BENJAMIN HARRISON MEDALLION FOR EXCELLENCE – PRIVATE SECTOR

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.

Dennis Murphy is president and chief executive office of IU Health, the largest integrated healthcare system in Indiana and one of the largest in the country, with over 36,000 employees, $6.5B in revenue, and provides approximately 30% of all care delivered in the state through its 16 hospitals, over 400 clinical sites, and a growing number of home-based and telemedicine services.

He joined IU Health in 2013 as chief operating officer and has guided IU Health as it seeks to fulfill its vision of making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the country. This goal will ideally be achieved through the provision of high-quality destination health programs, building value-based care constructs with payors and employers, and addressing underlying impediments to health through community health programs. This vision will be driven by a collective culture that fosters purpose, excellence, compassion, and teamwork.

Dennis has spent his career at academic health centers, with previous leadership positions at Northwestern Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

A native of Chicago, Murphy earned a bachelor of arts degree from University of Notre Dame and a master of healthcare administration degree from Duke University. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.

Murphy serves on the boards of Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, 500 Festival, Indiana Hospital Association, IU Health Foundation, Riley Children’s Foundation, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), National Bank of Indianapolis, and Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE). Murphy has chaired the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Transparency Task Force since 2019.

Murphy lives in Carmel, IN. with his wife and children

He made a million dollars before his 26th birthday and spent it all – not on himself or his family – but on a cause. Before age 30 he “had the ear” of Senators, Industrial Giants, University Presidents and entry into Congressional Hearings, Union Halls and the Boardrooms of America. A peasant invited to dine with aristocracy, Brian Bex is the American version of the commoner in the company of royalty, where an individual is judged on merit, not birth.

Once described by an IRS agent as an anachronism. The dictionary defines the word as anything not conforming in point of time with its surroundings. Another described him as a modern day curmudgeon: one who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so, plus the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging manner.

A rare combination, the true epitome of the American dream. From his maternal lineage, a decedent of Webster, while paternal roots trace to those who opened the American frontier. From Phi Beta Kappa to dirt farmer, Brian Bex’s mold was forged in thoughtful fire and cast from a compound of coal and gold.

Tempered by accepted crisis, enveloped in an environment of freedom, his vocation for the Dignity of Man continues to seed future forests of American individualism uncommon to the world. The German poet Goethe wrote: “To think is easy, to act is hard, but the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.” This is an individual truly as Goethe wrote. Reviled by some, an enigma to many, envied by most and neutral to none, Brian Bex would share his “best of both worlds” with you.

But you’d best hand on!

When I saw him of whom I shall now speak as the world still vanished when memory recalls the scene. It is Brian Bex of whom I now wish to tell you, and who made me forget the world and its obsessions; I am still in my youth, it is true, but I am not mistaken when I say – what no one, perhaps now understands and believes – he stalks far ahead of the culture of his time.

– An American College Student

After listening to Brian Bex’s address, I was filled with a deep sense of pride and love for the United States. His comments at Convocation gave me a feeling of hope for my future and that of America’s in general. Another idea he emphasized was the need for mutual respect among all people. It is vital for us to understand that each member of society is equally important. Each job performed in our society, regardless of how menial it may seem, is needed for the entire well-being of our Nation as a whole. As more American citizens comprehend this concept, the country’s future will appear brighter. Brian Bex’s address also appealed to me in a more personal sense. As a senior in high school, I am confronted with many choices to make in respect to my future. I naturally want to reach the highest level of success that I am capable of attaining. His challenge that day to all of us, but to me specifically, reminded me of the words of the American poet, Louis Untermeyer:

“Ever insurgent let me be

Make me more daring than devout:

From sleek contentment keep me free,

And fill me with a buoyant doubt.

From compromise and things half done,

Keep me, with stern and stubborn pride:

And when, at last, the right is won,

God keep me still unsatisfied.”

Brian Bex, not in those words but in his, said that to me and for that I am grateful.

– An American High School Student

Reverend Charles R. Harrison is the senior pastor of Barnes United Methodist Church and has been in the ministry for twenty years. He is a native of Jeffersonville, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University, where he earned a degree in Religious Studies and attended Methodist Theological School, where he received his Masters of Divinity.

