Albert Chen to receive 2023 Sachem Award

CARMEL, INDIANA – October 5, 2023–INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb will honor Albert Chen, the founder and board chair for Indiana-based Telamon Corporation with the 2023 Sachem Award. A ceremony to celebrate him as the recipient of the state’s highest honor will be held at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel on Thursday, Nov. 2.

“Albert came from a humble beginning as a first-generation immigrant from Taiwan, but through grit, perseverance and relentless work ethic, Albert built a $839 million company with more than 2,000 employees,” Gov. Holcomb said. “He is an innovator and entrepreneur extraordinaire who’s long been guided by the same principles he founded the company on, namely honesty, harmony, simplicity and stewardship.”

The Governor gives the Sachem annually to recognize an individual whose lifetime of excellence and moral virtue has brought credit and honor to Indiana.

The 80-year-old Chen founded Telamon Corporation in 1985. The company designs, builds and installs networks to support telecommunication networks from traditional mobile phone usage to connectivity in stadiums, hospitals and schools. The company operates 14 domestic locations, three international offices and employs more than 2,000 staff. Chen continues his leadership role with the company as board chair of Telamon Corporation and as managing director of Telamon Enterprise Ventures, LLC, which he established in 2017 to focus on renewable energy development and smart manufacturing solutions.

Years before launching one of the largest Asian American businesses in Indiana, Chen immigrated to the United States from Taiwan in 1968 where his family struggled with homelessness at times. Chen arrived in Oregon and attended Portland State University and received his master of science in mathematical sciences. Shortly after graduation, he accepted a position with GTE in Indiana. After 10 years with GTE, Chen took a leap and founded Telamon Corporation.

Chen is proud of his Taiwanese heritage and has dedicated himself to being an advocate for Asian Americans in Indiana. He founded two non-profit organizations: Asian American Alliance (AAAI) and America China Society of Indiana (ACSI). AAAI facilitates and encourages more leadership positions and representation for Asian Americans in the workplace and ACSI focuses on building a better trade relationship between Indiana and China.

Chen resides in Carmel with his wife, Margaret. He enjoys spending time with his two children and 5 grandchildren.

Click HERE for more information on recipient Albert Chen. A headshot is available for download by clicking HERE.

Sachem (Say-chum) background:

In 1970, Gov. Edgar D. Whitcomb introduced the Sachems, a group of business, industry, publishing, banking and legal leaders, who served as state hosts, welcoming visitors to Indiana and promoting the state’s culture and economy. The organization’s name came from the Algonquin term applied to village leaders, implying wisdom, judgment and grace.

Following Whitcomb’s term, the Sachem project was not pursued, and the organization dissolved in 1989. Whitcomb visited Gov. Daniels in 2005 to acquaint him with the concept. Gov. Daniels recreated the Sachem to underscore the importance of moral example; achievement alone without exemplary virtue does not qualify a person for this recognition.

Including Chen, eighteen Sachem awards have been bestowed by an Indiana governor since the honor was revived in 2005. Each Sachem honoree receives a specially designed sculpture.

Previous recipients include civic leader Jim Morris (2021), Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor (2017) and Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame and world statesman (2006). Chen is the seventh Sachem honoree named by Gov. Holcomb.

Click HERE for a complete list of recipients.

ABOUT TELAMON CORPORATION

Telamon Corporation’s mission is to “enable connectivity that enables life”. Telamon specializes in

solutions for telecommunication networks and industrial assembly. Based in Carmel, Indiana, Telamon

operates globally on three continents. Telamon, the Greek word for “support” is uniquely positioned as

a minority owned company. Telamon continuously exceeds customer expectations and standards and

has been recognized globally through numerous awards and certifications. For more information, please

visit Telamon’s website at www.telamon.com.

Telamon founder becomes 18th recipient of governor’s Sachem award

Albert Chen explains a Telamon robotics system at the Carmel facility. (Photo by Jennifer A. Haire)

When Albert Chen, founder and board chair of Carmel-based Telamon Corp., received the call from the governor’s office that he was to receive the Sachem Award, his appreciation was soon followed by a Google search of what the award was.

Sachem is an Algonquin term used to identify village leaders who possess great character and reputation. In 1970, then-Indiana Gov. Edgar Whitcomb adopted the term to recognize Hoosiers who promote the state’s culture and economy.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb felt Chen was an ideal fit for the program, revived as an award in 2005. He presented the Sachem to Chen during a Nov. 2 ceremony at The Tarkington Theatre in Carmel.

