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In 2021, the Institute for Workforce Excellence launched as a non-profit subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. It began as an umbrella initiative designed to better leverage the Indiana Chamber’s reach, relationships and capacity to help employers and community partners across Indiana build effective talent pipelines and practices aligned with state and regional workforce needs.

 Mission & Vision

The Institute for Workforce Excellence is dedicated to helping Indiana attract, develop, and retain the Hoosier talent needed to drive a highly skilled and equitable workforce.

Pillars

Programs

Help Hoosiers better navigate Indiana’s ever-expanding wealth of talent programming resources.

Partners

Strengthen statewide talent pipeline partnerships across business, community, education and government.

Policy & Practice

Conduct relevant research that informs workforce policy and practice across Indiana.

Priorities

  • Enhanced Employer Engagement: Statewide communications campaign, convenings and competency/skill alignment

  • Extended Workforce Insights: Ongoing surveys and research to gauge labor market perspectives, trends and opportunities

  • Expanded Programming: Increased programmatic impact through Work and Learn Indiana, Talent Resource Navigator, and Skills-based Talent Strategy

Meet Our Team

Todd Hurst
Todd HurstExecutive Director
Sally Saydshoev
Sally SaydshoevDirector of Talent and Training Programming
Natalie Wenzler
Natalie WenzlerDirector of Talent and Training Partnerships
Caitlyn Beck
Caitlyn BeckCommunications Manager
Anna Meer
Anna MeerTalent and Training Consultant
Elliot Howard
Elliot HowardTalent and Training Consultant

Governing Board Members

The Institute is led in collaboration with stakeholders representing business, community, education, and government.

  • Board Chair, Lori Danielson, President and Founder, GoTime Coaching, LLC
  • Board Co-Chair, Vanessa Green Sinders, President and CEO, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
  • Jason Bearce, Vice President of Workforce and Education, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
  • Dr. Katie Jenner, Secretary of Education, Indiana Department of Education
  • Dr. Matthew Rust, Associate Vice President for Student Navigation and Support, Indiana University of Indianapolis