Indianapolis Business Journal

IBJ celebrated philanthropy, nonprofit organizations and the businesses who support them at our second annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards event on Aug. 4 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. During the event, IBJ reporter Dave Lindquist interviewed Taggart “Tag” Birge, the 2025 winner of IBJ’s Philanthropist of the Year Award. Birge, who is a real estate investor, and his wife annually support scholarships, education programs and public art, among other efforts. For this week’s IBJ Podcast, we bring you that conversation. (See link in comments) Tag explains in detail how he and his wife have settled on their philanthropic strategy and the deeply personal connections that led them to focus particularly on helping disadvantaged students. Tag also discusses running into more blowback than he anticipated on a splashy public art project in Broad Ripple. The second phase is now in the works.

Rising health care costs are forcing employers to rethink the traditional benefits model. At IBJ’s 2026 Health Care & Benefits Power Breakfast, industry experts will examine how narrow provider networks, self-funded plans and Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRA) are changing employer-provided coverage. The focus: balancing cost, quality, access and employee choice for the year ahead. 📅 Tuesday, Sept. 22 📍 The Crane Bay Event Center Networking: 7:30 a.m. | Program: 8 a.m. Register: https://lnkd.in/gW3J-Vp4

Five years of conversations. One recurring question: Who gets the opportunity, and what do leaders do once they have the power to create opportunities for others? The latest episode of IBJ’s The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman (she/her/hers) looks back at five years of candid conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, mentorship, representation and leadership in Indiana. Hosted by Chris Spangle, the retrospective features insights and stories from Angela B. Freeman, Jimmie McMillian, Pete Yonkman, Juan Gonzalez, Kristin Weeden, M.S., SHRM-SCP, Kaye Vitug and Mario Rodriguez. Their experiences show what inclusive leadership can look like in practice: seeing potential beyond a resume, creating space for people to succeed and fail, making representation meaningful, investing intentionally in communities, and building teams where different perspectives are genuinely heard. Thank you to every guest who has trusted The Freedom Forum with their story, and to Angela for five years of conversations designed to move Indiana’s business community forward. Listen to the fifth anniversary retrospective here: https://lnkd.in/gasw45sR This episode is brought to you by Equity1821. Learn more at www.equity1821.org.

For all of the people who have said at some point in their lives, “Wouldn’t it be fun to open a small bookstore,” consider the story of Julia Breakey and Jake Budler, a married couple who opened Tomorrow Bookstore on Mass Ave in 2023. They hurdled all of the concerns that likely dissuade most folks from following through. Questions like, “How do I get startup capital?” How do I compete with Amazon?” “Why try to sell printed books in an increasingly digital world?” And “How can I, a constitutionally introspective person, survive a career that requires intense customer service?” The origin story of Tomorrow Books seems all the more unlikely given that Breakey and Budler hail from South Africa and are in their very early 30s. But they had a built-in advantage, in that Jake has a wealth of expertise related to startups as an employee of a global firm that supports high-growth entrepreneurs. In this week’s edition of the IBJ Podcast, Julia and Jake explain how they chose to settle in Indianapolis and open their own business, how they divide the duties of running a bookstore, how they found the right mix of financing and why they have embraced the recent wave of new independent booksellers in Indianapolis instead of considering them competitors. (See link in comments.)

Content sponsored by Donaldson Capital Management What good executives miss: Successful executives are experts at spotting business opportunities, but that doesn’t always translate into managing their own compensation. Find out what they often miss and how Donaldson Capital Management can help correct common mistakes. https://lnkd.in/gT-yzeN8

The 2026 20 in their Twenties class represents some of Central Indiana’s most promising emerging leaders. On Sept. 15, you have a chance to meet them. The morning will also feature keynote speaker Olivia West, Indiana Pacers & Fever in-game host and emcee. 📅 Tuesday, Sept. 15 📍 The Crane Bay Event Center Networking begins at 7:30 a.m.; the program starts at 8 a.m. Register today: https://lnkd.in/gidfx3F3

Steve Downing, who has led Marian University’s athletic department for the past 15 years, plans to retire at the end of the 2026-27 academic year, the Indianapolis school has announced. Downing — a former basketball standout who won championships while playing for Indianapolis Washington High School and the Boston Celtics, and led Indiana University to the 1973 Final Four — became Marian’s athletic director in 2011. Since then, Marian has captured 10 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national championships in five sports, while the school’s cyclists have won nearly 50 USA Cycling national titles. At Marian, Downing has drawn praise for emphasizing academic support in addition to athletic success. He implemented study tables and strengthened assistance for struggling student-athletes. He has also overseen the addition of new varsity sports during his tenure. “The most important thing to me is knowing I made a difference in young people’s lives,” Downing said in written comments. “That’s what I came here for. You can write about the wins and losses, but for me, it’s the people I’ve helped.” IBJ's Jeff Newman has more on an extraordinary career. (See link in comments.)

Today is the LAST DAY to register for IBJ’s Commercial Real Estate & Construction Power Breakfast. Central Indiana’s life sciences growth depends on more than breakthrough research. It takes the right real estate—from specialized labs to innovation districts—to help companies discover, grow and manufacture. On Aug. 27, Mayor Scott Fadness will headline a morning featuring perspectives from JLL, BSA Lifestructures, 16 Tech Innovation District Community Corporation, Shiel Sexton and IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB). If commercial real estate, construction or life sciences touches your work, be in the room. Secure your ticket or corporate table today: https://lnkd.in/gXMsjSEa

The field of respiratory therapy needs a shot of adrenalin to keep up with demand in the health care industry. Many left the profession after they provided front-line care during the pandemic. Butler University plans to launch a respiratory therapy program next year that will make it the third university in the state to offer a bachelor’s of science degree in the discipline. As IBJ’s Daniel Bradley reports, graduates will be ready to work immediately. (See link in comments.)

IBJ’s Health Care & Benefits Power Breakfast returns Tuesday, Sept. 22, with local executives sharing insights on the latest trends and a forecast for what’s next. 📍 The Crane Bay Event Center Networking: 7:30 a.m. Program: 8 a.m. Reserve your seat or corporate table today: https://lnkd.in/gW3J-Vp4