Patrick Talty
President
Patrick Talty was elected Indiana Sports Corp President in July 2022. He is the not-for-profit organization’s seventh president since the nation’s first sports commission was founded in 1979. Indiana Sports Corp’s mission is to create positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events that enhance vibrancy in the community, build civic pride, drive economic impact and media exposure, and encourage opportunities for youth.
Prior to being elected president, Talty served as Indiana Sports Corp’s Chief Operating Officer from October of 2019 until the start of his presidency. As COO, Talty oversaw all operational aspects of the nation’s largest sports commission including event evaluation, bidding and long-term planning, youth programming, and strategic direction of the organization to ensure the greatest impact to the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana.
Talty was responsible for ISC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and creating a path for sporting events to resume. This included him help lead the organization in the hosting of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and the bidding efforts of several premier events that will come to Indy in the future.
Before his time at Indiana Sports Corp, Talty served as the general manager of U.S. Bank Stadium and as Senior Vice President, Live Events for World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE). In Minnesota, Talty was responsible for the oversight and management of U.S. Bank Stadium as they hosted several premier events including the 2016 International Champions Cup, Super Bowl LII, ESPN Summer X Games, and the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four. While at WWE, Talty managed the global touring and event marketing of more than 420 live events annually.
Talty has strong ties to the Indianapolis community having started his career in the Circle City with stops at the Indiana Basketball Academy, The Stephenson Group, and as a member of the senior staff at the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome.
Talty received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and did post-graduate work at Ball State University. He and his wife, Becky, live in Fishers.
Brad Bowman
Senior Vice President and CFO
Brad Bowman has been directing all aspects of the business operations of Indiana Sports Corp since 2000, including the supervision of the organization’s three-person accounting staff. He is responsible for budgeting and budget compliance, risk management, accounting and financial reporting, human resources and information technology. Bowman was promoted to Senior Vice President in December, 2010. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Bowman spent seven years at Ernst & Young, LLP.
A graduate of Indiana University, Bowman earned status as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) (Indiana) in September, 1996. He is also active in the community, serving as a member and past officer of the Rotary Club of Greenfield – Sunrise.
Sarah Myer
Chief of Staff & Strategy
Sarah Myer joined Indiana Sports Corp in April, 2019 and now serves as Chief of Staff & Strategy. In her role, Myer provides strategic guidance and operational leadership to support the organization in fulfilling its mission of impacting the community through sports. Myer also currently serves as the Event Co-Director of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming event in 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium. In addition, Myer was a producer of “Made for this Moment: An Indiana Sports Corp Story,” a documentary of the history of the sports strategy in Indianapolis and how it set up the community to host the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
Previously, Myer served as Chief of Marketing where she led a department responsible for the marketing, communications, and brand management for Indiana Sports Corp, its partner events (i.e. NCAA, Olympic, and Big Ten championships), and its fundraisers. In addition, Myer works to connect the ISC brand with the Indianapolis community through partnerships and ancillary events.
Prior to her time at Indiana Sports Corp, Myer served as Vice President of Marketing for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In this role, Myer managed the Marketing & Communications team while overseeing all marketing campaigns promoting 200+ concerts. Ticket sales increased 66% during Myer’s tenure.
A Cleveland, Ohio native, Myer graduated from Butler University in 2006 with a BA in Journalism, Public Relations and a minor in Media Arts.
Myer currently serves on the boards of Leadership Indianapolis and Downtown Indy Marketing, in addition to teaching classes at numerous local YMCAs. She was awarded the 2020 United Way Community Ambassador Elevate Award and was part of the 2021 IBJ Forty Under 40 Class. She currently resides in the near eastside neighborhood of Indy and loves to explore local concerts, festivals, sporting events, restaurants, and breweries – and is always in search of the perfect soft pretzel.
Mike Karnuta
Chief Development Officer
Mike Karnuta joined Indiana Sports Corp in September, 2008 and now serves as Chief Development Officer. In this role, Karnuta oversees corporate development for Indiana Sports Corp and its events.
