Two Michiana young professionals were among 30 chosen for Conexus Indiana's 2026 Rising 30 class.
Conexus has rewarded Hoosiers 30 and younger for six years. This year's cohort was presented by Katz, Sapper & Miller.
“Recognizing emerging talent is one of the most important investments we can make in Indiana's advanced manufacturing and logistics community,” said Jordan Mayer, partner in KSM’s manufacturing and distribution services group, in a press release. “The Rising 30 class never fails to remind us of the depth of talent that exists across this state, and this year's cohort is no exception.”
Chase Sager, a supply chain planner at Lippert in Elkhart, and Kartik Maheshwari, engineering project manager at enFocus in South Bend, both already are making their mark on Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.
Sager already is responsible for the supply chain planning in the company’s largest division. His accomplishments include a 14% increase in forecast accuracy and a 37% reduction in potential excess material.
“It’s not surprising that a four-year football player at Saginaw Valley State University would bring the discipline, strategy, and teamwork needed to excel as a supply chain planner in the RV industry,” according to a statement from Conexus. “What might not have been expected is how much of a collaborative change agent Chase Sager has proven to be in his three years with Lippert.”
Lippert leadership already considers him an MVP.
Maheshwari's focus is on how communities are affected by manufacturing and engineering decisions, so his role at enFocus offers him the opportunity to help several organizations.
His successes include finding a Fortune 500 company $10 million in savings and a 76% increase in welding uptime at another business.
“In his job at enFocus, the Ahmedabad, India, native helps northern Indiana manufacturers modernize, improve processes, solve problems and scale up,” said the statment.
Maheshwari earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Indus University and a master’s in engineering management from Purdue University.
Cohort members graduated from nine Indiana colleges and universities.
“Young talent is one of Indiana’s greatest competitive advantages in advanced manufacturing and logistics,” said Jay Wirts, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “What makes this class so exciting is what they reflect about the industries themselves. They’re high-tech, sophisticated and constantly evolving. These 30 individuals aren’t waiting to shape the future of Indiana manufacturing. They’re already doing it.”
Employers or industry leaders nominated the honorees, who were recognized at an awards reception at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Learn more about this year's winners here.
Nominations for 2027's cohort will open in November.
