Business, community leaders honored at Indiana 250 event
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIBJ Media last week unveiled its 2024 Indiana 250, honoring the most influential and impactful leaders in business education, philanthropy, arts and government throughout the state.
The honorees were recognized at an event at Salesforce Tower in downtown Indianapolis that featured remarks from former Vice President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who called making the list a “big deal.”
“It means your work has transcended the ordinary,” Pence said. “It’s touched lives for countless Hoosiers from the entrepreneurs who build thriving businesses and philanthropist who dedicated their lives serving others.”
Hosted by IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman, the event included the unveiling of the cover of the Indiana 250 publication. Feltman said the most important criteria in determining the list was community engagement and doing something beyond just your company.
“We’re showcasing how they engage in the community, how they help lead our state how they help lead in their regions across the state,” said Feltman. “And we think it’s important as a company, as IBJ Media, to uplift these people that can be examples to young people who are thinking about how they’re going to lead and ways to climb the ladders that they want to climb.”
Among the honorees featured on the cover is Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines, who has been a key player in driving big sports dollars into the Hoosier State.
“I think it speaks to our community,” said Raines. “We’re a team for the city and the state. We’re the Indiana Pacers, not the Indianapolis Pacers, and to see this group of amazing individuals from literally every inch of our state come together and what we can achieve collectively is really inspiring.”
Jim Ryan, CEO of Evansville-based Old National Bank said being included in the Indiana 250 is an honor for him and his company.
“We are so proud to be headquartered in Evansville, Indiana for 190 years,” Ryan said. “And so I just think this is an extension of the celebration of all the great work that all the great businesses and nonprofits and government sector work due each and every year.”
The other honorees featured on this year’s cover are Mali Bacon of Indianapolis-based GangGang; Christina Moungey, managing director of the Indiana Ohio region for JPMorgan Chase; Fort Wayne entrepreneur Chuck Surack; Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez; and Penske Entertainment’s Jimmie McMillian.
“We’re not just celebrating people that accomplish great things in business,” Pence said. “We’re celebrating people who have taken that success and then use that to pour into the lives of the people around them, who have carried the yourselves in such a way as to inspire the people of this state to aim higher. And in Indiana in that respect is unique and special.”
The former vice president also spoke at length about a man who inspired guided and propelled many of the leaders on the Indiana 250 list: Jim Morris, who passed away earlier this month after serving as one of its central Indiana’s most influential business and civic leaders.
“It broke our hearts. None of us is promised tomorrow, but there are a few people in my life that I’ve always hoped would have more tomorrows before mine came to an end, and one of them was Jim Morris,” said Pence.
You can view the full Indiana 250 list by clicking here.