The event takes place on the last Thursday of September from 5pm – 9pm at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville.

• Doors open at 4:30pm, get there early with your group to get a jumpstart on photos!
• 5pm-6pm is networking, cocktails and continuing photos.
• Call for dinner is at approximately 6:15pm.

Parking Information

Below are important details regarding parking for the event:

• With over 900 attendees expected, parking will be limited.
• We strongly recommend carpooling.
• Additional parking is available at Schafer & Schafer Attorneys at Law, Lakeland Creek Family Dental, and Allen Law Group. Check the event map for highlighted parking areas in yellow.
• Do not park at Dunkin Donuts or Southlake Animal Hospital. They are open during the event, and unauthorized vehicles may be towed.

Attire for this event is professional to semi-formal. (But if you’d like to dress fabulously, you’re more than welcome to!)

There will be a photo staging area for pictures with colleagues, family, and friends.

Children are welcome but are required to have their own ticket. We recommend that the youngest age is 10 years old.

Seating and tables are assigned. If purchasing less than a table (10 tickets), you will be seated with other people. Your seat will be assigned when your tickets are purchased. We recommend that if your family, friends, or colleagues are purchasing tickets, that you do so as a group to ensure you are sitting together.

Dietary selections can be made online during ticket purchase.

Requests for refunds must be made at least two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled event. Tickets are non-refundable within two (2) weeks before the scheduled event date. Sponsorships are non-refundable.

As a Finalist you will be presented with a Finalist Medallion at registration. This Medallion allows others to easily spot you and also allows you to congratulate each other. The Medallion is yours to keep.

Finalists can purchase tickets online. We highly recommend that you or your company purchase tickets early as the banquet sells out quickly.

If any Finalist cannot afford a ticket, NWIIWA will assist in finding a sponsor for your ticket. Email us at info@nwiiwa.org.

During the program, each category will be announced separately, and finalists are asked to stand when their name is called.

Influential or Up-and-Coming?

• NWIIWA reviews each application and assists in determining the best category and level for each finalist.
• Influential finalists and Up-and-Coming finalists are typically distinguished by length of time served in one’s current industry role. Generally, Influential Women finalists have more than 15 years of experience in their field and Up-and-Coming finalists generally have less than 15 years of experience.

Judging

• The nomination packets are reviewed and judged by the IW alumna in each respective category.
• Alumna rating sheets are calculated and kept confidential until the banquet.
• Disclaimer: NWIIWA does not judge the nomination packets. All judging is done by alumnae panels. Information about finalists and winners in any category will not be shared.

Winners are kept in strict confidence until the announcement.

If you have a name change, change companies, or have a new headshot, you are welcome to submit no later than three weeks prior to the event date.