The Economic Club of Indiana Speaker Series Archive

Taking the reins in 2017, Dave Ricks is now Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company, as well as Chairman of the Board. Working his way up from business development associate, Ricks has been a part of Eli Lilly for 20 years and today plays a large part in the industry by holding positions on several professional and philanthropic boards. With a rich history, Ricks will lead Eli Lilly and Company into its next chapter through new product development, promising research, increased productivity and attracting the top scientific talent from around the world. (May 3, 2018)

Minxin Pei is the Tom and Margot Pritzker '72 Professor of Government and directs the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College. Recognized globally as an expert on US-China relations, his research focuses on democratization in developing countries, economic reform, and governance in China. Pei has published three books, contributes to numerous periodicals, and is a frequent guest commentator on CNN and NPR, just to name a few. (April 13, 2018)

Author, and Economist, Ed Glaeser has a passion for cities and economic growth. Growing up in New York, Glaeser had easy access to what soon became his passion. He has published dozens of papers as well as his book Triumph of the City. Glaeser focuses his energy and time on determinants of city growth and the role of cities as centers of idea transmission. Glaeser is also the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics at Harvard University where he teaches microeconomics theory. (March 16, 2018)

A leader in research-focused health care with shared strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, Roche Group is the world's largest independent biotech company. Since 2010, Jack Phillips has served at the helm of Roche Diagnostics North America. Headquartered here in Indianapolis, Roche Diagnostics employs over 4,000 in the Circle City. President and CEO, Jack Phillips, has an extensive background in the biotechnology industry, including holding various senior leadership roles at Ventana Medical Systems, a leading cancer diagnostic company. Guiding through example of Roche's values, Phillips is an active member of the philanthropic community serving on numerous boards. (February 16, 2018)

At Duke Energy, Lynn Good is focusing on embracing new technology and forward-thinking strategies in order to strengthen the company's environmental stewardship. Since beginning these strategies, Duke Energy has become a top -10 US wind power producer. During Good's time spent at Duke she has led the company's community energy business during its initial development of renewable energy products, and has been listed as one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes. Lynn Good is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Duke Energy. (January 17, 2018)

Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education, Teresa Lubbers sits down with some of Indiana's local leaders in higher education to discuss the value of higher education in today's 21st Century economy. Join a roundtable conversation with Butler University President James Danko, Marian University President Dan Elsener, and University of Indianapolis President Robert Manuel as they share their insights on the ever-changing role of higher education. (December 12, 2018)

Martha Hoover discovered her passion for food at age 17. Ideally wanting to become a chef, Hoover chose a path of entrepreneurship in founding Patachou, Inc., an independently owned company operating a collection of 11, acclaimed locally and nationally, unique restaurants in the Indianapolis area. Armed with a passion for food and community, Hoover and her company established the Patachou Foundation that donates not only educational services, but more than $50,000 in food to local aid organizations to help them serve food that is sustainably grown and crafted locally. (November 6, 2017)

As one of the top advisers for President Obama during his eight years in office, Jason Furman was also Obama's chief economist and member of his cabinet. Furman was instrumental in helping that administration maintain a low inflation rate, cut the federal deficit by two-thirds, reduce the unemployment rate and expand exports. With expertise in labor markets, competition policy, and macroeconomics, Furman continues to make a big impact today as a Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and as a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. (October 3, 2017)

Tony Prophet is chief equality officer of Salesforce, the world's #1 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that is part of the tech industry boom in Indianapolis as the newest addition to the downtown skyline. A member of the company's executive team reporting to Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff, Prophet leads the company's equality initiatives, focusing on gender, LGBTQ and racial equality to ensure that Salesforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. Prior to joining Salesforce, Prophet served as Microsoft's corporate vice president of Education Marketing, where he defined the Microsoft Education business model, channel and market strategy. (September 14, 2017)

Jennifer Vey, scholar and researcher, Brookings Institute, will discuss research on quality of life of older industrial cities, while Betsy McCaw, CICP and 16 Tech, describes how the innovation economy is taking root in Indianapolis.