Rev. Harrison began his career in 1984 at Wiley United Methodist Church in Springfield, Ohio, as a Student Associate Minister. He served as a Student Pastor of Lee Avenue United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio in 1985. He became the Pastor of Wiley United Methodist Church in New Castle, Indiana in 1986. In 1993 he became the pastor of Barnes United Methodist Church where he currently serves as the Senior Pastor.

Rev. Harrison has been actively involved in community affairs. In 1986, he was an intricate part in the hiring of the first Afro-American police officer and two firemen for the city of New Castle. He currently is the President of the Board of Directors for Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition and he is a chaplain for the Indiana State Police. He is currently a member of the following Board of Directors: Metro Ministry, Board of Ordain Ministry of the South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church and the District Board of Ordain Ministry Indianapolis West District. He is also a member of the Ministers on the Move. Rev. Harrison was also a member of the following Board of Directors: Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center and Mapleton Fall Creek Neighborhood Association.

His awards and recognitions include: Ecumenical Service Award, Denman Evangelism Award (South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award, Sagamore of the Wabash (1993 & 2015), The Distinguished Hoosier Award, Howard Thurman Preaching Award, Circle City Frontier Drum Major Award in Religion, and the Distinguished Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award.

Pastor Charles R. Harrison is married to Fawn Porter-Harrison, and they are the parents of Terrell , Shayla, Jeremy’on and Jaylyn.

James Morris is in his eleventh year with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and his third year as the franchise’s vice chairman.

Morris joined Pacers Sports & Entertainment in 2007 as a special advisor to then CEO/President Donnie Walsh and was named president, April 16, 2008. A graduate of Indiana University with a master’s degree from Butler University, Morris has spent much of his life in Indianapolis in a variety of key positions. He started with American Fletcher National Bank in 1965 and from 1967-73 served former Mayor Richard G. Lugar as chief of staff. In 1973, he went to the Lilly Endowment, serving as its president from 1984-88 and from 1989-2002; he was the chairman and chief executive officer for IWC Resources Corporation and Indianapolis Water Company.

Before joining Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Morris was the executive director for five years for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) where he led the world’s largest humanitarian agency. That took him to many struggling parts of the world as he worked on behalf of the hungry and poor, particularly children. He also served as the Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the humanitarian crisis in southern Africa during those same years.

Morris has received many honors, including seventeen honorary degrees. His public service includes serving as a trustee and board chairman for both Indiana State University and Indiana University. He serves on the national advisory board for the Boy Scouts of America, was treasurer of the US Olympic Committee and currently as treasurer of the US Gymnastics Federation, chairman emeritus of the board for Riley Children’s Foundation, and has been a member of the board of governors of the American Red Cross. He serves on the boards of One America, Old National Bank, Hulman & Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Elanco, Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Eiteljorg Museum board and the Indianapolis Power and Light advisory board.

Morris is happily married to Jackie and they have three children, eight grandchildren, and two wonderful King Charles Cavalier puppies, Buster and Lucy.

Columbian Phillip A. Terry has been the CEO of Monarch Beverage Company, EF Transit, Inc., and Vision Concepts, LLC since 1991.

Before joining Monarch Beverage Company he spent five years as an Associate and 10 years as a partner of McHale, Cook & Welch, p.c.

Mr. Terry earned a bachelors from Indiana University in 1973 and a law degree in 1976 from Indiana University School of Law Indianapolis.

Mr. Terry has been active in the Indianapolis community serving on various boards: Board of Directors, Wheaton World Wide Moving, Inc.; Board of Directors, Citizens Energy, Inc.; Board of Trustees and Secretary, University of Indianapolis; Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Indy Chamber; Board of Directors and Secretary, The Julian Center; Board of Directors, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership; Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Visit Indy and the Board of Visitors, Child Advocates of Marion County.

Chris Baggott is an entrepreneur, speaker, author and award-winning innovator across multiple industries. He became a leader in the marketing software technology field by co-founding the email marketing platforms ExactTarget and Compendium, ultimately selling both companies to publicly traded corporations. 

In 2011, Chris founded Tyner Pond Farm to provide Indiana consumers with sustainably produced beef, pork, chicken, and lamb raised on open pasture.  Much like his effect on the content marketing field, Chris has impacted the local food movement in exceptional ways.  He co-founded Husk Foods, a grower, producer, processor, and distributor of local non-GMO vegetables, ClusterTruck, an Internet-only ordering hub for popular local food truck menu items delivered directly to customers, and The Mug, a small farm-to-table restaurant in Greenfield, IN. Chris is an appointed member of the Indiana Grown Commission. 

