I-WIL Team

Chuck Goodrich has served as Secretary of Commerce for the State of Indiana and a member of Governor Mike Braun’s cabinet since his appointment in July 2026. He also serves as the CEO of Gaylor Electric, one of the largest merit-shop electrical firms in the country. As a national award-winning electrical design-build contractor, Gaylor Electric employs more than 5,000 dedicated and highly skilled men and women and operates 17 offices in seven states across the United States. 

Chuck began his career with Gaylor Electric as an intern during the summers of 1991 and 1992. After graduating from Purdue University with a B.S. in Building Construction Management, he worked for a large national contractor before returning to Gaylor Electric. 

He subsequently progressed through the ranks to key leadership positions within the company. In November of 2014, Chuck was named President, followed by CEO in 2016. In 2024, Chuck named a new President of Gaylor Electric and has since then focused his energies on the role of CEO. 

As a proven leader, he inspires Gaylor employees with his high-energy, high-performance, and high-results business style. From the time he became the President of Gaylor Electric, the company has developed more than 4,000 jobs. 

As a leader in the business community, Chuck serves on the Executive Committee as past Chairman of the Board of Directors for National Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC); is past chairman and board member of the Riverview Health Foundation, current board member of the Community Health Foundation, and past chair and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Purdue Construction Advisory Council for Building Construction Management. Chuck has a lifelong passion for workforce development, and he is a member of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Region 5 Workforce Development Board. He also serves as Chair of David’s Well, a nonprofit that provides clean drinking water in the country of Panama. 

Over the years, Chuck has been recognized for his professional leadership and philanthropic passion by winning the IN/KY ABC James J. Leonard Memorial Award, Businessperson of the Year for the City of Noblesville, the ABC Outstanding Chapter Support Award, the Gaylor Electric Optimist Award, and in December of 2025, was named CEO of the Year in the $500M-$1Billion category by the Indianapolis Business Journal. Chuck has the honor of being the recipient in the very first year of this award being awarded. In 2026, Chuck guided Gaylor Electric to recognition on the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Fast 25 list, placing the company among the fastest-growing private companies in Central Indiana. 

As a three-term Indiana State Representative, Chuck was first elected to serve the constituents of House District 29 in 2018. During his six years in office, Chuck author/co-authored several bills, many of which were signed into law by then Governor Holcomb. 

Chuck lives in Noblesville, Indiana, with his wife of 30+ years, Tricia. They have four adult children and one grandchild. The family is active both in the Noblesville community and as members of White River Christian Church. His favorite things to do during his free time are spending quality time with his wife and kids, especially his grandson, playing golf, and rooting for the Indianapolis Colts and Purdue Boilermakers.

As Indiana’s first Secretary of Education and the state’s top education official, Dr. Katie Jenner is responsible for establishing a unified, student-centered vision across the full spectrum of education, from K-12 to college.

Dr. Jenner oversees eight state agencies and boards, leading the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, chairing the State Board of Education (SBOE), and overseeing the Charter School Board, Education Employee Relations Board, Indiana School for the Deaf, Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Indiana State Library.

Dr. Jenner previously served as a high school teacher, preschool-12 district leader, and as vice president of a statewide higher education institution. She is also a wife and mother to twin daughters. She lives in Madison, Indiana.

State Rep. Bob Behning has served in the Indiana House of Representatives since 1992 and represents House District 91, which includes a portion of Marion County. He was born and raised in Indianapolis and has been a proud Hoosier his entire life. In 1976, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University.

Throughout his tenure as a representative, he has advocated for education reform in Indiana. As chair of the House Education Committee, he led a multiyear effort to successfully pass the most comprehensive education reform package in the United States.

Behning believes all parents deserve the right to choose the school that best meets their child's needs. In 2011, Behning authored legislation creating the School Choice Scholarship program, providing families who do not have the financial means to pay the cost of tuition at a private school with a scholarship (or voucher). Indiana currently has the largest school voucher program in the United States. 

Behning currently works at Marian University as the assistant vice president and director of the Center for Vibrant Schools. He has been married to his wife, Rosalie, for more than 40 years and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.  

State Sen. Jeff Raatz has represented Hoosiers in Senate District 27 since he was elected in 2014. Senate District 27 includes Henry, Union and Wayne counties and portions of Franklin County. 

Raatz serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development and as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate School Funding Subcommittee.

Professionally, he owns Raatz LLC, a business-coaching organization that offers consulting on general business practice and specializes in financial matters, IT implementation and cash flow. He also carries an insurance license in life, health, property and casualty. 

