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What not to do during an interview

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What not to do during an interview

HR professionals talk interview tips

By Brittany Baggett

 

Racquel-HarrisRacquel Harris, corporate director of human resources at NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals

“A job candidate should never come to an interview inappropriately dressed. This seems to be a growing trend among applicants and does not make a good impression on employers. Blue jeans are never appropriate. Additionally, candidates should not arrive late to a job interview. This causes the employer to think you will be late for work.”

 

Derek Vitatoe, human resources talent lead at Johnson & Johnson Derek-Vitatoe

“It always disturbs me when candidates have no clue about our organization’s mission, what we value, what our purpose is, sometimes even what products we make. Candidates should make sure they do their homework and do as much research as possible about the organization they are applying to.”

 

Christy-WhitneyChristy Whitney, human resources at JMFG — Smithfield Foods

“It’s OK to be nervous, but know your personal habits. If you talk a lot when you’re nervous, you will tend to tell us something we don’t need to know. If you aren’t able to talk when you’re nervous, then we cannot determine if you would be a good fit for the position. Tell us you’re nervous, and we will try to help you relax. Probably the most important guideline is never lie to us. Your body language changes, your voice changes and your breathing patterns change when you are lying. We would much rather deal with an honest applicant who may have made some mistakes in their past than to find out we are being lied to.”

 

Joycelyn Jones, human resources manager at MinnetristaJoycelyn-Jones

“Do not come unprepared. When you are interviewing for a company, you should have researched the company, their mission, vision and values. Companies nowadays want to know that you are not just looking for a job but are looking for a career.”

 

 

melissa-walkerMelissa Walker, Human resources manger at O-I

“Job applicants should not speak negatively about a previous or current employer. Derogatory or disparaging statements about experiences at a previous place of employment will raise red flags to recruiters about a person’s problems resolution skills and ability to work effectively with others.”

 

 

Paula Wood, director of human resources at MIS Logistics CenterPaula-Wood

“Job candidates should not be disrespectful in their interviews and need to either leave their phone in the car or shut them off during the interview.”

HR imperative to companies walking the diversity talk

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HR imperative to companies walking the diversity talk

Donna Brazile, the esteemed political strategist, professor and author, once said, “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” Most savvy human resources professionals would agree with Brazile.

Diversity is a word some executives easily throw around in an effort to prove that their companies are providing employment opportunities to individuals who represent various backgrounds. “My company is very diverse,” a gentleman who leads a Texas-based public relations company once told me. “We have men and women in our workforce, and they are all types of nationalities.” Being unfamiliar with his company, I praised him for his diversity efforts, and because I was so impressed, I wanted to learn more. “That’s wonderful,” I remember saying. “Tell me about your senior leadership team. How large is it?” The gentleman went on to proudly tell me he had seven senior executives. When I asked him how many of his top executives were female, his mood changed immediately. He began to look annoyed. “Women represent a large number of my staff, but none are part of the leadership team.” I took a moment to think before speaking, in an effort to not appear as annoyed as he obviously was. My response was something to the effect of, “Oh…ok (long pause). Are there any minority men who serve in leadership capacities?” His quick retort was, “No there are not, but I am still a fair employer who hires the best people for the job.”

Realizing the conversation was going in a direction different than I expected and he wanted, I said “I’m sure you are, however, people of different backgrounds have different perspectives that can make your company even more successful.” After that, we both engaged in a short and awkward dialogue about something as simplistic as the weather before we said our goodbyes and began socializing with others in the room.

Oh, how I wish I’d had Donna Brazile’s quote memorized at that moment! Unfortunately, the perspective of the Texan I spoke with a few years back is not as uncommon as we would hope. That is why human resources professionals are so important. As the ethical stewards of a company and the liaison between the companies they represent and the employees, HR folks must believe that companies have to expand beyond diversity by embracing inclusion. At all levels. All the time. Doing so is imperative.

Data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development shows the state’s pool of available employees has shrunk drastically in recent years, with a continuous decline in the present and future of potential employees ages 15–44. The only way to combat such decline is by having inclusive and attractive hiring practices that give Indiana companies a competitive edge. Such responsibility falls in large part on the shoulders of HR professionals, because they are the gatekeepers. If their company is backwards in its thinking, HR professionals need to stress the importance of expanding company perspectives and practices. A dedicated commitment to inclusion is the best way to attract new employees and retain and promote current team members.

