129th Beefsteak Dinner

First Course – Shrimp, Crab, and Avocado Napoleon with Parmesan Cheese Crisps

Second Course – Filet with Truffled Demi-Glace served with Roasted Garlic Whipped Potatoes and Brussels with Bacon Jam

Third Course – Pavlova with Cheesecake Mousse, Macerated Strawberries, and Fresh Cream

James B. Rentschler

John R. von Arx III is President & CEO at Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana, an affiliate of a national, non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to helping people in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.

John establishes vision and provides strategic leadership and overall direction of the $90m nonprofit organization. He leads with empathy and optimism in providing health, housing, and human services to more than 11,000 individuals each year.

He oversees the development and administration of financial operations, program activities, advocacy, resource development, and social enterprises, with over 1,000 employees across the two-state organization. He’s dedicated to helping people thrive and creating healthy communities for all.

John also has an extensive record of service in both the public and private sector. His prior public sector experience includes serving as the first head of the state’s largest community corrections agency, superintendent of the state’s largest juvenile detention center, two-term elected Auditor of Marion County, and serving on the staff of former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as the justice and public safety policy director.  As a result, John gained valuable leadership experience in solving various human services, fiscal, justice, and public safety related policy challenges throughout Indiana.

In the private sector with national advisory and consulting firms KPMG LLP and Crowe Horwath LLP, John provided expertise in government operations, finance, and strategic planning. He developed and managed a justice and public safety consulting practice focusing on local criminal justice system analytics, and process improvement.

John also served full time on the faculty at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) as an instructor of public management and policy for the School of Public/Environmental Affairs.

All public and private sector positions demanded innovative and collaborative relationships with business, community, and multi-agency groups that often-included entities with divergent interests and philosophies.

Eric J. Holcomb, 51st Governor of the State of Indiana, is a lifelong Hoosier and veteran of the U.S. Navy. Elected by his fellow Hoosiers to a second term in 2020, he received the most votes for governor in Indiana history.

Earning a reputation as a pragmatic consensus builder, Holcomb frequently travels throughout the state, visiting with Hoosiers about how to make Indiana the best place in the world to live, work, study, play and stay. Under Holcomb’s leadership, Indiana’s economy is strong, the state’s finances are honestly balanced, and the state is streamlining government services and returning dollars to Hoosier taxpayers, while simultaneously delivering significant investments and advancements in infrastructure, education, workforce, quality of life and public health.

During Holcomb’s terms, Indiana employees and employers are enjoying consecutive recordbreaking years of job commitments. In 2022, companies committed a record-breaking $22 billion in capital investment. Actively seeking to build global relationships and attract investments in Indiana’s economic growth, Holcomb has made 14 international trips as governor, visiting more than 20 nations.

Maintaining Indiana’s “Crossroads of America” infrastructure and strengthening Indiana’s connections between our communities is a top priority for Holcomb. He implemented a long-term, fully-funded 20-year, $60 billion Next Level Roads program. In 2019 and again in 2022, CNBC ranked Indiana number one in the nation for infrastructure.

Holcomb has worked to align Indiana’s K-12, higher education, workforce and economic development efforts to empower Hoosiers with the necessary skills to succeed in the economy of the future. He signed into law historic, increased investments in education, including a record $1.9 billion in new funding for education in the current budget. He unveiled the Next Level Jobs program to prepare and connect more Hoosiers to high-demand, high-wage careers.

Holcomb created the Governor’s Public Health Commission in 2021 to study and make recommendations about how Indiana can improve the delivery of public health services throughout the state. For his efforts in the public health arena and focus on helping Hoosiers with substance use disorder recover, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation honored him with the Circle of Hope Award in 2019.

Holcomb serves on the Executive Committee of the Republican Governors Association and previously served as its policy chairman. In 2018, The Hill named him one of ten governors shaping the future of politics. An article in Governing magazine read, “Indiana’s governor doesn’t scream, doesn’t threaten, and doesn’t even complain. He just wins.”

A lifelong basketball fan, Holcomb has made a basket in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. A collector of presidential signatures, he has documents signed by every U.S. president. He is a graduate of Pike High School in Indianapolis and Hanover College in southeastern Indiana. Prior to his election as Governor in 2016, following an unprecedented 106-day campaign, Holcomb served as Indiana’s 51st Lieutenant Governor.

Holcomb and his wife, Janet, live with their Miniature Schnauzer, Henry, and cat, Topper, in the Governor’s Residence in Indianapolis.

– 25 YEAR COLUMBIANS –

Mr. David Burtner and Mrs. Jodi Burtner
Judge David Certo and Mrs. Megan Certo
Mr. Frederick Cuthbert II and Mrs. Patricia Cuthbert
Mr. Norman Edwards
Mr. Daniel Evans Jr. and Mrs. Marilyn Evans
Mrs. Carolyn Fox
Mrs. Mary  Gallagher
Mr. Bartholomew Giesler and Mrs. Amy Giesler
Mr. James Graham and Mrs. Roberta Graham
Mrs. Josie Henneke and Mr. Carroll Henneke
Mr. Craig Huse and Mrs. Jill Huse
Mr. Robert Johnstone II
Mr. J.  Marshall and Mrs. Elizabeth Marshall
Mr. Brett McKamey  and Mrs.  Judi McKamey
Mr. John Miller and Mrs. Grace Miller
Mr. Timothy  Murphy  and Mrs. Leslie Murphy
Mr. William Oesterle and Mrs. Kristi Oesterle
Mrs. Henry Olivier
Mrs. Phyllis Rees
Mr.  Andrew Soshnick and Mrs. Brenda Soshnick
Mr. K. Striebel
Mr. Paul Thrift and Mrs. Angela Thrift
Mr. Charles Walker and Mrs. Rebecca Walker
Mrs. Lisa Winship

– 50 YEAR COLUMBIANS –

Mr. Ralph Anderson and Mrs. Mary Anderson
Mr. Russell Bauman and Mrs. Janice Bauman
Mr. Jay DeVoss and Mrs. Susan DeVoss
Mr. Gordon Goss and Mrs. Patty Goss
Mr. Bruce Melchert and Mrs. Jeanne Melchert
Mr. William Powers and Mrs. Susan Powers
Mr. Robert Sauer
Mr. George Sowers IV and Mrs. Marilyn Sowers
Mr. Roger Young and Mrs. Pamela Young

– BOARD OF DIRECTORS –

William Barrett, President
Anne Hathaway, Vice President
Tom Rector, Treasurer
Gregory Goode, Secretary

John P. McGoff, M.D.
Lou Hensley III
Greg Fuller
Andrew House
James Ittenbach
Chuck Pennington
Simon Robinson
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

2021 & 2020 – John P. McGoff, M.D.
2019 & 2018 – James Ittenbach
2017 & 2016 – William E. Butler
2015 & 2014- Josie A. Henneke
2011 & 2010 – Miles D. Schroeder
2008 – Gregory L. Harris
2007 – Judge David Certo
2004 – J. Allan Hall
2003 – John P. Whiteman
2000 – Cynthia J. Barker
1999 – Sydney L. Steele
1998 – Clifford R. Snedeker
1997 – Judge Thomas G. Fisher
1996 – John C. Green
1995 – Judith Grace Palmer
1994 – Fred L. Armstrong
1993 – Richard R. Skiles
1990 – Bruce B. Melchert
1975 – J. Albert Smith, Jr.
1987 & 1984 – Frederic C. Sipe
1982 – William B. Powers