Meet the finalists: 2022 ELEVATE Employee Resource Group of the Year Award

Meet your finalists: 2022 ELEVATE Employee Resource Group

The Employee Resource Group Award will go to a corporate-supported employee/business resource group that developed and executed an impactful event, virtual experience, initiative or project that addresses a social issue important to others in their company and/or Central Indiana.

All three of this year’s nominees bring something special to Central Indiana, and we’re excited for you to meet them at ELEVATE later this month. 

Want to shower them in beads and love before the big event? Remember to cast your vote for People’s Choice by going here. 

Eli Lilly and Company (Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly) 

Group representative: Amy Hargis Peltz, senior director, Medical Science Liaison Team, Neuroscience Business Unit

The employee resource group Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL) aims to achieve gender equity by understanding, developing and advancing women across the company.

The group has a number of initiatives to help women navigate potential barriers and tensions they may face in the workplace. 

“One of our initiatives is external partnerships that we have with various organizations,” Peltz said. “For example, WILL partners with the Healthcare Business Women’s Association, and through that partnership it allows employees in our company to be members of the association.” 

One goal of the partnership is to have women meet other women and foster dialogues among professionals in the healthcare industry. 

“It creates networking opportunities, certainly learning opportunities, and that’s something we are very proud of,” Peltz said. 

The group’s hope for the Central Indiana community: “To accelerate Lilly’s progress in gender equity and gender inclusion. We know this important work takes both work from men and women to advance our mission and advance our vision for our employee resource group.”

Vote for Eli Lilly and Company (Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly) for People’s Choice.

Enterprise Holdings (Women’s Resource Group) 

Group representative: Stephani Isanogle, truck rental area manager

Over the past year, Enterprise Holdings had an opportunity to impact the women in its company to help elevate their presence, improve overall retention and provide a networking community. 

“Sometimes you need someone who is a little further down the road from where you are to tell you it’s all going to be OK and you are making the right decision,” Isanogle said. 

The group’s hope is that those at Enterprise Holdings and in the Women’s Resource Group take what they learn and share it: that they use what they’ve learned to help and invest in others. 

“We were able to do several things this year, but the one that stands out to me is our career development piece,” Isanogle said. “With our virtual platform, we were able to reach a lot more women in Indiana to pour into them the resources that they need to have priority to opportunities coming up for themselves.” 

Vote for Enterprise Holdings (Women’s Resource Group) for People’s Choice.

Indiana Legal Services (Wellness Team)

Group representative: Aimee Patras, eviction avoidance project administrator 

The Wellness Team was an initiative that came out of the pandemic when staff realized the strain was not just felt by the people they serve, but by staff, too. 

“The social work team got together and started thinking about what might be helpful to staff, so we did a one-time event meant to be the start of the initiative and from there it developed into a team,” Patras said. “... Now the (Wellness) Team does ongoing events.” 

The Wellness Team provides services to staff – but it doesn’t end there. The tools and support they offer get passed on to the clients they serve. 

“One example is that we do a weekly meditation. We focus on teaching breathwork, how to calm down during a stressful situation  – and a lot of the individuals we work with are finding themselves in high-stress scenarios and situations,” Patras said. “So these little tools that can be shared in conversation have been passed along to clients  – taking a deep breath, figuring out where you are, taking the moment to relax.”

Vote for Indiana Legal Services (Wellness Team) for People’s Choice.