Needless to say, the field of HR can be incredibly daunting for professionals. Walking the inclusive walk can also bring its fair share of challenges. And this is only one aspect of an HR professional’s responsibility. There are countless other duties that fall under the HR umbrella. And as large as the scope of HR is, it can also be confusing for employees expected to adhere to various HR mandates.

This issue of Indiana Minority Business Magazine provides you with detailed information on various aspects of HR. We literally have something for everyone in this issue!

Learning HR

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Learning HR

By Lauren Caggiano

 

The human resources field affords students and professionals a great deal of variety and opportunity. Three Indiana experts shed some light on the study of and practice of human resources.

In general, human resources is the art of hiring, administration and training of personnel. But according to Rose Costello, executive director of human resources for Ivy Tech Northeast, the specifics vary.

“There’s really no typical day, because we’re dealing with a lot of variables,” she said.

The interpersonal element can make it hard to plan and predict, but she’s still tasked with executing daily, weekly and monthly department goals. To that end, she might make a presentation about benefits or sit in on a meeting about policy changes. HR is as much about finding solutions as it is about proactively maintaining the status quo.

“It’s really about managing change and creating a positive culture,” she said.

Costello, who has 20 years of experience in the field, believes some of the skills necessary to succeed in HR are both acquired through on-the-job experiences and formal education. But a large part of it is innate, she said. Human resources calls for a caring spirit and the ability to connect with people. He or she must be visionary, strategic and a leader. Training and education make it possible to advance as a professional.

Costello earned a Master of Science in Education — Professional Studies from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) in May 2009 and has a bachelor’s in psychology and associate degree in supervision from IPFW, as well. She has a Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute.

According to Costello, the certifications are what can set job seekers apart. “Any more, a lot of (employers) are looking for these certifications,” she said.

Gerilyn Davis, CEO of Indianapolis-based HSConsulting & Staff Agency, is in the business of supporting employers with their staffing needs. Her firm provides services to the area’s small- and medium-size businesses. Davis has more than 10 years of managerial experience in two of the top 150 Fortune 500 companies. With that experience, she has concentrated on key essential HR functions like hiring, development, employee relations and retention.

She approaches HR as a proactive force for good. She said she has encountered a prevailing myth that HR is only about dealing with unpleasant issues. Instead, she said it should be “the backbone of a business.”

Like Costello, Davis said her position challenges her to plan and have a clear strategy and vision when catering to clients. A great deal of flexibility is expected, and a certain amount of faith is required.

“Going into the unknown, you have to trust what you’ve been gifted,” she said. “It will work if you make it work.”

But before Costello and Davis were professionals in the field, they were students. Jeffrey Walls, senior professor in human resources at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, offered some insight about the academic path for students wishing to pursue careers in human resources.

Indiana Tech offers a traditional four-year degree, a B.S. in business administration with a main concentration in HR. An associate degree at Indiana Tech is a two-year program and is more general study of business practices. There is no specific concentration.

The bachelor’s degree provides a holistic study of human resources. Key classes include: the foundations of HR, training/development, labor relations, compensation and safety. But at the same time, students get a well-rounded education, with additional classes in finance, marketing and accounting, Walls noted.

Advancement in the job market and pay depend a lot on the degree earned, Walls said. For example, an associate degree may land a student an entry-level position, but it might be difficult to advance in the workplace without further study. A bachelor’s degree can mean access to a generalist position, and a master’s degree could mean a director or managerial position, he said.

Another factor that advance a job seeker is certifications, like those offered by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

“Once you begin to move past a B.A, you’re talking certifications,” he said.

According to the SHRM website, “Earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential makes you a recognized expert and leader in the HR field — and a valuable asset to your organization, keeping you and your organization more competitive in today’s economy. This professional distinction sets you apart from your colleagues, proving your high level of knowledge and skills.”

Indiana private colleges offer STEM courses for teachers

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Indiana private colleges offer STEM courses for teachers

Teachers across the state have the opportunity to gain additional expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at no cost through offerings at Indiana’s private colleges through STEM Teach II. The STEM Teach II initiative is made possible by a $2.14 million grant from the state to the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and builds upon ICI’s successful STEM Teach I program, also funded through a state grant and resulting in more than 600 enrollments in STEM courses and workshops by K–12 teachers across the state.

