Innovate Southern Indiana - New Albany

Lance Allison began his career in small business first as a photographer and then owner/photographer of Allison Photography.  After 20 years, Lance retired from Photography and became President/CEO of the Murray-Calloway County (KY) Chamber of Commerce in 2008. In 2013, Allison assumed the role as President/CEO of the Panama City Beach (FL) Chamber of Commerce.  In 2016 Lance joined Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing as a Director of Business Development.  In March of 2024, Lance became the President/CEO of One Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.

In 2023, Wendy Dant Chesser joined the River Ridge Development Authority (RRDA) after working as a Chamber executive for nearly 20 years.  Driven by a strong desire to implement change that establishes stronger economic growth, a better educated and better paid workforce and a structure of advocacy within the State of Indiana, Wendy is a recognized leader, helping to maximize opportunities and overcome challenges.  

This passion led Wendy to her recent political career.  In June, 2024, she was sworn into office as State Representative for Indiana House District 71, which includes Jeffersonville, Clarksville and a portion of New Albany.  She is committed to securing public education, providing employment opportunities, and championing transparency and accountability of public processes.

Wendy returned to her home area in 2012 to serve as President and CEO of 1si, the area Chamber of Commerce and economic development organization for Clark, Floyd and Scott counties.  Prior to her move home, Wendy served as President of Cornerstone Alliance, a similar organization in Southwest Michigan, and she worked in various aspects of economic development with the State of Indiana, finishing her government career as Deputy Executive Director for Program Operations of the Indiana Department of Commerce.

Wendy is a present or past member of several professional organizations, including the International Economic Development Council and economic development associations in both Indiana and Michigan.  She currently serves as Legislative Committee Co-Chair and Past Chair for the Indiana Economic Development Association.  Locally, she has served on the Boards of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Louisville Zoo Foundation, Ivy Tech Sellersburg Advisory Board, Louisville’s Airlift Development and the YMCA of Greater Louisville.

Dant Chesser graduated with a degree in business management from Indiana University Southeast. In 2010, Dant Chesser received her credentials as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. In both 2022 and 2023, the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) named Wendy one of the “Indiana 250,” recognizing her as one of the most influential business leaders in the state.

Wendy was named one of North American’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2015 by Consultant Connect.  The Indiana Economic Development Association awarded her the “Economic Development Professional of the Next Half-Century” in June, 2018.  And in 2016, her Indiana peers named her the “Chamber of Commerce Executive of the Year.”  In both 2022 and 2023, the Indianapolis Business Journal named Wendy one of the “Indiana 250,” recognizing her as one of the most influential business leaders in the state.

Wendy is a Jeffersonville native and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Indiana University Southeast in 1991, and she was awarded the 2024 IU Southeast Distinguished Alumnus.  She currently lives in Jeffersonville with her daughter, Joslyn and partner, Eric

Dr. Debbie Ford became Chancellor of IU Southeast in July 2023, the campus’s sixth chancellor. An Indiana University alumna, she brings extensive experience in student success and community engagement. She oversees all academic and operational aspects of the campus in collaboration with IU leadership and regional campuses.

Dr. Ford serves on the Board of Directors for One Southern Indiana and was named to Louisville Business First’s 2024 Power 50 list. She also sits on the Advisory Board of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and represents IU’s regional campuses in the AASCU Student Success Equity Intensive.

Previously, she was Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for 14 years and held leadership roles at the University of West Florida and Spalding University. Dr. Ford holds degrees from the University of Louisville and Indiana University.

Kent Lanum is the CEO/President of the Paul Ogle Foundation and Board. The Paul W. Ogle Foundation, founded in 1979 by Paul W. Ogle, is a private independent foundation with over $65 million in assets, based in Jeffersonville, Indiana and giving over $110 million since its formation.

Kent has been with the Ogle Foundation since 2007 in the role as its first full-time Executive Director and named to his current CEO position beginning in 2012.He holds a BA in Economics from DePauw University (1983) and both an MBA degree in Management (1987) and a separate MA (2006) degree in Computer Resources & Information Management from Webster University.

