2019 Charles L. Whistler Award

Bill Shrewsberry receives highly esteemed Whistler Award

On December 4, 2019, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) and Mayor Joe Hogsett presented Bill Shrewsberry with the 2019 Charles L. Whistler Award during a breakfast ceremony at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center.

The annual award recognizes individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions, have brought together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in Indianapolis. Bill Shrewsberry served for 17 years as President and CEO of Shrewsberry & Associates, LLC, an engineering consulting firm he founded in 2001. He envisioned and built a company that would not only provide quality engineering and environmental solutions but also create opportunities for a diverse group of professionals to be trained and mentored. He has been instrumental in the development of several major projects in Indianapolis, including the new Indianapolis International Airport midfield terminal, Eskenazi Hospital, and the Indianapolis/Marion County Community Justice Campus.

Prior to founding Shrewsberry & Associates, Mr. Shrewsberry retired from Ameritech after more than 20 years in engineering and management. After four terms on the Jeffersonville City Council, he served as a member of Governor Evan Bayh’s senior staff, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration, Deputy Mayor of Public Policy for Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, and Executive Director of the White River State Park. Mr. Shrewsberry was appointed the first chair of the Mayor’s Charter School Board, a role he held under Mayor Peterson and Mayor Greg Ballard. He has served on the boards of The Mind Trust, IUPUI, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, IU Methodist Health Foundation, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Indiana Sports Corp, and GIPC. He has also served as a Hanover College Trustee, the 2012 Super Bowl Operations Division Chairman, and Plan 2020 Work Committee Co-Chair.

“Bill Shrewsberry’s commitment to Indianapolis and generosity of spirit are apparent to all who have had the opportunity to work with him,” said GIPC Board Chair Mary Chandler, Vice President of Community Relations at Cummins and CEO of The Cummins Foundation. “His quiet integrity, love for our city, and willingness to share his extensive experience across many sectors have helped Indianapolis in immeasurable ways. Bill Shrewsberry is a shining example of Charles Whistler’s legacy.”

“For decades, the Whistler Award has been given to someone who has made a lasting impact on the very fabric of our city,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Today we celebrate Bill Shrewsberry, whose commitment to our community epitomizes Charles Whistler’s vision, talent, and energy. In every aspect of his life, he has demonstrated a passionate enthusiasm and deep caring, not just for our city’s future but also for the people who call Indianapolis home.”

In addition to the Whistler Award, Bill Shrewsberry has received the following awards and recognition: 2019 IU Southeast Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters; 2015 Junior Achievement Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame Laureate; 2004, 1999, and 1997 Sagamore of the Wabash (awarded by Governors Joseph Kernan, Frank O’Bannon, and Evan Bayh, respectively); 1998 IU Southeast Distinguished Alumni Award; and 1996 IU Southeast Chancellor’s Medallion. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management from Indiana University and later earned a Master’s Degree in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. Mr. Shrewsberry is a Sunday school teacher and active member of Eastern Star Church. He and his wife Brenda have been married for 55 years and have 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

To view a recording of the award presentation, please click here. To see more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page.