Author: Indy Rotary

Join us on Tuesday at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center or on Zoom to hear from Bart Peterson the President and CEO of Christel House International, an international network of primary and secondary schools serving children from predominantly disadvantaged backgrounds. Peterson retired in 2017 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications for Eli Lilly and Company, where he also served as a member of the company’s executive committee. Prior to joining Lilly, Peterson was Managing Director at Strategic Capital Partners, LLC, from June 2008 to June 2009.  Peterson received a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1980 and earned his law degree at the University of Michigan Law School in 1983.

From 2000 to 2007, Peterson served two terms as Mayor of Indianapolis. He also served as President of the National League of Cities in 2007. As mayor, Peterson led a transformation of public education in Indianapolis as the only mayor in America with the authority to create new schools by issuing charters. He was responsible for 16 charter schools and won Harvard University’s prestigious Innovations in American Government Award for the initiative in 2006. As mayor, along with Indiana University, Purdue University, Lilly, and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, he created BioCrossroads, a focused effort to push Indianapolis to the forefront as a life sciences capital. He was also instrumental in the business expansions of FedEx, Rolls Royce, and Anthem in Indianapolis, and the construction and development of major projects such as Lucas Oil Stadium, the Conrad Indianapolis, Simon Property Group’s world headquarters, Indianapolis International Airport’s Col. H. Weir Cook terminal building, and the Indiana Convention Center expansion and J.W. Marriott Hotel.

During spring 2008, Peterson was a fellow with the Institute of Politics of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. During the 2008-2009 school year, Peterson was a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Public Policy at Ball State University. In 2012, he was appointed by the US State Department to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council and served through 2016. For twelve years, Peterson served as the founding Board Chair of The Mind Trust, an education reform and support organization, and he currently chairs the Board of Directors of the Regenstrief Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Gregory S. Fehribach Center at Eskenazi Health. He is also a member of the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs Dean’s Council and serves on the 16 Tech Community Corporation Board of Directors, which guides the development of the 16 Tech innovation district located on Indianapolis’s near northwest side.

All are welcome at Rotary programs. If attending in-person at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center reservations and prepayment are required. Due to current guidelines only 50 seats are available. Register on Square at https://rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/. Lunch will be available starting at 11:45 a.m. and the program runs 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. 

To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?pwd=bFE4ejJTc29IMlNzVmx1Wlg4MTA1UT09. While our Tuesday programs via Zoom are free to attend a suggested donation of $3 – $5 is appreciated in lieu of the typical room fee. These contributions help defray the cost of our hybrid meetings. Please note that donations to the Rotary Club of Indianapolis are not tax deductible. You can support our hybrid meetings at https://rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/. 

Registration is not required to join the meeting. If you’d like to join via your mobile phone or tablet you can download the free Zoom app. 

Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795

If joining via a mobile phone for audio only click one of the following numbers: 
+13126266799,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (New York)

You can also join us from a landline phone.
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795

March is Women’s History Month. To commemorate the vital role of women in culture and society, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis has hosted women speakers from a wide range of backgrounds who embody the role of “contributor” throughout the month. 

Join us on Tuesday via Zoom to hear from Jackie Nytes the CEO of The Indianapolis Public Library. In January 2012, Nytes began her tenure as the 14th director in The Indianapolis Public Library’s illustrious history dating back to 1873. Prior to her current association with Indianapolis Public Library, Nytes served as  Associate Director of Management Services and then Chief Financial Officer from 1988 to 2001. In between those chapters, Nytes served 12 years as an elected member of the Indianapolis City-County Council, as well as a five-year term as Executive Director of the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation in Indianapolis. Nytes was Director of the Carmel-Clay Public Library in Carmel, Indiana from 1981-1988. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where she received a BA in Political Science and Masters in Library Science.  

Her current civic engagement includes serving on the Boards of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Immigrant Welcome Center, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, and the Temple Bethel Restoration Committee. She is a recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash and has served as an International Homestay family since 1987, hosting over 130 international students in her home. These relationships have resulted in a deep appreciation for the value of the immigrant experience and the richness of cultures beyond our shores as we seek to build a truly inclusive city!
 All are welcome at Rotary programs.

