For nearly three decades, Kay Nelson stood at a crossroads that many considered impossible to navigate — the intersection of economic development and environmental protection. As Director of Environmental Affairs at the Northwest Indiana Forum, Kay didn’t just work at that intersection; she built the road.

A Purdue University graduate with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kay joined the Forum in 1998 after a career that took her from industrial pretreatment coordination to leading an Indiana Department of Environmental Management regional office. From that platform, she became one of Indiana’s most effective voices in the room when business interests and environmental concerns collided — and a tireless advocate for Ports of Indiana specifically.

Her fingerprints are on some of the Great Lakes region’s most consequential environmental policy work. She served as a member of Indiana’s negotiating team for the Great Lakes Compact, was appointed by two governors to the Great Lakes Commission, and represented Indiana’s business community in state, national, and international regulatory discussions. She earned the Sagamore of the Wabash — twice — and was named a Distinguished Hoosier by former Governor Eric Holcomb.

Kay’s work on behalf of the ports extended far beyond what any job description could capture. She championed port interests at Great Lakes forums and in Washington, D.C., helped communities understand the economic stakes of development decisions, and built the kind of consensus that made difficult things happen.

“Kay Nelson has dedicated her career to bringing together industry, government, and environmental leaders to strengthen Indiana’s economy while safeguarding its natural resources. Her integrity, leadership, and ability to build consensus have left a lasting mark on Ports of Indiana, Northwest Indiana, and our entire state. We are deeply grateful for her decades of service, unwavering partnership, and the legacy she leaves for future generations.”

She also earned a second title along the way: the “Asian Carp Queen” — because, as those who worked with her will tell you, nobody knows more about America’s most problematic invasive species.

Upon her retirement in 2026, Ports of Indiana proudly bestowed on her a well-earned upgrade: Port Princess. We’re grateful for decades of partnership, advocacy, and friendship — and we suspect she’ll still be attending a meeting or four.