JA BEL Awards
Junior Achievement Business & Educator Leadership Awards - BEL Awards
Event Completed!
When: Tuesday, September 09, 2025
Where: Grand Wayne Center
Time: 5:30 PM ET
4:45pm VIP Reception, sponsored by Centier Bank
5:30pm General Cocktail Reception
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm JA BEL Awards Program, sponsored by Katz, Sapper & Miller
To recognize leadership and dedication to entrepreneurship, each year Junior Achievement's BEL (Business, Education, and Leadership) Awards event honors business leaders. These men and women are creating jobs, encouraging employee growth and shaping the successful companies that are essential to a community's economy. While fulfilling the personal and professional commitments which ensure family, business and community success, they are also sharing their experience with the next generation, and they are giving time and financial resources to their communities. The JA BEL Awards is proudly sponsored by Katz Sapper & Miller.
2025 Greater Fort Wayne Business Hall of Fame Awardees:
Cathy Brand Beere, DeBrand Fine Chocolates
Mark Millett, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Dick Teets, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
2025 Ove Jorgensen Spirit of Leadership Recipients:
Mike Eikenberry, Community Leader
**Reservations are now closed for this year's event.**
5:30pm General Cocktail Reception
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm JA BEL Awards Program, sponsored by Katz, Sapper & Miller
To recognize leadership and dedication to entrepreneurship, each year Junior Achievement's BEL (Business, Education, and Leadership) Awards event honors business leaders. These men and women are creating jobs, encouraging employee growth and shaping the successful companies that are essential to a community's economy. While fulfilling the personal and professional commitments which ensure family, business and community success, they are also sharing their experience with the next generation, and they are giving time and financial resources to their communities. The JA BEL Awards is proudly sponsored by Katz Sapper & Miller.
2025 Greater Fort Wayne Business Hall of Fame Awardees:
Cathy Brand Beere, DeBrand Fine Chocolates
Mark Millett, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Dick Teets, Steel Dynamics, Inc.
2025 Ove Jorgensen Spirit of Leadership Recipients:
Mike Eikenberry, Community Leader
**Reservations are now closed for this year's event.**
Past Hall Of Fame Inductees
- 2015 - Ardelle Glaze, Fort Wayne Metals (posthumously)
- 2015 - M. James Johnston, Corporate & Endowment Strategy, LLC
- 2015 - William Milt Cole, The Cole Family Enterprise
- 2016 - Chris Murphy, 1st Source Bank
- 2016 - Leon Habegger, LH Industries
- 2017 - Tom Kinder, Michael Kinder & Sons, Inc.
- 2018 - Bob Lauter, Master Spas
- 2018 - James Scheil, Summit Mechanical
- 2019 - Andy & John Brooks, Brooks Construction Company, Inc.
- 2019 - Dan Votaw, Votaw Electric
- 2021 - Don Steininger, Steininger Development
- 2021 - Jerry Henry, Midwest Pipe & Steel
- 2023 - Dr. Earl Brooks, Trine University
- 2023 - Mike Packnett, Parkview Health
- 2024 - Chuck Surack, Surack Enterprises
- 2024 - Daryle & Brenda Doden, Ambassador Enterprises
Sponsors
Title Sponsor
VIP Cocktail Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Student Ambassador Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Hall of Fame Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Become a Sponsor!
Sponsorships for these events are critical for Junior Achievement to continue providing life-changing programs to students in our community. These programs are delivered at no cost to students. You can make a difference in the lives of these students by participating in this world-class event! Contact us to get more information on how to sponsor a JA Event!
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