Karnuta most recently served as an account supervisor for Bradley and Montgomery, where he was responsible for day-to-day management of client business and leading strategic direction and implementation of creative marketing campaigns. He held similar roles at both Young & Laramore and Bates USA Midwest.
Prior to joining the Indiana Sports Corp staff, Karnuta led a team at Bradley and Montgomery in designing the look for the 2008-12 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. He also served on the 2012 Super Bowl bid committee, which successfully brought Super Bowl XLVI to Indianapolis.
Karnuta holds a B.S. in Political Science from Miami University (Ohio).
Sandy Bryant-Willis
Chief Human Resources Officer
Sandra (Sandy) Bryant-Willis joined Indiana Sports Corp in September, 2018. In this role, Bryant-Willis develops and implements programs to attract and advance the highest caliber of talent to meet the needs of the organization and our partners. In addition, she works to extend the Indiana Sports Corp’s company culture into our local organizing committees and volunteer efforts.
Bryant-Willis formerly worked at Eli Lilly and Company in various capacities in her 15 years with the company. Her most recent role with the organization was Adviser, HR Strategic Business Partner. Sandy brings years of experience in the human resources realm to Indiana Sports Corp.
Bryant-Willis earned a degree in Business Education from North Carolina Central University.
Christian Dempster
Senior Vice President, Events
Christian Dempster joined Indiana Sports Corp as Senior Vice President of Events, in February of 2023. Dempster leads the events division in high-level strategy and execution as the organization approaches another monumental chapter in the community. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Indiana Sports Corp’s event operations, youth programming, statewide initiatives, special projects, and programs
Dempster previously served as an Event Director with IMG, a leading organization in sports, fashion, events, and media who owns and operates hundreds of live events annually. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Dempster produced numerous events including globally recognized properties as the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Color Run 5K, and World’s Strongest Man. Prior to IMG, Dempster worked at Red Bull North America, where he was tasked with stewarding the efforts to grow the Red Bull Air Race property in North America. These efforts culminated in races in San Diego, Detroit, New York City, and Windsor, Canada. Dempster began his career at the San Diego Sports Council, helped drive economic impact for the city of San Diego by working with other city stakeholders to securing major sporting events for the region.
Dempster received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, San Marcos and his Master of Arts degree in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco.
Celeste Ballou
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Celeste Ballou joined Indiana Sports Corp in July of 2024 as Senior Vice President of Marketing. In her role, she is responsible for the creation and execution of the organization’s marketing and engagement strategy to elevate the Indiana Sports Corp brand. She oversees the marketing, communications, and engagement team in the execution of marketing campaigns, public and media relations, internal and external communications, graphic design, storytelling, and member and stakeholder engagement, while leading as brand champion for the organization.
Prior to her time at Indiana Sports Corp, Ballou was the Director of Marketing at Cunningham Restaurant Group where she managed the marketing team for CRG and its 43 restaurants. She also led the strategy and execution of CRG’s community relations, events, and donations. Prior to helping lead the marketing and social media efforts at both USA Football and Lids, Ballou spent nine years at Pacers Sports & Entertainment, most recently as the Associate Vice President of Digital Marketing in 2021. At PS&E, she was the head of digital for the Pacers and Fever where she led the digital strategy and content production across social media, websites, email marketing, and mobile apps. She began her career at Emmis Communication as a Digital Brand Specialist and Video Production Manager.
No stranger to helping Indy host large-scale sporting events, Ballou served on the Indy Host Committee for NBA All-Star 2024, the 2013-14 Big Ten Championship Local Organizing Committee, and was a member of the Indiana Sports Corp College Basketball Strategic Marketing Council.
Ballou earned her bachelor’s degree at Butler University in 2007.
