Indiana 250: Off the Record with Nate Feltman

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with David Rosenberg, founding president and CEO of the Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) and president and CEO of IU Inc. Rosenberg discusses IU LAB’s plans to turn more university research into bioscience companies, partnerships and jobs, as well as Indiana’s broader opportunity to strengthen its life sciences and innovation economy. He also shares insights from his career in public service and economic development and what Indiana needs to do next to compete for talent, investment and innovation.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Ryan Vaughn, president and general counsel of Exos. Vaughn traces his career from growing up on Indianapolis’ west side to law, local government, the Indianapolis City-County Council, the mayor’s office, Indiana Sports Corp and now Exos, where he has helped guide the company’s growth across 18 states. He reflects on how Indianapolis became the center of college basketball during the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting the entire 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and what that effort revealed about the city’s sports strategy, civic coordination and ability to...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Paul Thrift, CEO of Thompson Thrift Development and co-founder of Thompson Thrift. Thrift traces the company’s path from a $3,000 Terre Haute house he bought with John Thompson into a national real estate firm with more than $7 billion in ground-up development, 650 employees and projects in 24 states. He discusses early student housing projects near Indiana State University, the firm’s work in downtown Terre Haute and Fishers District, and why he believes Indiana and the nation still face a structural housing shortage. Thrift also reflects on TT Serv...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Chuck Goodrich, Indiana’s secretary of commerce, owner and CEO of Gaylor Electric, and a former state lawmaker from Noblesville. Goodrich traces his path from growing up in Roann, Indiana, to Vincennes University, Purdue University and an internship at Gaylor that launched his career. He discusses Gaylor’s growth from about 400 employees a decade ago to about 4,000 across seven states, the company’s focus on internships and apprenticeships, and why applied learning is central to Indiana’s workforce future. Goodrich also reflects on his time in the Indi...

In this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Katie Lucas, president of Lucas Oil Products. Lucas discusses her path from Noblesville High School and Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business to the Indianapolis Colts, where she first met Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, to Lucas Oil in 2012 where she later became president in 2024. She reflects on the company’s move from California to Indianapolis, the impact of Lucas Oil Stadium on the brand, new partnerships with the Indiana Pacers and Colts, and how the company has grown while remaining family-led, American-made and community-focused. Lucas also share...

In this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Ron Romain, executive chairman of Evansville-based United Companies. Romain traces the company’s evolution beginning first with his father, Robert Romain, in 1964 as a small vehicle leasing business and its growth into a multi-faceted finance and transportation organization operating in 40 states with more than 6,400 employees. He discusses the company’s expansion into equipment financing, rail transportation and air services, as well as the 2023 transition that made his daughter, Amy Romain Barron, the third generation to lead the family business. Romain also shares his perspective on Evansville’s future...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Geoffrey Mearns, the 17th president of Ball State University. Mearns reflects on his path from federal prosecutor to university president, including his work on organized crime cases involving the Gambino crime family and the prosecution of Terry Nichols after the Oklahoma City bombing. Now in his ninth year at Ball State, Mearns discusses the university’s role in Muncie, its partnership with Muncie Community Schools, the revitalization of The Village and why Ball State is the only public university in Indiana recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as an Op...

Interim President of Purdue University and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins IBJ Media CEO and Publisher Nate Feltman for a special conversation recorded at last week’s IBJ Education Power Breakfast.  Daniels talks about the value and values of higher education, including why skepticism about the cost and value of college is justified and why students should consider multiple paths after high school. Drawing on record of freezing Purdue tuition after decades of increases, Daniels talks about affordability, student debt and workforce readiness.  He also talks about the need for civic education and the impact of artificial Intelligence on h...

In this special episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks on stage with Huse Culinary CEO Craig Huse, winner of the third annual Mickey Maurer Entrepreneur Award at IBJ’s Fast 25 event. Huse reflects on his path from washing dishes in Bloomington at age 14 to leading a hospitality company with nine restaurants, including the iconic downtown St. Elmo Steak House, Harry & Izzy’s and the 1933 Lounge, along with a consumer products business now sold in 40 states. He discusses growing an 84-year-old brand without compromising its standards, the decision to bottle St. Elmo’s famous cocktail sauce, why Harry...

Tiffany Sauder, founder of Element Three and creator of Life of And, joins host Nate Feltman to discuss growing up in an entrepreneurial family in a small town in northwest Indiana, going into business with her father at a young age and navigating the 2008 recession, and then launching what has become a nationally recognized marketing agency.  Sauder takes a deep dive into Life of And’s focus, the difficult lessons on risk and leadership she learned along the way, as well as key themes of balance, alignment and negotiation for busy, professional women juggling a career and family.

