2025 Top 10 Under 40 Winners
*The title and company listed reflects the recipient's position and affiliation at the time of recognition.
Melissa Albrecht
Melissa is a Human Resources Director at Wabash. At Wabash, she has led HR across manufacturing, corporate, and digital functions—supporting more than 5,500 employees across the U.S. and Mexico. Her leadership has resulted in the continuous improvement and standardization of HR policies to strengthen compliance and efficiency and most recently, created a new program to provide career growth opportunities for employees in our plants. Prior to Wabash, Melissa built her HR foundation at Procter & Gamble, where she led high-impact projects across North America and global R&D organizations. Her accomplishments include managing a divestiture, designing training programs, and advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Melissa is known for her collaborative and people-centered approach. Melissa is actively involved in her church and on the guest services team. She enjoys giving back to the community in a variety of ways, such as volunteering at the food pantry. She was part of Leadership Lafayette Class 48 and is a local member of TAHRA.
Brooke Beier
A three-time graduate of Purdue’s biomedical engineering program, Brooke Beier serves as senior vice president of Purdue Innovates, the university’s hub for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. Brooke plays a vital role in connecting
Purdue’s world-class research with industry, helping faculty and student innovators turn
ideas into startups, partnerships, and patents. Her leadership continues to expand
Purdue’s global impact through innovation.
Brooke is a founding board member of the Low Institute for Therapeutics, an institute
working toward accelerating lifesaving therapeutics from the lab and into the world by funding necessary early-stage trials. She was also recently named to Purdue Engineering’s 38×38 list in Fall 2025, which honors alumni under 38 who are making significant impacts through innovation, leadership, and service.
Ben Carson
Ben Carson is the Executive Director of Imagination Station, a children’s science center in Lafayette. He also serves as an elected official on the Tippecanoe County Council, the fiscal body of the county government. A lifelong resident of the community, Ben’s professional background includes working as a middle and high school teacher and a co-founder and COO of an Education Technology startup. He graduated from West Lafayette High School and Purdue University with a BA in Philosophy.
Ben proudly serves on the boards of Willowstone Family Services and Adult Learners Inc., volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and is a licensed foster parent. Outside of work and helping the community, Ben enjoys spending his free time watching movies, taking care of animals, and testing his patience rooting for various Chicago sports teams.
Nyssa Craton
Nyssa is the owner and winemaker at Wildcat Creek Winery. She has been making wine there for 12 years and has a Food Science Degree from Purdue University. This past spring, she recently transitioned to ownership of the winery.
Since then, she has hosted fundraisers for WoodHaven Rescue Farm and United Way. Nyssa has guest lectured for Purdue’s Wine Appreciation class and participated as a subject business for 3 marketing classes. The winery was also present at this year’s Manufacturing Week, teaching 6th graders about the Food Science career path.
Nyssa is involved with several professional development groups including GLC, Matchbox, and AWBO.
Josh Curry
Josh Curry has over a decade of experience spanning the public and private/nonprofit sectors in the human resources/workforce development field. His expertise focuses on personnel selection/recruitment, talent acquisition, and organizational development. As Director of Workforce and Operations for Purdue Research Foundation, Josh regularly works with leaders and HR personnel working for companies in the Discovery Park District at Purdue and the Purdue Research Park. His team at PRF strives to empower partner companies to thrive by connecting them to a wide array of Purdue and Greater Lafayette assets that will foster collaboration and create successful partnerships.
Beyond his professional life, Josh is a native of West Lafayette, passionate community advocate, and proud Boilermaker, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Psychology from Purdue and a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Bowling Green State University with a focus on Human Resources Management Practices and Personnel Selection. He is a graduate of Class 52 of Leadership Lafayette and currently serves as the President of the Leadership Lafayette Board. Josh also volunteers his time to coach various sports teams for his two sons, 8 and 4.