Craig Lippincott
Vice President, Business Development
Craig Lippincott serves Indiana Sports Corp as Vice President of Business Development and has been with the organization since 2008. In his current role, Lippincott manages partner relationships including event sponsorships, corporate memberships, and entries into Indiana Sports Corp-owned events. Additionally, he manages in-kind vendor relationships for the organization. Lippincott also provides event strategy and management for many of Indiana Sports Corp’s events, including Corporate Challenge, the Inspiring Sports Charity Golf Tournament and the Indy Ultimate.
Before transitioning into a full-time staff position with Indiana Sports Corp, he worked as a sales associate for GroupRCI and as an intern with Indiana Sports Corp.
A graduate of DePauw University, Lippincott received his degree in English Writing with minors in Rhetoric & Interpersonal Communication and Film Studies. At DePauw, Lippincott played on the varsity soccer team where he was the team captain and the conference “Player of the Year”.
Christina Toler
Vice President, Business Development
Christina Toler joined Indiana Sports Corp in October of 2024 as Vice President of Business Development. In her role, she manages partner relationships including event sponsorships, corporate memberships, and entries into Indiana Sports Corp-owned events.
Christina brings a wealth of experience as a sales leader, having been a key member of the Indianapolis Indians organization since 2010. In her roles, she successfully led the corporate sales team, driving over $5 million in annual revenue. Her expertise in leveraging partnerships was instrumental in advancing the promotion of the Indians and fostering relationships that support the organizations’ community initiatives. Before joining the Indians, she worked as a Sales Executive for Clear Channel Outdoor Indianapolis.
In 2020, Christina was honored by Junior Achievement of Central Indiana as one of Indy’s Best & Brightest in Media, Sports, and Entertainment. She is a member of the WISE Indianapolis Board of Directors and has been recently invited to join the Board of Directors for Tourism, Events and Sports Management at IU Indy.
Christina graduated from Franklin College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.
Jeffrey Hintz
Vice President, Innovation
Jeffrey Hintz's career in sports marketing and management has spanned two decades. He spent most of those years in the golf industry with the PGA of America. He has held on-site positions at several PGA Championships across the country, served in a leadership role from 2005 to 2010 at PGA of America Headquarters in the Championship Department in Florida, and went on to serve as the Director for the 2012 and 2014 Senior PGA Championships in Michigan.
Hintz then served as the 2016 Ryder Cup Director in Minnesota and was awarded the 2016 Sportsperson of the Year by the Star Tribune for his contributions to the event and the community. Following the Ryder Cup, he served as the Executive Director for the Minnesota PGA for three years.
Recently, Hintz and his family relocated home to the Indianapolis area where he served as the Director of Event Operations for the 2022 College Football Playoff. Following the College Football Playoff, Hintz served as the event director for the 2022 NBA2K League season in Indianapolis.
In the fall of 2022, Hintz was named Vice President, Innovation.
He is currently an Executive MBA candidate from the Quantic School of Business & Technology with an expected graduation of April 2022. Hintz is married to his high school sweetheart, Leah, and they have three children (Sullivan 4/2007, Weston 4/2011, Evelina 10/2012).
An Indianapolis native, Hintz attended Warren Central High School and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Sports Marketing & Management.
Melissa Thompson
Vice President, Bids and External Affairs
Melissa Thompson is the Vice President of Bids and External Affairs at Indiana Sports Corp and is responsible for board affairs, community initiatives, event bids, strategic planning for Team Indiana, in addition to handling government relations.
A native of Indianapolis, Thompson’s roots and networks run deep in the city. Previously a Project Manager at Hathaway Strategies, Thompson offered extensive experience in event and logistics planning as well as public space management. Prior to joining Hathaway Strategies, Thompson served as the first-ever venue manager for Georgia Street, one of downtown Indianapolis’ premier outdoor event spaces. She handled day-to-day operations and maintenance of the venue as well as event coordination and planning.
Before that, Thompson occupied various roles for the City of Indianapolis. Beginning in 1999, she served in the Marion County Auditor’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office before becoming clerk of the City County Council from 2008-2011.
Thompson serves on the board of Sports ETA, the Indy Public Safety Foundation, and Playworks Indiana.