On behalf of the Paul Ogle Foundation, Kent was one of the leaders in the vision and mission behind River Heritage Conservancy, a 501(c)3 and has served as its Board Chair since 2016.The nonprofit private park conservancy is building Origin Park, a world-class $250+ million park on the shores of the Ohio River, delivering an exceptional private sector experience in a traditionally public sector venue and an Olympic whitewater training and recreational venue, both that will attract millions of visitors and have a transformative impact for decades to come on both the region and State.This project proudly reflects the values and mission of the Foundation and its role in some of the key economic development efforts over the last 30 years.

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Kent Lanum is the CEO/President of the Paul Ogle Foundation and Board.The Paul W. Ogle Foundation, founded in 1979 by Paul W. Ogle, is a private independent foundation with over $65 million in assets, based in Jeffersonville, Indiana and giving over $110 million since its formation.

Kent has been with the Ogle Foundation since 2007 in the role as its first full-time Executive Director and named to his current CEO position beginning in 2012.He holds a BA in Economics from DePauw University (1983) and both an MBA degree in Management (1987) and a separate MA (2006) degree in Computer Resources & Information Management from Webster University.

Outside of the Foundation, Kent has served in many leadership and board capacities with both public and private organizations:Board Chair for Leadership Southern Indiana (2010-2012); President of the Donors Forum of Kentuckiana (2011-2013); Indiana Philanthropic Alliance Board (2008-2014); One Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce (2012-2021); the Kentucky Center for the Arts Foundation (2015-2017) as its first Indiana appointee and a Governor Appointee to the State of Indiana’s Regional Works Council (2013-2016).

Kent Lanum was the founding Member/Chair of both Velocity Southern Indiana and 1804, Inc, a local startup accelerator and regional entrepreneurial support organization from 2013 thru 2019.He was also the founding Member/Officer for Endeavor Midwest, an international nonprofit affiliate based in Louisville, that supported growth in local entrepreneurism and wealth creation, from 2015-2021.This Endeavor Global office formed in joint effort with other area business leaders: David Jones (Humana founder), John Schnatter (Papa Johns founder), Kent Taylor (Texas Roadhouse founder) and Matt Thornton (Thornton Oil CEO).

On behalf of the Paul Ogle Foundation, Kent was one of the creators in the vision and mission behind River Heritage Conservancy, a 501(c)3 and has served as its Board Chair since 2016.The nonprofit private park conservancy is building Origin Park, a world-class $250+ million park on the shores of the Ohio River, delivering an exceptional private sector experience in a traditionally public sector venue and an Olympic whitewater training and recreational venue, both that will attract millions of visitors and have a transformative impact for decades to come on both the region and State.This project proudly reflects the values and mission of the Foundation and its role in some of the key economic development efforts over the last 30 years.

Kent Lanum has been the recipient of the Indiana University Southeast Chancellor’s Medallion Award in 2018 for Lifetime Achievements; the Indiana and National Distinguished Leadership Awards from the National/Indiana Leadership Associations in 2013 and 2014 respectively. In 2013, he was named Business Professional of the Year and Rising Star Award in 2004 by One Southern Indiana. Lastly, based upon the conceptual work of Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “The Tipping Point”, Kent was honored to be selected by the general Louisville Metro public in 2010, as one of the 108 influential "Connectors" in the Kentuckiana Region by the Leadership Louisville Connector Project.

Prior to his tenure with the Ogle Foundation, Kent’s past employment includes private sector experience as a small business owner in IT infrastructure during the 2000’s, senior sales/marketing management roles at national telecom corporations AT&T and Lightyear Communications during the both deregulation and dot.com periods of the late 1980’s and 1990’s and finally two years of public sector experience as the local representative with both U.S. Senators Dan Quayle and Richard Lugar’s senatorial offices in 1984-1985.

On behalf of the Paul Ogle Foundation, Kent was one of the creators in the vision and mission behind River Heritage Conservancy, a 501(c)3 and has served as its Board Chair since 2016.The nonprofit private park conservancy is building Origin Park, a world-class $250+ million park on the shores of the Ohio River, delivering an exceptional private sector experience in a traditionally public sector venue and an Olympic whitewater training and recreational venue, both that will attract millions of visitors and transformative impact to both the region and State.This project proudly reflects the values and mission of the Foundation and its role in some of the key economic development efforts over the last 30 years.

Kent Lanum has lived and worked his entire work life in the Southern Indiana area and resides with his wife, Dalene, and their son Reagan.