Conexus Indiana hires two execs to lead tech, workforce initiatives

Indianapolis-based Conexus Indiana has hired two senior executives to help the organization carry out its technology and workforce initiatives for the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.

Elizabeth Hagerman

The not-for-profit announced Monday that it has hired Elizabeth Hagerman of Rose-Hulman Ventures at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology as its chief innovation and strategy officer. Conexus has also hired Bradley Rhorer, senior manager of human resources at Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., as its chief talent programs officer.

Both Hagerman and Rhorer are expected to join Conexus early next month after spending October wrapping things up at their current jobs, said Conexus President and CEO Mark Howell.

At Conexus, Hagerman will help Indiana companies continue their transition into next-generation digital technologies including automation, artificial intelligence, electrification and 3-D printing.

“That’s a completely new area for Conexus, and that’s the role that Elizabeth has been hired to fill,” Howell said. “She knows how to take research out of educational institutions and apply them to industrial processes.”

Brad Rhorer

Rhorer’s job at Conexus will be to develop and direct programs that help secondary and post-secondary students, as well as adult workers, succeed in an era of evolving technology.

Rhorer knows public policy and is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet. That, combined with his experience at Subaru in Lafayette, give Rhorer a good background for his new job, Howell said.

“He’s coming from manufacturing—and manufacturing that’s gone through great technological innovation,” Howell said.

The jobs that Hagerman and Rhorer have been hired to fill are new positions at Conexus. After Howell joined Conexus in January, the organization went through a strategic planning process to examine its goals and organizational design.

As part of that process, the organization eliminated two positions that had been vacated late last year and earlier this year and created the two new positions.

David Holt, former vice president of operations and business development for Conexus, became senior vice president of development and community affairs at Holladay Properties in Indianapolis in April.

Ryan Metzing, former executive director of Conexus’ Indiana Aerospace and Defense Council, left in December to become of counsel at the Indianapolis office of Ice Miller, where he serves as director of aerospace and defense services.