Purdue University President Mitch Daniels and Purdue Research Foundation President Brian Edelman have jointly appointed David Broecker as the foundation’s chief innovation and collaboration officer.

David has a long history of industry and entrepreneurial experience at Fortune 500 and startup medical device and biotechnology companies in Indianapolis and the Boston area. He will oversee strategic innovation and collaboration initiatives at the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation established in 1930 to advance the mission of Purdue University. He will continue to serve as chief executive officer and chairman for Zorion Medical, an Indianapolis-based medical device startup he founded.

Following his 1983 graduation from Wabash, David earned a graduate degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Chicago, and has served on the Wabash College Board of Trustees since 2009.

You can read more at Inside Indiana Business.

Todd Spurgeon of New Albany advanced to the office of president-elect of the Indiana State Bar Association for 2017-18 at the association’s annual meeting in Indianapolis.  His term will expire in October, after which he will become the association’s president.  As president, he will represent the single largest legal organization in the state.

A partner at Kightlinger & Gray LLP in New Albany, Todd is a member of the Floyd County, Indiana State and American bar associations; the American Board of Trial Advocates; Defense Research Institute; Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana; and the Sherman Minton American Inn of Court.

Following his 1996 graduation from Wabash, Todd earned his law degree from the Indiana University Mauer School of Law.

The Tribune

Holland & Knight has announced that Ben Robinson has joined as a partner in their Orlando Office, where he will focus his practice on high-stakes construction litigation, complex business litigation, white collar crime and healthcare litigation.

Ben has also served in the federal judiciary, where he was deputy rules officer and counsel to the Judicial Conference of the U.S. Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure. In that role, he worked closely on procedural, legislative and litigation policy matters with federal judges, prominent lawyers, state chief justices, and high-level Justice Department officials and federal public defender organizations.

Following his 2001 graduation from Wabash, Ben received a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Holland & Knight

State Senator Phil Boots presented a Sagamore of the Wabash award to Jack Wyatt. Presented on behalf of Gov. Eric Holcomb, the award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the governor.

“Well, this is very momentous,” Jack said. “It feels like I’ve been caught. This is not anything I ever expected. I’m just shocked.”

Jack was recognized for his many years of service to his community, including involvement in both the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. In 1961, he became Scoutmaster of Troup 342 at First Christian Church and over the next 25 years, Troop 342’s enrollment grew to 88 boys and produced 55 Eagle scouts. He was instrumental in establishing the James E. Boggs Explorer Camp to be used by the youth of Montgomery County. Jack is an active member of the local Vanity Theater; Vice President and President of the Indiana Association of Life Underwriters; the Crawfordsville Boys Club Board of Directors; chapter advisor for the Wabash College Beta Theta Pi fraternity; the Alumni Advisory Committee at Wabash College; has served for 25 years on the Indiana State Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve; as Commissioner of the Crawfordsville Police Department; Board of Directors of Lincoln Federal Bank; the Board of Directors and President on the Montgomery County Tourism Board; served as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals; Board Member of the Montgomery County Community Foundation; the Board of the Montgomery County Cultural Foundation. He is a member and former President of the Montgomery County Kiwanis Club and has served as a Deacon and Elder at Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church. A few of his many awards and honors include: The Distinguished Service Medal from the State of Indiana; the Silver Beaver Award for Adult Leadership in Scouting; ESGR Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in Scouting.

Congratulations, Jack!

The Paper

The Western History Association’s Autry Public History Prize is awarded annually to media exhibits, public programs, or written works that contribute to a broader public reflection and appreciation of the past or served as a model of professional public history practice in the history of the North American West. This year, the award was given to the creators of the “Utah Drawn: An Exhibition of Rare Maps” exhibit, including Travis Ross ’06.