Jeff Harrison, president and CEO of Citizens Energy Group, joins Nate Feltman on Off the Record to discuss the organization's unique public charitable trust model, the completed 28-mile Dig Indy Deep Tunnel project, the landmark deal to supply 25 million gallons of water per day to Lebanon for Eli Lilly and the LEAP District, and his 50-year planning philosophy aimed at making central Indiana drought-proof.  Jeff also traces his path from Jeffersonville, where he grew up as the son of a bricklayer, to becoming the first African American to lead an Indianapolis-based utility.

Jeff Smulyan joins Nate Feltman on Off the Record to discuss growing up in Indianapolis, studying at USC and returning home to build Emmis Communications into a national media company. He recounts buying his first stations, hiring David Letterman at WNTS and helping create major radio brands including Power 106 in Los Angeles, Hot 97 in New York, Q101 in Chicago and KSHE in St. Louis. Smulyan also explains why he pushed for sports talk radio at WFAN, what he learned from owning the Seattle Mariners and how he approached disruption in radio, television and publishing. He closes with lessons from...

Brad Benbow, chairman and CEO of Prolific, joins IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman on Off the Record, featuring leaders from IBJ Media’s Indiana 250 list. Benbow discusses his journey from growing up in Muncie to building a career in communications and consulting, including leadership roles at Ackerman McQueen, Rudder Communications Network and JDA Worldwide before launching Prolific. He also shares how faith shapes his leadership, highlights from his book Spiritual Graphics, the Prolific Growth Summit, partnerships with Israeli tech leaders and the Benbow Family Legacy Grant supporting families in Eaton, Indiana.

University of Indianapolis President Tanuja Singh joins IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman on Off the Record to discuss her path from growing up in India studying physics to banking, business education and university leadership. She highlights UIndy’s expanding options for learners through UIndy Online, stackable certificates and employer-focused programs for post-traditional students. Singh takes a deep dive into the Women’s Leadership Institute, including skill areas such as negotiation and financial strategy.  The discussion also highlights recent gifts supporting the university’s business school, honors college and engineering programs as well as a Lilly Endowment-backed innovation center partnership with Pe...

On this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The discussion takes a deep dive into Raines’ unexpected career journey as she traces her upbringing in South Bend to studying telecommunications Indiana University leading to an unanticipated entry into politics, including work for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, multiple Republican National Conventions, and the White House under Vice President Dick Cheney. Raines reflects on returning to Indiana to help deliver Super Bowl XLVI, her leadership experience in Washington, and her transition into professional sports. She also shares insights fro...

In this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Dennis Bland, president of the Center for Leadership Development in Indianapolis. Bland reflects on his journey from growing up in a family of eight, raised by a single father, to becoming a standout student and attorney before returning to CLD as a volunteer, board member and ultimately its president. He explains how CLD has expanded from one program to 21 offerings beginning in fourth grade, along with a College Prep Institute that serves thousands of students and parents each year. Bland outlines CLD’s “no assumptions” approach to teachi...

Pete Ward, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Colts, joins host Nate Feltman for a deep dive into his 45 seasons with the franchise. In this episode of Off the Record, Ward recounts how an unpaid internship turned into a lifelong career and what it was like to experience the team’s midnight move from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. He shares behind-the-scenes details of working with Jim Irsay, building Lucas Oil Stadium, and helping bring the 2012 Super Bowl to Indy. Ward also reflects on the Colts’ civic impact, the growth of Indianapolis, the rise of the NFL, and the transition to n...

On this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Peter Dunn, better known as Pete the Planner, one of America’s most trusted voices on personal finance. Dunn shares how a sixth-grade stock market contest launched his career, how he blends comedy and financial coaching to help people build better habits, and why the psychology of money matters more than math. He opens up about building Your Money Line, a fast-growing financial technology company using AI to deliver personalized advice to more than 800,000 people, and how leading a startup taught him hard-earned lessons about leadership, re...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Al Hubbard, president of E&A Industries and a veteran of two presidential administrations. Hubbard shares how a sixth-grade classroom sparked his lifelong interest in public policy, leading to high-level roles with Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush. He discusses his experience running businesses across diverse industries, his work on education reform—including Indiana’s charter and voucher expansion—and his efforts to lower hospital costs through Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare. Hubbard also reflects on leadership, legacy, and why he passed...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment.   From leading the ATP Tour during the golden era of American tennis to overseeing the 1987 Pan Am Games, 2012 Super Bowl and the Indianapolis 500, Miles traces his remarkable career that helped shape modern Indianapolis. Miles shares candid stories of working with Fidel Castro, John McEnroe, Senator Dick Lugar and Roger Penske and also offers insights into the future of IndyCar, downtown Indianapolis, and the city's place among its national peers.

