The longest-lasting awards program honoring the accomplishments and dedication of women across several vital industries in the region will return for a 15th year this fall.
Nominations are now open for the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association’s (NWIIWA) most influential women, who will be recognized during an annual banquet and awards ceremony for their impactful contributions that they have made in the areas in which they work, live and inspire. The deadline to nominate is Feb. 16, 2026.
Nominations are welcomed by individuals themselves or from members of the public who would like to submit a nomination on someone’s behalf. Companies are encouraged to support the achievements of women within their organizations by submitting nominations.
From the nominations, a list of finalists will be announced. During the organization’s banquet, set this year for Sept. 24, all finalists will be honored with a medallion. In 2025, 258 finalists were selected from 517 nominees across 13 industries, including: Arts, Business, Construction/Manufacturing, Economic Development/Government, Education, Finance, Healthcare, Law, Marketing/Media, Nonprofit, Real Estate, Service/Tourism, and STEM.
At the banquet, two winners from the list of finalists, one Up-and-Coming and one Influential Women, will be named in each of the 13 industries. Additional awards will be announced, including the Community Leader of the Year and Supporter of the Year, as well as an Overall Influential and Overall Up-and-Coming winner. A list of the 2025 finalists is available at Building Indiana Business. Alumni winners, including the 2025 winners, are listed here.
Nominations are free and can be made by visiting NWIIWA.org. Nomination forms, as well as information about eligibility requirements and the review and selection process, are located under the “Awards Banquet” tab on the website by selecting “Nominate Today.” The nomination deadline is Feb. 16, 2026.
The 15th annual Influential Women of Northwest Indiana awards banquet will be held 4:30-8 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville and will feature the ceremony as well as food, drinks and networking opportunities with the region’s largest companies. A photo gallery of last year’s event is available at NWIIWA’s Facebook page.