“This exhibit began with the desire to build a public history and art exhibit around a core collection of rare maps assembled by the local businessman Steve Boulay. On their own, Steve’s collection told a visually compelling story about the cartographic history of western North America, but especially of the region that became Utah”, says Ross. “Utah Drawn uses the familiar and visually-interesting form of the map––which purports merely to tell the truth––to explore all the ways that ostensible facts like place names and special relationships are actually perspectives determined by political control, economic interests, and cultural assumptions.”

Following his 2006 graduation from Wabash, Travis earned a PhD in History from the University of Utah. Travis is currently a lecturer at Yale University.

University of Utah

Wabash College graduates Bryce Chitwood ’08 and Erik Kile ’16 recently spent two weeks in Washington state at Joint Base Lewis-McChord completing the final phase of Office Candidate School.  Both men are now 2^nd Lieutenants with the Army National Guard – Chitwood in Oklahoma and Kile in Indiana.

Congratulations, gentlemen, and thank you for your service!

The Indiana Bar Foundation has announced that J. Lee McNeely has been chosen as the 2018 Legendary Lawyer of the Indiana Bar Foundation. The award honors a Fellow who demonstrates the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession, compassion through service to the public in the community in which he lives, and practical skills in the practice of law through a legal career of 50 years or more.

In addition to serving the public as an attorney, Lee has served the public and the legal profession through his actions in and out of the courtroom. He is the former president of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Foundation, and Indiana Lawyer’s Commission. Lee has been honored with a Sagamore of the Wabash eight times by six different governors.

Lee will be honored on September 26, 2018 in Shelbyville.

Congratulations, Lee!

Indiana Bar Foundation

Ron Rychlak, University of Mississippi law professor and Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law and Government, will lead the Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) for the 2018-19 academic year. SEALS, which began in 1947 as a regional association of law schools that came together to host an annual meeting each summer, has grown beyond the Southeast and now includes more than 100 member schools.

“It’s both an honor and a challenge,” Ron said. He has been active in the organization for the last 20 years, serving on multiple committees. In 2012, the association honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. His goal as president is to continue to develop the organization, specifically helping young  faculty members who are just beginning their careers.

Following his 1980 graduation from Wabash, Ron received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University.

University of Mississippi News

SupplyKick CEO Josh Owens said 2017 was “a spectacular year” for his company, which helps businesses increase their presence and their sales on Amazon, eBay and Walmart.com. He attributes the growth (revenue growth FY 2015 to 2017 was 335%) to an increase in existing products and partnerships, adding new partners and products, and bringing on new team members to improve growth, partner success, marketing, operations and logistics.

Josh worked at Angies’ List when it was going through national expansion, and at One Click Ventures as e-commerce boomed, so he’s aware of the need to manage growth. “The big thing I’m focused on right now is that we’ve got the right people in place who have the diversity of background and experiences and are excited about a high-growth environment.”

Each year, the Indianapolis Business Journal releases its list of the 25 fastest-growing companies based in the Indianapolis area. Companies are eligible if their revenue increased each fiscal year; revenue exceeded $1 million in fiscal year 2015; the company was an independent, privately held corporation, proprietorship or partnership; was founded before Jan. 1, 2015.

Indianapolis Business Journal

The Nature Conservancy has announced the recent appointment of Doug Petno as one of six new members of its global Board of Directors. “The Nature Conservancy has an inspiring mission to conserve lands and waters globally for the benefit of people and nature,” said Board Chair Tom Tierney. “We are innovative and collaborative problem-solvers, anchored in science and deeply committed to driving positive change in the world. These distinguished new Board members each bring an impressive range of experience and talent that will help us achieve our ambitious goals. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to help lead the Conservancy at this important time in history.”

Doug is the CEO of Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase, overseeing more than 9,000 professionals located in 120 locations across the U.S. and 19 major international cities. With more than 25 years of experience at the firm, he previously served as global head of J.P. Morgan’s Natural Resources Investment Banking Group, where he oversaw client coverage for oil and gas, power and utilities, chemicals, metals and mining, building products, and paper and packaging. Following his 1987 graduation from Wabash, Doug earned an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.

The Nature Conservancy