“Albert came from a humble beginning as a first-generation immigrant from Taiwan, but through grit, perseverance and relentless work ethic, Albert built a $839 million company with more than 2,000 employees,” Holcomb stated. “He is an innovator and entrepreneur extraordinaire who’s long been guided by the same principles he founded the company on, namely honesty, harmony, simplicity and stewardship.”

Chen said he was “surprised and delighted” to receive the Sachem Award from the governor.

“The Sachem Award ceremony was one of the highlights of my career,” he said.

While in his first year of his doctorate program at Portland State University, Chen took a job with GTE in Washington state. Aspiring for a career beyond research, he conveyed to his supervisor that he was interested in a general management position. Half a year later, Chen was promoted to supply manager, where he would learn on the job to oversee 70 warehouses. When GTE eventually restructured, he opted away from the big cities and chose the Westfield location where he could be the “head of the rooster, rather than the tail of the calf,” he said. However, in 1983, a 29 percent staff layoff motivated him to quit.

Chen frequently made trips back to Taiwan to give lectures at universities and for industry associations. On one trip, a Taiwanese company selling telephone systems for small offices expressed interest in employing him. Deciding he no longer wanted to work for someone else, he agreed but on the condition that he would sell the product himself. So, he started Telamon.

Chen has grown Telamon into a multifaceted business that has impacted several Indiana communities. Its telecommunications arm has advanced with new technology, supporting large venues such as Lucas Oil stadium. Its consulting on green energy innovations has had an impact on rural small towns and schools, as well as large scale installations such as at the Indianapolis International Airport, which was once home to the largest airport solar farm in the world.

Telamon has worked to create safer and more attractive jobs through manufacturing and robotics systems, while collaborating with Indiana universities such as Purdue and Vincennes to educate and train students.

In 2017 Chen transitioned the company to his children while remaining on as a board member. In retirement he recently took a trip to Egypt, and he hopes to eventually visit all seven continents. In addition, he is authoring a book about his life and career.

Chen and his wife, Margaret, a former concert pianist he met while at Portland State, are both fans of music and the symphony. They have been residents of Carmel since 1979. He’s watched the city grow, loves the roundabouts and enjoys having four seasons.

“(I also) appreciate the people’s kindness and friendliness,” Chen said.

History of the Sachem

In 1970, Indiana Gov. Edgar D. Whitcomb introduced the Sachems, a group of business, industry, publishing, banking and legal leaders, who served as state hosts, welcoming visitors to Indiana and promoting the state’s culture and economy. The organization’s name came from the Algonquin term applied to village leaders, implying wisdom, judgment and grace.

Following Whitcomb’s term, the Sachem (pronounced say-chum) project was not continued, and the organization dissolved in 1989. Whitcomb visited Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005 to acquaint him with the concept. Daniels recreated the Sachem to underscore the importance of moral example, as he believed achievement alone without exemplary virtue does not qualify a person for this recognition.

Including Albert Chen, 18 Sachem awards have been bestowed by an Indiana governor since the honor was revived in 2005. Each Sachem honoree receives a specially designed sculpture.

Recipients are:

2005: John Wooden — College basketball coach, teacher and mentor
2006: Rev. Theodore Hesburgh — Former president of the University of Notre Dame and world statesman
2007: Jane Blaffer Owen — Philanthropist and preservationist of New Harmony
2008: Bill and Gloria Gaither — Grammy winning singer/songwriter duo from Alexandria, Ind.
2009: Donald C. “Danny” Danielson — New Castle business and civic leader
2010: Carl D. Erskine — Civic leader and baseball player
2011: William A. “Bill” Cook — Philanthropist and co-founder of Cook Inc.
2012: Ian M. Rolland — CEO of Lincoln National Corp.
2013: Don Wolf — Civic leader and CEO of Do It Best, Corp.
2014: P.E. MacAllister — Businessman and civic leader
2015: Amos C. Brown, III — Radio host and civic leader
2017: Eva Mozes Kor — Holocaust survivor; forgiveness and civility advocate
2018: Sammy L. Davis — Vietnam veteran, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
2019: Dr. George Rapp — Humanitarian
2020: Reginald O. Jones, Sr. — Businessman, community leader and mentor
2021: James T. Morris — Civic leader, global ambassador and advocate for youth
2022: Patricia Ann Koch — Community leader and originating partner of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
2023: Albert Chen — Entrepreneur, innovator and Asian American advocate