Tag Birge is CEO of Birge & Held and Cornerstone Cos., where he is responsible for the respective companies’ strategy, culture and overall financial performance. Birge & Held provides real estate investment, property management and construction services. Cornerstone helps physicians, hospitals and third-party owners across the nation efficiently invest in health care real estate. Both companies lead real estate platforms in their respective fields, with over $8 billion of assets under management. Over the last two years, Birge and his family have individually and through the real estate operating companies committed over $1.5 million a year to more than 60 central Indiana charities. Most recently, he and his wife committed $1 million to the North Central High School Foundation to serve English as a New Language students.
Challenge overcome: “I was diagnosed with dyslexia in kindergarten. I had to work hard in school to achieve.”
Brad Chambers is founder, president and CEO of Indianapolis-based Buckingham Cos., which he started as a student at Indiana University in 1984. In 40 years, Buckingham has grown from its first rental property purchase to the development and acquisition of its investments exceeding $3 billion. Chambers also serves as a founder and board member of the Buckingham Foundation Inc., a philanthropic organization focused on making a positive impact on communities within the mission areas of affordable housing, community and economic development, arts and culture, and childhood hunger. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $3 million in grants and sponsorships to 600 not-for-profits. In 2022, Chambers was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to serve on the U.S. Investment Advisory Council. In May, Chambers lost in a six-way Republican primary for governor after serving as Gov. Eric Holcomb’s secretary of commerce.
Challenge overcome: “Deciding to step outside of my personal comfort zone to run for a public office.”
Walkup music: “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker
Collins is the top executive and a part-owner at Hobart-based Luke Family of Brands, a third-generation family-owned company established in 1967 by Ralph Luke. The company was originally called Luke Oil and it started out as a supplier of home heating fuel. The company diversified over the years, and it now has 1,200 employees and a variety of commercial holdings that include Luke Oil, Luke convenience stores, several restaurants, including Root & Bone in Indianapolis, and County Line Orchard in Hobart, among others.
Something surprising: “I’ve completed four Ironman races.”
Leadership advice: “In order for people to grow, there has to be some level of pressure and accountability. Don’t get emotional if you are the leader who brings that to the table. Ultimately, the right people will respond and improve.”
Job swap: “I would be a high school or college coach.”
Eric Gershman leads the planning and execution of Gershman Partners’ growth strategies and provides ongoing oversight of the real estate developer’s daily and financial operations. Gershman was lead developer for The Bridges in Carmel, Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville and the redevelopment of Marott Center in the Mass Ave Cultural District in downtown Indianapolis with the addition of the Marietta on Mass Ave, home office to Gershman Partners. Current projects include the 420,500-square-foot Market Square Center (the “Gold Building”), a Class B office tower conversion to Class A multifamily and retail.
First job: Construction. “I worked as a general laborer for the redevelopment of a department store. I learned the true meaning of working hard. It was also great to work together with so many people to get a huge job done.”
Advice for a young person: “Find a career in something you are truly passionate about.”
Pets: two black labs, Zoe and Luna
Larry Gigerich leads the team at Ginovus, which provides site-selection, economic-development and compliance-management services. In its 22-year operating history, Ginovus has served about 400 clients throughout North America in support of over 500 projects. In his career, Gigerich has worked on about 600 economic development projects resulting in over $13 billion in capital investment, the creation of over 105,000 jobs, and the retention of over 210,000 jobs. He was named by Governing Magazine as one of the nation’s best economic development officials, and he chairs the board of The Site Selectors Guild, an internationally recognized site-selection organization. Before founding Ginovus in 2002, he worked in a variety of economic development settings, including deputy director of business development for the Indiana Department of Commerce and president and CEO of the Indianapolis Economic Development Corp.
Most admired: Theodore Roosevelt. “He focused on being a steward of the people, protected natural resources and fought political corruption.”