Grace Jackson
Grace Jackson is a dedicated human services professional and passionate disability rights advocate committed to making Greater Lafayette a more inclusive community. In her role at Wabash Center, she has helped design and grow an array of programs that optimize independence, self-advocacy, and community integration for people with disabilities. From launching the Ambassadors program, to revitalizing pre-vocational services and youth focused initiatives, she consistently pursues new avenues that help honor a person-centered approach and improved quality of life for those that she serves. Grace’s leadership style is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and empowerment—values that guide her as she supports people with disabilities in a multitude of capacities.
Outside of her professional work, Grace invests deeply in the community. She serves on the Tippecanoe Child Abuse Prevention Council, teaches accessible dance classes for children and adults with disabilities at the Lafayette Family YMCA, and acts as a Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge Counselor with Scouting America. Grace is currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling and Executive Development for Public Service at Ball State University. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Leadership Academy and is a current participant in the Leadership Lafayette class of 55 cohort. These experiences allow her to bring an array of experiences to her work, including strategic leadership. Grace is currently completing an internship with Meridian Health Services and is preparing to take the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor examination. Known for her resilience, advocacy, and servant leadership, Grace continues to strive to advance accessibility and inclusion across all aspects of her work and life.
Amanda Kennedy
Amanda Kennedy is a Purdue University graduate and former public school art teacher turned entrepreneur. She is the owner and founder of Flourish Studio and Classroom, a beloved community art space in Lafayette that has been making art accessible since 2018. Under Amanda’s leadership, Flourish has become a cornerstone of creativity in the Greater Lafayette area, earning recognition as Best of the Wabash for the past four years and receiving The Arts Federation’s 2024 Bravo Award. Through customized and curated programs in their Main Street studio, as well as partnerships with local businesses and organizations, Amanda and her team continue to make art an inclusive and integral part of the community.
In addition to her work at Flourish, Amanda serves on the Downtown Lafayette Business Owners Association board and is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Community College, inspiring the next generation of innovators and small business leaders. A proud Lafayette-area resident, Amanda’s greatest joy is family life- sharing in her children’s milestones, volunteering for their events, cheering them on at their activities, and modeling what it means to live a creative, connected life rooted in community.
Guillermo Morgado Rodriguez
Guillermo Morgado Rodriguez is a proud Latino leader dedicated to uplifting his community through service, advocacy, and cultural celebration. He works at Purdue University’s Latino Cultural Center, where he supports programs and initiatives that empower students and promote belonging on campus. As President of the Latino Center for Wellness and Education, Guillermo provides leadership and vision for one of the region’s most active Latino-serving nonprofits, helping guide events and initiatives that promote wellness, education, and cultural pride across Greater Lafayette.
He has also contributed his time and expertise to several local boards and committees focused on equity, arts, and community development. In recent years, Guillermo has been part of the planning committee for Mexico en el Corazón, helping bring world-class mariachi and folkloric performances to Lafayette. Passionate about representation, Guillermo believes that visibility matters and that leadership begins with showing up authentically. His work centers on creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected, and on building partnerships that continue to celebrate and strengthen the diversity of the Greater Lafayette community.
Trey Rohrman
Trey serves as Director of Operations at Rohrman Automotive Group in Lafayette. As a senior leader, he oversees more than 550 employees and prioritizes creating a workplace where staff can grow, thrive, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Trey also created the Rohrman Restored employee relief fund, which has provided more than $2 million in financial and emotional support to staff facing personal hardships
Beyond the automotive industry, Trey brings the same service-driven approach to Legacy Sports Park, helping transform it into a community asset. He has expanded youth programs, removed barriers to participation, and built partnerships that give families safe, meaningful opportunities to engage in sports.
Troy Weber
Troy is a co-owner of Flora Candle Company in Downtown Lafayette. He and his partner, Nolan, have grown the business into an inclusive, sustainable storefront that serves as a hub for local partnerships and community connection.
He also helped formalize the Downtown Lafayette Business Owners Association into a nonprofit, strengthening support for entrepreneurs and leading major community events such as Summer on the Square, Monster Mash on the Wabash, A Merry Main Street Market, and Star City Nights.
Troy is a PhD candidate at Purdue University, where he teaches Urban Ecology and leads a team of teaching assistants. His research focuses on climate adaption strategies, increasing equitable urban biodiversity, and improving urban forest management.