ICI is partnering with the Center for Excellence and Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis in administering STEM Teach II, as it did for the initial grant. A special focus of this round is graduate-level coursework for secondary teachers to gain dual-credit credentialing, a critical need for Indiana in light of the Higher Learning Commission’s policy that dual credit teachers must hold a master’s degree in the content area they are teaching or a master’s in another area plus 18 graduate credits in the specific content area.

All K–12 teachers in Indiana public, private and charter schools are eligible to enroll in the courses and workshops offered by Indiana’s private colleges and universities around the state. Thanks to the grant, ICI colleges and universities are waiving tuition for teachers as an incentive to participate and learn, as well as a stipend to defray textbook and materials costs. Additionally, upon successful completion of a course or workshop, teachers earn a completion award, ranging from $250 to $500. STEM Teach II courses and workshops will continue through summer and fall 2016 and spring 2017.

Zoeller commends federal call to expand funding for opioid addiction treatment

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Zoeller commends federal call to expand funding for opioid addiction treatment

As co-chair of Indiana’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said he commends the recent federal proposal to expand funding for addiction treatment programs targeting prescription drug and heroin abuse.

Zoeller met with Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli in Washington, D.C., just days after the proposal was announced to express his support of this effort and demonstrate Indiana’s need for more resources to combat opioid abuse and its many ramifications. The federal proposal is calling for $1.1 billion in new funding over the next two years to address the opioid abuse epidemic. The proposal includes funding to expand addiction treatment services and support overdose prevention programs at the state level, including efforts to increase availability of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone.

IndyGo Red Line selected for federal funding

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IndyGo Red Line selected for federal funding

The Federal Transit Administration released its Smalls Starts funding recommendations for the 2017 federal fiscal year including a $75 million award for the construction of IndyGo’s Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The grant adds to more than $40 million in successful competitive federal funding opportunities for IndyGo since 2012. The Red Line was identified as a 35-mile, three-county rapid transit line through the regional Indy Connect planning process, which was launched in 2009 as a collaborative planning initiative to improve transit in central Indiana by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) and IndyGo.

The line will be the first central Indiana rapid transit line and, when fully built, will run from Westfield through Carmel, into downtown Indianapolis, extending to Greenwood. The route has seen strong regional support and ultimately will come within half a mile of 100,000 residents, connecting workers to the state’s two largest employment clusters (downtown Indianapolis and U.S. Highway 31 in Carmel). The line will also make health care and education more accessible with reliable, frequent and quick travel to the state’s largest hospital and four major higher education institutions.

The Small Starts grant award will position IndyGo to begin implementing the Indy Connect plan within Marion County. Phase 1 construction of the Red Line will begin spring 2017. Approximately 18 months after breaking ground, the first segment of the Red Line will run for 13 miles from Broad Ripple to the University of Indianapolis via Downtown Indianapolis and will be the nation’s first battery-powered all electric BRT system.

City of Indianapolis holds free business certification workshops

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City of Indianapolis holds free business certification workshops

By Brittany Baggett

Minority business owners will soon have a chance to take advantage of free certification workshops around Indianapolis—all you have to do is register. The City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Minority & Women Business Development will hold certification workshops at three locations around the city geared toward minority, women, veteran and disabled business owners.

Business owners will receive comprehensive information regarding the application process, learn how to apply and complete the certification procedures, find out about individual and one-on-one counseling opportunities and participate in a question & answer session. The workshops will take place Feb.11 at Municipal Gardens, Apr.12 at Holiday Park and Jun.16 at Broad Ripple Park from 1 to 3 p.m.

To register and for more information visit Indy.gov/eventrsvp or call (317) 327-5262.

State bicentennial brings together old tradition with fresh faces

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State bicentennial brings together old tradition with fresh faces

Ask the average Indiana resident to rattle off a few facts about their home state, and they may mention record-breaking attendance at the Indiana State Fair — known for its butter-smothered corn on the cob and giant pork tenderloin sandwiches. They may also recall a story of their first visit to the Indianapolis 500 or dive into the conversation of sports, as they speak highly of their favorite basketball players. Little do these residents know they walk on the grounds of a rich history that encompasses more than sports and social gatherings. It is where the richest deposits of top-quality limestone on earth can be found, and where the world’s first theme park opened. The first electric-lighted city in the world was also in Indiana, while another city claims the famed design of Coca-Cola bottles.

