Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
Becky Skillman, who served two terms as Indiana’s lieutenant governor and now chairs Radius Indiana and is lead director on the Old National Bancorp board, was named to the IBJ Media’s second annual Indiana 250, a list of the state’s most influential and impactful business and community leaders.
The list, released last week by IBJ Media, recognizes leaders in industries such as manufacturing, life sciences, agriculture, technology and law. It also includes individuals contributing to the success of Indiana in areas such as government, education, the not-for-profit sector, agriculture, energy, the arts and philanthropy.
Skillman spent four decades in public service, including 16 years as a local elected official in Lawrence County and 12 years in the Indiana Senate. In 2004, she was elected lieutenant governor on a ticket with Republican Mitch Daniels and served two terms, with oversight of the state’s agriculture, community and rural affairs, energy, housing and tourism agencies. She now chairs Radius Indiana, which is an economic development corporation for Daviess, Dubois, Crawford, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties, in addition to her leadership role on the Old National Bancorp board.
“The special recognition was not expected, but I’m honored to be included in the 2023 list of Indiana’s top business and civic leaders,” Skillman said. “It’s especially nice to be recognized for my contributions after leaving public office. It was fun and rewarding to mingle with the recipients at an event, and to see talented Hoosiers from every region who collectively move Indiana forward.”
The list includes university leaders such as Indiana University’s Pamela Whitten and Purdue University President Mung Chiang, as well as executives leading the state’s top companies such as Eli Lilly and Co., Cook Group and Cummins Inc.
The list, available at Indiana250.com, was compiled by the executives, editors and newsroom staffs at IBJ Media’s three news brands — Indianapolis Business Journal, Inside INdiana Business and Indiana Lawyer — after a monthslong process that included reviewing nominations, researching Indiana organizations and talking with community leaders across the state.
The list represents all regions of the state, which was a priority for IBJ Media, according to IBJ Media CEO Nate Feltman.
IBJ Media launched the Indiana 250 program last year, with plans to update it annually. Feltman said developing this year’s list was even more difficult than putting together the inaugural Indiana 250 last year.
“There are so many talented, generous people in the state who are making a difference that narrowing the list to 250 is hard,” Feltman said in the release. “But we think that makes it special. We truly believe the people on this list are worthy of the honor.”
IBJ Media published profiles of the honorees in a magazine that was distributed with the July 21 issue of IBJ. The magazine is available for purchase for $50 at Indiana250.com.
The profiles also include responses from the honorees on topics such as challenges they’ve faced, leadership, their first job, advice to young people and favorite gadget.
Here’s a portion of Skillman’s profile:
Advice to young people: “Know who you are and fully understand your value system. If you don’t know what you stand for, there will be many others along life’s journey who will tell you who you are and what you stand for.”
Something surprising: The first woman to represent Indiana Senate District 44, serve in Senate majority leadership and serve eight years as lieutenant governor.
Those who were named to the Indiana 250 were celebrated at a reception in Indianapolis July 20.