DUBUQUE, IA – Each December, we take time to recognize one HODGE team member whose service, loyalty, and leadership have made a lasting impact on our company through the Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award. This year, we are proud to congratulate Lindsay McElmeel, Compensation and HR Systems Manager.
Lindsay joined HODGE in 2000 and has built a career defined by dependability, integrity, and a deep commitment to others. As the first female recipient of the Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award and the most tenured woman at HODGE, Lindsay’s recognition reflects more than longevity. It speaks to the trust, respect, and credibility she has earned across the organization through years of steady leadership and consistent follow-through.
Throughout her career, Lindsay has stepped into new roles and complex situations wherever HODGE needed her most. From leading large teams in Supply Management to supporting Enterprise initiatives and customer assignments, she has remained a calm and reliable presence through change, growth, and uncertainty. In her current role, Lindsay continues to make a meaningful impact through her work in performance management, leadership development, and key initiatives that strengthen how we support our people.
Today, we celebrate Lindsay’s lasting contributions and the positive influence she has on our teams, our customers, and our company as a whole. Congratulations, Lindsay!
Here is what Lindsay’s nominator shared about her impact at HODGE:
"Over her 20+ years with HODGE, Lindsay McElmeel has been the steady heartbeat behind countless projects, teams, and company-wide initiatives. She brings a ‘whatever it takes’ mindset to everything she does, whether she’s leading large teams, supporting complex initiatives, or quietly stepping in to fill a need.
Lindsay is someone you can always count on to show up, follow through, and keep things moving, even when circumstances are uncertain or changing. Through organizational shifts, evolving customer needs, and new challenges, she remains a source of stability for leaders and employees alike.
What truly sets Lindsay apart is her commitment to others. She leads with care, consistency, and integrity, and she has a natural ability to support, mentor, and connect with those around her. Her willingness to share knowledge, lend a hand, and champion her teammates makes a lasting impact, often behind the scenes.
Lindsay is the glue that holds teams together, the calm in the storm, and a role model for what service and loyalty look like at HODGE. We are a better company because of her steady leadership, her heart for people, and the example she sets every day.”
Lindsay was nominated for this award by a colleague on the Strategy team. She was selected as this year’s recipient by the Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award Committee, which is comprised of one representative from each HODGE location and business unit, along with previous winners of the Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award.
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ABOUT THE DING BELL SERVICE & LOYALTY AWARD
The Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award was established in 2016 to honor Stephen "Ding" Bell and his 46 years of service and loyalty to the company. The award is granted annually to a HODGE employee who exemplifies outstanding service as well as loyalty to the company and to the community in which they live. To be a recipient of this award, an employee must demonstrate not only longevity and tenure within the organization but also a sincere commitment to their coworkers and HODGE customers alike. HODGE's employees are the heart of the organization, and the award honors Ding’s legacy by recognizing an employee once a year who demonstrates these important qualities:
