Benjamin Harrison Medallion For Excellence – Public Sector

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.

Sherry Seiwert joined Downtown Indy, Inc. (DII) as the President in August of 2012. DII is a not-for-profit, civic organization strategically focused on developing, managing, marketing and activating Downtown Indianapolis. In 2020, Sherry formed a business ownership and civic leadership coalition named the Downtown Recovery Committee to stabilize and commence the recovery of Downtown Indianapolis amidst the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.

Prior to joining DII, Sherry served nearly eight years as the Executive Director for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for the State of Indiana.

For the past 25 years Sherry has served in leadership roles including working as an administrator for the City of Indianapolis as well as Program Director for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Sherry currently serves on several boards including the International Downtown Association, Corporation for Supportive Housing, the Economic Club of Indiana, the Indianapolis Housing Authority, and has provides ongoing leadership to the Coalition for Homeless Intervention and Prevention.

Sherry is a lifetime resident of Indianapolis and a graduate of Indiana University. She and her husband Andy have a college-aged daughter, Katy.

Constance Sherman has devoted her professional career of more than 35 years to the St. Mary’s Child Center. St. Mary’s Child Center was established over fifty years ago to serve Indianapolis children born in poverty. With the support of “Godparents”, the school has grown from the basement of St. Mary’s church to encompass three facilities, serving more than 250 at-risk youth.

Constance began her career at St. Mary’s Child Center as a speech pathologist. For the past 18 years she has been the Director of the early childhood program and the Executive Director of the organization.

St. Mary’s Child Center is for children ranging from three to five years old without any consideration of race, color, religion, national origin or socioeconomic background. The children are involved in the highest quality early learning experiences. The Centers work facilitates cognitive, social, emotional, physical and creative development. The children are ready for Kindergarten when they complete their program. St. Mary’s teaches their children to thrive in environments staffed with highly qualified and dedicated educators. Educators from St. Mary’s have studied in Reggio Emilia, Italy and collaborated with educators around the world. St. Mary’s offers small class sizes with a 7:1 child to adult ratio.

Children are asked to pay $5 per week and many are unable to pay that amount. Thanks to the generous donations of many Hoosier volunteers, no child has ever been denied services because their family cannot pay. The program is in session year round and it costs approximately $10,000 per child for the full range of early childhood services provided.

Both the State Legislature and the Mayor’s Commission has cited St. Mary’s high quality curriculum as the benchmark for all other programs. The curriculum impacts the children who are at life and learning risk – with the highest cognitive, creative, social, physical and emotional learning experiences that will transition into lifelong success.

Dennis Bland is president of the Center for Leadership Development, an Indianapolis non-profit organization dedicated to empowering African American youth for the highest academic, college and career success. Founded in 1977, CLD offers fifteen curriculum based youth development experiences as well as the unique College Prep Institute, which help prepare over 6,000 youth and parents per year for academic, college and career achievement. Prior to joining CLD, Dennis practiced law for nine years, specializing in medical malpractice litigation and insurance law.

In 2004, Dennis was appointed to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and, in 2008 was reappointed to the Commission by Governor Mitch Daniels. In 2014, Dennis was elected to serve as Chairman of the Commission. In 2007, Dennis was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to serve on the Indiana Education Roundtable. Dennis also serves on the Citizens Energy Group Board of Trustees and on the executive committee of the Indiana Education Alliance.

Among his distinguished awards he has received the President’s Medal of Distinction from Ball State, the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from DePauw University, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Broad Ripple High School, where he graduated. In 2014, Dennis was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Indiana Wesleyan University and in 2015 was awarded an Honorary degree from Marian University.

In 2016, Dennis was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash signed by Governor Mike Pence. Dennis earned a bachelors degree in economics from DePauw University and was awarded a juris doctorate (JD) from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. A native of Indianapolis, he is a member of Christ Temple Apostolic Church where he serves as a deacon, trustee, and eighth grade Sunday school teacher.

Kevin Pritchard, a Hoosier native, was born in Bloomington and grew up in Noblesville. Kevin is a long-time Pacers fan. His family had season tickets, which allowed Kevin to attend several games at Market Square Arena. At age 14, Kevin’s family moved to Kansas, and in 1986, he graduated from Edison High School in Tulsa.

Kevin played four years at the University of Kansas, where he was the starting point guard on the Jayhawks NCAA championship team in 1988. During his collegiate career, Kevin was coached by Larry Brown (2 years) and Roy Williams (2 years). Gregg Popovich (Spurs Coach/President) and RC Buford (Spurs General Manager) also served on the Kansas staff during Kevin’s tenure.

Kevin was selected 34th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1990 NBA Draft. He played 4 seasons in the NBA, and was a teammate of Larry Bird during the 1991-92 season with the Celtics. Kevin also played professionally in Spain, Italy and Germany before retiring in 1998.

Kevin was the General Manager and Head Coach of the Kansas City Knights and led the team to an ABA championship in 2001-02. He was later hired by RC Buford as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs. Two years later, the Portland Trail Blazers hired Kevin as Director of Player Personnel. He also served as the interim head coach for the Trail Blazers during the 2004-05 season, and was later hired as the team’s Assistant GM before being promoted to General Manager in 2007.

In 2011, Pritchard joined the Indiana Pacers as Director of Player Personnel. After just one season, he was promoted to General Manager, a role in which he served until being named the President of Basketball Operations on May 1, 2017.

J. Douglas Boles was named president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation in June 2013. He is responsible for the daily operations of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including all four world-class racing events at the facility – the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard weekend and the Red Bull Air Race. He also is responsible for exploring and expanding business opportunities for the Speedway.

Boles served as chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from January-June 2013 along with his role as vice president of

communications for Hulman & Company, which he assumed in November 2011. Boles joined the company in November 2010 as IMS director of

public relations after more than 15 years of executive-level motorsports experience in team operations, marketing, sponsorship and public relations.

A Butler University graduate who also earned a law degree from the

Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, Boles served as executive vice president of the marketing and advertising agency ignition, Inc., from 2006-08. He then became partner in the marketing agency i3Worldwide while conducting his own private law practice, primarily representing drivers, race teams and sponsors.

The Indiana native was a founding partner of Panther Racing, at the time one of the IndyCar Series’ most successful teams, and served as a co-owner and team chief operating officer from 1997 until early 2006.

Boles also served as director of governmental and corporate affairs for Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith from 1992-97, where he also spearheaded the nation’s first government-led effort to attract motorsports companies and jobs to a community.

Boles serves on the board of INDYCAR Ministry and the 500 Festival. He also has taught courses at his alma mater, Butler University, and was selected as a member of the first group of “50 Under 50” highlighting Butler graduates. Boles and his wife, Beth, live in Zionsville. They have four children.

After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy and attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Upon graduation, he took a commission in the Marine Corps, where he served for another five years. After earning his MBA in Economics from the University of Chicago, he moved to Washington, D.C. and worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate. In 2003, he returned to Indiana and began pursuing his law degree at Indiana University. While in law school, he met his wife, Jenny. Shortly after earning his degree, they got married and went to work at the family law firm started by her grandfather. They still live in Bloomington today, with their four children.

In 2010, Todd Young was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. As a member of the House Budget Committee in his first term, he worked closely with Chairman Paul Ryan on federal spending issues. Now in his third term, he is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over the tax code; social insurance programs like Social Security and Medicare; and federal trade policy, among other issues.

Sue Ellspermann serves as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.

As Lt. Governor, Sue manages six state agencies including the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, the Office of Defense Development, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Office of Tourism Development and the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She also serves as President of the Indiana Senate and chairs the Indiana Counter Terrorism and Security Council.

Sue was raised in Ferdinand, Indiana.  She graduated Purdue as an industrial engineer and established a career in engineering and management at Michelin and Frito-Lay.

While earning her master’s degree and doctorate in industrial engineering at the University of Louisville, she established Ellspermann and Associates and began a 20-year consulting practice.  She later became the founding director of the University of Southern Indiana’s Center for Applied Research and Economic Development.

In 2010, Sue was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives. In November of 2012, she was elected to serve with Governor Mike Pence.

Sue is married to Jim Mehling, Principal of Forest Park High School. They have a blended family of four daughters, three sons-in-law, two grandsons, and one granddaughter.

As the Representative from Indiana’s Fourth Congressional District, Todd Rokita is working to reform the culture of spending, debt, and bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.

