Celebrate Women’s History Month with WTLC’S Inspire HER Honorees!

1. Cindy Hoye – Executive Director of the Indiana State Fair Commission

Cindy Hoye has been the Executive Director of the Indiana State Fair Commission, which oversees year-round operations of the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center and the annual Indiana State Fair, since December 2004. During her 35+ years with the organization, she has been the driving force in establishing the Indiana State Fair as one of the premier agricultural fairs in the world. Additionally, she has been instrumental in developing and executing plans for numerous facility improvements, most notably the $63 million renovation of the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, completed in May 2014 and most recently, the $50 million renovation of the century-old swine barn into a world-class, multi-use facility in the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, unveiled in July 2023.

Cindy is a leader in the fair industry, serving as Chair on the board of directors of the International Association of Fairs & Exhibitions (IAFE) in 2010. She has been recognized as a Certified Fair Executive through IAFE, has received numerous awards and twice been invited to speak at the international conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC). She was inducted into the IAFE Hall of Fame in 2017, and again in the Indiana Association of Fairs Hall of Fame in 2018.

An Indianapolis native, Cindy grew up just ten minutes from the Fairgrounds and spent many summers participating at the Indiana State Fair as a 4-H member. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1980; worked as an intern at the Texas State Fair; as a 4-H Extension agent in Wisconsin; the promotions director for the American Dairy Association of Wisconsin; and the special events director for the Wisconsin State Fair. Cindy sits on the boards of many civic organizations and is active in the Indianapolis arts community. She and her husband, Bob, have two children and four grandchildren.

2. Leslie Hurst – Executive Vice President of Community Relations at Crossroads of America, Boy Scouts of America.

­­Hurst has served the Crossroads of America Council for more than 22 years, during which time she has held positions as District Executive, Senior District Executive, District Director, Development Director, Director of Development, Director of Field Service, and Vice President of Community Relations. She has supported program and membership in a council leadership capacity as the staff advisor for District Day Camps, Central Region Cub Scout Advancement Pilot, and Webelos-to-Scout Transition. She’s led the annual Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting five times — raising $1M+ each year in December to kick off the next year’s fundraising campaign. Her experience leading cultivation and special events (i.e. honoree-based dinners, Sporting Clays), product sales (popcorn and camp cards), and grant proposal writing enables her to coach the sales and service staff in a variety of fundraising capacities to continue growing Scouting. In her current role as Executive Vice President of Community Relations, she guides three departments in the Indianapolis-based council: Development (fundraising), Marketing & Communications, and Community Relations (a newly-created department in 2022). Recently, Hurst’s focus to grow Scouting’s impact has included strategic state-wide partnerships and mutually-beneficial relationships with professional sports teams, elected officials, large corporations, and media partners.

Hurst has championed the growth and well being of female BSA employees since 2018 when she joined the national workplace resource group R.I.S.E. committee (recognize, inspire, support, empower). Hurst has lead a national service project, secured guest speakers, managed the social media platforms, and assisted with the mentor/mentee program launch. Locally, she served as a Sunday School teacher for elementary-aged youth for 15 years. Leslie enjoys community involvement as an Indy Chamber and OneZone member, and serves on the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center Advisory Council.

Hurst is from Pendleton, Indiana — the same county where she began her Scouting career. Scouting is a part of her roots as her father is an Eagle Scout. Leslie lives in Fishers, Indiana, with her husband, Bryan, and her daughter, Zoe. Weekends are consumed with travel softball, car-related events, Indiana University games, concerts, and the family golden retriever.

3. Karen Burns – Executive Vice President of the Indianapolis Zoo

Karen Burns is a seasoned not-for-profit executive with extensive hands-on fundraising experience in capital campaigns and all facets of non-profit leadership.  As a strategic thinker skilled in governance, planning and budgeting, she has a knack for working within organizations and communities to lead teams and gain consensus among divergent stakeholders. 

