Mike Schrage is the top executive at Merrillville-based Centier Bank, which was founded in 1895 and originally did business as Bank of Whiting. When Mike Schrage joined the bank in 1972, it had three locations and $33 million in assets. He was elected as board chair in 1982 and represents the fourth generation of family ownership. Today, the bank has more than $8 billion in assets and operates locations in northwestern and northern Indiana, as well as the Indianapolis, Lafayette/West Lafayette and Fort Wayne markets. Schrage holds a bachelor’s degree from Denison University in Ohio and an MBA from the University of Colorado.
Archives: Profiles
Thomas Dakich
Tom Dakich is CEO of Quantum Corridor, a technology communications company that offers a fiber-optic network connecting tech firms, academic institutions, funders and government contractors. Dakich describes his role as forging partnerships with state and local government to create opportunities for the advanced computing industry in Indiana. Quantum Corridor is an industry partner in The Bloch: End-to-end Quantum Solutions at Scale, a U.S. Department of Commerce-designed regional tech hub. Dakich previously founded GEMCO Constructors and launched the Digital Crossroads of America data center and technology hub in Hammond. He splits his time between Carmel and northwest Indiana.
Walkup song: “Anything by Taylor Swift. Seriously.”
Sabbatical topic: “I would absolutely love to get a masters in theology from the University of Notre Dame. I would live in South Bend and take in-person classes. I was a religion minor at Wabash, and I wish I had taken it further.”
Trisha Dudlo-McCracken
As a litigator at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum, Trisha Dudlo primarily focuses on family disputes, an area in which her understanding of mental health, trauma and domestic violence serves her clients well. She also serves as director of the Southwestern Indiana Pro Bono Protective Order Project and works with the not-for-profit Albion Fellows Bacon Center to help domestic- and sexual-abuse survivors obtain legal advice. As managing partner at the law firm’s Evansville office, she also strives to create a team-focused workplace to help individuals and the office meet their goals.
Being a leader: “My favorite thing about being a leader is learning how to be a leader. As our culture and our definitions of success change, it has become a really exciting time to redefine what it means to be a lawyer and how we practice. One of the most important things I can do is pass on a successful and healthy work environment to the next generation.”
Job swap: “I would be a psychologist.”
Andrew Detherage
Andrew Detherage is managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, leading a law firm with 23 offices and 800 lawyers. He focuses on strategic growth, strategic planning, client service and business operations. The firm last year recorded record revenue and profits and opened an office in Nashville focused on health care and corporate work. Detherage led the 2001 merger of area Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations as board president of the Big Brothers of Greater Indianapolis. He serves as the arts fair chair of The Penrod Society.
Lesson learned: “Mistakes are going to happen. The key is to learn from them, apologize when necessary, and move on learning a lesson and not repeating the mistake.”
Sabbatical topic: wine making in Napa Valley
Walkup song: “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
Rafael Sanchez
Rafael Sanchez serves on Old National Bank’s executive leadership team as executive vice president, chief impact officer and Indianapolis market president. He is an attorney and former president and CEO of Indianapolis Power & Light Co. More recently, Sanchez was co-chair of the NBA All-Star Game in February that was projected to bring $320 million in economic impact to central Indiana. He is the immediate past president of the Boy Scouts Crossroads of America Council, director of the Community Health Network board and secretary for the Indy Championship Fund.
Advice for a young person: “Always be kind. Always act with integrity. Always be authentic.”
Something surprising about you: “My cousin was in the famous Puerto Rican boy band called ‘Menudo’ when Ricky Martin was also a member. I got to meet Ricky back then—he even came to my house.”
Favorite device: “My Fitbit tracker. I am obsessed with trying to keep an active lifestyle.”
Mung Chiang
Mung Chiang became the 13th president of Purdue University on Jan. 1, 2023. As president, he works to further the university’s land-grant mission and values, while creating talent, jobs and innovation along America’s hard tech corridor. His goal is “to help Boilermaker students, faculty, staff and alumni take small steps that turn into giant leaps in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge.” Chiang is also the Roscoe H. George Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and currently serves on the inaugural board of the U.S. Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation and several corporate and not-for-profit boards. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2024, in mathematical and physical sciences. Previously, he was professor of electrical engineering at Princeton University, where he founded the Princeton EDGE Lab in 2009 and several startups and industry consortia in edge computing.
Something surprising: “I like ice cream.”
Advice for a young person: Work harder.
Worries about: student safety
Amy Schumacher
Amy Schumacher has been part of The Heritage Group family of businesses for over 15 years. As CEO, she oversees the company’s portfolio of more than 30 businesses, HGVentures, and its 5,500 employees. Under her leadership, The Heritage Group has increased its focus on sustainability and sustainable investments, including investing in what is now the largest EV battery recycling company in North America, Cirba Solutions; solar panel recycling; and production of sustainable aviation fuel. In 2008, Schumacher co-founded Monument Chemical, the group’s specialty chemicals business, and served as president and CEO for eight years. In that role, she was responsible for growing Monument from a small, Indianapolis-based business into a global company with operations in Europe and the United States. In 2016, she transitioned to president of The Heritage Group and was appointed CEO in 2020.
Favorite thing about leadership: Seeing team members succeed. “My grandad always told me to ‘bet on your people—they will amaze you and themselves!'”
Laura Berry
Laura Berry is executive director of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a nationally recognized expert in domestic violence. Her work includes overseeing and coordinating statewide training and technical assistance for all domestic violence programs in Indiana. In the last biennial budget, she helped increase statewide funding for domestic violence services from $6 million to $9 million, and she received $2.5 million in funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to implement health equity strategies to prevent domestic violence and evaluate Indiana’s paid-leave policy. She was a 2023 IBJ Woman of Influence.
Something surprising: “I share a birthday with D-Day: 6/6/66 [same day, different year]. As you can imagine, my identification gets a second glance and you know my age, but my birthday has driven my interest in history and the history of cemeteries.”
Advice for a young person: “Listen and learn: It makes you a stronger and a better leader.”
Pet: Koda, a Great Pyrenees, adopted from the Humane Society five years ago
Keith Bice
Keith Bice serves as managing partner of Dentons Bingham Greenebaum, leading seven offices of attorneys in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Maine. Bice also serves on Dentons U.S. and Global leadership teams. In his law practice, he serves as counsel to privately held businesses and lending institutions with a focus on understanding and advancing the legal issues involved in a transaction as well as the client’s goals and objectives. He serves on the board of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and previously served with the Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Circle Area Community Development Corp., Catholic Charities in Indianapolis, and St. Luke Catholic School Commission.
Favorite civic contribution: “Early in my career, I served on the board of my kids’ school. That was an opportunity to make positive change that benefited my community and my family.”
Sabbatical topic: “I’d be a travel writer. My favorite thing to do is traveling with my family, so it’d be great to get paid to do something I love.”
Jim Marcuccilli
Jim Marcuccilli joined STAR Financial Bank in 1973 and has served as president and CEO since 1998. He was named chair and CEO of the Fort Wayne-based community bank in 2017. In this role, he leads the bank through mentorship of the executive team. An active member of the community, he serves as a member of the University of Notre Dame’s science advisory board, as member emeritus of the Indiana State Chamber, and board member of the Junior Achievement Foundation, the IU Health Foundation and Steel Dynamics Inc. He was a founding member of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
As governor, I would: “Work on improving our lakes and rivers and don’t let developers and local politicians destroy them.”
Toughest challenge: “Keeping our bank profitable during the big recession of 2008 and 2009.”
Leadership advice: “You need good players and teammates to be successful. Treat them the way you want to be treated.”