Women of Influence

Terry Stigdon has been a nurse volunteer with the Red Cross since September 2005 (because of Hurricane Katrina) and CEO of the Indiana Region for 2-1/2 years.

In eight years with the Madam Walker Legacy Center—four as board member and four as president and CEO—Kristian Stricklen has helped lead the organization into a new era of stability, visibility and cultural impact.

Beth Tharp was promoted to senior vice president, president of hospital services and network chief nurse officer at Community Health Network in February 2022.

Judith Thomas describes herself as “civic leader and cheerleader for Indy’s rich arts and culture community.”

Deborah Tobias is a member of the Indiana University Health Foundation, and she and her husband committed to a $10 million estate gift to help create the Tobias-Lechleiter Institute for Clinical Innovation at IU Health.

Eunice Trotter spent much of her career in journalism, but her role today is to uncover, document, preserve or restore and share Indiana Black history and heritage for Indiana Landmarks.

Since 2010, Alonya Yakovleva has built Indiana Ballet Conservatory from the ground up, establishing it as “an elite and highly respected training ground for both serious-minded ballet students and recreational dancers alike.”

Mali Bacon handles the development, marketing and strategy for GangGang, a cultural development and social justice organization that supports Black artists and the creative economy. Among GangGang’s most visible events is the annual Butter fine art fair, “America’s Equitable Fine Art Fair,” which completed its fourth year in September.

Dina M. Cox started as a clerk at the law firm Lewis Wagner in 1993 and worked her way up to managing partner in 2018 until 2019 and again in 2024.

Betsy Delgado leads a team of about 500 in Goodwill’s education and mission programs, including The Excel Center, Goodwill’s evidence-based high school for adults; Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership, a program for first-time, low-income moms; and a number of mission programs that support the education, employment and health care needs of Hoosiers.

Jennifer Hallowell runs a consulting company that specializes in government relations, lobbying, communications and association management.

Kalen Jackson oversees various functions of the Indianapolis Colts organization, including personnel, football operations and business operations.

Beth Keyser describes her role with Anthem as “being responsible for continually improving Hoosiers’ access to high-quality, affordable health care.”

Nicole Lamb-Hale is a member of Cummins Inc.’s global leadership team, with global oversight and responsibility for the company’s legal matters.

Gail Lowry leads Gleaners’ development team, overseeing the planning and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising program designed to strengthen and grow annual giving, support capital needs, and increase planned and endowment giving.

Jennifer Miller has been a partner at KSM and co-leader of the firm’s Transaction Advisory Services Group since January 2023.

Paula Moan oversees the growth and success of all lines of business for Stock Yards Bank & Trust in the Indianapolis region and surrounding areas.

Dawn Moore oversees the strategic and operational management of pharmacy services within the Community Health Network. 

Alice Morical served as lead attorney for the legal team of Dr. Caitlin Bernard, the physician who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old Ohio girl who had been raped.

Sarah Myer provides strategic guidance and operational leadership to support Indiana Sports Corp. in its mission to impact the community through sports.