My name is Jon Acton, owner of Broken Shells, a motivational life enhancement company. Amanda served as the Director of Marketing for Broken Shells for two years until her professional demands in other areas required her primary attention. During her time with Broken Shells, she expanded our reach and sphere of influence with in person and virtual speaking engagements as well as hosted a standing room only book release that led to selling out of all the physical copies of the book at the event. Amanda is professional, creative and insightful in plotting action steps to meet goals. She anticipates problems and is proactive in eliminating negative possibilities. Her research, analysis, preparation and fearless pursuit of excellence allows her success not just as a marketing specialist, but also as a business owner and non-profit leader. Although not a requirement for any job application, when I hired candidates as a school principal and superintendent, I always considered families and the importance a candidate placed on their role as a parent or guardian. Out of all her professional roles, my humble opinion is that her greatest role is as a mother to her three daughters. She models how to show up and fight through adversity while refusing to accept less of herself or others while being all things to all people. Her personal drive to succeed to take care of and model for her daughters is the exact candidate I strived to hire

.Jon Acton | Owner, Broken Shells & Author

Amanda is one of those rare people who can walk into a room and instantly make it feel like ideas are about to happen. The kind that start as “what if we…” and end up reshaping an entire project and company. She’s a visionary in the truest sense—bold, curious, and never afraid to chase something ambitious. Amanda sees the best in people—not just their current skills, but their potential. She pushes you (in a good way) to rise to the occasion and to think sharper. Working with her at the ICON newspaper wasn’t just a job, it was like a creative boot camp with deadlines. If you ever get the chance to work with Amanda—take it. She’ll challenge you, champion you, and probably change the way you think about leadership.

Annie Wolfinbarger | Vice President Marketing, Wondustries, LLC

It has been an absolute pleasure to witness Amanda Babinec’s leadership and impact across multiple organizations and communities. As President and Publisher of The Southside Times and Hendricks County ICON, Amanda has demonstrated an incredible ability to balance strategic vision with genuine community connection. Her leadership style is collaborative yet decisive, she knows how to bring out the best in her team while maintaining the integrity and excellence of the publications she oversees. Amanda’s entrepreneurial spirit was equally evident during her time leading Babinec Marketing & Consulting, where her creativity and business acumen elevated brands through thoughtful strategy and authentic storytelling. Her ability to see both the big picture and the fine details makes her an exceptional leader, communicator, and problem-solver. Beyond her impressive professional record, Amanda is someone who leads with heart. She invests in people, cultivates relationships, and creates opportunities for growth and innovation. Anyone who has the privilege to work with her quickly sees her integrity, intelligence, and drive in action. I highly recommend Amanda as a visionary leader who brings excellence, empathy, and energy to everything she does.

Christina Kale Vinehart | Wellness Founder, Real Estate Investor, Veteran Education Leader, Author