The Indiana Federation of Republican Women (IFRW) held not only its 42nd Tribute to Women, but also a celebration of IFRW’s 85th birthday last Friday at the Ritz Charles, 12156 N. Meridian St., Carmel. The festivities included two very significant awards for Hamilton County Republican Women (HCRW) members and “The (Short) Birthday Song” led by Attorney General Todd Rokita and Congresswoman Erin Houchin.
This year’s HCRW Woman of the Year is none other than Noblesville’s own Adrienne Rogers and this year’s IFRW woman of the year is Congresswoman Victoria Spartz.
Republican women’s clubs began many years before women even had the right to vote. The 1872 Republican Platform mentioned the importance of women to the relatively new Republican Party. Inspired by this recognition, Republican women began organizing themselves into local clubs, the oldest founded in Salt Lake City in the late 1800s.
In 1938, Indiana was among the first 11 charter states of the National Federation of Republican Women. At that time there were still three states (Maryland, Virginia, and Alabama) that had not yet ratified the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.
About Victoria Spartz
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz immigrated to the United States in 2000 after meeting her husband Jason, a born and raised Hoosier, on a train in Europe. She became a U.S. citizen and worked her way up from being a bank teller to a CPA, finance executive, successful business owner, Indiana State Senator, to a United States Congresswoman representing Indiana’s Fifth District.
Growing up in Ukraine molded her conservative political philosophy that limited government is better, and financial and healthcare decisions should be made in the free market by individuals, not bureaucrats.
Spartz worked in Big 4 public accounting firms for Fortune 500 companies, was an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and served as CFO at the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. She started several businesses in financial consulting, farming, and real estate. She earned her Bachelor of International Economics and Master of Business Administration from the National University of Economics in Ukraine; her Master of Professional Accountancy from Indiana University Kelley School of Business as Valedictorian Scholastic Award recipient; and completed Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program on health care.
Spartz has supported numerous charitable causes and political campaigns and served on many boards, including terms as President of the Hamilton County Republican Women and Vice-Chairman of Hamilton County Republican Party. She was recognized as Hamilton County Republican Woman of the Year, 5th District Republican Woman of the Year, GOPAC Emerging Leader, CPA Society Emerging Leader, the Indiana Association of Realtor’s Hoosier Life Member Award recipient, Indianapolis Super Bowl Ambassador, and Lacy Leadership Program graduate.
As a member of Congress, Spartz serves on the U.S. House Judiciary committee, Regional Policy Chair of the Republican Policy Committee, and is a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. She and her husband Jason reside in Noblesville with their two daughters.
About Adrienne Rogers
The daughter of a U.S. Army Artillery Captain, Adrienne Rogers moved annually for most of her “growing up” years, coming to Indiana from Ft. Sill, Okla. With her father working for the Commander-in-Chief, politics could not be part of her military family life since soldiers are duty-bound to protect and serve all Americans without regard to partisan beliefs.
Rogers learned about politics from Rep. Richard Dellinger, her Noblesville High School government teacher and longtime Republican legislator who taught her the fundamental differences between the two political parties.
In 1992, Rogers learned grass roots politics the fun, hands-on way by helping make phone calls for Luke Kenley’s State Senate campaign. Taking pages ripped out of phone books from the incumbent’s home town, she dialed numbers on push button landline telephones, explaining to people why Kenley was the better candidate. Today, she is the District Operations Manager for Congresswoman Victoria Spartz
Rogers prides herself in always having voted Republican because of her belief in the party’s core values. She has worked on multiple campaigns through the years, has worked for the GOP as a Precinct Committeewoman, and currently serves as HCRW Vice President.
Reporter photos by Stu Clampitt