Ashleigh Newbold
Vice President, Engagement
Ashleigh Newbold joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in January, 2017 and now serves as Vice President of Engagement. In her role, Newbold develops and administers the engagement strategy designed to attract, retain, and connect to various stakeholder and community groups to our mission while building and raising awareness of Indiana Sports Corp through initiatives and events.
Previously, Newbold served as the Director of Events where she led NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships and Big Ten Basketball Tournaments on behalf of Indiana Sports Corp. Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, she served as the Programs and Exhibits Manager at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Events Center where she managed and developed creative programming for various areas of the Indiana State Fair and hosted the Indiana Brewers Cup competition.
While working full-time for Indiana Sports Corp, Newbold is a board member for IndyHub and Chief of Staff for WISE (Women in Sports & Events) Indy, and volunteering and fundraising for local community organizations such as the Patachou Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana, and Habitat for Humanity. In 2023, Newbold was nominated for the United Way of Central Indiana ELEVATE awards as Nonprofit Employee of the Year.
A 2013 graduate of Hanover College, Newbold earned his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Kinesiology & Integrative Physiology and Business. She also played for the Hanover College Volleyball Team during her four years.
As a lover of all things Indy and community, Newbold spends her time exploring different neighborhoods, seeking out local eats, enjoying live music and art festivals, and going on bike rides and adventures with her husband Brad and son Van.
Luke Hyvonen
Senior Director, Events
Luke Hyvonen joined Indiana Sports Corp in April 2024 as Senior Director of Events. In his role, he will manage several Indiana Sports Corp events, while also overseeing all aspects of event operations including high-level strategy and execution.
Hyvonen’s career path has provided an opportunity to work and live in five different countries over the years. Most recently, he spent three years in Qatar helping with operations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He previously served as an Event Director with IMG Academy om Bradenton, Fla., and led a team that executed over 250 events per year. During his career, Hyvonen has served in key operational roles for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in London, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and 14 Super Bowls. He began his career in professional sports with the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Lightning and also spent time as the Director of Event Operations for the Kansas City Chiefs.
A 2003 graduate of Michigan State University, Hyvonen earned his bachelor’s degree in Organizational and Interpersonal Communication.
Dan Gliot
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Dan Gliot joined the Indiana Sports Corp team in September of 2023 as Senior Director of Marketing & Communications. In this role, Gliot is responsible for developing, overseeing, and executing all Indiana Sports Corp communication strategies. Gliot also serves as Indiana Sports Corp’s primary spokesperson and media contact.
Prior to his time at Indiana Sports Corp, Gliot led a team at the Horizon League for five years as Assistant Commissioner of Messaging and Branding. In this role, he managed all aspects of the organization's branding, including strategic communications, media relations, and marketing efforts. Gliot oversaw substantial growth to the Horizon League website and social media channels.
Alyssa Chavez
Coordinator, Community Outreach & Impact
Alyssa Chavez joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in June of 2023 as Promotions and Marketing Coordinator and now serves as the Community Outreach & Impact Coordinator. In her role, she will help coordinate and execute the Indiana Sports Corp outreach and impact strategy through experiential/grassroots marketing, community partner collaboration, and coordinating impact programs. As the Promotions and Marketing Coordinator, Alyssa planned and coordinated all grassroots marketing efforts for the all events on the Indiana Sports Corp schedule. She elevated the brand by attending 95 community events in one year.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Alyssa worked at Indiana University as a Big Ten Diversity Fellow where she led a team to plan, coordinate, and execute the career fairs for student-athletes to explore local and national employment opportunities, while also counseling freshman and portal transfer football players.
Alyssa graduated with a bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University in 2021 where she was a four-year student-athlete on the softball team. She would go on to earn her master's degree from Georgetown University where she also was a member of the softball team.
Beth Bowers Ratliff
Manager, Events
Beth Bowers Ratliff joined Indiana Sports Corp in October 2024 as an Events Manager. In her role, Ratliff manages several Indiana Sports Corp events as well as assisting in planning and coordination of other events. She serves as the event director for several NCAA Championships.
