Bawel named to Conexus Indiana 2026 Rising 30 cohort
Brock Bawel, Quality Engineering Manager at Jasper Engines & Transmissions, was named as one of the 30 young professionals in the sixth annual Rising 30 Class from Conexus Indiana.
Bawel leads a 50-person division as Quality Engineering Manager. The gas and diesel engine technical expert guides his division in shifting Jasper’s quality operations from a reactive posture to a proactive, accountability-driven system. The Purdue University graduate is also active in his community, most notably perhaps as co-founder of Brothers for Veterans, a nonprofit that connects active-duty military and veterans with the great outdoors.
Presented by Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM), the Rising 30 program spotlights Hoosiers aged 30 and younger whose early-career contributions demonstrate the depth of talent driving Indiana’s largest industry sector forward. Each honoree was nominated by an employer or industry representative and selected based on professional accomplishments and demonstrated impact.
“Recognizing emerging talent is one of the most important investments we can make in Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics community. 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,” said Jordan Mayer, partner in KSM’s Manufacturing & Distribution Services Group.
The 2026 cohort reflects the true breadth of Indiana’s AML sector. Honorees hold roles spanning quality engineering and controls, supply chain and logistics, finance and business development, materials science and R&D, operations leadership and IT and systems infrastructure. The honorees work for organizations of every size and type—from global automotive manufacturers and life sciences companies to homegrown startups and regional economic development organizations—and they are based in communities across the state. Nine Indiana colleges and universities are represented among this year’s honorees, a reflection of the depth of the state’s talent pipeline.
“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.”
AML is the backbone of Indiana’s economy, accounting for more than a third of the state’s GDP and employing hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers. Recognizing and developing young talent in the sector through the Rising 30 program is one way Conexus helps to keep that foundation strong.
In the year ahead, Rising 30 honorees will engage with Conexus Indiana’s programming as thought leaders, lending their perspectives on technology adoption, workforce development and the future of Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics industries.
The 2026 Rising 30 class is being recognized this week at an awards reception at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.
