Nate Feltman: Forty Under 40 alumni continue to lead

On June 1, IBJ will host our first in-person event since the pandemic. At the Indiana Roof Ballroom, we’ll announce our 29th Forty Under 40 class.

Since 1993, we have recognized individuals under the age of 40 who have excelled in their chosen field while also actively engaging in the community. Honorees have demonstrated leadership, initiative and dedication in pursuing their careers and show great promise that they are likely to continue to achieve.

Many members of our previous classes have gone on to achieve greater success after their IBJ recognition. A radio talk-show host became a congressman, governor and vice president of the United States: Mike Pence (class of 1994). Two partners at Baker & Daniels law firm (now Faegre Drinker) became athletic directors at the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University: Jack Swarbrick (class of 1993) and Fred Glass (class of 1997). Two members won a Super Bowl after their selection: some guy named Peyton Manning (class of 2001) and Marvin Harrison (class of 2003). And a former director of agribusiness strategies at Ice Miller law firm is now deputy director general at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Beth Bechdol (class of 2010).

At this year’s event, IBJ will present its inaugural Forty Under 40 Alumni Award, which recognizes a previous honoree who has continued to make significant contributions to the central Indiana community. The inaugural award will go to two deserving recipients—Jennifer Pope Baker (class of 2002) and Ryan Vaughn (class of 2010)—who worked in tandem to pull off a historic event for the city and state.

Vaughn’s contributions to the central Indiana community have been numerous, including serving on the City-County Council from 2007-2012 (council president from 2009-2011), working as chief of staff to former Mayor Greg Ballard and serving as president of the Indiana Sports Corp. since 2014. Most recently, Ryan and his Sports Corp. team developed the vision and plan that ultimately convinced the NCAA to hold the entire Men’s Basketball Tournament in Indy—a historic first.

Baker played a critical role in ensuring that the NCAA tournament went off without a hitch. Serving as vice chairman of the board for Indiana Sports Corp., she took a leave of absence from her work at the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, where she has served as executive director since 1998. Baker led a volunteer force of 600 that dealt with all aspects of hosting the tournament, including safely washing uniforms and towels of the 2,400 players and staff.

Baker and Vaughn not only pulled off a successful once-in-a-lifetime event, they also showed the world a path forward for successfully navigating large gatherings in the midst of a pandemic. Their success, along with the state’s effective vaccine rollout, provided a springboard for downtown businesses and provided needed encouragement that, with proper protocols in place, we can safely return to work and come together as a community.

We invite all previous Forty Under 40 honorees and all of you to join us in honoring a new Forty Under 40 class and celebrating the achievements of Ryan Vaughn and Jennifer Pope Baker. There is no better occasion to gather once again in person as we celebrate individuals who are creating jobs, leading important community organizations, and contributing to the growth and prosperity of central Indiana.•

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Feltman is CEO of IBJ Media. To comment, email nfeltman@ibj.com.