“In a lot of ways, it’s better than Christmas. It’s my favorite time of the year.” Doug Boles wears his passion for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500 on his sleeve. It’s a passion ignited at his first race, watching A.J. Foyt take the checkered flag in 1977 and it burns brighter than ever today in his role as IMS president. The Danville, Indiana native talks about balancing change and tradition, the future at IMS and why you’ll never outwork Roger Penske.

For more than 30 years she has entertained listeners of radio’s legendary Bob and Tom Show. But Kristi Lee’s broadcasting career, which includes work for ESPN, Fox Sports and the Indiana Pacers, may not have ever happened if not for a teacher at Ben Davis High School. Kristi talks about that defining moment, her unlikely career path and that time when Ozzie Osbourne carried her around the Q95 parking lot.

That Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez has navigated North America’s top airport through the pandemic should not be a surprise. He understands hardships. He was at New Orleans International for Katrina. His mother was smuggled out of Cuba by the U.S. Catholic church to escape the Castro regime. Learn more about a man of the air AND sea who has found a home in Indianapolis.

He was a political novice who knew full well that Indianapolis had not elected a Democrat mayor in more than three decades. But Bart Peterson says he was driven to run by the belief that he could do a good job if given the chance to lead his hometown. He talks about his two terms in office, lessons learned from a stunning upset loss in 2007 and his obsession with dishwashers in a wide-ranging conversation.

He was born in Pennsylvania, in the same hospital as football great Joe Montana, and moved to Indiana at the age of eleven. It was a move that would ultimately impact the state’s business, political and academic worlds. From his decision to not run for president to what pushed him to become president of Purdue University, Mitch Daniels talks about a life of no regrets.

She reached the pinnacle of her sport, claiming a national championship in college, a WNBA championship and four Olympic Gold Medals among her many accomplishments in a Hall of Fame career. Today, Tamika Catchings is using the same drive that fueled her on the court to success as a sports executive, business owner and community leader. She talks about her journey, a defining moment along the way with legendary Coach Pat Summit and what she still wants to accomplish.

The 17th president of the University of Notre Dame knows a lot about family and the importance of community.  Father John Jenkins was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the 3rd-eldest of 12 children, an experience that has had a profound impact on the man and his leadership style. From part-time jobs in the Omaha stockyards to leading an elite university, Father Jenkins talks about his path to the president’s office, the changing role of higher education and why he wants Notre Dame to play a key role in the future of the Indiana economy.

She ventured into the ultra-competitive, male-dominated restaurant industry with absolutely no restaurant experience. Now, more than three decades after opening her first Café Patachou, Martha Hoover leads a growing culinary empire that includes a dozen restaurants. The trailblazing restaurateur talks about her unlikely path to success, her passion for giving back and why she is a fierce advocate for women and minorities to get their fair shot at business success.

Even as a child, Jeff Smulyan knew where he wanted to go in life. Listening to late night ballgames fueled a passion for radio that would one day propel him to create Emmis Communications, a multimedia powerhouse and one of the radio industry’s most influential players. A great storyteller, Smulyan opines on media, Major League Baseball ownership, his friendship with Bill Clinton and the zany early radio days of David Letterman. 

After surviving a near drowning as a child, Ryan Vaughn went on to become an All American swimmer in college. But that was just the beginning for Vaughn, who has made his mark in politics and now sports. As president of the Indiana Sports Corporation, he is a key driver in the state’s $2 billion+ sports industry. The native of Indy’s west side talks about what it took to land March Madness, life changing moments and what might be next.

He was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, grew up on the west coast, the son of a rocket scientist with dreams of performing on Saturday Night Live. Today, Leonard Hoops is leading central Indiana’s more than $5 billion tourism industry. He also has a pretty amazing Howard Cosell impersonation. The one-time aspiring sportswriter talks about managing through the pandemic, standup comedy and why family is his foundation.

She’s a trailblazing educator from a trailblazing family. But while education is in her blood, DePauw University President Dr. Lori White is far from an Ivory Tower elite. She’s a free spirit who’s been known to break into song at the drop of a hat and loves her pink tennis shoes and convertible sports car. She also boasts a very high-profile mentor.

He’s in charge of selling Indiana to the world. In his 39 months as Secretary of Commerce, Jim Schellinger led 61 international jobs missions to 29 countries, closing deals that have tripled Foreign Direct Investment and resulted in record job creation and investment commitments for Indiana. A Democrat who has worked for two Republican governors, Schellinger is known for his tireless work ethic, self-deprecating humor and love for his native Indiana. The globetrotting leader of the state’s economic development efforts grew up in a family of 10 in South Bend, worked his way through the University of Notre Dame and ultimately became CEO of a firm that wouldn’t give him an interview out of college. Jim Schellinger’s personal and professional journey is this week’s conversation on Business & Beyond with Gerry Dick.

Indiana University Head Football Coach Tom Allen. A home grown Hoosier who grew up in New Castle, passionate about his state, his university and his players. A man who counts family and faith as the cornerstones in his life. Allen has put IU football in the national conversation. But what makes Tom Allen tick and what is the back story behind the man and his mission?