President Brad Sexauer was raised in Indianapolis and earned a BA at DePauw University and a MHA at Tulane University. He worked in healthcare management for nearly 40 years, the majority of that in senior management positions in hospitals. His past volunteer experience includes a local United Way Board Chair and Campaign Chair, over 30 years in Rotary including a term as President of the Rotary Club of Carmel, a Chamber of Commerce Board, a local cancer association Board, and a three year term on the Board of Visitors at DePauw. He recently completed six years on the Advisory Board for the MHA program at Xavier University and is the Chapter Advisor for the Sigma Chi chapter at DePauw.
Vice President Lily Pai is a chartered architect and a small business owner with an international portfolio, who believes in creating elegant lifestyles through simplicity, comfort and individuality. Before moving to Indiana, Lily lived and worked in India and the UK. She is an active community volunteer, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Newfields and is an Advisory Board member of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana.
Treasurer Virginia Steckley is a longtime Carmel resident and retired small business owner. After graduating from Indiana University with an art degree in 1972, she worked as the opening manager of the Lotus Garden Carmel, the first Chinese-American restaurant in the Carmel area. In 1981, she married Jim Steckley and joined him in operating Steckley’s Olde House restaurant on Range Line Road. The Steckleys developed, built and operated several standalone banquet facilities, including Northern Beach Private Catering Park, Arbortorium Banquet facilities in Noblesville and Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel. Prior to joining CCHS, Ginny served as secretary of the original Carmel Main Street organization.
Recording Secretary Lisa McLaughlin is a Detroit, Michigan native. She has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University. She moved to Carmel in 2019 and works for Heritage Environmental Services as a corporate compliance manager. She has one son, Patrick. She enjoys being active in the community and is president of the Carmel Farmers Markets and president of her HOA.
BOARD MEMBERS
Mickey Brooks has lived in Carmel since 1957. He attended Carmel schools from elementary through high school. He is a US Army Vietnam Era Veteran and served at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Redstone Arsenal/Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, Alabama, and in Nuremberg, Germany. He held sales executive positions for technology companies serving Fortune 500 accounts for over 18 years. Prior to his sales career, he enjoyed over 20 years in the technology industry. He joined his wife Julia in starting JLB Mortgage Group in 2002, which they owned through 2015. He assisted the Broad Ripple Sertoma Club in starting a Carmel chapter, where he served as chairman, president and technology director. Today he serves as a mentor for the Carmel High School TechHounds Robotics Team.
Mark Damer, a Carmel native and IU graduate, has built a successful career in investments as an advisor and CEO of the David Noyes Group. He has served on the boards of Carmel Clay Parks and the Carmel Education Foundation, and currently serves on the IU Kelley School of Business Dean’s Council. Mark’s wife, Mary, is also a Carmel graduate.
Luke Hamilton, a lifelong Carmel resident, is Vice President and Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Indianapolis, specializing in comprehensive planning and wealth management. A Brebeuf Jesuit graduate, he earned a B.S. in Marketing from Miami University of Ohio. Luke actively gives back through service on his neighborhood HOA and the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis.
Dr. Abby Hindman-Schweigart has been a Carmel resident since 2019. She has a BS, MBA, and DBA in Business Administration. Abby is a Certified Financial Planner with an Edward Jones office in the Carmel Arts District. Her husband, Stephen, has an Edward Jones office in Sarasota, FL. Abby and Stephen spend their time between Carmel and Sarasota. She currently volunteers at the Carmel Farmer’s Markets and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis.
Nancy Morton works for DOZ Accounting as a CPA. She is a graduate of Butler and Villanova Universities. Nancy is an expert on not-for-profit compliance with regards to affordable housing communities.
Christine Owens was the Reference Services Manager at Carmel Clay Public Library for many years and is interested in local history and historic preservation.
Jill Reese was raised in Carmel since 1967 and has lived in Carmel for the majority of her adult life. She was involved with music, education, and foreign language and worked for United Airlines prior to obtaining her law degree. She currently practices in the medical malpractice area with her husband, Jason, at Wagner Reese, LLP in Carmel. She is the mother of three, who were also raised in Carmel, and has volunteered extensively with Carmel Clay Schools and her church. She spent 6 years on the Carmel Clay Education Foundation Board; 4 years on the Carmel Public Art Advisory Commission; and currently sits on the Advisory Board of Discovering Broadway after serving on its Board for 4 years. Jill finds particularly interesting the discovery of instructive connections between the past, present, and future. She is grateful to be a part of CCHS and for its work in preserving the past.
Fred Swift is a past president of CCHS. He is a columnist for the Hamilton County Reporter and the former administrative assistant for Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. He is also a Carmel Clay Republican Club board member. Fred is a Franklin College alum and member of the Sons of American Legion, Carmel Post 155. He volunteers at the Methodist Church Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels.
Bill White is an architect and educator. He has recently retired after 17 years of teaching construction management within the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology on the IUPUI campus. A lifelong resident of Indiana, he holds a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University, a bachelor of architecture degree from Ball State University and a master’s degree from Purdue University – Indianapolis. He enjoys music, photography, and traveling the world with his wife of 41 years, Susan.
STAFF
Debbie Clark Gangstad is a lifelong Carmel resident. After 28 years as a Carmel Clay Schools teacher, she began volunteering for CCHS. She joined the CCHS board in 2014 and became Executive Director in 2018. Debbie previously served as president of the Carmel Education Foundation.
Andrew Wright is a lifelong resident of Carmel and is the historian and Collections Manager at CCHM. He has uncovered many forgotten stories of Carmel’s past and has written several books.
Meg Fuertges is a DePauw graduate with a background in communications and history. Her work experience includes positions at several full-service advertising agencies, Roche Diabetes Care, and an internship at Colonial Williamsburg.
Providence Sommers oversees the planning and execution of events and programming and coordinates social media. Her role is crucial in fostering community involvement and ensuring the success of our public-facing initiatives.
Brendan White earned a BA in History and Political Science from Indiana University Kokomo and an MA in History from Ball State University. He has volunteered at various history museums, including the Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Museum, and Hamilton County historical societies. Brendan is the City Archivist at the Carmel Clay History Museum.