Known for his emphasis on applying economic theory to solution for "real-world" problems, Dr. Alvin Roth serves as the Craig and Susan McCaw professor of economics at Stanford University and the Gund professor of economics and business administration emeritus at Harvard University. Roth has made many significant contributions to the fields of game theory, market design and experimental economics.

As President of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Sue Ellspermann is developing new metrics at the college level to determine student success based on student needs and expectations. Ivy Tech is the state's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest statewide community college system, serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ellspermann previously served as Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, where she worked to align Indiana's education and workforce development system to meet the needs of employers. (February 27, 2017)

With more than 30 years of experience in education, William "Bill" Hansen is the President and CEO of USA Funds, a nonprofit serving 22 million people with more than $250 billion in aid for higher education since 1960. Find out how his organization adheres to its mission while retooling in response to changes in the student loan industry. (January 24, 2017)

In a roundtable conversation, former Indiana Governors Evan Bayh and Mitch Daniels, and former Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randy Shepard, discuss Indiana's past with an eye to its future. (December 12, 2016)

When nominated as a governor of the Federal Reserve in 2012, Jerome "Jay" Powell had already had an extensive career in the financial industry. His breadth of experience spans the industry including serving as Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary of the Treasury under George H.W. Bush. Now, charged with overseeing the Federal Reserve Banks and helping to implement monetary policy of the United States, Powell, along with six other governors, has his finger on the pulse of the U.S. economy. (November 29, 2016)

As CEO of Citizens Energy Group, Jeffrey Harrison oversees utility services to 800,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Due to the city's ailing utility infrastructure, the public trust has invested substantially to replace water mains, upgrade treatment plants, and much more to improve system reliability, reduce waste, and ensure adequate water supply for a growing population and economy. (October 25, 2016)

Roger Penske, Chairman of Penske Corporation, may be best known locally for Team Penske's 16 wins at the Indianapolis 500. But this avid competitor has built a winner off the oval too, with his transportation services company. On Friday, September 23, Penske sits down with Mark Miles, President and CEO, Hulman & Company, to talk about 50 years of Team Penske. (September 23, 2016)

Each serving more than 30 years in the U.S. Congress, former Representative Lee Hamilton and former Senator Richard Lugar are two of the foremost experts on the role of Congress and its impact on the daily lives of Hoosiers. As Indiana celebrates its bicentennial these two titans of civic discourse will share the stage at The Economic Club.

Commissioner of the Big East, and former U.S. representative to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Val Ackerman was a four-year starter in her own college basketball career. She also played professionally for one year in France before returning to the US to pursue a law degree at UCLA. Ms. Ackerman served as Special Assistant to NBA Commissioner David Stern and Vice President of Business Affairs before becoming the founding President of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 1996, the longest-running women's professional team sports league in the U.S. and one of the premier women's sports organizations in the world. (April 6, 2016)

Called by The Wall Street Journal "the father of Health Savings Accounts" Dr. John C. Goodman is one of the nation's leading thinkers on health policy. He is the author of nine books including the widely acclaimed Priceless: Curing the Healthcare Crisis, and has authored numerous editorials in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Investor's Business Daily, Los Angeles Times, and many others. Dr. Goodman is Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, and President of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research.

Before joining Indianapolis Public Schools in 2013 Dr. Lewis Ferebee served as Chief of Staff for Durham Public Schools in North Carolina where he reduced to zero the number of schools designated by the state as "low performing." His extensive experience in attenuating the impact of poverty on academic achievement boasts strategic turnaround for struggling Title I schools, double-digit gains in End of Course Assessments (ECA) for Biology, Algebra and English, and aggressive reductions in the dropout rate with concurrent increases in the graduation rate as compared to state performance. Dr. Ferebee is credited with improving IPS graduation rates 4 percentage points to 71.5 percent, and reducing the number of graduating seniors using waivers from more than 25 percent in 2011 to 7 percent this year. (February 2, 2016)