As Indiana’s Secretary of State from 2003-2011, Rokita ran his office on the same budget used in 1987, and he implemented Indiana’s landmark voter identification law.

Representative Rokita is working to bring that same reform-minded approach to Washington, D.C., focusing on stopping the spending as a member of the influential House Budget Committee, where he succeeded in including portions of his Medicaid block-grant plan as part of the House-passed budget. He also serves as a subcommittee chairman on the House Education and Workforce Committee, and serves on the House Administration Committee, which oversees election law and other critical issues.

Rokita and his staff are active in supporting charitable causes, and have participated in events for the St. Vincent Cancer Center, Angel Flight, the Find a Book a Home Foundation, and the Angelman Syndrome Foundation. Rokita also routinely volunteers his time to serve others as a commercial-rated pilot.

Representative Rokita and his wife Kathy have two sons, Teddy and Ryan. The family resides near Clermont and worships at St. Malachy Parish.

Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks represents the 5th District of Indiana, which spans eight diverse counties throughout the central part of the Hoosier State. As a new member of Congress, she currently serves on the Education and Workforce, Homeland Security and Ethics Committees. She is also the Chairwoman of the Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications Subcommittee. Her strong background in both the public and private sectors includes experience as a proven difference maker in areas such as public safety, homeland security, counter terrorism and economic development.

Job Creation
Before joining the House of Representatives, Susan served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Ivy Tech Community College. Collaborating with a wide network or stakeholders, she implemented workforce development strategies aiming to enhance job training and placement for thousands of Hoosier residents.

Public Service
In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Susan as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for a majority of the Hoosier state, she received bi partisan acclaim for efforts to battle mortgage fraud, gun violence, drug trafficking, gangs, child exploitation and identity theft.

Susan also earned recognition as Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis during the Steve Goldsmith administration, where she provided oversight on public safety operations and drove community dialogue on vital civic issues. Over her tenure, she managed police, fire and emergency response efforts while serving on boards related to criminal justice, community corrections, violence reduction and race relations.

Private Sector Experience
Susan practiced law at the Indianapolis firm of Ice Miller and also served as a criminal defense attorney for Indianapolis based McClure, McClure and Kammen.

Family Education

After receiving her undergraduate degree from Miami University of Ohio, Susan pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Indiana University Indianapolis School of Law. She resides in Carmel, Indiana with her husband David and two children.

Richard Mourdock is the 53rd State Treasurer of Indiana and the Republican nominee for the United States Senate election in Indiana, 2012. He began his term as treasurer on February 10, 2007 and was re-elected in November 2010.

Richard became the Republican nominee for a United States Senate seat from Indiana in the 2012 election after he defeated incumbent Senator Richard Lugar in the primary election.

As Treasurer, Richard has been an integral part of the state’s fiscal health, helping to keep the state’s budget balanced. Richard’s leadership has earned over $1.3 billion in investment income for taxpayers and successfully expanded the state’s college savings plan. At the same time, his office has returned an average of 10% of his budget back to the Treasury each year.

Prior to his election as State Treasurer in 2006, Richard had a successful 30 year career in the private sector, managing businesses in the Hoosier energy, environmental and construction industries. Richard is a licensed professional geologist, a former two-term CountyCommissioner for Vanderburgh County, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Geology from Ball State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Systems from Defiance College.

In May of 2012, Richard became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Indiana after winning 61% of the vote and 89 of 92 counties in the Republican primary. He is running for the U.S. Senate to challenge the big-spenders in both parties and will make balancing our federal budget and reducing our $15 trillion national debt his top priority.

Richard is a pilot, enjoys riding motorcycles, including his 1980 CB 650 Custom motorcycle and is a history enthusiast, with a specific interest in 19th Century US History. He also enjoys cooking a good meal for friends and scuba diving off Honduras. He has an eclectic taste in music including country and sixties rock and enjoys watching TV when Survivor or a Colts game is on. He has been active in Christian Missions in Bolivia and is an avid runner who has completed six marathons in the past eight years. He and his wife, Marilyn, live in Darmstadt, Indiana.

Richard’s favorite quotations include: “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up” by Churchill, and “Others may hate you, but they cannot win… unless you hate them back and then, you destroy yourself” by Richard Nixon.