STATEHOUSE — Indiana’s deferred compensation retirement plan, Hoosier START, has been honored with the prestigious Leadership Award by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) for the second year in a row. The award recognizes the plan’s innovative approach to educating and engaging its more than 68,000 state and local employee participants.
Comptroller Elise Nieshalla announced the achievement today, highlighting the program’s success in providing managers with the resources to communicate the value of the Hoosier START plan effectively.
“These efforts empowered managers with the tools they need to clearly communicate the value of Hoosier START retirement savings available to public employees,” said Nieshalla. “Grounded in the belief that understanding this benefit enhances the work experience, our approach gives managers simple, effective ways to encourage participation and drive employee engagement.”
The winning campaign was praised for its comprehensive guides, digital tools, and personalized assistance, which helped managers confidently discuss the benefits of their plans with employees. This strategy received strong positive feedback and was recognized for its measurable results in strengthening the connection between employees and their retirement savings goals.
The Leadership Award is part of NAGDCA’s annual recognition program, which celebrates the most innovative and impactful solutions in the public sector defined contribution industry. Hoosier START’s campaign was selected for its originality and measurable results by the 2025 Awards Committee.
Hoosier START is a supplemental retirement savings plan that partners with Nationwide to offer eligible public employees 457(b) and 401(a) plan options. The plan will be formally honored at NAGDCA’s Annual Conference in San Diego this September.
