CROWN POINT – The Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association (NWIIWA) has announced the nominees for the 2026 Influential Women Awards, marking the 15th year of celebrating the extraordinary leadership, impact, and achievements of women throughout the region.
This year, nearly 500 women were nominated by their peers and other members of the public to recognize their significant impact on their companies, industries, and communities. This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of industries, highlighting the many ways women are making meaningful contributions across Northwest Indiana.
A complete list of nominees is available here.
“The nominees of this year’s awards demonstrate the power of leadership, collaboration, and community impact,” said Andrea Pearman, executive director of NWIIWA. “Their stories are inspiring examples of how women are driving innovation, mentoring others, and creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders.”
This year’s nominees recently gathered at Briar Ridge Country Club in Schererville for an evening of connection and celebration.
The Influential Women Awards program begins with nominations from colleagues, organizations, and community members who wish to recognize outstanding women in their industries. Nominees can also self-nominate. After nominations are received, nominees are invited to complete an application that details their accomplishments, achievements, and community impact. Applications are then reviewed by a selection committee, which chooses finalists from the pool of nominees.
Winners will be chosen from the list of finalists and announced during the awards banquet set for Sept. 24 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville. Two awards, one for an Influential Woman of the Year and one for an Up-and-Coming Influential Woman of the Year, are presented in each of 13 industries. Those industries include arts, business, construction/manufacturing, economic development/government, education, finance, healthcare, law, marketing/media, nonprofit, real estate, service/tourism, and STEM.
Additional honors include an Overall Influential Woman of the Year, Overall Up-and-Coming Influential Woman of the Year, Community Leader of the Year, and Supporter of the Year. All finalists are recognized with a medallion during the event.
The milestone anniversary of the Influential Women Awards highlights the continued growth and influence of the program, which is the longest-running awards program honoring women in Indiana. More than 1,000 attendees from dozens of companies gather at the awards banquet. More details, tickets, and sponsorship information are available here.
