Diversity in Business Symposium 2023

Diversity in Business Symposium 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023 at the Sycamore Banquet Center,

Hulman Memorial Student Union at 10:00am to 1:00pm

As a leading business school, we aim to provide a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff within our college. We believe that everyone is of value and strive to empower the respectful exchange of ideas, thoughts, and opportunities within business. The event will bring together a diverse group of students and professionals who will share their business experience, including opportunities and challenges they have faced in supporting a more inclusive work environment. The symposium will begin at 10:00 a.m. and culminate with a keynote address from Mr. David Pack – CEO of Trinity Financial Consulting

Mr. David Pack

CEO, Trinity Financial Consulting

David PackDavid Pack is the President of Trinity Financial Consulting, a financial consulting firm that provides strategic planning, consulting services, commercial loan placement services and financial resources to clients across the US. David is also 50% partner in Trinity Elite that is a new home builder and full home renovations company in Indianapolis & Cincinnati, OH. David is also a partner and real estate multifamily developer in the Indiana and Ohio markets. David was a licensed life insurance agent that helped provide financial education to family and friends to leave financial resources & legacy for their families. David continues to be an investor and actively growing a diverse investment portfolio.

David’s background started with 28 years in the commercial financing banking industry and his last eight years as a commercial banking executive. David is a graduated of Indiana State University in 1990 with a major in accounting. David also graduated Indiana Military Academy in 1990 and was commissioned as a Military Officer. David spent 15 honorable years in the Indiana Army National Guard and left to pursue other opportunities.

David is a mentor to several young men and women within the Indianapolis community and is a Big Brother in the Big Brother Big Sister program. David is also active in his church, Eastern Star Church-Indianapolis, and is a counselor in their Financial Freedom Program.

David is married to Robin for over 24 years. They have three adult children, Ben Anjelica and Nijel, and a new grandson, Karter. David enjoys spending time traveling, golfing, learning and spending time with his family.

Mr. Anthony Phillips II

Deputy Chief & Executive Director of External Equity, Indiana State Government

Anthony Phillips II

Anthony Phillips II received his Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University in 2011, majoring in English and minoring in African American Studies. In a complete 180° turn from his plan to become an English teacher, Anthony instead spent his career in the Data & Analytics field. In 2015, he received his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Indianapolis, with an initial concentration in Finance and, later, an additional concentration in Applied Analytics.

Prior to joining Chief Officer Herring’s team as Deputy Chief & Executive Director of External Equity, Anthony worked for KIPP Indy as the Director of Data & Instruction. He was a facilitating member of the KIPP Indy Equity Working Group, leading small group discussions designed to uncover unconscious bias and center the role of KIPP Indy in combatting systemic inequities and discrimination for the sake of its students, most of whom are BIPOC.

Anthony moonlights as an Adjunct Professor in the same UIndy Evening MBA program from which he received his degree. In addition, he manages Phillips Consulting, LLC, a small consulting business in which he sells calculations that increase rental revenue projections to developers in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit industry.

For Anthony, working for the State of Indiana is a common family thread. Prior to retiring, his father worked for the Department of Revenue. His mother currently works for the Auditor of State. His wife, Jennifer, currently works for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Prior to his current role in the Office of the CEIOO, Anthony’s previous State Government experience includes stints in the Department of Transportation, Adjutant General’s Office, and Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Anthony enjoys golfing with friends, fishing with his dad, basketball with his brothers, attending events hosted by his mother, and exploring local/state parks with his wife.

Mrs. Courtney Montfort

Managing Principle, Gibson Insurance

Courtney Montfort

Courtney is a Managing Principal at Gibson. She specializes in identifying business, strategic, and hazard risk exposures. Courtney consults with clients to develop and implement strategies to effectively and efficiently grow and protect their businesses. She is also a member of Gibson's Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Gibson in 2017, Courtney worked at Willis Towers Watson for 13 years. She gained extensive commercial insurance and risk management experience working with large global clients in various business sectors, including private equity, hospitality, real estate, and manufacturing. She specialized in contractual risk management consultation, risk management and insurance considerations during acquisitions/divestitures, program design & implementation, international considerations in a global marketplace, and strategic account management solutions. Internally, Courtney served on the Willis Client Service Advisory Council for five years, including two years as acting chairperson.

Scott College of Business alumna Courtney graduated in 2003 in Insurance and Risk Management and was a Gongaware Scholar.

Dr. Deborah Curtis

President, Indiana State University

Deborah CurtisDeborah J. Curtis began her tenure as the twelfth president of Indiana State University on January 3, 2018. She is the first female and only the second graduate of Indiana State to serve as president. She came to Indiana State from the University of Central Missouri where she had served as provost and chief learning officer since 2012.

Prior to becoming provost at Central Missouri, Curtis served as dean of the College of Education at Illinois State University from 2006 to 2012, interim dean from 2005 to 2006 and as director of the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center and Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes from 2001 to 2005. She served on the faculty of Illinois State for 26 years, advancing to the rank of full professor.

Curtis earned her Ph.D. from Indiana State University in curriculum and instruction with specializations in secondary education and supervision of instruction. She holds a master’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in music education from MacMurray College.

Throughout her career, Curtis has served her community and profession through engagement in a variety of service roles in Illinois, Missouri, and now Indiana. Some of these include the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Board, Terre Haute Competes, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Indiana Chamber Board, Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation Board, Indiana Campus Compact Board, NCAA Division I Presidential Forum, and the Indiana Chamber 2025+ Task Force.

Curtis and her husband, Lynn, are the parents of five children and nine grandchildren. Lynn worked in public education for nearly 40 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director, principal and school district superintendent.

Ms. Courtney Richey

Regional Director, West Central Indiana Small Business Development Center

Courtney Richey

Indiana State University alumna Courtney Richey was named the director for the West-Central Indiana Small Business Development Center in 2015.

Richey, who assumed the position in late March, received an undergraduate degree in marketing from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and started managing for a small business in Decatur, Ill., before returning to Indiana for her Master of Business Administration degree, which she received in 2010 from Indiana State.

As an Indiana State student, Richey served as a graduate assistant and helped lead the MBA program's recruitment efforts, which was an experience that helped her in her position as director of graduate admissions at The Woods.

The position quickly turned into one of business engagement, which allowed Richey to develop business relationships in Terre Haute, where she became entwined in the downtown area and the Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Chris Olsen

Provost, Indiana State University

Chris OlsenDr. Christopher Olsen is the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Indiana State University (ISU). He has been involved in higher education leadership for more than fifteen years, as chairperson of the Department of History (2002-2016), Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (2016-2021), and in numerous other university assignments. Most of this work has focused on areas associated with curriculum, distance education, personnel, graduate education, advising, community engagement, experiential learning, and external relations. Chris received his Ph.D. in United States history from the University of Florida and as a scholar has written on the history of the nineteenth century within the U.S. focusing on politics, gender and masculinity, and regionalism and identity.