By Katy Maggart—
MUNCIE, IN— The Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce held their 132nd Annual Dinner & Awards on Wednesday, November 4. Six awards were presented, and a new chair of the board of directors was installed.
The Spirit of Small Business Award is presented to an individual(s) who own and/or operate a small business in the greater Muncie area. The award finalists included Mark Price, owner of Campus Rentals, Property Pros, and Young’s Title & Abstract, Pridemark Construction, and RoHo’s Martini Bar. This year’s award recipient was Pridemark Construction.
The Economic Impact Award is presented to an individual, organization, or company that has made significant contributions to the economic well-being of the greater Muncie area. This year’s finalists were the Innovation Connector and Mursix Corporation. The award was presented to Mursix Corporation.
The Excellence in Public Service Award is presented to an individual, organization, or company that has made significant contributions to the well-being and/or quality of life in the greater Muncie area. The finalists for the award were the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, Muncie Indiana Transit System, and Teresa Clemmons of A Better Way Services. The Delaware County Emergency Management Agency was presented with the award.
The Excellence in Education Award is presented to a teacher, administrator, organization, or company that has made significant contributions to education or workforce development in the greater Muncie area. The finalists for the award were John Clark with Muncie Community Schools, Adam Perdue with Wes-Del Community Schools, and Heidi White with Muncie Community Schools. The award was presented to Adam Perdue.
The Excellence in Workbased Learning Award is presented to a local business that has created a work-based learning program designed to engage high school or post-secondary students for career exposure or exploration. The finalists for the award were Eastern Indiana Works YouthBuild, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, and Toyota of Muncie. Toyota of Muncie was presented with the award.
The Young Professional of the Year Award is presented to an individual under the age of 35 who has made significant contributions to the well-being of the greater Muncie area. The finalists were Leanna Burch-Dewitt with Muncie Public Library, C.S. Hendershot with Second Harvest Food Bank, and Treva McJury with Cornerstone Center for the Arts. C.S. This year’s recipient was C.S. Hendershot.
The Chamber solicited nominations from their membership in September and October. Those nomination forms were then scored by an ad hoc committee of Chamber Board Members and Ambassadors to determine the top finalists and subsequently the winner of each award.
Additionally, Allison Robbins reflected on her year as Chair of the Board. She shared that over the past 12 months; the Chamber welcomed 56 new members, hosted 35 ribbon cuttings, and held 37 events. Robbins then introduced Joe Hamilton, owner of J Hamilton Farms, as the 2026 Board Chair. Hamilton presented Robbins with a plaque thanking her for her service over the past year.
First Merchants Bank was this year’s presenting sponsor. A list of all sponsors can be seen on the Chamber’s website, munciechamber.org.
About Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce
Since 1894, the Chamber has been integral to Greater Muncie because of our strategic business-building plans and services. We strive to be a source of innovative business development for our community by engaging large, medium, and small businesses in countless industries. The Chamber builds an extensive Muncie business network through member connections and expansion. Building business. Building community.
