By Nasser H. Paydar, chancellor, IUPUI, executive vice president, Indiana University
It was a pleasure and an honor to serve as president of The Economic Club of Indiana this past year. We welcomed a thought-provoking lineup of speakers to Indianapolis, including Tom Bell, president and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America; Deborah Berke, dean of the Yale School of Architecture; Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Cummins; and Maurice A. Jones, president and CEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corp., among many others.
Such a stellar lineup of speakers attests to the power of this forum to generate provocative conversations about how we can better understand and support the transformation of current business, nonprofit and educational environments. Each luncheon brought together 600 people from Indianapolis and beyond to engage in meaningful and timely conversations about changes in our community and in our world more broadly.
This wide-ranging group, including members and nonmembers, has been changing over the years as younger people move to the city and join the ranks of working professionals.
The Economic Club is keeping up with these changes. It depends entirely on volunteer support, including the deep engagement and guidance of our board of governors. This year we conducted a survey of board members, which resulted in a new structure that will strengthen the club. In addition, we are partnering with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business at IUPUI to develop a sustainable campaign for engaging Central Indiana leaders under the age of 40 in Economic Club activities.
I look forward to the positive changes the Economic Club of Indiana is undergoing and am proud that I was part of the leadership team that has been guiding these efforts. As a platinum sponsor of the Economic Club of Indiana for more than 10 years, IUPUI has long supported this important community forum, which brings visibility to our campus and to the many institutions that make up the fabric of the great city of Indianapolis.
As much as I have enjoyed serving as president and moderating many of the discussions, I am delighted to pass the torch to incoming president Allison Melangton, senior vice president of events with Hulman Motorsports. I look forward to continuing to serve on the board as past president and being an audience member next season.
Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar is a wonderful leader and he brings success to so many activities and communities. I have the honor of bringing university students to attend the Economics Club lunch meetings and each time we are delighted with the quality and the networking opportunities. Thank you to Chancellor Paydar and the many volunteers it takes to make the Economics Club a great opportunity for all of us in business.