Ross Berntson Honored as 2026 Businessperson of the Year: president and CEO of Indium Corporation, has been selected as the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Businessperson of the Year. The chamber will honor him during an Oct. 27 event at Munson in Utica.
The annual award recognizes leadership, service and contributions to the region’s business climate. Tickets and sponsorships are now available for the ceremony, which is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.
A career tied to a Mohawk Valley company
Berntson joined Indium Corporation in 1996 and has held technical, market-development, international and executive roles, according to the chamber’s Sept. 22 announcement. His career included serving as president of Indium Corporation’s Asia Holdings in Singapore before he became president and CEO.
Indium Corporation makes materials used by technology manufacturers. The chamber says its markets include electronics, semiconductors, advanced packaging, thermal management, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Although the company operates globally, its roots and major operations remain in the Mohawk Valley.
That local connection gives the award relevance beyond a single executive. Advanced manufacturing supports skilled jobs, supply chains and technical careers in the Utica area. The chamber’s selection highlights a company leader whose work connects the region to industries that produce smaller, faster and more powerful electronic systems.
What the award recognizes
The Businessperson of the Year honor is awarded by the Greater Utica Chamber, not by a government agency or an independent industry-ranking organization. The chamber describes the award as recognition for a person whose leadership, service and community commitment have made a lasting impact on the Greater Utica area.
The announcement praises Berntson’s role in expanding Indium Corporation’s global reach while keeping the company connected to the Mohawk Valley. It does not include new employment figures, a new factory announcement or a dollar estimate for the company’s regional impact. Those facts should not be inferred from the award.
For residents, the recognition provides a chance to look at how a long-established local manufacturer participates in global technology markets. Indium’s materials may not be household products, but they are used behind the scenes in electronics production. More information about the business and its leadership is available on Indium Corporation’s official website.
Event information and ticket prices
The chamber’s awards event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Munson in Utica. Tickets cost $100 for Greater Utica Chamber members and $125 for nonmembers. The announcement says the public is invited, subject to ticket availability.
Tickets, sponsorships and current event details are available through the chamber’s official event listing. Prospective guests should use that page to confirm registration deadlines, availability and any updated instructions before purchasing.
Staffworks is listed as the presenting sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities are separate from individual admission. The chamber did not state in the release that ticket proceeds support a particular charity or scholarship, so buyers should not assume that their purchase is a tax-deductible donation.
Why the recognition matters locally
Business awards can sound ceremonial, but they also show what local institutions choose to value. In this case, the chamber is emphasizing long-term leadership, international experience and a continued connection to the Mohawk Valley.
Berntson’s nearly three decades with Indium also offer a picture of career growth within one company. He moved through different areas of the business and worked abroad before reaching its top executive position. That path may interest local students and workers considering careers in engineering, manufacturing, international business or management.
The Oct. 27 program will formally recognize that career and Indium Corporation’s place in the regional economy. The central confirmed facts are the honoree, the date, the Utica venue and the listed ticket prices. Any later program additions should be checked through the chamber’s current event page.
