Wabash Club of Indianapolis Leadership Breakfast
The Wabash Club of Indianapolis hosted its annual Leadership Breakfast. The event brings together Wabash alumni from central Indiana and business leaders to discuss a topic of interest with this year topic focused on "work that works."
The Wabash Club of Indianapolis also presents its Man of the Year Award at the event, this year to Harry F. "Mac" McNaught '76.
Featured speakers at the 2024 Wabash Club of Indianapolis Leadership Breakfast are picuured with Wabash College president Scott Feller (right). From left, they are Akilah Darden, Founder, The Darden Group; Melina Kennedy, CEO, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership; and Kevin Gearheart '98, President, Rehab Medical.
Kyle Bender '12 (right) goes over some pre-program details with Steve Hoffman '85, Senior Major Gifts and Special Projects Officer.
Kyle Foyer '83 shares a laugh during the breakfast portion of the program.
Tim Craft '00 chats with a classmate.
Ryan Grand '08 reacts positively to the conversation.
Plenty of current students were in attendance like Brett Driscoll '24.
Mac Shilling chats with Andrew McCoy '05 (right) over breakfast.
David Shane '70 (left) and Mac McNaught '76 share a moment during breakfast.
As usual, this event is very well attended.
Keenan Blanchford '98 served as the event's emcee.
The morning's first speaker was Kevin Gearheart '98, President of Rehab Medical.
Attendees listened intently.
Gearheart spoke on the importance of culture within an organization.
There was plenty ot emphasize in this presentation.
Gearheart said the goal was to make an organization's culture so strong and pervasive that it becomes toxic to those who can't buy in.
Melina Kennedy is the CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.
She talked about how to lead from your position.
Lewis Delinger '25 listens in.
Whether entry-level, middle management, C-suite, or retired, there are leedership opportunities for you.
"Leadership is the choice you make, not the seat you are in," she said.
Akilah Darden is Founder of The Darden Group.
Darden spoke of the importance of building diverse leadership teams.
She also spoke of how your experience can benefit others as a leader or mentor.
President Feller was an engaged listener.
"A successful person finds successful plays for others," she said.
Blanchford also engineered an energetic Q&A session.
Trustee Aman Brar '99 shares a laugh during the Q&A.
Threre were plenty of thoughtful moments at this event.
Grant Goshorn '02 reacts to one of the speakers' comments.
Ben Johnson '18 pays particular attention.
Bender introduced the Wabash Club of Indianapolis Man of the Year award winner.
He told a heartfelt story about his first meeting with the winner, Harry F. "Mac" McNaught '76, at a scholarship dinner while Bender was a high school senior.
That conversation opened Bender's eyes to Wabash and started what's become a lifelong friendship with McNaught.
Here is McNaught pictured during Bender's presentation.
Bender and McNaught embrace on stage...
...and McNaught accepts the WCI Man of the Year award.
In accepting the hoonr, McNaught mentioned that his efforts are just a Wabash through line that connects him to College giants like John Collett, Bill Hayes, and Barney Hollett and to others like Bender.
Dean of Advancement Michelle Janssen spoke about the goals and efforts of the Wabash Women's Collective.
The featured speakers post-event.