Who we are

Mike Braun is a conservative outsider who spent his career as a main street entrepreneur building a business and creating thousands of good-paying Hoosier jobs before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Mike has lived the American dream and his drive in becoming the next Governor of Indiana is to preserve the same freedom and opportunity to achieve prosperity for future generations of Hoosiers.

After graduating from Jasper High School in 1972 as class president and a letterman in football, basketball, and track, he attended Wabash College. At Wabash, Mike graduated summa cum laude with a degree in economics and as student body president.

After college, Mike married Maureen, his high school sweetheart, and the two moved to Boston where he attended Harvard Business School and earned his MBA. After business school, while the majority of Mike’s classmates took high-paying jobs on Wall Street, he chose to move back to Jasper to raise a family and build a career.

After a few years working for a national kitchen cabinet company in Jasper, in 1981, Mike got the entrepreneurial itch and took over a struggling farm equipment manufacturer called Meyer Body. Over the next 20 years, Mike lived the hardscrabble existence of a small business owner with 15 employees and his office in a used mobile home.

In the early 2000s, Meyer began to grow into a regional company and over the next 15 years grew into a national company that currently employs thousands of Americans with locations in 38 states. During his time growing a national company and serving in the US Senate, Mike never lost track of the lessons learned as a small business owner and has always kept the same main street values.

The values of faith, family, and community guided Mike while growing a business and raising a family, and have inspired his call to serve fellow Hoosiers throughout the years. Mike began his public service as a member of the local School Board for ten years and then as a State Representative from 2014-2017.

Mike has been a conservative voice for Hoosiers since his historic victory in the 2018 US Senate election, having led over 35 bills into law and was recently named the most effective first-term Republican Senator. Mike has also consistently been ranked as one of the most conservative members of the United States Senate, earning endorsements from Americans for Prosperity and CPAC, and maintains excellent ratings from the NRA, Family Research Council, National Right to Life, and Susan B. Anthony List.

Mike is an avid outdoorsman and enthusiastic morel mushroom hunter every spring. Mike and Maureen have been married for 47 years and have four adult children and seven grandchildren.

David Adams has served as Indiana Secretary of Commerce and a member of Governor Mike Braun’s cabinet since his appointment in January 2025. In his role, Sec. Adams oversees multiple state agencies including the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Department of Workforce Development, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, the Indiana Arts Commission, the Indiana State Fair and the Ports of Indiana, driving economic opportunity for the state and fostering an entrepreneurial environment for innovation.

Prior to becoming secretary of commerce, Adams served as a Managing Partner of Adams Advisors LLC and a Senior Advisor with the Boston Consulting Group where he leveraged his expertise on education, economic and workforce development to advise corporations, state and local governments and higher education leaders on economic growth and transformation. 

Adams also previously served as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, during which  he put Indiana on a course that improved the state’s CNBC ‘America’s Top States for Business’ workforce ranking  from 48th to currently 14th and successfully secured legislation and financial resources to support Governor Eric  Holcomb’s workforce agenda. He also led the turnaround and merger of Indiana’s nearly $50 billion pension  systems under former Governor Mitch Daniels. 

Prior to his time with the Department of Workforce Development, Adams was the first chief innovation officer at the  University of Cincinnati, where he was the visionary leader in the formation of the Cincinnati Innovation District. His  work was adopted by the state and became the model for the state of Ohio which has resulted in an additional  45,000 STEM graduates, $6 billion in additional research and tens of thousands of high-value jobs for the state.  Adams also previously held positions as chief administrative officer at the University of Louisville and CEO of the  Institute for Product Realization – an innovation district focused on connecting the economic engine of the university  with the business community.  

Adams is a lifelong entrepreneur and has successfully engaged that spirit in a variety of different industries. He was  a member of the leadership team that formed a business that became a NASDAQ 50 company and created the  supply chain management space. He has started, invested and successfully exited numerous companies. Adams’ work ranges from engaging start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, generating over $1 billion in new revenue  throughout his career. He has served in executive leadership roles both nationally and internationally. 

As a first-generation college graduate, Adams is passionate about education and was a founding board member of  the Enlace Academy in Indianapolis. He is a graduate of the Speed Scientific School of Engineering at the University  of Louisville and holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering.  

Adams was previously awarded one of ‘Indiana’s Leading Entrepreneurial Business Mentors’ by the state of Indiana,  has made numerous national media appearances, is a frequent speaker and author, and is a contributing writer for  Forbes.

Billie Dragoo is the founder and CEO of RepuCare, a leading workforce solutions provider serving Fortune 500 clients and managed healthcare providers. RepuCare has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S.

