A health insurer, hardware store chain and insurance chief dominate lists of largest public and private companies and executive pay.

The leaders of some of Indiana’s largest companies talk motorcycles, Garfield the cartoon cat, and the dark days of the recession.

Mark Kirschner
CEO, Wheaton Van Lines

“We’re not losing drivers; there’s just no new drivers coming into the industry.”

Rajeshwar “Raj” Rao
CEO, Indiana Municipal Power Agency

“Municipal power companies are your next-door neighbors. When you lose the lights, they lose the lights, too.”
 

Kimberly Smith
CEO, Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.

“I don’t want to say by any means that it’s been easy to effectuate the change but I think it all has to do with why you’re effectuating change.”
 

Andre Lacy
Chairman and retired CEO, LDI Ltd.

“You almost never see a motorcycle parked in the psychiatrist’s office. It itself is a therapy of release and freedom and relief from anxieties and frustrations.”

Sherry Aaholm
Chief information officer, Cummins Inc.

“My mother, early on, taught me the value of hard work, the value of recognizing diversity, the value of recognizing engagement and the fact that you’re just as powerful to do what you want to do.”

Edward Bonach
CEO, CNO Financial Group

“Thankfully, I don’t know if it’s genes or what, but I can usually get by on less sleep than most. Starting early is good for me.”