Indiana 250: Off the Record with Nate Feltman

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 Opportunity College and University. He also weighs in on the enrollment challenges facing higher education, the value of a college degree and why he believes the current college sports financial model is unsustainable.

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 & Izzy’s first location outside Indiana is opening in Scottsdale, Arizona and what it means to steward a brand he sees as part of Indianapolis.

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.

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.

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 from leading the $400 million Gainbridge Fieldhouse renovation and discusses plans for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center now under construction downtown.

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 new ownership under the Irsay daughters. Get a rare insider look at four decades of football, leadership, and community-building in Indiana.

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 on a role in the Trump administration.

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 shares her take on modern political discourse, the future of women in leadership and why she believes saying yes and showing up can transform a career.

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 build and grow. Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

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 how her leadership is rooted in urgency and personal mentorship. Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

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 Randall Shepard, moving into private practice, and then launching the in-house legal department at Endress+Hauser. Start your dollar a week trial now at ⁠IBJ.com/trialoffer⁠ Check out our event lineup and register now at ⁠IBJ.com/Register ⁠ Discover which programs are accepting nominations now at ⁠IBJ.com/Nominate⁠

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 Alpha. He also discusses his commitment to education through his nonprofit Nextech and the importance of civic engagement. Facebook: facebook.com/IBJMediaGroup X: x.com/ibj_media Instagram: Instagram.com/ibjmedia LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ibjmedia IBJ Media: https://www.ibjmedia.com/ Indiana 250 website: https://www.indiana250.com/

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. DiMarchi shares insights into his career journey, the impact of mentorship, the future of biotechnology, and the essential role of diversity and innovation in advancing medical research.