Meet the finalists: 2023 ELEVATE Nonprofit Employee of the Year, presented by Delta Faucet Company

The Nonprofit Employee of the Year award, presented by Delta Faucet Company, will be given to a young professional nonprofit employee who makes exceptional contributions in the workplace and displays leadership qualities that go above and beyond their job responsibilities. 

This year’s group of finalists creates valuable impact to various Central Indiana nonprofits, and we’re excited for you to do brunch with them next month.  

Now, lets get to know our five finalists. Groovin’ to the beat of their own philanthropic drum, it’s time to “get down, get –down" with:  

Brittany Bayles, education director at Brightlane Learning: 

In her role, Brittany oversees Brightlane Learning’s programming in emergency shelters, transitional living facilities and community centers. She leads a team that helps provide personal academic support and advocacy to students experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. In addition to this, she has supported other organizations through volunteerism, focusing on developing relationships and sharing knowledge to elevate others along their professional journey. 

Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Brittany for People’s Choice. 

Ashleigh Newbold, director of engagement and events at Indiana Sport Corp:  

Ashleigh is engaging the community in creative ways to showcase our sports scene and bring national and international attention to Indiana. She manages the local organizing committees for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for swimming, as well as leading the promotions committee for the NBA All-Star Game in 2024. She is passionate about helping other people and groups identify causes and areas that will allow them to get more plugged into the city and magnify their impact through their time, talents and network. She’s passionate about ensuring all voices are included in the conversation and providing space at the table. 

Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Ashleigh for People’s Choice. 

Joel Reichenbach, foundations, corporations and church relations officer at Sheltering Wings:  

Even though his primary role focuses on fundraising, Joel is committed to making Sheltering Wings a safe place for survivors of abuse. He works alongside prevention and education staff to equip churches and church leaders in our region with the tools they need to recognize and respond to abuse. With his help, the organization developed listening sessions, group discussions and educational materials. It’s not uncommon for him to take on work outside of his job description – creating a vision for how work could be done more efficiently and seeing the project through from conception to execution. His peers awarded him the “great attitude” award because he consistently asks, "How could this be better?" or "What could we do to help more?" in every scenario.  

Connect with him on LinkedIn and vote Joel for People’s Choice. 

Rachel Santos, director of education policy at the Indiana Latino Institute: 

Rachel is part of a very small percentage of Latinas who’ve earned a master’s degree in the U.S. – a statistic she hoped to improve in her role as the director of education policy. She plays a critical role in advocating for automatic enrollment for the 21st Century Scholars Program, which will eliminate barriers for students and increase access to opportunities across all of Indiana. She believes an engaged community is an empowered community. From hosting State of the Union watch parties in college to meeting with legislators today, she’s made this mentality a core part of her ability to make an impact and lift the people around her. 

Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Rachel for People’s Choice. 

Rima Shahid, chief executive officer at Women4Change Indiana:  

Under Rima's leadership, the Women4Change team provides an abundance of public education and brings light to issues specifically affecting women, such as Black maternal health, sexual assault and consent, period poverty and pay equity. Pulling together leaders with a wide variety of viewpoints and priorities to accomplish long-lasting change is no easy task, and she handles it with strength and grace. In addition to her leadership role within Women4Change, Rima supports three other nonprofits through board service and has provided her talents to assist with the passage of a handful of legislative bills. In her most beloved role, she serves her family as a mom of three children, with a sophomore at Indiana University, a sophomore in high school, and an eighth grader. 

Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Rima for People’s Choice.