For three decades, this prestigious awards program has recognized entrepreneurs excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. We’re honored to have our founder and CEO, Joey Rivera, named Entrepreneur of the Year in the East Central Region by Ernst & Young (EY).

The Indiana Small Business Person of the Year Award is recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration for companies representing our nation’s strong entrepreneurial spirit and rich diversity. The SBA is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses.

“HOT” and “FAST” companies are recognized by Greater Louisville Inc.’s EnterpriseCorp for exemplifying high-potential, innovative work that positions them to have a positive impact on the local economy for years to come. EnterpriseCorp is the Louisville Regional Office for the Kentucky Innovation Network, with a mission to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture for early stage (HOT) and fast growth (FAST) companies.

“One way the SBA serves entrepreneurs is by consulting them on opportunities to build their businesses, and our 8(a) program provides a foundation for small business owners to participate in federal contracts and open new doors for growth,” said SBA’s Regional Administrator Marianne Markowitz. “With a mission to be a leading IT service provider, 8(a) graduate and veteran Joey Rivera, and his company Rivera Group, have nearly doubled company sales and grown employment by more than 50 percent in the last two years, all while keeping a focus on serving socially-disadvantaged communities.”

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors outstanding IU Southeast alumni who have made significant contributions to the community and are leaders in their professions. Each year, this award is presented to the recipient at Commencement. The following criteria are considered when selecting a recipient:

The Vision & Leadership Award recognizes game changers who have shown excellence in integrating people, processes, and technologies across the entire marketing organization to increase the effectiveness of marketing efforts, improve internal efficiency, and drive marketing return on investment.

Rivera Group, contracting for the United States Army Marketing and Research Group, developed a centralized platform to support recruiting of in-service individuals qualified for specialized and elite military occupational specialties and streamlined operations, saving the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion thousands of man-hours each year and achieving desired levels of efficiency. The organization’s leadership now has the capability to track ROI real time.