CCHS Board Members

CCHS Executive Committee

President Brad Sexauer worked in healthcare management for 40 years, the majority of that time spent in senior management positions in hospitals. His past volunteer experience includes local United Way Board President and Campaign Chair, 28 years in Rotary, board member of a Chamber of Commerce, local cancer association, and an organization that provides services to the developmentally disabled, and a three year term on the Board of Visitors at DePauw. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the MHA program at Xavier University in Cincinnati and is the Chapter Advisor to the Sigma Chi fraternity 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 also serves as the Chair of the Board of Governors at Newfields.

Treasurer Deb Teets is a lifelong resident of Central Indiana. She has a BA from Butler University, and shortly after graduating began a 36 year career with IBM in various management and finance positions. Deb has 2 children, daughter Jessi West lives in Carmel with her family, and son Jason is in Saratoga Springs, New York, and 2 yellow labs. Past volunteer activities include 8 years as the treasurer of the Zionsville Band and Orchestra Patrons, Girl Scout leader, and various church related volunteer positions. For the past 6 years she has served with Meals on Wheels.

Recording Secretary Lisa McLaughlin is a Detroit native. She moved to Carmel in 2019 and works for Heritage Environmental Services as a a corporate compliance manager. She is secretary of the Carmel Farmers Market and president of her HOA. 

CCHS Board Members

Christine Owens was the Reference Services Manager at Carmel Clay Public Library for many years and is interested in local history and historic preservation.

Nick Davis is a practicing architect and also serves as an advisory member of the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission.

Julie Kingston has lived in Carmel for 26 years. Her first project as a registered architect was to design the Carmel Educational Services Building on Main Street. She volunteers  for the Conner Prairie Alliance, CUMC Food Pantry, Interfaith Hospitality Network, and Woodland Christmas Club.

Dan McFeely is a writer, communications consultant and business owner who worked as an Indiana journalist for 27 years, including 15 at The Indianapolis Star. He is a longtime supporter of historic preservation, writing on subjects such as covered bridges, pioneer cemeteries and Indiana Landmark homes throughout the state of Indiana. He and his wife, Sue, have lived in Hamilton County since 1992 and currently reside in Carmel.

Fred Swift is a past president. He is a columnist for Hamilton County Reporter and the former administrative assistant for Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. He is also a Carmel Clay Republican Club board member.

Larry Lawhead is lifelong resident of Carmel and CHS graduate. Larry serves on the board of directors for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Brass Choir, and the Center for the Performing Arts. His passion is music, and he plays in the Carmel Symphony Orchestra as well as several other musical groups around Indianapolis. Larry received his J.D., cum laude, from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1981. Prior to his admission to the bar, he was a CPA with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse & Co.

Jennifer Hershberger is a CHS grad. She volunteers as a photographer for the Carmel Farmers’ Market and serves on the Board of Midwestern Roots as well as the Friends of the Indiana Archives Board. She is a past president of CCHS.

Dr. Abby Hindman-Schweigart has been a Carmel resident since 2019. She is a Certified Financial Planner with an Edward Jones office in the Carmel Arts District. Abby spends her time between Carmel and Sarasota, Florida where her husband, Stephen, has an Edward Jones office. Abby currently volunteers at the Carmel Farmer’s Market and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis.

Executive Director

Deb Gangstad, having grown up in Carmel, felt a strong need to pay this community back. She has enjoyed leading walking tours with second graders as a CCHS volunteer and showing them some of the many changes in Carmel. As Executive Director of Carmel Clay Historical Society, she wants to continue programs for our young citizens so they may learn to love this community as she does.