Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe city of Carmel and Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. on Tuesday announced new changes to the governance structure of the nonprofit that operates the city’s German-themed Christmas market.
On or after July 1, a fifth member will be added to the Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. board of directors. The person will be nominated by the Carmel City Council and Mayor Sue Finkam will need to approve the nomination.
Also, current Board Chair Maddie Augustus will step down from her role after the organization appoints a new CEO or when Augustus begins maternity leave, whichever comes first.
And after Augustus leaves the board, the Carmel City Council will submit a nominee to be approved by Finkam to restore the board to five members. At that time, the board will consist of three members selected by the mayor and two members nominated by the City Council.
More changes will come in 2026.
At the beginning of next year, current Secretary-Treasurer Zac Jackson, who serves as the city’s chief financial officer, will leave the Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. board. The organization at that time will also update its bylaws to create an eight-person board of directors with four members nominated by the City Council and approved by the mayor and four members directly appointed by the mayor.
According to a news release, the changes came after discussions involving Finkam, members of the Carmel City Council and Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. leadership.
“I am grateful to the City Council and CCI for their partnership over the past few weeks in identifying a path forward that is advantageous for all involved parties,” Finkam said in written remarks. “We are optimistic that these updates will establish a solid foundation for our beloved Christkindlmarkt, ensuring this event will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Carmel Christkindlmarkt, the brainchild of former Mayor Jim Brainard, runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. The Christkindlmarkt was established as a city-owned event that is currently operated by the four-member board of Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc., a nonprofit that is considered a subsidiary of the city.
“The Council’s involvement in the CCI Board of Directors nomination process will create a shared burden of responsibility between our city’s executive and legislative branches to govern one of Carmel’s largest and most successful affiliated entities,” Carmel City Council President Adam Aasen said in written remarks. “This balance will ensure proper stewardship of this incredible community asset and illustrates our shared commitment to continuing to make this event one of the best in the country.”
The governance changes come after months of debate over the future of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, which drew nearly 10,000 visitors per day last year.
In October, Finkam announced changes to the organizational structure of Carmel Christkindmarkt Inc. when she removed two board members, Brenda Myers and Sven Schumacher. Board Chair Susan McDermott also resigned. Finkam appointed McDermott and Myers to the board in January 2024, while Schumacher had served on the board since 2019. Finkam took office in January 2024.
The current board consists of Chair Augustus, Vice Chair Abhi Reddy, Secretary-Treasurer Jackson and member Daniel Miller.
The Carmel Affiliate Review Committee has spent recent months reviewing the finances of nonprofits with ties to the city. Those are Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc., Promote Carmel Inc., the Carmel Midtown Community Development Corp. and the Carmel City Center Community Development Corp.
Last month, former Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. CEO Maria Adele Rosenfeld resigned and wrote in a letter that she had been “excluded from key decisions” and “undermined” since changes were made last fall to the market’s board of directors.
Also in May, members of the Carmel City Council voted to launch an investigation to examine what led to the replacement of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc. board of directors and the series of events since last fall that culminated in Rosenfeld’s resignation. The City Council is also considering an ordinance to give the legislative body more say in the appointments of people to the boards of nonprofit organizations tied to the city, such as the Christkindlmarkt.
Julia Davis, vice president of operations for Carmel Christkindlmarkt Inc., is serving as interim CEO.
This year’s market is scheduled to begin Nov. 22.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Kind of sounds like the IU Trustees.
It’s upsetting to see this upheaval. The Christkindlmarkt is an iconic Christmas attraction that has been a delight. It’s going to be a hard act to follow. My hope is that it continues to grow with more vendors of unique Christmas gifts for sale which also would help the market cover expenses.
Unfortunately it sounds as if the market is not that valued by the new governance and won’t receive as much municipal support as in the past. That would be a shame.
I have repeatedly brought out of town guests to the market in years past. After our visit there, we continue to shop and dine in Carmel, but the market is the magnet. If it declines or is not there, we probably won’t come to Carmel at all for shopping, dining, and entertainment. I so hope that doesn’t happen. Carmel has created a magical holiday jewel – a gift to the broader community which captures and spreads unique Christmas spirit and cheer. PLEASE keep polishing that jewel into brighter and brighter brilliance.
The transparency is needed.The market’s not moving or going anywhere. It’s gonna be great. The previous governance use it as a pet child, and it’s not fair to taxpayers to pick up the tab on large salaries for unqualified people.
Seems like a good opportunity for Visit Indy to capitalize on and earn their make-work salaries. Easier to pretend to be interested in efforts they obviously have no interest in making improvements upon. White River anyone?
Maybe there’s someplace close to Broad Ripple that could host this party? Or the nearly empty parking lots at Castleton Mall? Keep in on the northside of Indy, so the Carmel folks can readily come visit, along with Fishers and Z’ville.
American Legion Mall.
The market is not moving out of caramel.
Finkam and her pals will screw this up and it will be gone or severely diminished before the end of her term.
I’d better I bet on the opposite. You add overcompensated, underqualified people running the market