Indiana 250: Off the Record with Nate Feltman

In this episode of Indiana 250: Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Jimmie McMillian, senior corporate counsel and chief diversity officer at Penske Entertainment. McMillian shares his journey from growing up on Chicago’s South Side to leading diversity efforts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT IndyCar Series. He discusses how trauma and mentorship shaped his path through law school, private practice and ultimately to Penske. McMillian details his efforts toward expanding workforce and supplier diversity, using the Speedway as a hub for youth engagement, and building trust through intentional mentorship and inclusive leadership.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner. Their discussion looks at her career path from a high school business teacher in Madison to leading the state’s $10 billion education system. Secretary Jenner details her efforts to modernize Indiana’s education system from building a pipeline of skilled teachers and revamping the high school diploma to spearheading a $170 million investment in literacy and expanding access to apprenticeships. Jenner also offers insights into Indiana’s stance on federal education reform, the role of soft skills in workforce readiness, and how her leadership is rooted in urgency and personal mentorship.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Pete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and its subsidiary Cook Medical. Based in Bloomington, Cook is Indiana’s 3rd largest private company and a key player in the life sciences sector. Yonkman shares insights on what it takes to be a medical innovator and why Cook’s 57 medical firsts were all born from collaboration. He also discusses a unique partnership with Goodwill that brought a manufacturing facility, and new opportunity, to a historically underserved Indianapolis neighborhood. A Crown Point native and IU Maurer law grad, Yonkman reflects on his wide-ranging interests from supporting NIL initiatives and local nonprofits to producing a film at West Baden Springs Hotel.  

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Marisol Sanchez, executive vice president, general counsel, and board member of Endress+Hauser USA. Marisol shares her journey from growing up in Puerto Rico, earning a business degree at the University of Puerto Rico, relocating to Indiana through an exchange program with what was then Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, attending the IU Maurer School of Law, to ultimately becoming a key leader at the U.S. division of a global industrial automation company. Marisol also discusses her experience clerking for Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard, moving into private practice, and then launching the in-house legal department at Endress+Hauser.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with one of Indiana’s most dynamic entrepreneurs, Justin Christian, founder and CEO of BCforward, one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. A New York native, Justin came to Indiana to study music at DePauw University before shifting to computer science, which led to a job at Eli Lilly and Co. before he launched his own IT consulting firm. He and his business partner started BCforward with just $1,500, growing it into a global enterprise now with 5,000 employees. Justin discusses his path to entrepreneurship, his leadership philosophy, and the importance of diversity in business. He also shares how he and his wife, Darrianne, support their community through initiatives like the Justin and Darrianne Christian Center for Diversity and Inclusion at DePauw University.

Scott Dorsey, co-founder and managing partner of High Alpha, is a tech visionary known for revolutionizing digital marketing with ExactTarget, a company sold to Salesforce for $2.5 billion. He shares insights on the unique 'Orange Culture' that defined ExactTarget's success. Dorsey discusses his commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening Indiana's tech ecosystem. He also emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and education through his nonprofit initiative, Next Tech, showcasing how community and innovation drive lasting change.

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Chuck Surack, founder of Surack Enterprises and Sweetwater Sound. Chuck shares his journey from touring the country as a saxophonist and keyboard player with several bands and then eventually starting Sweetwater Sound, one of the world’s largest retailers of musical instruments and audio equipment. After selling a controlling interest in Sweetwater in 2021, Chuck has focused on various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropy.  Today Surack Enterprises includes companies in aviation, real estate development, hospitality, eyecare and sports.  Chuck has been a major player in the redevelopment of Fort Wayne's downtown and a supporter of music education in Northeast Indiana.  Chuck also shares his thoughts on the decision to close Indy’s downtown heliport and the future of professional soccer in Indiana.   Facebook: facebook.com/IBJMediaGroup X: x.com/ibj_media Instagram: Instagram.com/ibjmedia LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ibjmedia IBJ Media: https://www.ibjmedia.com/ Indiana 250 website: https://www.indiana250.com/ 

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Dr. Richard DiMarchi, Indiana University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences.  A distinguished scientist and entrepreneur,  Dr. DiMarchi’s groundbreaking diabetes research while at Eli Lilly and Company laid the foundation for the new class of obesity drugs that today are transforming lives worldwide.  Since his retirement from Lilly, Dr. DiMarchi has co-founded six biotech companies, including MBX Biosciences which recently went public.  With more than 100 U.S. patents and numerous accolades, including an induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Dr. DiMarchi shares insights into his career journey, the impact of mentorship, the future of biotechnology, and the essential role of diversity and innovation in advancing medical research.  

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Bob Hicks, chairman and managing partner of Taft Law Firm.  Bob takes a deep dive into the strategies and philosophy that have shaped Taft’s growth from 400 lawyers to over 1,000 under his leadership.  A Hoosier native, Bob talks about growing up in Indianapolis, his decision to pursue both an accounting and law degree, mentors who have impacted his leadership philosophy, and his early career experiences as a business lawyer working for a high growth company and how that experience shaped his growth mindset.   Bob also shares his thoughts on the future of big law and how will AI impact the legal profession.    Check out and subscribe to the video version of the podcast here

In this episode of Indiana 250 Off the Record, host Nate Feltman talks with Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports Entertainment and a legend in the real estate development industry. Herb discusses his storied career, from founding Simon Property Group with his brother Melvin to rescuing the Indiana Pacers. He shares his experiences being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and reflects on the growth of both the NBA and WNBA franchises under his ownership. Herb also talks about his contributions to the revitalization of downtown Indianapolis and the impact of having Caitlin Clark join the Indiana Fever.    Check out and subscribe to the video version of the podcast here