In this episode of Indiana 250: Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Anne Hathaway, president and CEO of Hathaway Strategies and the first woman to chair the Indiana Republican Party. Hathaway reflects on her journey from small-town Illinois to the White House, where she served as director of scheduling for Vice President Dan Quayle and later chief of staff at the Republican National Committee. She discusses how she built her political career through risk-taking, relationships and service, and how she is helping train future women leaders through the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series. Hathaway also s...

In this episode of Indiana 250: Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Suzanne Jaworowski, Indiana’s secretary of energy and natural resources. Secretary Jaworowski reflects upon her background in marketing research and political communications which launched her into national energy leadership roles, including serving as chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy and later with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. She shares experiences on her work leading a 65-country nuclear policy coalition, her role on the Trump transition team, and her current priorities in Gov. Mike Braun’s administration. The...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Amish Shah, CEO of Elkhart-based Kem Krest, a supply chain optimization company serving Fortune 100 clients across automotive, heavy duty and power sports. He reflects on leaving investment banking to join the family business, the influence of his immigrant father, and the lessons of building a company for the long haul. Shah also shares his passion for Elkhart County, from creating a Business Hall of Fame and Junior Achievement programs to serving on supplier councils and industry boards, and why he champions Indiana as a place to...

In this episode of Indiana 250: Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Jimmie McMillian, senior corporate counsel and chief diversity officer at Penske Entertainment. McMillian shares his journey from growing up on Chicago’s South Side to leading diversity efforts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT IndyCar Series. He discusses how trauma and mentorship shaped his path through law school, private practice and ultimately to Penske. McMillian details his efforts toward expanding workforce and supplier diversity, using the Speedway as a hub for youth engagement, and building trust through intentional mentorship and inclusive leadership.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner. Their discussion looks at her career path from a high school business teacher in Madison to leading the state’s $10 billion education system. Secretary Jenner details her efforts to modernize Indiana’s education system from building a pipeline of skilled teachers and revamping the high school diploma to spearheading a $170 million investment in literacy and expanding access to apprenticeships. Jenner also offers insights into Indiana’s stance on federal education reform, the role of soft skills in workforce readiness, and ho...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and its subsidiary Cook Medical. Based in Bloomington, Cook is Indiana’s 3rd largest private company and a key player in the life sciences sector. Yonkman shares insights on what it takes to be a medical innovator and why Cook’s 57 medical firsts were all born from collaboration. He also discusses a unique partnership with Goodwill that brought a manufacturing facility, and new opportunity, to a historically underserved Indianapolis neighborhood. A Crown Point native and IU Maurer law grad, Yonkman reflect...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Marisol Sanchez, executive vice president, general counsel, and board member of Endress+Hauser USA. Marisol shares her journey from growing up in Puerto Rico, earning a business degree at the University of Puerto Rico, relocating to Indiana through an exchange program with what was then Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, attending the IU Maurer School of Law, to ultimately becoming a key leader at the U.S. division of a global industrial automation company. Marisol also discusses her experience clerking for Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Marisol Sanchez, executive vice president, general counsel, and board member of Endress+Hauser USA. Marisol shares her journey from growing up in Puerto Rico, earning a business degree at the University of Puerto Rico, relocating to Indiana through an exchange program with what was then Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, attending the IU Maurer School of Law, to ultimately becoming a key leader at the U.S. division of a global industrial automation company. Marisol also discusses her experience clerking for Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with one of Indiana’s most dynamic entrepreneurs, Justin Christian, founder and CEO of BCforward, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. A New York native, Justin came to Indiana to study music at DePauw University before shifting to computer science, which led to a job at Eli Lilly and Co. before he launched his own IT consulting firm. He and his business partner started BCforward with just $1,500, growing it into a global enterprise now with 5,000 employees. Justin discusses his path to entrepreneurship, his le...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with one of Indiana’s most dynamic entrepreneurs, Justin Christian, founder and CEO of BCforward, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. A New York native, Justin came to Indiana to study music at DePauw University before shifting to computer science, which led to a job at Eli Lilly and Co. before he launched his own IT consulting firm. He and his business partner started BCforward with just $1,500, growing it into a global enterprise now with 5,000 employees. Justin discusses his path to entrepreneurship, his le...

IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman speaks with Scott Dorsey, co-founder and managing partner of High Alpha, a leading venture capital firm based in Indianapolis that creates and funds B2B SaaS companies. Dorsey shares his journey as founder of ExactTarget, a pioneering digital marketing company. ExactTarget's meteoric rise included developing its unique "Orange Culture," going public on the New York Stock Exchange, and being acquired by Salesforce for $2.5 billion in 2013. The conversation delves into the challenges and successes of building a successful business, Dorsey’s passion for fostering entrepreneurship, and his efforts to strengthen Indiana’s tech ecosystem through High...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Chuck Surack, founder of Surack Enterprises and Sweetwater Sound. Chuck shares his journey from touring the country as a saxophonist and keyboard player with several bands and then eventually starting Sweetwater Sound, one of the world’s largest retailers of musical instruments and audio equipment. After selling a controlling interest in Sweetwater in 2021, Chuck has focused on various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropy.  Today Surack Enterprises includes companies in aviation, real estate development, hospitality, eyecare and sports.  Chuck has been a major player in the redevelopment of Fort...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Dr. Richard DiMarchi, Indiana University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences.  A distinguished scientist and entrepreneur,  Dr. DiMarchi’s groundbreaking diabetes research while at Eli Lilly and Company laid the foundation for the new class of obesity drugs that today are transforming lives worldwide.  Since his retirement from Lilly, Dr. DiMarchi has co-founded six biotech companies, including MBX Biosciences which recently went public.  With more than 100 U.S. patents and numerous accolades, including an induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Dr. Di...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Bob Hicks, chairman and managing partner of Taft Law Firm.  Bob takes a deep dive into the strategies and philosophy that have shaped Taft’s growth from 400 lawyers to over 1,000 under his leadership.  A Hoosier native, Bob talks about growing up in Indianapolis, his decision to pursue both an accounting and law degree, mentors who have impacted his leadership philosophy, and his early career experiences as a business lawyer working for a high growth company and how that experience shaped his growth mindset.   Bob also shares his thoughts o...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports Entertainment and a legend in the real estate development industry. Herb discusses his storied career, from founding Simon Property Group with his brother Melvin to rescuing the Indiana Pacers. He shares his experiences being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and reflects on the growth of both the NBA and WNBA franchises under his ownership. Herb also talks about his contributions to the revitalization of downtown Indianapolis and the impact of having Caitlin Clark join the Indiana Fever. 

After a fantastic season one, we are taking a few weeks break while we ramp up for Off the Record Season two. The Season two Off the Record show will now be available in video and will feature our new IBJ Media podcast studio.

We have some amazing guests joining us in season two. You won’t want to miss our season opener with Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment and recent inductee into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Listen to full length episodes that we highlighted from Season One

Off the Record wi...

After a fantastic season one, we are taking a few weeks break while we ramp up for Off the Record Season two. The Season two Off the Record show will now be available in video and will feature our new IBJ Media podcast studio.

We have some amazing guests joining us in season two. You won’t want to miss our season opener with Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment and recent inductee into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Listen to full length episodes that we highlighted from Season One   Off the Record with Mitch Dan...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Vanessa Green Sinders, President and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Vanessa takes a deep dive into her extensive background in public affairs and executive leadership roles including her time working for two U.S. Senators and the non-partisan organization Campaign to Fix the Debt. Now leading the state’s largest business advocacy group, Vanessa discusses what it means to be the first female leader of the Indiana Chamber, the IN Prosperity 2035 economic vision plan, and what she views as Indiana’s ongoing opportunities and chall...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. Born to Cuban immigrants in Brooklyn and raised in Miami, Mario opens up about his upbringing and unique perspective as a first generation American.  The discussion takes a deep dive into Mario’s incredible journey from captaining boats to his extensive leadership experience in the aviation industry.  Celebrating ten years at the helm of the Indianapolis International Airport, Mario shares what sets this IND apart, the team's community-driven approach, and upcoming projects like the new...

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Jefferson Shreve, an accomplished entrepreneur and the Republican nominee for Indiana's 6th congressional district. Shreve discusses his path from founding Storage Express in 1993 to selling it to Extra Space Storage, Inc. in 2022.  He also shares how his educational background in political science, international diplomacy, and agribusiness has prepared him for the job he is currently pursuing in Congress.  The discussion also touches on Shreve’s motivations for entering politics, his experience serving on the Indianapolis City County Council, his challenges in the mayoral race, and his current c...