Prior to her time at Indiana Sports Corp, Ratliff served as the first Director of Game Operations and Ticketing at Bellarmine University. In this role, she managed all aspects of ticketing and game management. Ratliff previously served as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at McKendree University where she oversaw multiple sports and led initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion within the athletic department. She was also a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Intern, supporting the staff with championship administration, event management, NCAA compliance operations, and daily office tasks.
A native of Indianapolis, Beth graduated from Bellarmine University in 2018 with a degree in Communication and Sports Administration and was a four-year starter on the women’s basketball team. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Indianapolis in 2021.
Colleen Johnson
Coordinator, Digital Marketing
Colleen Johnson joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in November of 2024 as a Digital Marketing Coordinator. In her role, she is responsible for ideating and creating social media content for all official Indiana Sports Corp channels, managing and assisting with the capturing and editing process of photo/video content for ISC, monitoring analytics, managing website content on IndianaSportsCorp.org and assisting with email marketing campaigns and other marketing efforts.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Colleen served as a digital media intern for Syracuse Athletics where she created and edited content, cut game highlights and edited and captured photos for 700,000 combined followers across social platforms. Colleen then served as the digital content producer at WBFF in Baltimore, where she produced social media content, wrote articles, and coordinated and scheduled content based on trends for Fox’s Baltimore news station.
Colleen graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in broadcast and digital journalism in 2023. Hailing from the Chicago area, Colleen is an enthusiastic Chicago sports fan.
Eklavya Chawla
Graphic Designer
Eklavya Chawla joined the Indiana Sports Corp team in October of 2023. As Graphic Design Coordinator, Chawla assists in managing and executing the Indiana Sports Corp brand, along with event rights holder brands. Chawla brings new and creative ideas to the marketing and communications team that story tell and promote events.
Prior to graduating in May of 2023, Chawla held multiple high-level internships. Previously, Chawla served as a Purdue Athletics graphic design intern where he focused on social media graphics, strategy, and implementation. Before his time at Purdue, Chawla interned with Puma Sports in New Delhi, India, and ran his own creative page on Instagram.
Outside of work, Chawla is a huge soccer, Purdue basketball, and Indiana Pacers fan. Originally from the Connecticut/New York City area, he’s found a home in Indiana and loves representing the state.
Chawla is a 2023 graduate of Purdue University where he majored in Strategic PR and Marketing.
Erin Bolin
Manager, Events
Erin Bolin (Graninger) joined Indiana Sports Corp in November 2023 as an Events Manager. In her role, Bolin manages several Indiana Sports Corp events as well as assisting in planning and coordination of other events. Bolin serves as the event director for several NCAA Championships.
Prior to her time at Indiana Sports Corp, Bolin was the Marketing & Events Coordinator at Evansville Regional Sports Commission. In that role, she managed several events including the 2021 NCAA DI Cross Country Regionals, 2021 NCAA DII Cross Country Regionals, 2022 & 2023 OVC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships, 2022 & 2023 NCAA DII Men’s Basketball Elite Eight & National Championship among others. She was responsible for providing event management support including, but not limited to, coordinating with local partners, venues, vendors, and media, recruiting, and managing volunteer needs for all events.
No stranger to Indiana Sports Corp, Bolin served as an intern in the fall of 2019 organizing and executing events for the Big Ten Football Championship Game including Fox Sports Cares Night and Saturday of Service.
Bolin graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication from Hanover College in 2019 where she was a four-year student-athlete for the golf team serving as team captain during her senior season.
Jaya Pamarty
Human Resources & Office Administrator
Jaya joined Indiana Sports Corp in September of 2024 as the Human Resources & Office Administrator. In her role, Jaya coordinates and oversees a variety of HR and administrative tasks and will be instrumental in streamlining processes and contributing to the overall success of the HR function and the organization.
