Indiana 250 Off the Record

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 challenges.  

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 airport hotel. Mario also gives insights into the challenges of airport leadership particularly in the face of natural disasters such as his experience during Hurricane Katrina while in New Orleans and navigating the COVID pandemic.

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 congressional campaign. 

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Marianne Glick, a prominent Indianapolis philanthropist, businesswoman, and artist. The discussion revolves around the Glick family’s philanthropic initiatives, including the impactful TeenWorks program, the Housing Foundation, Glick Training Associates, and her recent gift and involvement with the Founders College at Butler University. Marianne shares insights into her upbringing, her first experiences in her family’s business, and her path to continuing her family's legacy. Marianne also discusses her passion for art, and her contributions to public art in Indianapolis including the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the Glick Peace Walk. 

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with the 48th Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence. The discussion takes a deep dive into Pence’s extensive career in politics, highlighting key moments from his years in congress, as governor of Indiana and as Vice President of the United States.  He discusses in-depth the defining days and hours leading up to his certification of the 2020 election results, as well as his experiences working with President Donald Trump.   We also delve into the current state of the Republican party and its future.  The conversation also touches on Vice President Pence's personal life, his proudest moments in office and his experiences with the Secret Service. Vice President Pence shares his guiding principles and leadership lessons that couldn’t be more timely given today’s tumultuous political environment.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Christopher 'Toph' Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures. Toph shares his journey from growing up on a farm outside Lafayette, Indiana to becoming a serial entrepreneur, co-founding a number of successful businesses across multiple sectors while establishing himself as a leader in the venture capital space. Toph takes a deep dive into his entrepreneurial experiences, the pivotal role of partnerships, and what drew him to Elevate Ventures, one of the most active venture capital firms in the country.  The discussion also touches on Rally, a three-day global innovation conference, highlighting its $5 million pitch competition.  Toph also shares insights on the current entrepreneurial climate, ideas for driving the state forward, and why he refers to Indiana as the innovation capital of the world.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Jim Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Old National Bank, the largest bank headquartered in Indiana.  Jim discusses his leadership style and Old National Bank’s acquisition strategy which has propelled them to one of the largest banks in America under Jim’s leadership.  Jim shares insights into his journey from an intern to CEO, emphasizing the importance of communication and relationship building, company culture and values. The conversation also touches on Jim’s leadership in the Evansville region, including significant economic development initiatives such a riverfront development and his view of how Indiana can continue to grow and thrive.  And you’ll learn about Jim’s dream of completing the 6,000-mile Great Loop!

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Claire Fiddian-Green, President and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. Claire highlights the Foundation’s history and mission and takes a deep dive into specific current initiatives such as establishing a youth apprenticeship program, CEMETS iLab, and College Matters, all designed to improve education and workforce outcomes amid challenging trends.  Their discussion also touches on the Foundation’s focus on Hoosiers’ health, the opioid crisis, and the development of programs around treatment and prevention.  Claire also shares her journey from South Africa to Indiana, her diverse career including stints in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors, as well as her extensive engagement in the community and philosophy on leadership, service, and work life balance.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Scott Davison, President and CEO of OneAmerica. Scott shares his passion and decades of experience with swimming, ultimately leading to his current role as co-chair of the 2024 US Olympic Swimming Team Trials taking place in Indianapolis this month.  Scott takes a deep dive into the preparations in and around Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as all the activities happening downtown in connection with the Swimming Trials, expecting to bring in a quarter of a million people and $100 million of economic impact. Scott discusses the long history of Indiana’s swimming culture and the Legacy Project taking place in conjunction with the Swimming Trials, having a multigenerational impact on Hoosiers for years to come.  The discussion also delves into Scott’s extensive experience in the insurance industry, his leadership at OneAmerica, and his philanthropic efforts such as the Personalized Learning Center at Marion University.