Indiana Grown is a government program to promote foods produced within the state and educate Hoosiers on the positive impacts of choosing local foods.  Most recently, he was honored as the 2015 Trailblazer in Technology by TechPoint, Indiana’s technology growth initiative. He authored Email Marketing by the Numbers and most recently presented at the TEDx Indianapolis 2015 event. A native of Pittsburgh, Chris now resides near Indianapolis with his wife and four children.

Marsh Davis is President of Indiana Landmarks, the nation’s largest statewide preservation organization, with a membership exceeding 6,000 and a network of field offices throughout Indiana. An Indiana native, Davis holds a B.A. in history from Butler University and an M.S. in historic preservation from Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning. Prior to being named president of Indiana Landmarks, he served as Executive Director of the Galveston Historical Foundation, one of America’s largest and oldest historic preservation organizations, a position he held until 2006.

As a photographer, Davis teamed with writer Bill Shaw to produce the book 99 Historic Homes of Indiana: A Look Inside, co-published byIndiana University Press and Indiana Landmarks. He has served as a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For his work in historic preservation, Davis was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Frank O’Bannon.

Davis lives with his wife, Grace, in the 1873 Kemper House in Indianapolis’ historic St. Joseph neighborhood. They have two daughters who live in Texas and New York.

Mark D. Miles is Chief Executive Officer of Hulman & Company, comprised of Clabber Girl, Georgetown Realty, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, INDYCAR, IMS Productions, and various other business entities.

Prior to joining Hulman, from January 2006 through 2012, Miles was President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Inc. (“CICP”), a non-profit, regional alliance of corporate CEOs and university presidents focused on long-term growth and economic development throughout the Central Indiana region, including strategic priorities as wide-ranging as human capital (education), entrepreneurship and innovation, government reform, and mass transit.

In 2008, Miles led a successful effort to earn Indianapolis the right to host Super Bowl XLVI. He was Chairman of the Board of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee, with 18 staff members and thousands of volunteers, and which served as an extension of the National Football League in the local community to centralize planning and execution of the 2012 Super Bowl event.

In conjunction with the 2012 Super Bowl, Miles spearheaded a civic effort to effect positive change throughout the surrounding community. Known as the Legacy Project, the resulting work done on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis created a lasting legacy and impact far beyond game week – with special emphasis on Youth Education Town and revitalization of the East 10th Street business district.

From August 1990 through 2005, Miles was Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Tennis Professionals (“ATP”). While there, Miles built the ATP into a world-class, professional organization, stabilized a sport that was struggling to compete with other sports and entertainment entities, posted impressive revenue gains, launched innovative marketing initiatives, and expanded its global presence through successful events in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Allison Melangton returned to Indiana Sports Corporation as president on September 1, 2012 after serving as CEO and president of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee since 2008.

Widely regarded as the most engaging and successfully organized Super Bowl in history, Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis featured the Super Bowl Village, which drew more than 1.1 million people to downtown Indianapolis; $154 million of investment in the city’s Near Eastside through the Legacy Project; more than 8,000 volunteers serving in a variety of roles; and community, youth and green initiatives that impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals.

Melangton served on the Indiana Sports Corporation staff from 1994 through 2008, most recently as Indiana Sports Corp’s Senior Vice President of Events. She oversaw Indiana Sports Corp’s bid selection process and directed Indiana Sports Corp’s bid presentations for those events. She has directed numerous national and international events, including Olympic Trials, World Championships, NCAA Women’s Final Fours, and Big Ten Basketball Tournaments. In this role, Melangton led the bid effort that won Indianapolis the right to host Super Bowl XLVI.

Melangton is a graduate of Colorado State University with a bachelor of arts in Sports Administration. Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Melangton directed national and international events for 11 years for Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. Melangton also worked at eight Olympic Games, the last five as an Associate Producer for the gymnastics broadcast by NBC Sports, the most recent the 2012 summer games in London. She has won four Emmy Awards for her work. Allison is a native of Auburn, Maine, and has been an Indiana resident for over 25 years. Allison and her husband Tom have been married 25 years and have been members of The Columbia Club for over a year. They have one son, Cameron, who is a freshman at Ball State University.