ELKHART, Ind. (March 25, 2026) – The Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce named Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, its Woman of the Year at the organization’s 2026 Annual Meeting, held March 6 at the Lerner Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom.

The award recognizes a woman who distinguished herself in her organization, profession and community, as well as epitomizes the Greater Elkhart Chamber’s values. Other awards given at the event were Century Plus Community, awarded to Century Chemical Corporation, Nonprofit of the Year to Heart City Health, and Business of the Year to We Impact Group. The Ambassador of the Year honor was awarded posthumously to John Snyder and renamed in his honor.

The 2026 Annual Meeting celebrated a Century of Leadership as the Greater Elkhart Chamber commemorated its 1926 founding. While it started with four members, the Chamber now has 950 member organizations representing more than 47,000 employees.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized as the Greater Elkhart Chamber’s Woman of the Year,” said Hartley. “Every day, women across this region are doing the work, growing businesses, strengthening communities, and creating opportunity. I’m grateful to be part of a region that is not just moving forward, but doing it together.”

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About South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership seeks to unify and collaborate so that together, communities across the region can work collectively to achieve what cannot be done individually. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org.