CCHS Board and Staff - Carmel Clay Historical Society

CCHS Executive Committee

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 secretary of the Carmel Farmers Markets and president of her HOA.

CCHS Board Members

Nick Davis is a 25-year resident of Carmel and is a practicing architect in Indianapolis. He also serves as chairperson of the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission. Nick is a past president of the Carmel Clay Historical Society.
Jennifer Hershberger became a Carmel resident in 1953. She is a Carmel High School graduate, and taught and coordinated the Media Department in a suburban Cincinnati school district. Prior to returning to Carmel, she edited the Hamilton County (Ohio) Genealogy Gazette and the Ohio Genealogy News. She is a former member of the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission and served as Vice President of the Friends of the Indiana State Archives Board. She is a member of the Carmel Farmers’ Market Board and serves as the photographer and social media coordinator for the group. Jennifer is a documentary photographer and trained photo archivist. She documents the history of homes and buildings in Carmel by taking pictures before they are demolished. Jennifer documents as many events as possible in Carmel to help us remember our history. She originated the saying, “If you are here now, you are part of our history.”
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.
Julie Kingston has lived in Carmel since 1992. She became a Registered Architect in 1988, and her first project was the Carmel Educational Services Building on Main Street. She enjoys leading walking history tours with 2nd graders as a CCHS volunteer. Her past volunteer experience includes Conner Prairie Alliance, CUMC Food Pantry, Interfaith Hospitality Network, and Woodland Christmas Club.
Larry Lawhead is a lifelong resident of Carmel and a CHS graduate. Larry serves on the board of directors for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Brass Choir, and previously served on many not-for-profit boards. His passion is music, and he plays in the Carmel Symphony Orchestra as well as several other musical groups around Indianapolis. He also enjoys being a Civil War musician reenactor. Larry retired from the practice of law as a partner of Barnes & Thornburg, LLP. Prior to his admission to the bar, he was employed as a CPA with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse & Co.
Dan McFeely is a writer, communications and economic development consultant to the City of Carmel and other entities. Dan 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 since 2007. He also serves as the President of Actors Theatre of Indiana, President of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt and serves as the City’s liaison to the Carmel Interfaith Alliance.
Christine Owens was the Reference Services Manager at Carmel Clay Public Library for many years and is interested in local history and historic preservation.
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.
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.

Executive Director

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.

CCHS Staff

Andrew Wright is a lifelong resident of Carmel and is the historian at CCHS. He has uncovered many forgotten stories of Carmel’s past and has written several books. He also works with CCHS’s collections.
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, where she utilized modern media to engage visitors in the history of their nation.
Brendan White attended Indiana University Kokomo earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science. He then graduated from Ball State University with a Master of Arts Degree in History. Brendan has volunteered at a variety of history museums, including the Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Museum, and numerous historical societies in Hamilton County. Brendan currently serves as City Archivist at the Carmel Clay Historical Society.