Meet the finalists: 2026 ELEVATE Nonprofit Employee of the Year
The Nonprofit Employee of the Year award recognizes a young professional in the nonprofit sector who demonstrates outstanding contributions in their role and exhibits leadership that goes above and beyond their job description.
This year’s finalists are doing exactly that, and we’re excited to celebrate them at United Way’s 8th annual ELEVATE on Feb. 21 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
Let’s meet our finalists:
Karen Adan, director of programming at Morning Light:
Karen Adan is transforming how families experience aging, caregiving and end-of-life care in Central Indiana.
As director of programming at Morning Light, she goes far beyond her role by personally overseeing each resident’s journey, ensuring they are met with dignity, comfort and compassion. Her hands-on leadership allows loved ones to step away from daily caregiving tasks and be fully present with family members, facilitating peaceful, meaningful goodbyes.
Karen’s a steady and inspiring presence for staff, shaping a culture rooted in trust, curiosity and courage. She leads through encouragement and by example. Through Morning Light’s CNA training school, she is shaping the next generation of caregivers by providing mentorship, hands-on experience and a strong foundation of values they will carry through their careers.
Vote Karen for People’s Choice.
Neysa Meyer, executive director of the Putnam County Community Foundation:
As executive director of the Putnam County Community Foundation, Neysa Meyer leads with collaboration, humility and focus while addressing complex, community-wide challenges.
Neysa played a central role in responding to the county’s Community Needs Assessment by bringing together more than 50 local leaders to launch Putnam CARES, a county-wide initiative focused on mental health and substance use. Under her leadership, what started as a conversation grew into a movement, and the Foundation committed more than $300,000 to expand mental health services.
Neysa invests in her team’s professional development, fostering a culture of innovation and shared leadership. Neysa’s work ensures philanthropy serves as a powerful tool for hope and community resilience and well-being.
Vote Neysa for People’s Choice.
Veronica Onofrey, director of corporate and foundation relations at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana:
Veronica Onofrey is a passionate change-maker focused on bridging basic needs and public health to improve lives across Central Indiana.
At Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, she advances efforts that recognize food insecurity as a critical health issue, connecting reliable access to nutritious food with better long-term health outcomes for people and families.
She brings a rare blend of public health expertise, data-driven decision-making and philanthropic leadership. During her time at IU Health, she connected major donors with opportunities to invest in advancing community health, ensuring philanthropic resources translated into measurable impact. She now applies that same lens at Gleaners, helping align hunger relief efforts with health care partners, schools and community organizations to close gaps between emergency food assistance and preventive health support.
Veronica goes above and beyond through volunteer and board leadership focused on health equity, education, philanthropy and community well-being.
Vote Veronica for People’s Choice.
Kristopher Subler, director of iLab strategy and operations at Ascend Indiana:
Kristopher Subler’s work is reshaping how education and employment connect across Indiana.
As director of iLab strategy and operations at Ascend Indiana, he leads complex, statewide initiatives that turn workforce innovation into measurable outcomes for students, job-seekers and employers. Kris’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway, advancing a paid, credentialed apprenticeship model to strengthen Indiana’s talent pipeline.
His ability to bring together employers, educators, government and nonprofit partners sets him apart, as does his data-driven approach to driving community initiatives and tracking impact.
Kris was appointed to Gov. Eric Holcomb administration’s Workforce Cabinet and has served as board chair for Goodwill Young Leaders Board.