions that enable their customers (from small and midsize merchants to large financial institutions) to operate their businesses more efficiently across a variety of channels around the world. Headquartered in Georgia with approximately 27,000 team members worldwide, Global Payments is a Fortune 500® company and a member of the S&P 500 with worldwide reach spanning North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Harding Shymanski & Company, P.S.C. Manufacturer of the Year
ERL, Inc.
Since 1970, ERL has been guided by a devotion to timeless principles and the relentless pursuit of leading-edge technology. Their continued commitment to keeping our nation’s waterways safe by manufacturing quality products, tireless service, and exceptional customer relations have made them the leader in the marine equipment industry in America.
ERL not only prioritizes exceptional products and solutions, but they also understand the importance of recruiting and retaining skilled employees. Their emphasis on their company culture demonstrates that employees are the key to ERL’s 54 years of success.
Centra Credit Union Nonprofit Program Award
Personal Counseling Services, Inc. Azari Program
Personal Counseling Services, (PCS) Inc, an outpatient, non-profit, 501 (c) 3, mental health organization, established in 1959.
Over the past sixty-five (65) years, the PCS multi-disciplinary, professional counseling staff has provided over 629,000 hours of individual, couple, family and intensive outpatient group therapy, served 520,000 children, youths and adults, music therapy, in addition to medication management, addiction therapy and psychological testing services. Today, they serve seventeen counties in Indiana and four counties in Kentucky. This impressive record of service ranks PCS as one of the region’s leading providers of mental health and faith-based services.
The Azari Program is a therapy program that works with first responders, dispatchers, their family members and veterans to process the stressors and trauma that has invaded their day-to-day life.
SoIN Tourism Rising Star Award
Poppin’ Flavors Gourmet Popcorn
Born and bred in the bustling hub of Jeffersonville, Indiana in 2020, Poppin’ Flavors Gourmet Popcorn is not your average popcorn peeps – they’re on a mission to blow your mind and your taste buds! As a proud black family-owned and operated business, they’re all about taking your taste buds on a wild ride.
Axiom Financial Strategies Group James W. Robinson Young Professional of the Year Award
Christopher Jackson
Dan Cristiani Excavating Co., Inc.
Chris Jackson has over two decades of experience in land development, municipal utility, and infrastructure construction. He is involved in all aspects as well as the planning, permitting, development, and construction of 1,000+ acres of active privately-owned and managed land development projects in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, and Scott Counties in Indiana.
Under Chris’s leadership, Dan Cristiani Excavating has experienced continuous growth, with an annual increase of no less than 10 percent. The company has also expanded its workforce, adding approximately 100 positions since 2014, reflecting both DC’s success and the commitment to creating local jobs.
Duke Energy Kevin Hammersmith Community Leader of the Year Award
Kelley Troutman
Kaiser Home Support Services, and Liberty Place
Kelley Troutman serves as the Executive Director of Kaiser Home Support Services, where she oversees comprehensive support services aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals requiring home-based personal care. She is also a co-founder of Liberty Place which provides support services and a transitional living space for Veterans. In her role, Kelley is responsible for strategic leadership, operational management,and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to clients and residents.
Kightlinger & Gray, LLP Sam Day Professional of the Year Award
Roza Segoviano
Executive Chef/Co-Owner VIVA! Hospitality Group
Roza is the Executive Chef behind a collection of six southern Indiana restaurants which she co-owns with her husband, Juan. VIVA! Hospitality Group encompasses the beloved and popular dining spots Senor Iguanas Restaurantes Mexicanos, La Catrina Mexican Kitchen, La Catrina Tacos & Tequila and Sleepy Rooster Morning Kitchen.
NWSB Chairman’s Legacy Award
Jerry Finn
Retired, Caesars Foundation of Floyd County
Jerry is the former Executive Director of the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County. He holds two undergraduate degrees from Indiana University and a Masters in Theological Studies from the St. Meinrad School of Theology. He is currently involved with the Friends of the Town Clock Church and the Rotary Club of New Albany.
Jerry’s former involvement includes co-chair of the Southern Indiana Mentoring Partnership, the Metro United Way Advisory Council, the Donors Forum of Kentuckiana, The New Albany-Floyd County Education Foundation, Vice President of Keep New Albany Clean and Green, the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana, the Governor’s Bi-State Bridge Authority for Louisville and Indiana, One Southern Indiana Board of Directors, and a medical corpsman in the Indiana National Guard and captain in the US Army Reserve.
Over the last several years, Jerry has also mentored several students within the New Albany-Floyd County School system.
A father of four and grandfather of seven, Jerry and his wife, Jill, live in Starlight, Indiana in his family’s ancestorial 1839 homeplace.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Axiom Financial Strategies Group
Centra Credit Union
Cherry Bekaert
Duke Energy
Harding Shymanski & Company, P.S.C.
German American Bank
Ivy Tech Community College
Kightlinger & Gray, LLP
NWSB
SoIN Tourism
GOLD SPONSOR
First Harrison Bank
SILVER SPONSORS
L & D Mail Masters, Inc.
Nu-Yale
PayFWDs
Sounds Unlimited Productions
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