Walk-up song: “Red” by Hardy
Shane Hageman is president of Hageman Group, a family office with expertise in real estate and agriculture. As president, he is responsible for all aspects of the business, with a focus on ensuring that the organization has the right team, culture and strategy in place. In addition to leading all investment and related activities at Hageman, he has been the lead in several entrepreneurial initiatives within the company that have launched into stand-alone businesses. Before joining Hageman, he practiced real estate, estate planning and general corporate law at Bose McKinney & Evans.
First job: Farm work. “It taught me to appreciate the hard work that gets done, oftentimes underappreciated and unnoticed. I also bought my first 40-acre farm at age 14, which taught me about taking risk to grow a crop and generate revenue, paying bills and working with others to get it all done.”
Advice for a young person: Before starting a business, plan for it to cost twice as much and take twice as long as you think it will.
John Hirschman has served as president and CEO of Indianapolis-based Browning Real Estate Partners since 2013. In that role, he oversees the strategic direction of all facets of the company, including development, financing, construction and acquisitions. He previously worked at Browning on the real estate development team from 2005-2012 and began his professional career as a real estate lawyer in Chicago and in Indianapolis at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath (2002-2005). He has held leadership positions with many organizations, including the Indy Chamber, where he currently serves as board chair.
First job: Pumping gas and cleaning warehouse space at a marina in northern Indiana, where he learned, “(1) it’s better to be busy than bored, (2) it’s better to be busy doing something inspiring than something that just fills the time, and (3) different boats require different kinds of gas—and if you get it wrong, the consequences are not good.”
Something surprising: “I’m an English major turned real estate developer. There aren’t many of us out there in the wild.”
Richard Johnson Jr. is the president and CEO of Columbus-based Johnson Ventures Inc., which makes long-term investments in companies that are based in or near Indiana. Johnson Ventures currently owns Columbus-based Black Jewell Popcorn. It is also the previous owner of numerous other companies, including Lennys Grill & Subs, Stone Center of Indiana, Indiana Limestone Companies, Johnson Construction Materials, Central Restaurant Products, Author House and Bigfoot Food Stores. Johnson serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the Indiana University Foundation, the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IU’s Kelley School of Business, and the Columbus Community Education Coalition. He earned his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and marketing from IU’s Kelley School of Business.
First job: “I put together a business plan for a vitamin store. it was a great model for later years, and I learned a lot from the guy that I did the project for.”
Tom Kelley oversees the management of more than 700 employees, 14 automotive brands, nine dealerships, three customer-exclusive car washes, three body shop locations, an accessory and detail facility, and a parts retailer. Kelley joined his father’s business, Jim Kelley Buick, in 1974 and purchased it in 1983. The Kelley Automotive Group is approaching its 70th anniversary. Kelley founded a golf course, an aviation business and Kelley Racing, an Indy Racing League team that won nine races before shutting down in 2004. He also is active in the community. He helped get Electric Works, a mixed-use district in a historic former General Electric campus, built, and he opened the Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center, dedicated to providing opportunities to marginalized youth in Fort Wayne.
First job: Raking sand traps at Brookwood Golf Club at age 13. “It taught me how to show up and work hard no matter what was being asked of me.”
Dream job: astronaut
Surprising: He’s been a pilot for 55 years.
Phil Kenney started working summers as a teenager in the mid-1970s for the family business started by his grandfather, Francis A. Wilhelm. His construction career began in earnest with Wilhelm’s small projects group, and he worked his way up to managing the facilities contracting group, then presiding over its mechanical construction subsidiary. In 2001, he stepped into the role previously held by both his grandfather and his uncle, Tippy Wilhelm, to become president of Wilhelm. Under his leadership, Wilhelm has grown to become No. 100 on the “Top 400 Contractors” list compiled by industry trade publication Engineering News-Record as well as one of the largest employers of construction labor in the Midwest.
First job: Snack bar at the Miramar Swim Club. “This job taught me how to deal with all types of people and confirmed that I never want to own a restaurant.”
Advice: Work hard and ask a lot of questions. “I believe you take an education, you are not given one.”