Prior to Indiana Sports Corp, Jaya worked as a HR and Paralegal Manager where she led a number of HR and administrative processes, including onboarding and training methodologies to facilitate seamless transitions and enhance overall organizational effectiveness. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having held HR and compliance positions in both the IT and Healthcare sectors.
Jaya holds a bachelor’s degree in business commerce and an MBA in Human Resources and Marketing from Osmania University.
Jim Perry
Director, Special Projects
Jim Perry joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in June of 2023 as Sales and Marketing Manager and now serves as the Director of Special Projects. In his role, he is responsible for leading and executing special initiatives and projects for Indiana Sports Corp that may include event planning, fundraising and sales, partnership development, and others that support the organization’s mission and goals. As the Sales and Marketing Coordinator, Jim led ticketing sales for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming for groups, corporate partners, and premium buyers that resulted in a 35% increase in sales.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Jim worked at Paragon Marketing Group in Chicago for eight years where he helped clients execute and build on current partnerships by creating new sports events or improving on current properties, while also developing brand activations at over 150 national ESPN high school events. During his time he created and executed the first televised international tour for high school basketball featuring three games in Europe.
Jim graduated with a bachelor's degree from DePauw University where he was a four-year student-athlete on the football team.
John Grossman
Salesforce and Technology Administrator
John Grossman joined the Indiana Sports Corp team in June of 2022 as Salesforce and Technology Administrator. In his role, John maintains and optimizes Indiana Sports Corp’s Salesforce Org. John also provides day-to-day support on all tier 1 technical issues for the ISC staff.
Prior to his time at Indiana Sports Corp, Grossman worked as an independent contractor where he would train employees on new business tools and applications, implement customer ideas into projects, and consult with stakeholders to identify and acquire business needs.
Grossman is a certified Salesforce Administrator and is a graduate of the Salesforce Pathfinder Training Program.
Joe Reed
Manager, Events
Joe Reed joined Indiana Sports Corp in October of 2022 as an Events Coordinator and now serves as an Events Manager. In his role, Reed assists with the planning and coordination of Indiana Sports Corp Events, including specific duties for Big Ten events, NCAA Championships, Indiana Sports Corp-owned events, and other special event projects.
Before his time with Indiana Sports Corp, Reed served as the Director of Game Operations and Facilities at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). In this role, Reed managed all facets of home sporting events including men’s and women’s soccer, cross country, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and softball. Reed served on the Competition Committee for the Horizon League to develop policies and procedures for Horizon League events, manage the head coach peer group, approve scheduling parameters, and oversee the Horizon League's awards program. Reed has also assisted in major collegiate athletic events, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
Reed graduated from Purdue University Ft. Wayne (PFW) in 2016 with a degree in Psychology, and received his master’s degree in Sports Management from Indiana State University in 2018. At PFW, Reed played Division I basketball for the Mastodon’s, where he was the team captain and is the “winningest player in program history”.
Julia Martinez
Manager, Engagement
Julia Martinez joined Indiana Sports Corp’s staff in May of 2022 as Volunteer Coordinator and now serves as an Engagement Manager. In this role, she specializes in volunteer and donor engagement, event management for key our stakeholders, and creating fan experiences that highlight our diverse community.
Martinez previously served as Volunteer Engagement Coordinator where she oversaw the volunteer program including recruitment efforts, volunteer administrative requirements, and management of volunteers on site.
Prior to her time at Indiana Sports Corp, Martinez served in roles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Super Bowl LV and LVI, and overseas as an Event Operations Assistant at Tough Mudder Scotland.
A 2018 graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Martinez earned her degree in Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management and achieved a Kelley School of Business certificate.
Julian Boatner
Event Operations Coordinator
Julian Boatner joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in October of 2024 as the Event Operations Coordinator. In his role, he is responsible for assisting with the planning and coordination of events related to the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four, including the development and execution of events leading up to and during the tournament. Julian also serves as a key member of the Local Organizing Committee.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Julian spent two seasons as a graduate manager with Indiana University’s men’s basketball team while earning his master’s degree in Sport Management/Athletic Administration. He then transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant at Mount St. Mary’s for two seasons before returning to William & Mary where he coached for six seasons.
