By PARKER CARLSON
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Nine new appointments are coming to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) Board of Directors.
Braun
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is appointing the new members, completely replacing the Board of Directors, after calling for an independent audit into IEDC due to their relationship with Indianapolis-based venture capital firm Elevate Ventures.
Braun says in a press release that each member is “distinguished by philanthropic efforts and a commitment to service to their state and local communities.”
“These appointments to the IEDC Board embody the Freedom and Opportunity agenda for IEDC: they hail from communities all around our state, bring experience from across the range of Indiana’s key industries, and each of them knows the importance of growing wages and creating job opportunities for Hoosiers because they’ve done it in their own communities,” Braun wrote.
All former board members will end their tenure at the IEDC with the appointment of the new members, Braun’s office says.
Braun will have his first meeting with the new IEDC board members on Wednesday afternoon at the Indiana State Library in downtown Indianapolis.
New appointees
- Gus Olympidis of Valparaiso – Owner of Family Express Convenience Stores and director on several boards dedicated to regional and community development in northwest Indiana throughout career.
- John Gregg of Sandborn – Former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives.
- George Thomas of Granger – Entrepreneur and executive of Adorn, Duo-Form, Lakota Trailers, Misty Harbor Pontoons, Viaggio Pontoon Boats.
- Billie Dragoo of Indianapolis – Founder and CEO of RepuCare.
- David Fagan of Portage – International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150.
- Greg Gibson of Terre Haute – Entrepreneur in commercial real estate development, hospitality and food service industry, trucking, excavation, coal, solid waste landfill development and waste industry advisory services.
- Richard Waterfield of Fort Wayne – Chairman of the Board and CEO of Waterfield Enterprises and Waterfield Asset Management, Founder and Managing Principal of Waterfield Private Equity Funds.
- Chris King of Shelbyville – Executive Vice President of Runnebohm Construction, professional engineer specializing in infrastructure design and construction, land entitlement, and project execution.
- Don Lamb of Lebanon – Farmer and Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Former Board of Directors
- Dominic Grote – President and CEO of Grote Industries, a vehicle lighting and safety systems manufacturing company, and former President of the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute.
- Michael Kubacki – Executive Chairman and former CEO of Lake City Bank and Lakeland Financial Corp.
- Sue McCloskey – Co-founder of Fair Oaks Farms.
- Fred Merritt – President and founder of LFM Investments, an investment holding company, and Co-Owner of Indy Eleven.
- Mark Miles – President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. and former President and CEO of Hulman & Company.
- Amy Schumacher – CEO of The Heritage Group and former President of Monument Chemical.
- John Thompson – Chairman and CEO of Thompson Distribution Company, Inc.; First Electric Supply Company, LLC; Consulting Management Inspection Design, Inc. (CMID); and BC-SESCO.
- Linda White – President and CEO of Deaconess Health System and Board of Directors member for the University of Evansville, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Old National Bancorp.
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/indiana-economic-development-board-appointments.