Burns has been with the Indianapolis Zoo since 1999, and currently serves as Executive Vice President of the Indianapolis Zoo and Executive Director of the Indianapolis Prize.   Upon joining the Zoo, she led the team that conducted a comprehensive rebranding of the Indianapolis Zoo from a much loved community attraction into a world-class conservation institution.  In her current role, she advises the president and CEO and  provides strategic leadership to the organization. Burns directly oversees the External Relations division with responsibility for Institutional Advancement, Creative Services, Marketing and Public Relations, and Membership. 

Her leadership includes working closely with the Zoo’s Board of Trustees where she serves as the staff liaison for the Zoo’s diversity committee and provides leadership on the Zoo’s $53 million Capital Campaign.

Burns considers one of her most significant accomplishments to be her work on the Indianapolis Prize. The Indianapolis Prize is internationally known and recognized as the world’s leading award for animal conservation. Presented biennially, the Prize awards $638,000 in grants to individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution to saving an animal species or group of species. The finalists and winners are celebrated at a Gala attended by 1,200 people and has featured His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and notable actors Jane Alexander, Sigourney Weaver  and Harrison Ford. She has managed the Prize since its inception in 2004 and serves as its Executive Director in addition to her role as Executive Vice President of the Zoo.  

Active in the community, Burns has served as President of Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis and the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army of Central Indiana.  She is currently Treasurer of the Downtown Indy, Inc., Board of Directors, and continues to serve on the boards of Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis and the Advisory Board of the Central Indiana Salvation Army 

Burns has been recognized with the following community awards:

Indianapolis YWCA Professional Woman of the Year 2006

Indianapolis Business Journal Women of Influence 2014

Downtown Indianapolis Kiwanian of the Year 2016

Hoosier Heritage Lifetime Achievement 2018

Downtown Indianapolis Career Award 2020

4. Tamara Rogers – Founder, Rogers Law

Born and raised in Chicago, Tamara’s journey began when she embarked on her academic pursuit at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. With a passion for social justice, she ventured into the realm of social work for four impactful years.  

Driven by a fervent desire to make a difference, Tamara charted her course to DePaul University College of Law. Here, she honed her skills, forging herself into an advocate for the voiceless. Her tenure as a Juvenile Magistrate in Marion Circuit Court spanned five years, where she stood as a beacon of hope for countless families navigating the intricacies of paternity cases.  

Beyond the confines of the courtroom, she traversed the landscape of general litigation and family law. From crafting motions to the impassioned representation of her clients in the courtroom, she left an indelible mark on the fabric of justice. Fueled by an indomitable spirit, Tamara made the decision to embark on her own odyssey, founding her law firm. Here, amidst life’s obstacles, she stood as a steadfast ally, guiding families through the complexities of family strife, offering solace through estate planning.  

After years of tireless dedication to the Indiana community, Tamara’s journey has taken a new turn as she bids farewell to Rogers Law Firm, ready to embrace fresh opportunities and blaze yet another trial as a tenured-track law librarian at IU McKinney School of Law. After being licensed for 20 years in the state of Indiana, Tamara will teach law students about legal research and mentor the next generation of lawyers. Her legacy of compassion and unwavering commitment to justice will continue to inspire all those whose lives she touched.

5. Dr. Nataki Pettigrew – Chief Academic & DEI Officer at Washington Township

Dr. Pettigrew is a transformative educator with extensive, diverse experiences in teaching, system-level leadership, curriculum and instruction, and student services.  Pettigrew currently serves as the Chief Academic and DEI Officer for MSD of Washington Township Schools where she leads the Teaching and Learning and Student Services Departments. Pettigrew specifically designed academic programs and services to meet the varied needs of her students through her experiences as a Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, ELA Teacher, and Academic Team Lead.  

Dr. Pettigrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from DePauw University, and her Master of Education and Administration Certification, EdD Degree, and EdS Degree in District Leadership are all from Indiana Wesleyan University. Dr. Pettigrew has received commendations for her work in the community and has a proven record of initiating and sustaining systemic change, mitigating educational inequities, and launching inclusive and equitable initiatives to support students and their families.

She is married to Jason Pettigrew, Sr. and they are the proud parents of three children: Ashley, Deja, and Jason II. Dr. Pettigrew is the current Vice President of Chi Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,  and serves on the boards of Emerging Pearls Foundation, Inc. and Indiana Connected Educators. Dr. Pettigrew enjoys reading, television & film, and church (Eastern Star Church).