In this issue, the Indiana Minority Business Magazine is dedicated to unveiling some of the Hoosier state’s truths, positive influences, lush chronicles and innovative practices. As Indiana celebrates its 200th birthday in 2016, let it serve as a yearlong dedication to exploration, personal development and contribution to future legacies.

Indiana celebrates 200 years of history

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Indiana celebrates 200 years of history

By Victoria T. Davis

 

Inspired by the Indiana state flag, a 23.5-inch high-tech torch designed by a team of Purdue University engineering students, staff and faculty will travel 2,300 miles through Indiana’s 92 counties by 1,900 hand-selected torchbearers, who will ignite the future of the Hoosier state during its bicentennial by passing the flame from torchbearer to torchbearer. As a signature and highly anticipated event to celebrate, the Olympic-style Indiana Torch Relay will begin Sept. 9, 2016, when it will travel six days a week, averaging 72 miles per day, until Oct. 15, 2016, when the relay will conclude on the Statehouse grounds with a grand celebration for all Hoosiers.

In 2016, Indiana will celebrate its 200th birthday by honoring its rich history in a modern way that engages all 6.5 million Hoosiers and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations. The year-long celebration kicked off on Dec. 11, 2015, with a celebration of Statehood Day, when bicentennial flags were raised across Indiana at courthouses, city halls, fire stations and other public facilities.

The Torch Relay is not the only event to look forward to: a lineup of other social gatherings and tradition celebrations will be held throughout the state. A major component of the state’s 200th birthday lies in the implementation of what are known as Legacy Projects — projects and programs reflecting the state’s 200 years of progress. Current projects include: The Tree of Hope Project, where Hoosiers are encourage to plant trees in their communities; The Floyd County Oral History Project, bringing Floyd County residents together to collect and make available oral histories by providing a snapshot of what life was like both before and during Indiana’s bicentennial year; and The Indiana African-American Heritage Trail Project, which will enable tourists and residents to know a more complete history of each African-American community in the state. More than 850 projects have been created within Indiana’s 92 counties.

In December 2011, Indiana’s then-Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed a 15-member commission, chaired by then-Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, to oversee the planning and execution of a statewide celebration for Indiana’s 200th birthday. Since its inception, the commission has met every six weeks to dedicate adequate time to nurture its focus areas: nature and conservation, historical celebration, community involvement and youth and education.

 

Get on board

 

The major job of these commission members involves interacting with everyday Hoosiers, said Perry Hammock, executive director of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission. This has meant getting all 92 of Indiana’s counties on board with the bicentennial celebration through active participation.

“(In 2014) we had 75 projects in 35 counties, and now we have projects in all 92 counties, and we do that by going out and spending time with people. We find projects people are already doing and find out how it can fit into the bicentennial or help them start a new project,” said Hammock, who told Indiana Minority Business Magazine the remaining part of his day would take him through Indianapolis, Bloomington, then Evansville, to speak to a school’s history club about a project students were interested in completing. “We have a lot of meetings and fundraising.”

 

Discovering diversity

 

The commission believes the bicentennial is all about getting Hoosiers involved in the celebration, even those who aren’t always represented well.

“Many things are happening at the state level and with government agencies, but most of all I’m proud things are happening out in Indiana, in all 92 counties,” said Jim Madison, commission member and historian at Indiana University. “People who care about their communities and places are organizing and forming groups and projects. This is exactly what the commission wanted from the beginning, this grassroots connection.”

So far, the commission’s dream has turned into a reality. More than 850 Legacy Projects have been created . One of those projects includes the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Department of History. Rebecca Shrum, assistant director of the university’s public history program, assists in teaching a masters-level program for those interested in historical preservation. Each semester her students help create and develop a mobile application and website called Discover Indiana. Although the concept, used nationwide, was implemented from The Center for Public History and Digital Humanities at Cleveland State University, IUPUI has licensed the program to give Hoosier students the ability to supply the structure with historic and cultural virtual tours.

Shrum said the tours will include written text as well as photographs, video clips and some narration.

“We develop specific tours around certain themes or neighborhoods. Four tours are available now at Indyhistorial.org and center around Indiana’s sports and sacred spaces. For the bicentennial tours, there will be one on transportation, another looks at art in Indiana, then another looks at who have and have not belonged in Indiana over the past 200 years,” said Shrum. “It’s really meant to be engaging for those interested in learning about the state.”

