Bill built businesses and courageously fought for a more prosperous Indiana. In his honor, IBJ is creating an award to honor those that follow Bill’s example.
Oesterle’s long list of accomplishments included co-founding and serving as CEO of Indianapolis-based Angie’s List and persuading Mitch Daniels to run for governor.
Angie’s List co-founder Oesterle had filed suit against a classic-car restoration shop alleging that the company had, among other things, overbilled him for repairs, charged him for unauthorized work and sold one of his cars without permission.
Imagine what taxpayers would save by avoiding all of Congress’ long-distance back-and-forth travel, Fort Knox-like security, and any other cushy Washington stuff.
I have always found rural voters smart. They are practical and discerning. In 2004, Mitch appealed to that practicality when he asked, “Why don’t we start with the problems we all agree on?” They responded overwhelmingly.
David Ricks called on government for help fix Indiana’s business climate. I think we will have to do more—a lot more. State government simply lacks the technological sophistication, budgetary discipline and political consensus to do enough.
The founder of Angie’s List and TMap, in recognition of his years of service as a community leader and entrepreneurial force, is the 28th recipient of the Michael A. Carroll Award.
The co-founder of Angie’s List led Mitch Daniels’ first campaign for governor and is now working to bring Hoosiers who have left the state back to Indiana to help grow its economy.
In a world where every open job has, on average, fewer than one applicant, employers will be forced to abandon standardized skill requirements. They are going to have to move from a skills-first model to a talent-first model.
