Business & Beyond with Gerry Dick

Abdul Hakim Shabazz: Mayor Abdul?

“I miss the days when all they argued about in this building was Sunday retail alcohol sales.” He’s covered politics in Indiana for more than two decades and is rarely at a loss for words as he does it. In episode 78, the opinionated Abdul Hakim Shabazz weighs in on the Indiana General Assembly’s contentious special session, his love for comic books, cigars and whiskey and has a surprising answer when asked what’s next.

Mimi Pearce: A journey of rediscovery

She was a household name, the woman who for more than 30 years navigated Hoosiers around delays on their way to work and the drive home. Little did Mimi Pearce know that she would one day be forced to reroute her career path, a detour that would take her to an unlikely landing. In this episode, the Morgan County native talks traffic, rediscovery and why after decades ON the air, she’s happy to now be IN the air.

Bob and Kevin Gregory: The first family of forecasting

For nearly 50 years, a Gregory has been delivering the weather to central Indiana television viewers. From heat waves to snow storms, Bob and Kevin Gregory created a bond with Hoosier households as solid as a mid-winter, freeze yet as comfortable as an early Fall breeze. In this episode, father and son share stories from their decades in broadcasting, how the industry has changed and exactly what made Bob crack up on the air.

Steve Simon: ‘I’m a Hoosier, through and through’

“Like there is a secret DNA, a sort of mojo, that collectively is not like any other place I have been to.” The man in line to be the next owner of the Indiana Pacers has been running a private equity firm in San Francisco for more than 20 years. But Steve Simon has never really left his native Indiana. In episode 73, the eldest son of current owner Herb Simon opens up about his leadership style, vision for the future and why he proudly wears his passion for the franchise and Indy on his sleeve.

Marc Lotter: From the producer’s desk to politics

Fort Wayne native Marc Lotter knew from a young age that he wanted a career in television. Little did he know that one day his television career would take a U-turn into the bright lights of big-time politics. From the Statehouse to the White House, Lotter opens up about life in the political fast lane, the mid-term elections and if Trump’24 will be a reality.

Robin Winston: A passion for politics and public service

He was born in Pennsylvania and educated in Kentucky, but Indiana is where Robin Winston made history. In 1999 he was named chairman of the Indiana Democrat party, the first African American to lead a major political party in state history. In this episode, he shares stories about some of the biggest names in Indiana politics and the mentors who have helped him along the way.

Patty Spitler: Strength through adversity

When she started out as a radio DJ in Dayton, Ohio, Patty Spitler could not have envisioned where her career would take her or the challenges she would face along the way. In this episode, the well-known former WISH-TV anchor and entertainment reporter opens up about how a shy schoolgirl from Ohio would wind up interviewing some of the biggest names in Hollywood and dealing adversity that she refused to let define her career.

Nate Feltman: Global Perspective, Local Focus

Nate Feltman: Global Perspective, Local Focus “It was capitalism without rules,” says Nate Feltman about his life-changing experiences living and working in post-Cold War Russia. But while the owner and chief executive officer of IBJ Media has long had a passion for international affairs, he continues to make his mark in Indiana. In this episode, he talks about his time as secretary of commerce, the changing face of Indiana and the importance of local ownership in media.

Ball State AD Beth Goetz: Striving for success on and off the field

For Beth Goetz, sports have always been much more than a game, from her days as a multi-sport athlete growing up in St. Louis to her current role as director of athletics at Ball State University. “I am the person I am today because of sports,” says Goetz, who offers candid perspectives on Title IX and NIL, the role of sports in society and lessons learned from legendary UConn Women’s Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma.

Beth Bechdol: From the Family Farm to Feeding the World

Born into a longtime farm family in northeast Indiana, Beth Bechdol seemed destined for a life in agriculture. There was only one problem. She wanted to be as far away from the farm as possible. In this episode, the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization joins us from Rome for a conversation about career pivoting, her passion for feeding the world and why Indiana is an important part of it all.