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Deputy Chief of Staff, Gov. Mike Braun
Age: 46
Hometown: Chesterton
Family: husband, Tim; son, Harry; stepchildren, Ana and Yoseph
Achievements: Molly Deuberry Craft leads the communications strategy for Gov. Mike Braun and the state agencies in the executive branch. In his letter nominating Craft for a Women of Influence award, the governor said she is “committed to the best outcome possible. Her leadership has elevated our communications strategy and strengthened how we serve the public. She is trusted to speak clearly on complex issues, communicate transparently with the media and the public, and help set the tone for our administration.” Craft said she is especially proud of “pushing the state to the highest level of transparency possible,” which includes helping reporters get needed documents that might show state agencies in a less-than-flattering light. “The truth is the truth,” she said.
Career track: Before joining the Braun administration in January, Craft was director of corporate communications and marketing for Republic Airways. She has served as chief communications officer for Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and communications director/press secretary for the Mayor Greg Ballard campaign and has held communications positions with the Teachers’ Retirement Fund, Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Chamber, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Department of Administration and the Indiana State Board of Education. “Though I have worked in nonprofit leadership and in the private sector, I am especially passionate about government and keep returning to public service,” she said.
Influential moment: The first time someone on her team at Republic Airways referred to her as a mentor of his. “I was stunned,” she said. “I didn’t think I had the experience or wisdom to be anyone’s mentor. But I was honored and humbled and took that opportunity to shift my thinking about myself and how I could do a better job of helping those around me at work.”
Giving back: board member, Hope Academy High School, Visit Indy and the Indiana Conference for Women
Advice for young women: “Be on time. Use budgeting software to manage your money. Get off social media.”•
Check out more Women of Influence honorees.
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