Busey Bank, Champaign, Illinois, and Centier Bank, Merrillville, were named “Best Places to Work For” for 2025 by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, coming in at #4 and #5, respectively, in the Major Companies category for organizations with 1,000 or more employees. Also recognized were IBA associate members Design Collaborative, Fort Wayne, and Kruggel Lawton CPAs, Elkhart, which came in at #6 and #39, respectively, for Medium Companies (75-249 employees).
First Merchants Bank, Muncie, earned national recognition for its workplace culture. Comparably, a site for job and gig postings, company ratings and employee surveys like Glassdoor and Indeed, released a list of the top 75-100 companies in various categories. The bank was recognized on four lists: Best Career Growth, Best Leadership, Best Work-Life Balance and Best Team: Human Resources.
Twenty-eight employees of IBA member institutions were recognized as part of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “Indiana 250,” a list of the most influential business leaders in the state:
- Michael Ash, Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati
- David Becker, First Internet Bank of Indiana, Fishers
- Keith Bice, Dentons, Indianapolis
- Jeff Blade, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indianapolis
- Mark Bruin, The National Bank of Indianapolis
- Rich Carlton, Aunalytics, South Bend
- Andrew Detherage, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Indianapolis
- Michael Dury, Merchants Bank, Carmel
- Jason Eckerle, PNC Bank, NA, Wilmington, DE
- Kate Erdel, Dentons, Indianapolis
- David Findlay, Lake City Bank, Warsaw
- Kristin Marcuccilli Green, STAR Bank, Fort Wayne
- Juan Gonzalez, KeyBank, NA, Cleveland
- Mark K. Hardwick, First Merchants Bank, Muncie
- Al London, Old National Bank, Evansville
- Lucia Mar, Bank of America, Charlotte, NC
- James C. Marcuccilli, STAR Bank, Fort Wayne
- Christina Moungey, Chase Bank, New York
- Christopher J. Murphy III, 1st Source Bank, South Bend
- Michael F. Petrie, Merchants Bank, Carmel
- Scott C. Ransburg, Huntington National Bank, Columbus
- Dawn Rosemond, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Indianapolis
- James Ryan, Old National Bank, Evansville
- Rafael Sanchez, Old National Bank, Evansville
- Michael E. Schrage, Centier Bank, Merrillville
- Victor Smith, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, Indianapolis
- Lee Veazey, Dentons, Indianapolis
- Jean Wojtowicz, Cambridge Capital Management Corporation, Indianapolis
Five of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “20 in their Twenties” 2025 honorees are employees of IBA members and associate members. Congratulations to these rising stars:
- Marina Blackburn, Associate Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Indianapolis
- Alec Downing, Vice President, Commercial/Ag Lender, First Farmers Bank & Trust Company, Converse
- John “Jack” Geshay, Preferred Relationship Manager, Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati
- Moussa Ibrahim, Financial Empowerment & Community Development Officer, Old National Bank, Evansville
- Alexis Martinez, Associate, Dentons, Indianapolis
Justin Proctor, senior vice president, chief operating officer for GBC Bank, Greenfield, was named a recipient of the 2025 Award of Achievement by Ball State University’s Miller College of Business. He has seven years of community banking experience plus six years of bank consulting with IBA associate member BKD CPAs & Advisors, now known as Forvis Mazars. Proctor passionately advocates for financial literacy, serves on the Paul W. Parkison Department of Accounting Advisory Board at the BSU Miller College of Business and mentors students. He previously earned BSU’s Three Under Thirty and Emerging Leader awards and the Independent Community Bankers of America’s 40 Under 40 distinction. Proctor earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Ball State University. He also obtained a CFIRS (certified fiduciary & investment risk specialist) professional designation after completing a three-year course program and earned high honors from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