Julian was a 4-year student-athlete at William & Mary, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, served as team captain, and won the prestigious “Kraze” award, given to the player who most inspires his teammates.
Lisa Wright-Minter
Executive Assistant
Lisa Wright-Minter joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in May of 1984. She currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the President. Her duties include administrative and clerical needs for the president, office management responsibilities, and receptionist duties. In addition, she is the staff liaison to the Indiana Sports Corp Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Wright-Minter started with Indiana Sports Corp as the organization’s receptionist and was later promoted to Administrative Assistant before assuming her current position of Executive Assistant to the President.
While working full-time for the Indiana Sports Corp, Lisa also runs her own business, LM Notary Service LLC.
Wright-Minter attended IUPUI and graduated from Pontiac Business Institute.
Luke Smock
Coordinator, Financial Operations
Luke Smock joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in May of 2023 as Financial Operations Coordinator. In his role, Luke provides support to both the Finance and Events departments on various accounting, reconciliation, and ticketing processes and projects.
Prior to joining the ISC staff full-time, Smock interned in the Indiana University Athletic Department as a finance intern, assisting in the budgeting process for all 24 varsity sports and the day-to-day financial operations of the department. Smock also served as an intern for IU Sports Properties for two years where he aided in event operations for all IU home football and basketball games. During the summer of 2021, Smock was a finance intern for Indiana Sports Corporation and helped manage the finances of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and the 2022 College Football Playoff.
Smock graduated from Indiana University in 2023 with a degree in Finance and Business Analytics with a minor in Spanish.
Lynn Burger
Director, Financial Services
Lynn Burger has been with Indiana Sports Corp since 1989. Currently serving as the Director of Financial Services, her duties include overseeing the accounting functions for all Indiana Sports Corp events and projects, as well as performing payroll and HR functions. In her years at Indiana Sports Corp, she has provided accounting services for events such as the 2012 Super Bowl, 2001 World Police and Fire Games, 2002 World Basketball Championship, 2004 World Swimming Championships, the Circle City Classic, Hoosier State Games, and Youthlinks Indiana, among many others.
Burger is a graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Business. She also performs improvisational comedy with ComedySportz Indianapolis.
Madison Smeathers
Manager, Business Development
Madison Smeathers joined Indiana Sports Corp in April of 2023 as a Business Development Manager. In her role, Smeathers assists with managing the fulfillment of corporate partnerships connected to Indiana Sports Corp events as well as the Corporate Membership Program.
Before her time with Indiana Sports Corp, Smeathers served as the Sponsorship Service Manager with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, minor league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this role, Smeathers managed the execution and service of all sponsorship accounts.
Smeathers graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019 with a degree in Strategic Communications and received her master’s degree in Sports Management from California State University Long Beach in 2021. At Ohio State Smeathers was a team captain on the volleyball team where she earned Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar awards. Smeathers finished her athletic career while pursuing her master’s degree, playing Division I beach volleyball at California State University Long Beach.
Megan Magiera
Art Director
Megan Magiera joined Indiana Sports Corp in March 2024 as Art Director. In her role, Magiera serves as a key member of the organization in concepting, developing, and maintaining the Indiana Sports Corp brand. She also manages and implements brands for external events hosted by Indiana Sports Corp.
Prior to her time at Indiana Sports Corp, Magiera was a Senior Digital Designer at Lev, later purchased by Cognizant. In this role, she provided art direction and designs for clients across all digital platforms while consulting on channel-specific strategies with a focus on visual tone, brand voice, and consistency. She also spent time at Section 127 as a Graphic Designer where she worked on many design projects with clients that include NCAA, Big Ten, Indiana Pacers, and Newfields, among others. Magiera began her career with the Indianapolis Colts as a Graphic Designer and later with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a Designer on its Corporate Partnership team.
A 2012 graduate of Indiana University, Magiera earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus in design and minored in sports communication.
