2023 Vision Award Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Katz, Sapper & Miller Vision Awards! These awards, now in their fifth year, recognize KSM employees whose work inside and outside of KSM exemplifies excellence in one of the three pillars of our Vision – People, Clients, and Community.

Nominations were solicited from all employees, and the winners were selected by a committee consisting of partners and firm leaders. The four deserving honorees were announced during a December all-firm virtual meeting.

2023 Inspiring People Winner: Hailey Rolsten

The Inspiring People Award recognizes KSM employees who are champions and leaders of our people. The criteria for this award include championing people initiatives and programs, spending a significant amount of time developing people, and inspiring KSM and our people to be better through courageous feedback, innovative ideas, and diversity of thought.

Congratulations to Hailey Rolsten, winner of the Inspiring People Award!

Hailey was nominated by Doug Carpenter, a director in KSM’s Business Advisory Group, for her exceptional contributions to KSM’s work culture. Recognized for her strong work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to employee development, Hailey invests significant time mentoring, training, and assisting team members and leading initiatives within KSM. A big proponent of team unity, she actively participates in various firm events and recruiting efforts and proactively connects with others even as a fully remote employee. As a result, she has developed meaningful relationships throughout KSM. Driven, collaborative, and nurturing, Hailey inspires those around her to strive to become the best versions of themselves.

Watch Doug’s nomination for Hailey:

2023 Client Service Excellence Winners: Matt Svenstrup and Ann Tillis

The Client Service Excellence Award recognizes employees for outstanding internal or external client service. The criteria for this award include making an effort to provide a consistently outstanding experience for clients that clearly stands out as going above and beyond, demonstrating tremendous tenacity and commitment in helping resolve a major client issue, and receiving an abundance of unsolicited feedback from inside and outside the firm that the nominee consistently exceeded expectations.

Congratulations to Matt Svenstrup and Ann Tillis, winners of the Client Service Excellence Award!

Matt was nominated by Jennifer Miller, a partner at KSM and co-leader of the firm’s Transaction Advisory Services Group, for consistently delivering outstanding client service. Matt’s exceptional client service extends to all clients he works with, earning him unsolicited external praise and requests from clients for his involvement in various deals. His ability to think creatively and find solutions to complex deal issues has consistently added value for clients. Remarkably, Matt managed to maintain this high level of client service throughout 2023 while juggling a busy home life and completing an MBA degree. His dedication to balancing work and family life sets a positive example for his entire team.

Watch Jennifer’s nomination for Matt:

Ann was nominated by Mark Flinchum, a partner in KSM’s Business Advisory Group, for her transformative work over the past several years in building a centralized billing function. By streamlining the billing process and taking on the majority of the firm’s billing management, she and her team have enabled KSM’s client-facing staff to focus on service. Ann consistently delivers outstanding service to her fellow KSMers with her in-depth understanding of clients and well-prepared recommendations. Her tenacity, innovative thinking, and technical expertise set her apart. Ann’s impact extends beyond KSM, as she has coached other firms as they build their own billing teams. Her achievements, team leadership, and personal growth exemplify the positive influence individuals can have at KSM.

Watch Mark’s nomination for Ann:

2023 Community Service Excellence Winner: Allison Allen

The Community Service Excellence Award recognizes KSM employees who are pillars and leaders in the community. The criteria for this award include investing a considerable amount of time and effort in representing KSM in the community on boards and/or committees, and significantly contributing to and moving a civic organization forward by enhancing the organization’s mission and positively impacting the community.

Congratulations to Allison Allen, winner of the Community Service Excellence Award!

Allison was nominated by Ashley Christie, a partner in KSM’s Real Estate Services Group, for her inspirational leadership and meaningful contributions to the community. Allison’s passion for giving back is evident by the number of organizations she’s involved with. She currently volunteers with Meals on Wheels and Junior League and serves as the board treasurer for two not-for-profit organizations, Trusted Mentors and Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. In whatever she does, Allison is known for her dedication and tenacity. From leading organizations through challenging periods to ensuring the timely completion of funding applications, she uses her time and talents to make an impact on not-for-profits big and small. As a result, she’s known as a go-to advisor throughout the central Indiana not-for-profit community and beyond.

Watch Ashley’s nomination for Allison:

These four individuals have not only excelled in their respective roles but have also made significant, long-lasting impacts both inside and outside of our firm. We’re proud to call them KSMers!