Named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top 10 women entrepreneurs in the country, Billie was one of 720 global entrepreneurs invited by the President of the United States to attend the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Stanford University. She served four years as a National Judge for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and was a recipient of the award in 2008.

A long-time leader in Indiana’s business community, Billie was named a 2014 Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame Laureate. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2011 Girls Inc. Touchstone Award, IBJ’s 2009 Women of Influence Award, the 2008 Torchbearer Award for Entrepreneurial Advocacy—one of the state’s highest honors—and the 2007 Starkey Entrepreneurial Women’s Award.

Billie is the past Chair and CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) in Washington, D.C., and past president and emeritus board advisor of its Indianapolis chapter, where she led significant growth. She also served as a board member and emeritus advisor for the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana.

Her current leadership roles include serving on the executive board of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), and boards of the Indianapolis Chamber, IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), and Franklin College. She was recently appointed to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Board of Directors.

Billie is the co-founder of the Indiana Conference for Women (ICFW), now in its 13th year and the largest one-day professional development conference for women in the Midwest.

She remains deeply engaged in mentoring, civic leadership, and philanthropy.

David A Fagan attended Portage High School and then Indiana University pursuing a degree in accounting. David became a member of International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 in 1978 and completed Local 150’s Apprenticeship Program in 1982. In 1989, David was appointed to a staff position with Local 150, which represents heavy equipment operators who operate and/or repair equipment in the construction industry, industrial maintenance, quarries, landfills, slag industry, equipment dealers and equipment rental facilities. In 2005, according to the By-Laws, David was elected as an officer for Local 150. Each subsequent election year, he has been honored to be re-elected to his position as Financial Secretary, which he currently holds.

David is a Trustee for Local 150’s Apprenticeship Training Program, Pension Fund, and Health & Welfare Fund which provides healthcare for more than 24,500 members of Local 150; and their families. David previously served as a Board Member for the Midwest Operating Engineers Credit Union 2008-2012. He currently serves as a Trustee on the Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa Federation for Fair Contracting (IIIFFC) Board, as well as a Trustee on the Railroad Health & Welfare Board, which covers workers employed in the railroad derailment and railroad construction industry in 38 states.

Previous appointments include the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board from 1992-2014; the Chicago Gary Regional Airport Board in 2014, which he served on for approximately four years. David served as Councilman for the 2nd District of the Portage, Indiana Common Council 2000-2007. In 2007 he resigned and chose not to seek a third term in order to accept an appointment by Governor Daniels to the Indiana Port Commission 2007-2015.

David has been married for 42 years to his wife, Sandra. Early in their marriage, David and Sandra served as Porter County foster parents and they have one child, Ryan, who attended Purdue University and is currently a journeyman operator for IUOE Local 150.

If you're familiar with Terre Haute and Vigo County, you’ve likely heard of the Gibson family—a name synonymous with business leadership and community generosity. Greg Gibson, born and raised in Terre Haute, leads the family’s philanthropic efforts. A graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Greg has built a successful and diverse business career rooted in his hometown.

His ventures span real estate, hospitality, gaming, trucking, coal, waste operations, and more. He has served on the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission and the Ports of Indiana Commission, appointed by multiple governors, and the Nominating Board of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

A founding member of the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board, Greg also chairs the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau and leads the Terre Haute Business Development Association. He’s helped transform downtown with projects like the Hilton Garden Inn, The Terminal, and The Hub, while donating land for the convention center, parking garage, and historic Indiana Theatre. His developments on the eastside Highway 46 corridor have brought Meijer, Walmart, Sycamore Terrace, two hotels, and the Terre Haute Casino to the area.

Greg has served on Rose-Hulman’s Board of Trustees for over 30 years and sits on the First Financial Bank board. His philanthropic impact includes establishing the Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care. He also helped create the nationally renowned LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, named after his grandfather.

Greg and his wife, Amy, have two children: Jack and Lucy, continuing the Gibson legacy in Terre Haute.

John R. Gregg is a partner in Ice Miller’s Governmental Affairs & Regulatory Law Practice where his unique experience at the intersection of law, business, and government, allows him to serve a variety of clients including municipalities, universities, small businesses, the agriculture community and corporations. His practice focuses on economic development, corporate strategic planning, small business development and the support of energy and agriculture initiatives throughout the state. John’s experience consists of more than 40 years as a practicing attorney and 16 years in the Indiana General Assembly, which included several top leadership positions. He was elected to serve as Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives for the last six years of his time in office, and he most recently was the Democratic Party’s candidate for Indiana Governor in 2012 and 2016. The relationships John built with Hoosier entities from small businesses to government bodies continue to serve John in his legal practice.