To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. (join 10-15 minutes early to socialize and network) and ending promptly at 1:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?pwd=bFE4ejJTc29IMlNzVmx1Wlg4MTA1UT09.

Registration is not required to join the meeting. If you’d like to join via your mobile phone or tablet you can download the free Zoom app. 

Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795

If joining via a mobile phone for audio only click one of the following numbers: 
+13126266799,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (New York)

You can also join us from a landline phone.
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abV7RufTKj

Go here to view instructions on how to prepare for your first Zoom call. If you have questions about joining the meeting contact the office at info@indyrotary.org.  

March is Women’s History Month. To commemorate the vital role of women in culture and society, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis will be hosting women speakers from a wide range of backgrounds who embody the role of “contributor” throughout the month. 

Join us on Tuesday via Zoom to hear from Virginia Booth Womack the Director of Minority Engineering Program at Purdue University. Virginia was the first in a family of five to attend college, she received a four-year scholarship to Purdue University from Father Boniface Hardin, President of what was then known as Martin Center College in Indianapolis, Indiana. Martin Center College is now known as Martin University. She is a Purdue University graduate with a B.S. Degree in Industrial Engineering and a B.A. Degree in Psychology. While at Purdue, Virginia was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and actively involved with Purdue’s Minority Engineering Program (MEP). She was mentored by Purdue University President Emeritus, Dr. Arthur Hansen and challenged to run for National Chair of NSBE with a commitment from President Emeritus Hansen and Purdue University to help support the foundation of the national body.

After being elected, Purdue University provided an office for the first National Headquarters. Virginia was invited to speak at the National Advisory Council for the Minorities in Engineering consortium in Washington D.C. In attendance were Fortune 500 CEOs and University Presidents from top academic institutions that gathered together to determine how to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the fields of engineering and science. Her open, candid, and personal discussion of the needs of African American students pursuing engineering and science, and the personal responsibility such students embraced by forming NSBE, launched national support for NSBE from both corporate and university leaders. As the first female National Chair and the first to serve two consecutive terms of office, over 50 universities received their official ‘charter chapter’ status during her two terms of office.

Virginia has worked for Proctor & Gamble, Eli Lilly Corporation, RCA, General Dynamics, and served as School Administrator for Bibleway Christian Academy (Toledo, Ohio) serving grades Preschool through 12. Before coming to Purdue, she worked at DaimlerChrysler Corporation where she spent 10 years and served as Lean Manufacturing Manager for the Powertrain Division. She was responsible for 100% implementation of training and integration of lean manufacturing principles. 

As the Director of MEP, Virginia has worked to continue the legacy established at Purdue to increase the number of engineering graduates from Purdue University among those who traditionally have been underrepresented in the fields of engineering and science. Virginia recently served as Interim Executive Director for NSBE. The Dean of the College of Engineering allowed Virginia to be on loan to NSBE as their Interim Executive Director while they conducted a search, secured, and transitioned a new Executive Director. During this period, Virginia successfully managed a 14-million-dollar operation with approximately 30 employees through a very difficult transition. She oversaw and maintained organizational viability, increased corporate sponsorship, program outreach, and professional development.

In addition to leading MEP and transforming the lives of the next generation of engineers that pass through MEP, Virginia is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering Education at Purdue University with a focus on inclusive leadership across academia, corporations, and civic engagement. She plans to use her research to inform national efforts in broadening the participation of underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
All are welcome at Rotary programs.

To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. (join 10-15 minutes early to socialize and network) and ending promptly at 1:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?pwd=bFE4ejJTc29IMlNzVmx1Wlg4MTA1UT09.

Registration is not required to join the meeting. If you’d like to join via your mobile phone or tablet you can download the free Zoom app. 

Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795

If joining via a mobile phone for audio only click one of the following numbers: 
+13126266799,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (New York)

You can also join us from a landline phone.
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abV7RufTKj

Go here to view instructions on how to prepare for your first Zoom call. If you have questions about joining the meeting contact the office at info@indyrotary.org.