Beyond Legacy Projects, another commemoration has been in the development stages for quite a while — Indiana at 200: A Celebration of the Hoosier State, the state’s official 248-page bicentennial collector’s book. The full-color, hard-cover printed edition offers 14 chapters, each opening with a short essay by a noted Hoosier, followed by photographs, quotes and anecdotes from Hoosiers of diverse ages, backgrounds and experiences. Readers can also expect to learn unique and surprising facts about Indiana.

“It is a very handsome book. One thing I really like about it is its commitment to diversity. I wrote a lot about African-American history in Indiana and for a long time, the default in Indiana was white, but we now know that just wasn’t true. There was history, but many of us on the commission and off the commission were very insistent that this celebration include all Hoosiers. If you look at the book, it does reflect that,” says Madison.

One individual who has helped recruit a varied pool of people into the bicentennial celebration was Rachel Belies, former diversity intern for the Indiana Bicentennial Commission.

While spending the summer in her home state, the Xavier University student secured an internship where one of her main responsibilities was contacting diverse organizations to gauge their interests in participating in the bicentennial.

“(The internship) was really eye opening for me, because you think of Indiana as corn fields and basketball, but the people here are much more than that,” explained Belies.

She connected with individuals and organizations from all over the state, including the Indianapolis Urban League and the Burmese American Institute, which will celebrate World Refugee Day in June 2016 with a bicentennial theme. The Asian American Alliance will have speakers to talk about the bicentennial and how Asians have positively impacted Indiana’s culture.

“Every time I connected with organizations and individuals, they were always interested in participating, which really says something about Indiana’s people,” said Belies, who mentioned she called more than 60 individuals and organizations. “It’s 200 years of history, but there are so many ways to get involved. People are really merging their interests with what they love about being a Hoosier. That’s what Indiana is about — everyone using their own talents to make the state a better place.”

 

Binding communities

 

More than 60 government agencies have agreed to partner with the Bicentennial Commission, including the Indiana Department of Correction. Non-governmental agencies like United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Eli Lilly’s Day of Service and Indy Do Day will be tied in as well.

One of the major goals of the bicentennial is bringing people together. Part of the reason for the emphasis on Legacy Projects and community involvement is to market Indiana as a destination with more than car racing and corn. By highlighting projects in specific counties, the hope is to pique people’s interest to learn more about their state, get to know their neighbors and partner among one another.

“We want to ensure we leave a legacy; it’s not just about the parties and events, but how the future benefits from this celebration,” Hammock said. “We know the real legacy of the bicentennial is children. We hope to have 800 to 1,000 projects that are in schools, parks, museums and all places across the state. We hope that variety helps people feel a part of the bicentennial.”

Those who’d like to get involved are encouraged to contact their Indiana Bicentennial County Coordinators listed on the bicentennial website, search Legacy Projects in their area and connect with organizers, or reach out to the commission. Currently there are thousands of volunteers involved in the celebration of the bicentennial.

 

Economic impact

 

Business-minded Hoosiers can get involved in the bicentennial marketplace, an online shop where Hoosiers can display and sell their locally made items. Anything from T-shirts to pottery and jewelry will be available. “It’s a way Hoosiers can support Hoosiers,” said Hammock.

The commission hopes local and statewide celebrations will allow residents to travel to new parts of the state they’ve never explored and support local businesses to keep the economy flourishing.

If Hoosiers are searching for a permanent reminder of the bicentennial’s impact, they may just find it in Indianapolis. Hammock says the legislature is funding some capitol projects that will be physical reminders of the bicentennial, including a new State Archives Building.

“They’re still working on the space, but it looks like it’­­­s going to be right off of Indiana Avenue, just northwest of the Madame Walker Theatre,” he said.

The $25 million investment, one of the largest project requests, will provide a space solution for Indiana’s most important documents.

But above all, the underlying message is to help residents learn their history before they embrace their future.

“One of the central themes in my teaching, research and public speaking is to tell people that Indiana has deep traditions that really bind us together. At the same time, Indiana has always changed over the years,” said Madison, bicentennial commission member. “If we talk about the future, one thing I hope the bicentennial brings is the conversation about our history and our present. If we have those conversations, we can see a rapid change. Some of our traditions can help us and some may hinder, us but it’s all about conversation.”

 

WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE CENTENNIAL?

Executive Director of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, Perry Hammock, explains the difference between Indiana’s centennial and bicentennial celebrations.

“In 1916, the centennial was hugely celebrated. People did pageants; they wrote songs, plays and even made up dances. They restaged the taking of Fort Sackville, and people from all over the state came to participate. In 1916 it was huge, and today we have to make it huge, because you’re competing against things like Instagram and other social media platforms. The celebration is the same; it’s just in a different format. We don’t do a hand-written newsletter anymore, but we use social media to connect. At the end of the day, it’s really the same. The goal is to make sure people locally get a chance to celebrate.”

 

 

Indiana Bicentennial Signature Projects

Children’s of Indiana Nature Park

Bicentennial Art Project

Bicentennial Celebration Gala

Bicentennial Kickoff

Bicentennial Plaza

Bicentennial Nature Trust

Bicentennial Torch Relay

Bicentennial Visioning Project

Commemorative Book

Commemorative Medal

Hoosier Homecoming

Indiana State Archives

Statehouse Education and Welcome Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

A matter of community

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A matter of community

By Tom King

 

It has been my good fortune over the years to have jobs that allowed me to be involved in the city and state I love. Whether it was serving as president of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, my tenure as president of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation or now, as president of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, I have been able to pursue my overall goal of building on the strengths that Indiana already possesses and creating improvements that help our state fulfill its potential.

As the CEO of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, I don’t know many other professionals who, in the course of an average day, get to experience as wide a range of things as I do. It’s not unusual for me to discuss fossilized shark vomit from Pike County, community outreach, the conservation of a T.C. Steele painting and how to keep field trips free for Hoosier students — all before lunch.

When I come in to work every day, the first thing I notice is the remarkable architecture of the museum. It’s a beautiful place to be and full of exciting stories to explore. We’re currently undergoing major construction projects in several of our core galleries, which will enable us to tell the fascinating story of Indiana, through real artifacts, in a more interactive way than ever before. In addition to these changes at the museum, we’re making improvements at our 11 historic sites across the state as we celebrate Indiana’s bicentennial year and look forward to the next 200 years of statehood.

One of my favorite improvements in the work being done at the historic sites is the creation of a $3.2 million Interpretive Center at the Levi Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City, Indiana. Levi and Catharine Coffin were Quaker merchants who, between 1826 and 1846, sheltered more than 1,000 freedom seekers as they made their journey to Canada as part of the Underground Railroad. This interpretive center will allow many more Hoosiers to learn about the work of the Coffins, as well as the stories of those who made the journey to freedom.

All of our historic sites are unique, and together they do such a great job of telling the story of the Hoosier state. Through our sites and exhibitions like “Amazing Maize,” which tells the story of the important Hoosier crop, corn; “Art Meets News,” about Hoosier photojournalist Bill Foley; and “Ice Age Giants,” which highlighted our remarkable collection of mammoth and mastodon remains from Indiana’s Pleistocene era, we’re able to show Indiana as it was, is, and could be.

The ISMHS is dedicated to fulfilling our mission to celebrate, explore and steward all that is authentically wondrous about Indiana. To that end, I — along with the dedicated staff of the ISMHS — am working hard to maintain and expand our collection of artifacts, create interesting and informative experiences and exhibitions for our visitors and the Hoosiers we serve, and making sure that everyone has access to us. From creating a fund that gives Indiana k-12 school groups free admission to our museum and historic sites, to expanding our outreach offerings, the idea that we are telling the stories that define us as a state is of great importance to me.

It has been my privilege to serve our community in several capacities before taking my current role at the ISMHS. I recently completed stints as chair of the board of the Indiana Sports Corporation, Goodwill Foundation of Central Indiana, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana and the Benjamin Harrison Home Foundation, and I currently serve as chair of the board of the Center for Leadership Development and as president of the Arthur Jordan Foundation. All of these organizations — as well as my work within them — are focused on creating the economic and community vitality that help make Indiana a great place to live and work.

My role at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has provided me with a unique opportunity and platform to not only create the sort of inclusive community-building and involvement that have been so important to me throughout my career, but also to preserve this story of these and other changes that have happened throughout Indiana’s history. Maintaining this material record for future generations of Hoosiers has proven to be some of the most challenging and rewarding work of my career. I’m excited about the future of the ISMHS, and I’m even more excited about the future of Indiana.

 

Tom King is president and CEO of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.

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