Previously, John served as the interim president of Vincennes University and was an employee of two Fortune 500 energy companies. He has also written ‘From Sandborn to the State House’ a book on his time in the Indiana General Assembly and has hosted ‘On the Porch’ a PBS television show produced at WVUT shown throughout Indiana on PBS stations.

John and his wife, Lisa, live in Sandborn, IN, where they operate their farm. His background as a landowner and resident of a farm gives him a pulse on Indiana’s ever-changing agriculture community.

Chris King is a dynamic engineer and accomplished business leader with a strong track record of delivering complex, high-impact projects. As Executive Vice President of Runnebohm Construction and owner of Surge Development, Chris brings deep expertise in land entitlement, infrastructure planning, project development, and construction management. His work spans transformative initiatives that deliver long-term value and support sustainable, strategic growth in communities of all sizes.

In addition to his professional leadership, Chris plays an active role in shaping economic development at the local and regional levels. He currently serves as President of the Shelby County Development Corporation and participates in several economic development organizations throughout Indiana. In these roles, he works closely with business and government leaders to attract investment, expand infrastructure capacity, and strengthen workforce development efforts.

Chris brings a practical, community-first perspective to the state’s economic development strategy. His combined experience in engineering, construction, and civic leadership reflects a deep commitment to building resilient communities, enhancing Indiana’s economic competitiveness, and ensuring that opportunity is accessible in every corner of the state.

Don Lamb is the Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, re-appointed by Governor Mike Braun on Dec. 23, 2024. He reports directly to Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, who serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Don is a second-generation farmer for Lamb Farms in Boone County where, alongside his father, brother, and nephews, they produce corn, popcorn, seed soybeans and seed wheat. They also own two other enterprises including AgRecycle which is a composting business and Lamb Farms Agronomy which provides neighboring farmers with agronomy products and services. Don stays involved in management aspects of the farm and joins in operations whenever he can.

Don has been involved in many community and agricultural activities and organizations. He currently is a board member for AgriNovus and is a member of the State Fair Commission. Previously Don served as Boone County Council’s Vice President, Western Boone School Board member, a member of the Purdue Dean of Agriculture Advisory Council, board member of the Boone Co. Farm Bureau and served on the Recycling and Market Development Board for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Don was named the Outstanding Young Farmer of Boone County in 1996 and was named the Agricultural Professional of the Year in 2014 by the Boone County Chamber of Commerce.

Don is a 1989 graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. While at Purdue he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Don is a member of class 8 of the Indiana Agriculture Leadership Program (ALP) and he credits the ALP program for instilling a desire to lead the agriculture industry forward. In September of 2023 Don was selected as an At-Large member for board of directors for the National State Department’s of Agriculture (NASDA).

In 2012 Don’s family farm started Agristewards, a nonprofit which teaches farming practices and subsistence farmers in Africa, Asia, the Caribbeans and Central America.

Don and his wife Jodie are long-time members of New Hope Christian Church where he serves as Deacon. They have four daughters and three grandchildren. The family loves to do agricultural mission work where Don has traveled to Uganda, Kenya, Jamaica, and multiple times to Panama, Costa Rica and Haiti.

Don’s main priorities are leading ISDA’s 5 divisions, which include, agricultural advocacy, economic development, youth development, environmental stewardship and the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency.

Richard R. Waterfield is Chairman of the Board & CEO of Waterfield Enterprises, LLC, an American investment holding company. He also serves as Chairman & CEO of Waterfield Asset Management, Founder & Managing Principal of Waterfield Private Equity Fund(s) I, II, and III, and Co-Chairman of the Board of Waterfield Technologies, Blueworx Cloud Solutions (formerly IBM Websphere), VoxGen Artificial Intelligence Solutions, Vox Network Solutions, Dice Communications, Digital DataVoice (DDV), Speech-Soft Solutions, and Chrysalis Software, Inc. 

During his tenure at Waterfield, Mr. Waterfield has managed over 90 acquisitions and divestitures, along the way founding Waterfield Asset Management, Waterfield Enterprises, The Waterfield Funds, Waterfield Energy (now W Energy), two of America’s first Internet banks, and YPO | Northern Indiana, where he served as Initial Chairman. He also served as Chairman of Culver Military Academy Summer Schools & Camps.

A dedicated Hoosier and family man, Mr. Waterfield recently founded The Waterfield America Foundation(tm). Through it, he works to support great American institutions like The 2nd Amendment, The NRA, The Alliance Defending Freedom, Students For Fair Admissions, The American Family Association, Hoosier hunting & fishing, clean Hoosier water, The Reagan Ranch, and conservative education initiatives.

Prior to joining Waterfield Group, Mr. Waterfield was at Goldman, Sachs & Co. He received his BA in Economics from Columbia University. He is a member of MENSA.