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Chief Finance and Administrative Officer
Indy Chamber
Whether it’s working for nonprofits, running for state auditor or handling finances for the Indy Chamber, ZeNai Savage likes to say that everything she does centers around service. “I’ve worked hard to connect my profession to my purpose, to make a real impact,” she said. As a board member of the Indiana CPA Society and NABA (formerly National Association of Black Accountants), she facilitated ConnectIN, a collaborative initiative to strengthen talent pipelines, workforce development and entrepreneurship. As executive vice president of finance and administration at Martin University, she led critical financial restructuring that brought the school back into compliance. At Cummins Foundation, she managed a $40 million budget and grants portfolio. And at the Indy Chamber, she’s worked to rebuild the finance department, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance small-business services. “I’m especially proud of the work the Business Services group is doing within the chamber and our partner organizations,” she said. “While I’m an accountant by trade, I love using the strategic side of my brain—especially when it comes to creating meaningful support and opportunity for small businesses.”
Getting here: Savage started in public accounting, working at both global and local CPA firms, mostly focused on the public and nonprofit sectors. From there, she transitioned to the Cummins Foundation as director of finance, managing a $40 million budget for global programming. In 2022, she stepped into public service, running unsuccessfully for state auditor. She returned to the accounting profession as executive vice president of finance at Martin University, where she helped the institution clear a four-year audit backlog in under two years, then joined Indy Chamber.
First job: At a Houghton Mifflin book packaging facility, where she worked on the assembly line for two summers while in high school.
Givebacks: board member, Indiana CPA Society, NABA, Leadership Indianapolis, Junior Achievement, Rise Indy, Indiana Voices and Votes
Lesson learned: “I’m highly adaptable. I can fit in seamlessly, stay calm under pressure and take decisive action when needed. I’m comfortable making the hard calls.”•
Check out more Forty Under 40 honorees.
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