Telamon Founder Receives Vanguard Award
Conexus Indiana has named Albert Chen
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowConexus Indiana has named Albert Chen, founder of Carmel-based Telamon Corp., the recipient of the 2021 Andre B. Lacy Vanguard Award. Conexus describes the award as honoring a Hoosier leader who “champions the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, models civic and philanthropic leadership and demonstrates a visionary perspective that challenges the status quo.”
The award is named in honor of philanthropist and business leader Andre B. Lacy of Lacy Diversified Industries Ltd. He passed away in 2017.
“I am honored to recognize Albert for his 40-plus years of entrepreneurial success, focus on advanced manufacturing, job development, philanthropy and significant impact on the Asian American community,” said Mark Howell, president of Conexus Indiana. “Our advanced manufacturing and logistics industries are stronger and more competitive, the workforce of tomorrow has better tools and pathways to rewarding careers and Hoosiers have so many opportunities for success because of Albert Chen.”
Chen founded Telamon in 1985, which provides supply chain services to the telecommunications industry. According to Conexus, the routing, switching and optical equipment that power much of the nation’s 5G network pass through Telamon warehouses every day.
Chen launched a new business, Telamon Enterprise Ventures, in 2015, followed by Telamon Robotics in 2020 with the goal of offering smart manufacturing solutions for small-to-medium sized manufacturers in Indiana.
“My father represents the immigrant population who came to the US with very little yet accomplished very much,” said Stanley Chen, chief executive officer of Telamon and Albert’s son. “From his arrival to the US in the 1960s to today, he learned to speak English, built the largest minority owned business in Indiana, employed over 2000 associates globally and created two non-profit organizations to build up and recognize Asian Americans.”
Albert has also founded two nonprofits, the Asian American Alliance in 1999 and the America China Society in 2013.
Previous award winners include F. Joseph Loughrey, former president of Columbus-based Cummins Inc. and a founding member of Conexus Indiana, Cathy Langham, president of Langham Logistics Inc., and Robert Koch, chairman of Koch Enterprises Inc.