The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for community awards that recognize and honor individuals, businesses and organizations that have distinguished themselves through outstanding volunteerism, accomplishments and contributions in the community. The awards will be presented at The Chamber’s 110th Annual Meeting & Community Awards on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
 
Anyone in the community may submit nominations. The online forms are available by visiting www.ChamberBloomington.org or by contacting The Chamber at 812-336-6381 or [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 28th, at 5:00 p.m.
 
Award Criteria:

• The nominee must be a member of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce or employed by a member organization/business. ‘4 Under 40’ nominees are exempt from this. 
• A person/organization may be nominated in more than one category. However, each nomination must be submitted separately.
• Please provide as much detail as possible for the nomination. The independent selection committee solely uses the nomination form for selecting the award winners.

 
The 2025 awards slate includes:

• Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Recognizes individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on our community over a sustained period.
• New Business of the Year
  • Recognizes a business or organization that has existed for less than five years.
• Business of the Year
  • Recognizes a business or organization that has existed for five years or more.
• Community Anchor Award
  • Recognizes a business or organization that has contributed positively to the local community over a sustained period. 
• 4 Under 40 Awards
  • Recognizes young professionals that make a significant impact within their organization through their leadership and work ethic, while also giving back to the community through civic involvement. 
• Outstanding Educator Awards
  • Recognizes an individual teacher, program director, counselor, administrator, or staff member at Monroe County Community School Corporation or Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation.

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the Women Excel Bloomington (WEB) 2025 award winners. These distinguished women were chosen for their exceptional leadership, business acumen, entrepreneurship, and community involvement. The 15th Annual WEB Awards celebration will take place on Thursday, July 10th, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm at One World at Woolery Mill.
 
Those to be honored at the 2025 Women Excel Bloomington Awards are:
 

• Ann Harrison – Owner of Elder’s Journey/Comfort Keepers Bloomington, Columbus, Wabash Valley, Terre Haute
• Maggie Mobley – Executive of Ministries, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church
• Sharr Pechac – Director of Human Resources, City of Bloomington
• Amanda Shettlesworth, SHRM-CP, PHR – Human Resources Director, Monroe County Community School Corporation
• Vicky Sorensen – Board of Trustees Chair, Monroe Fire Protection District
• Gladys DeVane – Mae Cassady Lifetime Achievement Award

 
“Each of these incredible honorees embodies the strength, vision, and compassion that drive our community forward,” said Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Eric Spoonmore. “Their impact is felt not only in their workplaces, but across Bloomington through their service, mentorship, and leadership. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and recognize the many ways they enrich our community.”
 
The WEB Awards celebrate the achievements of local women leaders who inspire through their actions and initiatives. These women serve as mentors, excel in their professions, and demonstrate outstanding leadership and community service. The WEB Awards is the highlight of the Bloomington Women in Leadership's annual calendar and honors women who balance professional success with a commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement.
 
To learn more about the 2025 WEB Awards, please visit The Chamber’s website at ChamberBloomington.org or call the Chamber at (812) 336-6381.

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has been named a finalist for the Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) 2025 Chamber of the Year Award. This distinguished honor places the Chamber among the top eight chambers in Indiana and recognizes its outstanding leadership, innovation, and service to the business community.

"This recognition as a finalist for Chamber of the Year is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and members," said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. "It reflects our unwavering commitment to strengthening the business climate in Bloomington and supporting our members through advocacy, connection, and opportunity."

The Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award is one of ICEA’s highest honors and celebrates chambers that demonstrate excellence across core areas such as member services, community leadership, advocacy, and organizational development. Finalists undergo a rigorous review process that highlights strategic impact, measurable results, and overall member engagement.

Being named a finalist comes at a time of continued growth and impact for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, which recently expanded programming, deepened its advocacy efforts, and launched new initiatives to support workforce development and local entrepreneurship.
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The winner will be announced during the ICEA Annual Conference at the Awards Luncheon on June 5th. The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand alongside Indiana’s leading chambers and looks forward to celebrating the shared accomplishments of chambers across the state.

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce it is now accepting nominations for the 15th Annual Women Excel Bloomington (WEB) Awards. Each year, several women are recognized for their outstanding leadership in influencing the growth of others in the community and/or in their professional organization. WEB has a history of recognizing local, civic-minded women from various backgrounds and professions who mentor others and lead by example. Through their actions and initiatives, these women serve as an inspiration and demonstrate outstanding leadership in all they do. These prestigious business leadership awards will be presented at the WEB Awards reception scheduled for Thursday, July 10th at One World at Woolery Mill.
 
WEB nominees serve as an inspiration, helping others to excel as they lead by example. They may be employed in either the business sector or a non-profit organization. Other criteria include:

• The nominees must be at least 21 years of age or older.
• Chamber membership is not required; EXCEPT for nominees who live outside of Monroe County, who must be a Chamber member in good standing.
• Nominees cannot be a previous WEB award winner (a full list is available on our website).
• Nominees should balance their professional contributions with demonstrated leadership through community service or in volunteer capacities outside of their occupational obligations.

 
“We encourage our community to help us recognize the remarkable women who lead with purpose and inspire others to grow,” said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “By nominating someone for the Women Excel Bloomington Awards, you’re not only honoring their contributions—you’re uplifting the values of leadership, mentorship, and community impact that make Bloomington thrive.”
 
Nominations may be submitted on the Chamber’s website (chamberbloomington.org/webnominations). A nomination form is also available online or by calling the Chamber at (812) 336-6381. All nominations should be submitted to the Chamber on or before Thursday, May 29th, 2025 at 5:00p.m.

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has announced a new organizational plan to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen its commitment to delivering exceptional member experiences.

“Our new model realigns key leadership roles and adds a new full-time position to better support the Chamber’s mission and evolving strategic goals,” said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of the Chamber.

Effective immediately, the following organizational changes have been made:

• Katie Sensabaugh has been named Vice President of Operations and Membership. In this role, she will oversee all aspects of the Chamber’s membership experience, including recruitment, retention, and stewardship, while continuing to lead operational strategies for the organization.
• Christopher Emge has been promoted to Senior Director for Government and Community Relations. He will continue to lead the Chamber’s government affairs initiatives and will now oversee all aspects of the Chamber’s Success School programming, which serves over 4,200 local students.
• Stacia Briggs has been promoted to Member Services Manager. She will oversee volunteer management, operational tasks, and member experience duties.

To support the Chamber’s growing event portfolio, a new full-time Program Coordinator position has been created. Reporting to Communications and Events Director Kaytee Lorentzen, this role will focus on managing 60 events annually.

“Our team of extraordinary professionals continues to lead the way in designing innovative programs, business resources, and advocacy strategies that benefit not only our members but also the greater community,” Spoonmore said. “The Chamber’s new organizational plan puts us  in a strong position for continued growth and success as we commence our 110th year serving the business community.”
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For more information about the Chamber’s programs and initiatives, please visit ChamberBloomington.org.