Welcome to IBJ Media’s third annual Indiana 250, our list of the most influential and impactful leaders across the state.
We are excited to welcome nearly 70 new names to this year’s list, including corporate executives like Brad Moore of Roche Diagnostics, Curt Begle of Berry Global and Brandi Davis-Handy of AES Indiana, as well as philanthropic leaders like Dennis Bland of the Center for Leadership Development, Fred Glass of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and Laura Berry of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The evolution of the Indiana 250 over time is one of our favorite things about it—and the reason we update the list annually. The changes represent the way our state and the people who live and work here are growing and progressing. And as we developed the list, we looked for people who are making an impact now.
Take Kalen Jackson, a co-owner and vice president of the Indianapolis Colts who has spearheaded the team’s and her family’s effort to combat the stigma attached to mental illness. And Philip Low, a Purdue University chemistry professor whose startup On Target Laboratories is commercializing a molecular imaging agent used to illuminate cancer cells during surgery.
Caitlin Clark, who is filling up arenas for WNBA games across the country, is also on this year’s list. There’s no denying the enormous impact she’s having on not only women’s basketball but our city and state, as well.
Of course, the list includes plenty of familiar faces.
Eli Lilly and Co. CEO David Ricks is not only one of the most influential people in Indiana, he is among the most important corporate leaders running one of the most impactful life sciences companies worldwide.
Elevance Health CEO Gail Boudreaux and Cummins CEO Jennifer Rumsey—two of the most powerful female leaders in the country—are on the list. So, too, are central Indiana executives who are not just great business leaders but also important community leaders—people like Mark Miles, CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp.; Dennis Murphy, CEO of Indiana University Health; and John Thompson, president of Thompson Distribution.
The list includes people who are contributing in government, education, the not-for-profit sector, the arts and philanthropy. Some of the new names in those areas are Polina Osherov, editor of Pattern magazine and a founder of the entrepreneurial program St’Artup 317; Katie Jenner, the state’s secretary of education; and Jennett Hill, president of the Lilly Endowment.
But we have lots of names in those areas who are returning to the list, as well, including G. Marcus Cole, dean of the University of Notre Dame Law School; Fred Payne, CEO of the United Way of Central Indiana; and Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush.
And while many people on the list are from central Indiana, it’s important to me—as a native of Mishawaka—that the list reflect the amazing leaders that come from all over our state.
John Phair, chair of Holladay Properties in South Bend; Amy Romain Barron, CEO of United Cos. in Evansville; Brent Yeagy, CEO of Wabash in Lafayette; Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group in Bloomington; and Kim Ryan, CEO of Hillenbrand in Batesville, are just a few of those names.
This focus on statewide leaders is part of IBJ Media’s effort to build collaboration among business and community leaders across Indiana. While the Indianapolis Business Journal focuses largely on central Indiana, Inside INdiana Business and Indiana Lawyer are statewide in their reach and news coverage.
And our Engage Indiana event series—a partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corp.—seeks to highlight the economic opportunities and challenges across Indiana regions. We have been or will be in nine cities this year. Go to IBJ.com/events to learn more and join us for one of those conversations.
We celebrated the leaders on our Indiana 250 list at an event July 17 during an exclusive reception on the 47th floor of Salesforce Tower, an event made possible by our generous sponsors.
Thank you to our host sponsor, Salesforce, and our title sponsors, CareSource, Ice Miller, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Thanks, as well, to our event’s premier sponsors, Aaron Wealth Advisors, Bank of America and Northwest Bank.
Enjoy the profiles on the following pages and let us know what you think—and who should be included next year—by emailing us at Indiana250@IBJ.com.
Nate Feltman
IBJ Media CEO