UPDATE: Ginovus combats exodus with new hires

Richard Rowley, legislative director under former Gov. Joe Kernan, joined yesterday as special counsel. Rowley will continue practicing law at Sommer Barnard, the Indianapolis law firm that hosts Ginovus.

Jill Beckman was hired over the weekend as director of operations. Beckman’s background is in accounting, most recently at Butler University.

Denise Settlemyre joined Ginovus as manager of project administration after a career at several law firms.

Ginovus founder and Managing Director Larry Gigerich had little inkling that his entire professional staff would leave the firm Friday, virtually all of their resignations received by fax.

The lack of a two-week notice was “the most disappointing thing,” Gigerich said.

“I certainly wish them well in their new endeavor,” he said.

Bingham McHale announced today that it is starting an economic development consulting practice called Bingham Economic Development Advisors LLC.

Jumping to Bingham from Ginovus were Jay Walters, Jenny Massey, Suzanne Davis, Linda Williamson and Sara McGoun. Another Ginovus associate, Sue Scott, left recently to take a position in Chicago.

Williamson was spearheading a project that involved writing an economic development plan for each Indiana county based on the state development plan released in May 2005. The localized plan is about half complete, and will be finished by Gigerich and Ginovus staff, he said.

The new practice will focus on site selection, analysis, incentive procurement, as well as community development and planning.

Walters will be president of the new Bingham practice, with Davis and Williams serving as vice presidents.

It will be based at 8900 Keystone Crossing.