IBJ’s Women of Influence program recognizes women who have risen to the highest levels of business, the arts, and community and public service in central Indiana.
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Underwriting Sponsors
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Historic Laurel Hall hosts
IBJ’s Women of Influence photo shoot
Laurel Hall, near East 56th Street and Binford Boulevard, hosted IBJ’s Women of Influence photo and video shoot.
The mansion at 5395 Emerson Way was built in 1916 as a home for one of Indiana’s wealthiest families. Today, it serves as a wedding and events venue and is home to the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity headquarters and foundation office.
In 1916, Stoughton J. Fletcher, nephew of Calvin Fletcher—the lawyer and state lawmaker who also helped organize the first state-chartered bank in Indiana—began building Laurel Hall, named for his mother. The cost to build the 36,000-square-foot manor on 1,500 acres was $2.1 million.
But less than a decade later, Fletcher had to declare bankruptcy, and the bank took possession of the property. It was sold to Sisters of Providence, who opened Ladywood, a Catholic girls’ boarding school.
In 1974, the school was sold to local businessman Robert Welch. He developed a community of condominiums around Laurel Hall and used the manor as an office and entertainment center.
Eventually, a bank took possession of Laurel Hall. The Hudson Institute, a nonpartisan policy research organization, took ownership in the 1980s.
In 2004, Hudson moved to Washington, D.C., and in 2005, Phi Kappa Psi Foundation purchased Laurel Hall.
IBJ photographer Chad Williams took advantage of the home’s stained-glass windows, architectural details and ornate mantlepieces for photo backdrops. He also used the venue’s outdoor space.
Our cover photo was taken in the solarium. On the cover are Judith Thomas, Terry Stigdon, Kristin Glazner, Lee Ernst and Janmarie Connor.
IBJ thanks the staff of Laurel Hall for being gracious hosts.•
—Samm Quinn
“Though I love to learn, my favorite books are those that offer an escape. The Harry Potter series is at the top of that list! It helps me turn off my brain.”
—Molly Craft
“Failure is Not an Option” by Gene Krantz
—Kate Gundlach
“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr
—Lee Ann Kwiatkowski
“‘Getting Naked’ by Patrick Lencioni. This is part of our onboarding of new team members and required reading at JGA.”
—Lee Ernst
“John Mark Comer has been one of the most influential authors in my life. My No. 1 recommendation is ‘Ruth-less Elimination of Hurry’ followed by ‘Practice the Way.’”
—Katie Lucas
“There are so many! I love ‘Some Sing Some Cry’ [by Ifa Bayeza and Ntozake Shange], and ‘Fathers and Sons’ by Ivan Turgenev.”
—Judith Thomas
“I don’t know that I would use the word balance.
For me, I really enjoy my work. I want to get up in the morn-ing and feel like I am contributing and making a difference. So, I throw myself into whatever I’m doing, but I also am not going to compromise on my family. I made a promise to myself when I took this job that I was going to do it MY way. That probably means I’m not in the office from 8 to 5 every day because there are days when I’m going to go pick up my kids after school, see them and then go to an event later that night or work from home for a bit. So for me it is about inte-gration and making my work and personal life fit together.”
—Vanessa Green Sinders
“Focus and rest. I try each month to know the important things that must be accomplished, and I keep that list front and center each day until they are achieved. I also rely on early to bed most of the time. I have found over the years that a good night’s rest makes a world of difference not only in stamina the next day, but also it helps my patience level to get through each day with the least amount of drama.”
—Deb Tobias
“I am the primary caregiver for my dad, who is living with Alzheimer’s in an assisted living facility. This responsibility has reshaped how I think about balance. Instead of chasing an elusive idea of balance, I have learned to embrace the pendulum swings—the constant shifting between caregiving, career, and my own passions.”
—Jasmin French
“I don’t check emails after I leave my office. When I am done for the day, I am done—unless I get an emergency call from a patient. When my children were at home, I never worked on the government off days, I spent that time with my family.”
—Dr. Jennifer Siegel
“I don’t. And some days I am at peace with that and other days it is a lot more difficult.”
—Molly Craft