GFW Inc. Names Seven Award Winners at Annual Meeting Event

Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. presented seven awards to those making an impact across Allen County. The awards, distributed each year as part of GFW Inc.'s Annual Meeting event, honored a small business, an area nonprofit, an organization exhibiting excellence in business, and four local leaders. This year’s award winners are:

EXCELLENCE IN SMALL BUSINESS AWARD - MKM Architecture + Design

This award honors a small business that demonstrates a high level of excellence through measurable results, and that is leading the way through innovation, customer experience, growth, collaboration, or other key metrics.

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT AWARD - Neighborhood Health

This award honors a non-profit that demonstrates excellence through inclusivity, collaboration, and/or results and who is making a meaningful difference in ways that improve our community’s quality of place and drive measurable outcomes that create positive change across Allen County.

GREATER FORT WAYNE INC. BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD - Fort Wayne City Utilities

This award honors a business whose commitment to excellence is evident in innovation, inclusion, belonging, results, community engagement, customer experience, people-first policies, and/or focus on growing the local economy.

Barb Smith GFW Inc. Service Award – Commissioner F. Nelson Peters and L. Scott Naltner: This award honors exemplary service to GFW Inc. and dedication to Allen County’s economic growth.

Maclyn Parker Swagger Award for Community Vision and Leadership – John Dortch: This award is given to an individual who exemplifies the persistence and will to make Fort Wayne-Allen County a thriving community by being a strong advocate for economic development.

Public Official of the Year Award – Steve Corona: This award honors exceptional efforts by public officials to build a stronger community—and grow jobs and wages—by creating the best environment to attract and retain talent and business.

"The transformation we've witnessed over the past decade has been truly remarkable," said John Urbahns, president and CEO of GFW Inc. "These award winners exemplify the vibrant momentum driving Fort Wayne and Allen County forward."The award presentations were part of GFW Inc.'s Annual Meeting event, which celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. as well as the community's accomplishments from the past 10 years. About 650 people gathered for the celebration event Thursday eveningat the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. During the event, GFW Inc. premiered a 10-year Anniversary highlight video on the accomplishments that have been noted over the last 10 years while showcasing the many projects that have defined a decade of success.

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