Rachel Frank
Director, Statewide Initiatives and External Affairs
Rachel Frank joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in November of 2021 as a Business Development Manager and now serves as the Director of Statewide Initiatives and External Affairs. Frank develops and leads the strategic initiatives for the state sports association, Team Indiana, working with partners across the state to increase sports tourism, create positive economic impact, and market Indiana on a national level to event owners and rights holders. She also manages the Statewide Sports and Tourism Bid Fund and supports the Indiana Sports Corp bid process.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Frank worked for NASCAR as a Senior Coordinator of Event Operations and Experience. In this role, Frank worked to fulfill pre-race and post-race programming for 11 major racing events per year, including the Daytona 500, and managed national corporate partner relationships.
A Hoosier native and 2017 graduate of Indiana University, Frank acquired her Bachelor of Science in Sports Marketing and Management, and a Minor in Marketing.
Sam Elmore
Director, Business Development
Sam Elmore joined Indiana Sports Corp in September, 2018 and now serves as Director of Business Development. In this role, Elmore will focus on patron and membership revenue, as well as event sponsorships and ticket-package selling. He will also help with sponsorship fulfillment and engagement.
Prior to joining Indiana Sports Corp, Elmore spent nine years with Pacers Sports and Entertainment serving in various roles. He spent seven of those years as the Group & Events Specialist, working to generate group revenue for the Pacers and Fever. Elmore recently finished a year in his newest role with Pacers Sports and Entertainment as Senior Group & Events Specialist.
Elmore graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a degree in Sports Management.
Sam Reel
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Sam Reel joined the Indiana Sports Corp staff in June of 2022 as Communications Coordinator and now serves as the Manager of Marketing and Communications. In his role, Reel implements a majority of Indiana Sports Corp’s email communications including promotions, newsletters, volunteer updates, youth outreach, and statewide initiatives. Reel is the primary media operations contact for both partner and Indiana Sports Corp owned events. Reel also works with the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications to develop and implement organization-wide communications strategies.
Prior to joining the ISC staff full-time, Sam interned in Butler University’s Sports Information Department, assisting in the coverage of multiple sports, including men’s basketball on game days. Reel also served as an intern for Visit Indy and Indiana Sports Corp, where he assisted in communications and media relations for both organizations.
A 2022 graduate of Butler University, Reel earned his degree in Sports Media with a minor in Strategic Communication.
Tracy Grady
Manager, Financial Services
Tracy Grady joined Indiana Sports Corp in February 2007 as the Manager of Financial Services. In this capacity, she played a key role in managing the finances for the 2012 Super Bowl and the 2022 College Football Playoff. Tracy oversees payables and the day-to-day financial operations for Indiana Sports Corp, Team Indiana, and the Indy Champs Fund.
Before her tenure at Indiana Sports Corp, Tracy spent 13 years at Methodist Hospital, where she worked in pharmacy, followed by 8 years in accounts payable. In addition to her corporate role, she teaches courses in medical terminology, dosage calculations, pharmacology, nutrition, and health and wellness at Ivy Tech Community College.
Tracy earned her BA and MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and completed her Doctoral Degree in Management in August 2024 from the University of Phoenix.
Trevor Fox
Director, Events
Trevor Fox joined Indiana Sports Corp’s staff in June of 2021 as an Events Coordinator and has served as an Events Director since October of 2023. In his role, Fox manages several Indiana Sports Corp Events as well as assists with the planning and coordination of other events. Fox serves as the event director for the Indy Classic and Corporate Challenge along with yearly NCAA events. Fox also has specific duties for Big Ten events, NCAA Championships, Indiana Sports Corp-owned events, and other special event projects.
Prior to his time with Indiana Sports Corp, Fox served as an Events Manager at the University of Missouri. In this role he managed games for various sports including, men’s basketball, baseball, and men’s and women's golf. Fox has assisted in some of the biggest events in college athletics including NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships and the College Football Playoff.
Fox graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2018 with a degree in Sport Management & Marketing and minors in Business and Marketing.