As Chairman, President, and CEO of Anthem, Inc., the nation's leading health benefits provider serving 37 million--or one in nine--Americans, Joseph Swedish is credited with reinvigorating Anthem's culture to create a unified and inclusive enterprise. (January 28, 2016)

Named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, and recognized by the New York Times for his leadership philosophy, Chris Barbin, believes that you should have fun at work. (December 15, 2015)

An accomplished filmmaker, explorer, author, and mountaineer, David Breashears has not only reached the summit of Mount Everest five times, he also filmed the first IMAX footage of Earth's highest point for the film EVEREST. (October 6, 2015)

Working his way up from Senior Organic Chemist in Process Research and Development, John Lechleiter is now President and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and Company, as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors. (September 11, 2015)

With over 50 Emmy's, 28 duPont-Columbia University Awards, 15 Peabody Awards, 11 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, eight Television Critics Awards and eight Banff Television Awards, FRONTLINE is one of the most decorated shows in television history. David Fanning has been at the helm since the beginning. (May 7, 2015)

Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano has had a long, successful football career. He began as a graduate assistant at Southern California. (April 9, 2015)

Beginning as a part-time package handler while still in school, Myron Gray is now the President of U.S. Operations for UPS. (March 19, 2015)

As CEO of Indiana University Health, Dan Evans is at the forefront of an industry undergoing radical change. (February 17, 2015)

As CEO of Hulman & Company, Mark Miles oversees everything from the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and the Verizon IndyCar Series to Clabber Girl Baking Powder. (January 14, 2015)

Serving as both Director of National Intelligence under President Obama and as a board member of Freedom House, the independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world, Admiral Dennis Blair has seen many sides of the

Championing the position that Africa is poor because she is not free, Dr. George Ayittey has devoted his life to bettering conditions in African nations. (November 14, 2014)

Recognized for her contributions to the field of international affairs in the United States and for her outspoken position on gender inequality, Dr. Slaughter has more than earned her place amongst what Foreign Magazine refers to as the Top 100 Global Th

As CEO of Caterpillar, Doug Oberhelman leads a company that has grown beyond its agricultural equipment roots into the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-e

Roland G. Fryer Jr. is the Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics at Harvard University, a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, founder and faculty director of the Education Innovation Laboratory at Harvard and a former junior fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows (May 14, 2014)

Gail J. McGovern is an American philanthropist and President and CEO of the American Red Cross. (April 22, 2014)

Mr. James Haslam is President and Chief Executive Officer of Pilot Travel Centers, LLC (March 11, 2014)

Henry "Hank" Paulson is an American banker who served as the 74th United States Secretary of the Treasury. (February 5, 2014)

Arthur C. Brooks has been President of AEI since January 1, 2009. (January 16, 2014)

James M. Guyette is President and Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce North America Inc. (RRNA). (December 18, 2013)

Ms. Brooke is responsible for shaping Ernst and Young's positions on public policy. (November 12, 2013)

In October 2009, Gary Doer assumed his responsibilities as Canada's 23rd representative to the United States of America. (October 28, 2013)

Most widely known for serving as the Governor of Indiana from 2005 through 2013, Mitch Daniels now serves as the 12th President of Purdue University. (September 13, 2013)

Alma J. Powell serves as board chair of America's Promise Alliance (May 15, 2013).

Founder and CEO of Emmis Communications, Jeff Smulyan (April 18, 2013)

Political and cultural columnist and contributor to the PostPartisan blog, Eugene Robinson (March 21, 2013)

New York Times and Wall Street Journal best selling author, Marshall Goldsmith (January 8, 2013)

Frank Luntz is one of the most honored communication professionals in America today (December 11, 2012).

James B. Stewart is the Bloomberg professor of business journalism (November 12, 2012).

Ben Bernanke Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (October 1, 2012)