6. Judge Charnette Garner – Marion Superior Court

Judge Charnette D. Garner assumed office on January 1, 2019 and was later elected as Presiding Judge in 2023. Garner holds degrees from Indiana State University and the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law, admitted to both the Missouri and Indiana Bar. Active in legal and community organizations, Garner serves on the Indiana Judicial Conference Board of Directors and as President of the Marion County Bar Association. She’s involved with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and mentors undergraduates at Indiana State University. 

Garner’s contributions have been recognized with awards like the Alpha Mu Omega’s Outstanding Leadership Award and induction into the Fulton Public Schools Foundation Hall of Fame in 2023. Additionally, she received accolades such as the National Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Division Outstanding Public Service Lawyer award and was honored as a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.

7. Emily Longnecker – Emmy Award Winning Journalist

Emily Longnecker is a 7-time Emmy Award Winning Journalist.

Her nearly 30-year career in television broadcasting has taken Emily from Washington, DC where she first worked behind the scenes, to several smaller television markets in Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio where Emily worked as a reporter and anchor.

For nearly 17 years, Emily has worked as a reporter at WTHR-TV Channel 13, most recently as the station’s Statehouse reporter, covering the Indiana General Assembly.

Emily has also been a contributing writer for Hope Magazine for Women.

Throughout her career in journalism, Emily’s work has been recognized by the Indiana Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists, the Indiana Broadcasters Association and The Associated Press Broadcasters Associations of both Indiana and Pennsylvania.

In 2021, Emily was invited to New York City and back to her former station in Altoona, Pennsylvania to recount her experiences covering the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001, when she was just a cub reporter.

Emily has also recounted her work covering September 11th in the book “Women Journalists at Ground Zero.”

Emily holds a master’s degree in broadcast journalism and public policy from The American University in Washington, DC.

She also has a bachelor’s degree in English and French from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.

During her time in Indianapolis, Emily has been invited to speak in front of several groups and help emcee events for Coburn Place Safe Haven, The Independence Academy, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

In recent years, Emily has been invited to speak about surviving an attack in broad daylight near downtown Indianapolis and the impact that experience had on her. 

For the past two years, Emily has been blessed to volunteer at Quality Life Adult Day Center on the city’s east side, where she has helped host dance parties for seniors and adults with special needs, alongside her friend, “The Loverman” Jerry Wade.

In her free time, Emily enjoys running, reading, and attending live music concerts with friends.

One of her favorite singers is music legend and Indianapolis native, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.

It has been a career highlight for Emily to interview the music icon, twice during her time at Channel 13.

The western Pennsylvania native was born and raised in Bradford, PA, but after more than a decade in the Circle City, Emily now considers Indianapolis her second home.

8. Tamise Cross – CEO of P30

Tamise, a native of Chicago, has dedicated her life to community service despite facing challenges.

With firsthand experience of limited resources and adversity, she chose to inspire hope through faith, overcoming obstacles to effect change.

Over the past twenty-five years, she has contributed to non-profit organizations, developed youth programming, and served as a Ministry Leader, teaching and leading worship.

Now, as Co-Founder and Executive Director of P30 in Indianapolis, she spearheads initiatives to empower the underserved, offering resources and opportunities to disrupt inequality and foster prosperity.

Throughout her journey, Tamise has built deep, meaningful relationships and advocated for diverse, inclusive communities, sharing her story and passion along the way.

CLICK HERE to learn more about P30.

9. Kendra Nowell – CEO, CAFE (Community Alliance of the Far Eastside)

Kendra Nowell is a visionary leader dedicated to empowering communities. As CEO of CAFE (Community Alliance of the Far Eastside), she spearheads initiatives to uplift and support the Far Eastside community, promoting equity, education, and economic development.

Visit their website & donate to help support their programs: https://www.cafeindy.org/

CAFE Programs have been developed to strengthen and expand the impact of the Center for Working Families in partnership with neighborhood education institutions and housing complexes.