500 Festival Foundation Elects Officers
Al Wurster and Scott Thiems
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe 500 Festival Foundation has elected officers for its 2017-2018 board of trustees. Additionally, three new civic and business leaders were appointed to the 500 Festival Foundation’s board.
Serving as the governing body of the 500 Festival Foundation, the board of trustees is comprised of 22 community leaders. The board guides the strategic vision of the 500 Festival Foundation and its members act as trustees, representing the organization within the community. Committed to supporting the 500 Festival, members serve on various committees that support the 500 Festival’s youth initiatives, education programs and scholarships.
Elected officers for 2017-2018:
• Chairman: Al Wurster (pictured), president, Wurster Construction
• Vice Chairman: Scott Thiems (pictured), executive vice president business banking, Regions Bank (retired)
New additions to the board of trustees:
• Nadine Givens: senior vice president/director of wealth management, PNC
Givens started her banking career with the Northern Trust Co., in Chicago. She met a Hoosier in her training program, who became her husband. Upon visiting, she fell in love with Indianapolis and convinced him to move in 1988 when she joined Indiana National Bank. Givens has spent her career in financial services. She is passionate about making a difference, in her adopted community of Indiana, for her employees and the clients they serve. Givens is a racing fan loving to introduce first timers to the spectacle most every year. She has been a longtime 500 Festival supporter and served on the 500 Festival board of directors from 2004-2010.
• Frank Hancock: president, Sport Graphics
Sport Graphics was founded in Indianapolis in 1986 by Frank and Linda Hancock. The idea was simple: serve as the go-to resource to the city’s many professional and amateur sports events. They soon realized something important; the hustle, the dedication, and the quality that worked well in sports-crazed Indianapolis also worked well for other clients across North America. In the years that followed, Sport Graphics grew into a multifaceted company offering project management, project planning, creative, production, installation and logistics. Hancock’s organization has now branched outside the sports industry to work with a wide variety of clients. He served on the 500 Festival Board of Directors from 2006-2012 and his company has been a 500 Festival Corporate Member for many years.
• Pat Kennedy: president, Kennedy Tank and Manufacturing Co., Inc.
He started his career with Kennedy Tank and Manufacturing, in 1978. In 1993 he became the fourth generation Kennedy family member to lead the family-owned businesses (Southern Tank & Mfg. Co.- Owensboro, KY. & Steel Tank & fabricating Corp.-Columbia City, IN.) as its president. Today, Kennedy Tank and Manufacturing manufactures custom fabricated steel tanks and vessels and under his leadership, Kennedy Tank has expanded capacities significantly. Kennedy is a racing enthusiast and has authored several books on the Indianapolis 500. He served on the 500 Festival Board of Directors from 2001-2007 and was chair of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon committee for several years.