Advisory Board

The Playworks Indiana Advisory Board is a group of change-makers who believe in the power of play and are active ambassadors for Playworks. These playful professionals contribute their personal time to share the mission of Playworks: to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

 


Jenny Dexter, Chair


Chief Strategy Officer
Veterans Strategies, Inc.

Jenny Dexter is the Chief Strategy Officer at Veteran Strategies, Inc., a multi-faceted public relations firm. As an agency executive with over 25 years of diverse experiences working in public relations, marketing, and branding, Jenny has had the great opportunity to develop partnerships and support the health of organizations whose products and services are best-in-class and purpose-driven.

Having co-founded her own design studio and worked as a brand manager for a global architecture firm, Jenny knows what it takes to cultivate relationships for growth. She collaborates with clients from a variety of industry segments to build consensus among multiple stakeholders and further organizational impact. With a specialty in listening as a means to translate vision into execution, Jenny is able to expand into new markets. She discovers and responds to industry trends and needs; and drives toward results in fast-paced, matrixed organizations.
Jenny received her bachelor’s from Ball State University. She currently leads as Chair of the Board of Directors for Playworks Indiana and is the President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, 2022-23.

 

Danny Embry


Senior Principal Success Manager
Salesforce

As a Senior Success Specialist at Salesforce, Danny Embry coaches customers in using their CRM software. Prior to joining Salesforce, Danny spent 7 years at Angie’s List as an Account Manager. Danny grew up traveling the world as the son of an Air Force mother and father. After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in journalism, Danny settled down in Fishers, Indiana with his wife Kelli and their two daughters. Danny began serving on the Playworks Indiana board in 2018.

 

Carrie Lahr


VP of Operations
Riley Hospital for Children

As the Vice President of Operations for Riley Children’s Health, Carrie is responsible for providing direction and support for the effective day-to-day operations of the hospital. She assesses the effectiveness of current services, and supports the expansion/development of new product lines, services, or innovations that are consistent with hospital regulations and standards of accreditation. She is also responsible for achieving the quality and cost objectives that drive value to our patients and communities. Carrie has been a part of the IU Health organization since 2005. She has served in a variety of roles including bedside care in pediatric intensive care, hospital supervision, and clinical operations management. Prior to her receipt promotion to VP of Operations, Carrie served as the Director of the Continuous Improvement work implementing a Lean Business System at Riley Children’s Health. Carrie received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Purdue University and her Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Carrie began serving on the Playworks Indiana board in 2018.

 

Melissa Thompson


Chief Community Officer
Indiana Sports Corp 

Melissa Thompson is the Chief Community Officer at Indiana Sports Corp and is responsible for board affairs, community initiatives, event bids, serves as Indiana Sports Corp’s board appointment to Sports Indiana in addition to handling government relations.

A native of Indianapolis, Thompson’s roots and networks run deep in the city. Thompson offers extensive experience in event and logistics planning as well as public space management and government affairs.

Previously a Project Manager at Hathaway Strategies, Thompson offered extensive experience in event and logistics planning as well as public space management. Prior to joining Hathaway Strategies, Thompson served as the first-ever venue manager for Georgia Street, one of downtown Indianapolis’ premier outdoor event spaces. She handled day-to-day operations and maintenance of the venue as well as event coordination and planning.

Before that, Thompson occupied various roles for the City of Indianapolis. Beginning in 1999, she served in the Marion County Auditor’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office before becoming clerk of the City County Council from 2008-2011.

Eddie Rangel


Executive Director
Adelante Schools

Eddie Rangel is the Executive Director of Adelante Schools, a non-profit school management
organization in Indianapolis, IN. In this role, he helps direct a K-8 innovation restart school within the Indianapolis Public Schools Innovation Network. Previously, Eddie served as a school leader in the Tindley Accelerated Schools network of Indianapolis where his school achieved 100% proficiency on the 3rd-grade reading proficiency exam for two consecutive years and increased math and reading proficiency by 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Eddie holds a M.Ed. in Public School Building Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia
University, an MA in Teaching from Marian University, and a BM in Music Performance from the
University of Redlands.

Mark Clark


Senior VP, Deputy General Counsel & Assistant Secretary
The Finish Line, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Heather Hutchinson


Vice President, Enterprise Business Improvement
ONEAMERICA FINANCIAL PARTNERS

 

 

 

 

 

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