Additionally, he taught at the college level as an adjunct for several years and has been involved directly in the K-12 space. He is also an Army veteran. 

Outside of the Statehouse, Raatz sits on the Eastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Indiana University East Advisory Board, the Executive State Board of the Crossroads of America Council BSA, and the executive board of his church. He is also an elected director of the Independent Colleges of Indiana. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Baker College of Muskegon and a master’s degree in management from Indiana University. Raatz and his wife, Lisa, reside in Richmond and have two grown daughters and one son-in-law.

Melina Kennedy is chief executive officer of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), a unique, nationally recognized, strategic collaboration of executive leaders from prominent corporations, philanthropic foundations and universities committed to developing responsive initiatives, making critical investments and delivering ambitious projects to advance inclusive prosperity.

Prior to joining CICP, Kennedy served as Vice President of Product Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Cummins Inc. where she led various business segments and was director of Executive Communications.

Kennedy has more than 25 years of experience in law, government and business. She had a successful law career at the former Baker and Daniels LLP and was deputy mayor, director of economic development for the City of Indianapolis from 2000 to 2005. In 2011, she was a candidate for mayor of the City of Indianapolis.

In 2002, she helped establish BioCrossroads, CICP’s life sciences initiative. In her role as deputy mayor of economic development, she commissioned the initial planning study that led to the beginning of work on the 16 Tech Innovation District, led by CICP.

Kennedy is active in the Indianapolis community. She was president of the Capital Improvement Board of Managers for seven years, working with a bi-partisan group of State and City leaders and Pacers Sports and Entertainment to secure a long-term commitment of the Indiana Pacers to Indianapolis. She is currently a board member for the National Bank of Indianapolis; chair of the IU Health Foundation REV event and a board member of the Indiana University Academic Medical Center and is a member of the 2024 NBA All Star Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Indiana University – Bloomington, with B.S., M.S. and J.D. degrees.

Vanessa became the Indiana Chamber’s first female president and CEO in 2024. After 20 years in Washington D.C. at the center of politics and power, Vanessa moved “home” to Indianapolis with her husband, a Clay County native, and their two sons. She founded Green Sinders Consulting, a woman-led firm offering strategic advice, project execution and crisis management, and leadership development and coaching services to clients. 

Previously, Vanessa served as senior vice president for government affairs at Charter Communications/Spectrum, a Fortune 100 cable and broadband company. She was responsible for directing the company’s strategic policy and political engagement with Congress and the White House, as well as managing an internal team and external consulting firms. 

Vanessa came to Charter after a four-year stint as senior vice president and department head for government affairs at the American Hotel & Lodging Association, where she oversaw the association’s advocacy work at the federal, state and local levels, and managed the 10-person government affairs team. 

Vanessa’s political and policy roots run deep. Earlier in her career, she held high-profile positions on Capitol Hill, including chief of staff for then-U.S. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts and policy director for former U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. And she was chief of staff for the “Campaign to Fix the Debt,” a nonpartisan coalition advocating for better national fiscal policies. There, she oversaw implementation of the campaign’s strategy and directed activities for its staff. Vanessa received a bachelor’s degree in government with a minor in economics from Dartmouth College.

A former teacher, principal, and Executive Director of the East Central Educational Service Center, Dr. Katie Lash brings experience spanning elementary education, high school special education, middle school administration, higher education, and statewide strategy. Most recently, she served as Vice President for K–14 and Strategic Initiatives at Ivy Tech Community College, where she led work involving dual credit and dual enrollment, secondary partnerships, and pathways connecting education to degree completion and career opportunity.

Dr. Lash now serves as Strategy, Policy, and Implementation Advisor for the Indiana Workforce Insights Lab (I-WIL). Across every stage of her career, her work has centered on helping Hoosiers build upon their strengths and interests to pursue meaningful careers, economic mobility, and personal prosperity.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and twin daughters on their small farm in rural Indiana. Her family is also committed to investing in their community through the preservation of a historic downtown building that provides housing and space for small-business growth.

Alison Grand currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). In this role, Alison oversees organizational alignment for major strategic initiatives; strengthens enterprise governance, compliance, and workforce systems; and leads cross‑agency coordination efforts essential to delivering statewide economic development priorities.

Previously, Alison served as the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Counsel at the Indiana Department of Transportation. Alison brings private‑sector leadership experience from technology firms in roles including Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and Vice President of Regulatory and Legal Affairs.

Alison holds a Bachelor of Music in classical flute performance from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.