Governor-Elect Holcomb Announces Transition Team

By Mike Perleberg Eric Holcomb. (Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana Governor-elect Eric Holcomb is saying he'll continue working toward Governor Mike Pence's goal of making the state better. “We intend to take, as he was, the state to the next level. So we will be measuring what we do on a daily basis and soliciting support from Hoosiers all over the State of Indiana to achieve that goal,” Holcomb said Wednesday at his first press conference since the election. Holcomb, a Republican, defeated Democrat John Gregg by seven points in Tuesday’s election. Suzanne Crouch will be his lieutenant governor. The transition to a new Indiana governor should be fairly seamless. Holcomb is the current lieutenant governor under Mike Pence. Holcomb said his administration will make sure the budget is fiscally sound, that the state is focused on the workforce, and that there is a data-driven, sustainable infrastructure program. The governor-elect announced a transition board that comes from all areas of the state to help him know the problems Hoosiers have. The 16-member team includes co-chairs Early Goode, former chief of staff for former Governor Mitch Daniels, and Kyle Hupfer, former director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources under Daniels. Former Daniels lieutenant governor Becky Skillman is also a transition team member. “We’re drawing the experience and the insight and the intellect from all over the State of Indiana that are going to be part of this new administration,” Holcomb said. He said he did talk with both President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Pence after winning the presidential election Tuesday night and says he was congratulated on his win. Pence will return to Indianapolis on Thursday, with a "Welcome Home Rally" planned at the Indianapolis International Airport. Holcomb will be installed as governor with his inauguration in January 2017. Members of the Holcomb transition team, as provided by the campaign: Earl Goode (Co-Chair) Earl Goode is a former utility company president who served as chief of staff to Governor Mitch Daniels for over six years.  Earl’s current civic involvement includes serving as vice chairman of the Indiana Motorsports Commission and as a member of several not-for-profit organizations.  His past civic involvement includes serving as chairman of the board and as president of the Indianapolis Capitol Improvement Board. Kyle Hupfer (Co-Chair) Kyle Hupfer is chief administrative officer and general counsel of Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.  Kyle previously served as the director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for Governor Mitch Daniels and also as the chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission.  He is currently a trustee at Manchester University and a member of several other not-for-profit organizations. Allison Barber Allison Barber, PhD, is the chancellor of WGU Indiana and a member of the State Workforce Innovation Council (SWIC). A former appointee in the President George W. Bush Administration, Allison served at the Pentagon and The White House in various positions focused on military and veteran issues and strategic communication. She currently serves on the boards of Techpoint, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for Military Families.  She is as advisor to the State Fair, a volunteer for the Pike YMCA and co-chair of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign. Brian Bauer Brian Bauer is chief executive officer of Lutheran Health Network, a 969-bed health system serving 23 counties and 1.3 million people in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. A native of Indiana, Brian was born and raised in Terre Haute and graduated from Butler University where he played football and majored in finance.  Brian was honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash recipient in 2013. Brian Burdick Brian Burdick is the managing partner of the Indianapolis office of Barnes & Thornburg, LLP.   He has an extensive background in governmental finance and regulatory matters, previously chaired a statewide transition and has served on many others.  Brian serves on numerous civic boards including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Sports Corporation and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Anne Hathaway Anne Hathaway is president of Hathaway Strategies where she works at both the state and national level to provide government affairs, grassroots strategy and management and public relations support to organizations, issue campaigns and Fortune 100 companies. She previously served as program director for the 2012 Republican National Convention and chief of staff at the Republican National Committee. Rebecca Holwerda Rebecca Holwerda is the Northwest Regional Director for U.S. Senator Dan Coats. Prior to that role, she was the project manager for a healthcare organization reaching Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Jeff Knight Jeff Knight is executive vice president and chief legal counsel for Old National Bank headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.  Jeff’s civic and volunteer activities include being chairman of the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees and a board member of the Welborn Baptist Foundation and the Indiana Legal Foundation.  He is also a member of the Indiana Business Law Survey Commission and the Board of Visitors for the University of Evansville. Blair Milo Blair Milo is in her second term as mayor of La Porte, Indiana.  Having been elected at the age of 28, she is the youngest female mayor in the state.  Prior to becoming mayor, Blair served in the U.S. Navy conducting multiple tours in the Arabian Gulf aboard the USS Mason and Destroyer Squadron 50 before finishing her active service at the Pentagon.  She continues to hold the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Jim Morris Jim Morris is vice chairman of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, Inc.  He previously served as chief executive officer of IWC Resources Corp. and its subsidiary, Indianapolis Water Company. Jim also served as the executive director of the United Nations Food Program.  He continues to serve on numerous corporate and not-for-profit boards. Jamey Noel Jamey Noel is currently the sheriff of Clark County, a position he has held since January 1, 2015. He retired from the Indiana State Police after 22 years as an Assistant District Commander, and has extensive law enforcement & homeland security training.  Jamey also has 29 years of experience in EMS and in the fire service as chief. Ed Simcox Ed Simcox is currently the president emeritus of the Indiana Energy Association after having served as president of the association from 1986-2010. He served eight years as Indiana’s Secretary of State as well as in numerous other political positions for officials including Governor Ed Whitcomb, Senator Dick Lugar and Senator Dan Coats. Becky Skillman Becky Skillman served eight years as Lt. Governor alongside Governor Mitch Daniels and from 1992-2004 in the Indiana Senate. She is currently senior advisor for Radius Indiana, a regional economic development corporation in south-central Indiana and the lead director on the Old National Bank Corporate Board. Jamal Smith Jamal Smith is the District Athletic Director for Indianapolis Public Schools.  He previously served as the executive director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and is the founder of The Lead Change Project.  Jamal also previously served as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Arsenal Technical High School helping to lead the boys’ team to earn the 2014 Indiana 4A State Championship title. Susana Suarez Susana Suarez is an elected and appointed official who brings more than 20 years of experience in federal, state and local government. She is also a small business owner with 15+ years of executive corporate experience. Susana is married with two small children and lives in Zionsville, Indiana, where she’s the president of the Town Council. Rudy Yakym III Rudy Yakym III is senior vice president at Bradley Company, a full service commercial real estate firm. He is an active participant in the community and state and serves on the St. Joseph County Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, the IU South Bend Alumni Board, and the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission.