Governor Mike Braun announces three new appointments

Submitted by Office of the Governor

On Friday, Governor Mike Braun announced the appointments of Lyndsay Quist as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Warren Lenard as Director of the Indiana Office of Technology (IOT), and Jennifer Ruby as Indiana’s Public Access Counselor, a role dedicated to ensuring transparency in government.

The INDOT and IOT appointments are effective Monday, March 31.

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The INDOT Commissioner oversees the planning, building, and maintenance of safe and innovative transportation infrastructure that enhances quality of life, drives economic growth, and accommodates new modes of transport.

“As the crossroads of America, our roads and transportation are critical for driving economic growth in our state,” Gov. Braun said. “Lyndsay Quist’s experience of over a decade with INDOT as well as her experience as an engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared her well to step into this role and serve Hoosiers.”

Quist was appointed Deputy Commissioner Capital Program Management in May 2022. As Deputy Commissioner of Capital Program Management, she led the Capital Program, Local Program, Major Projects, Special Projects, Environmental, Engineering, Asset Management, Right-of-Way Services, Multimodal, and Innovation. She has served in multiple roles with INDOT since 2013.

Before joining INDOT, Quist began her career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the New Orleans District in Louisiana. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University.

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The IOT Director oversees efforts to consolidate IT organizations across Indiana state government with the goal of providing great service at a low cost.

“IOT works behind the scenes to keep state government afloat and operational,” Gov. Braun said. “I am excited to announce that Warren Lenard will serve as the next Director of the Indiana Office of Technology. His private sector experience brings the type of entrepreneurial mindset that our state government so desperately needs.”

Lenard has most recently served as the Chief Operations and Information Officer for Byrider Auto Sales in Carmel and as the VP of Technology and Operations for JD Sports Finish Line in Indianapolis.

Lenard is a highly experienced Information Technology leader and executive officer that has successfully rebuilt and elevated organizations through people development and mentorship, brand and reputation rebuilding, and the establishment of key business partnerships across multiple industries including retail, entertainment & media, legal and financial services.

Lenard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from Stony Brook University.

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Indiana’s Public Access Counselor is responsible for ensuring transparency in government by responding to public inquiries, educating citizens about public access laws, issuing advisory opinions, assisting state officials in complying with public access law, and making recommendations to the General Assembly on how to improve our citizens’ access to our state and local government.

“Transparency for Hoosiers is important for a healthy state government, and Jennifer Ruby brings decades of legal expertise to serve Hoosiers as Public Access Counselor,” Gov. Braun said. “She will do a great job promoting public trust through transparency and accountability.”

In addition to her extensive legal experience as an attorney and mediator, Ruby is also an entrepreneur who built her legal practice in Indianapolis over 20 years. She has almost 15 years of experience in state and local government, serving the State of Indiana, the State of New Mexico, and the Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Ruby holds Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Indiana University (IU) McKinney School of Law, a Master of Planning from the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Purdue University. She admitted to practice law in Indiana and New Mexico and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

“I’m honored to be selected by Governor Braun to serve as Hoosiers’ Public Access Counselor and uphold the values of government transparency and accountability,” Jennifer Ruby, AICP, JD, said. “Public access is essential for effective governance, and I look forward to serving our state in this role.”

Ruby and her husband Michael have two children and reside in Indianapolis.