Compiled by IBJ Media, the Indiana 250 identified the most influential business leaders throughout the state. The list included five Wabash alumni, one member of the Board of Trustees, and four others affiliated with the College through honorary degrees or bestowed awards.
Included in this year’s Indiana 250 were alumni Aman Brar ’99, Steve Ferguson ’63, Bob Grand ’78, Mark Miles ’76, and Clay Robbins ’79; Trustee Phil Kenney; and degree recipients or award winners Sara Evans Barker, Mitch Daniels, Ken Falk, and James Morris.
Aman Brar ’99: Operating partner at High Alpha Studio and Capital, and principal at Unnautural, LLC. He is a member of the Wabash Board of Trustees.
Steve Ferguson ’63: Chairman of the Board of Cook Group Incorporated, the parent company of businesses that focus on medical device research, development, manufacture, and sales.
Bob Grand ’78: A partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He is a member of the Wabash College Board of Trustees.
Mark Miles ’76: President and chief executive officer of Penske Entertainment Corp. and oversees the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar racing, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions.
Clay Robbins ’79: Chairman and chief executive officer of Lilly Endowment Inc.
Sara Evans Barker: Senior judge of the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana. She received the Senior Peck Medal for Eminence in the Law in 1989 and an honorary degree in 1999.
Mitch Daniels: The former two-term governor of the state received an honorary degree from Wabash in 2011.
Ken Falk: Legal director of the ACLU of Indiana since 1996. He received the Senior Peck Medal for Eminence in the Law from Wabash in 2016.
Phil Kenney: President, F.A. Wilhelm Construction Company. A member of the Wabash College Board of Trustees.
James Morris: A civic leader with a long history of success in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors, he currently serves as vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Morris received an honorary degree from Wabash in 2001.
“Wabash Men and our friends freely give of our time, talent and treasure to the State of Indiana,” said Steven Jones, Dean for Professional Development. “We believe in building a strong, robust state and creating opportunities for others to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. For alums, regardless of the graduation date, our exposure to the Gentleman’s Rule and a liberal arts education set a solid foundation to build upon. I remain hopeful this broad recognition of Wabash Men and our friends inspires current students to make the most of their Wabash experience and follow in the footsteps of these esteemed honorees.”
Final selections were made by editors and staff of IBJ Media’s three news brands, the Indianapolis Business Journal, Inside INdiana Business, and Indiana Lawyer. The Indiana 250 spotlights the state’s leaders across multiple industries, including education, not-for-profits, and arts; energy and agriculture; financial services; health care and life sciences; hospitality and entertainment; law; manufacturing, logistics, and transportation; philanthropy and civic leadership; real estate and architecture; and technology and media.
The essential factor was simple: men and women who live in Indiana and are making a difference locally, regionally, or statewide in business, philanthropy, or community–or all three.
The inaugural class of the Indiana 250 was honored in 2022.