Business & Beyond with Gerry Dick

Danny Lopez: Hoosier by Choice

“It’s not just professional basketball, it has to feel like the people’s building.” Pacers Sports & Entertainment VP Danny Lopez dishes some inside scoop on the $360 million renovation of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the second largest in NBA history. But this son of Cuban immigrants has a story that extends beyond basketball. In episode 128, he talks life lessons learned growing up in 1960s Miami, the importance of diversity and his passion for public service.

Alison Bell: Education is in her DNA

A professor’s daughter, WGU Indiana President Alison Bell was destined for a career in higher education. In episode 127, the Muncie native talks about the WGU model, the state of higher education and overcoming a fear of public speaking.

Howard Kellman: ‘It’s Been a Dream Come True’

“I made up my mind when I was 14. I wanted to be a sports broadcaster.” Howard Kellman knew from an early age what he wanted to do, but this native New Yorker never dreamed it would be in Indianapolis. In episode 126, the legendary Voice of the Indianapolis Indians talks dreams, quirky players and the significance of the number 61.

Teri Moren: A Love Affair with Basketball

Growing up in Seymour, Indiana, basketball was life for Indiana University Women’s Basketball Head Coach Teri Moren. And that Hoosier hoops passion has paved a path for her to become one of the top women’s coaches in the country. In episode 125, she talks Sundays at grandma’s, Title IX and the importance of staying curious.

Brad Chambers: Born to Build

“I think I was 15 when we bought our first two vehicles, so I couldn't even drive the trucks.” His entrepreneurial journey started with a successful landscaping business as a teenager, a venture that would ultimately lead to a real estate investment firm with a more than $3 billion portfolio. That passion for hard work and entrepreneurship is serving Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers well as he travels the globe in search of investment and jobs for Indiana. In this episode, the Indianapolis native talks business building, risk taking and what’s next.

Robert Mathis: Motivated to Make a Difference

“I’m going to tell you something, I walked in there with a whole oak tree on my shoulder.” When he arrived at Colts camp, Robert Mathis knew he had something to prove. And the fifth-round draft pick from Alabama A&M did just that, becoming one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers in a career that included five Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring. Today, his passion off the field is as intense as it was on it.

Rick Venturi: Football Lifer Having a Ball

“He cleared his throat and said, men, the deal has been done. We’re going to Indianapolis tonight.” Rick Venturi was there for the Colts’ stealth move to Indy. His assignment: removing blackboards with a screwdriver. Just one of countless stories from more than four decades in the coaching business at the college and pro levels. In an entertaining episode number 122, the popular Colts radio game analyst talks football, life and the time it all came into perspective.

Carlos Diaz: Teeing Off on a New Life Adventure

“I’ve worn a lot of hats in my life, but I truly believe the most rewarding hat is the one of husband and dad.” Carlos Diaz has spent his professional life in front of a camera, reporting for some of the biggest names in television. But after ditching the microphone for the Florida sunshine, he’s living his best life with a golf bag strapped to his shoulder.  In episode 121, the Greenwood native talks about family, life changing moments and the joy of being a “daddy caddy.”

Audrey Taylor: Adventurer Turned Entrepreneur

“Everything we built from that day to this came from that original $500 and the American Express card.”  Netlogx founder Audrey Taylor’s passion for adventure brought her to the United States with scant resources and absolutely no knowledge of Indianapolis.  In episode 120, she talks about her path to entrepreneurship, talent and what makes Indiana special.

Blake Jones: A Spirit of Entrepreneurship

“We literally cashed out our 401k’s, maxed out as many credit cards as we could get, and got a small SBA loan.” It sounds like risky business, but the whiskey business was a natural fit for Bedford native Blake Jones, who, along with his brother and a buddy, founded West Fork Whiskey.  And they just may have found lightning in a bottle. He talks about the entrepreneurial journey to create a “boldly Indiana” whiskey distillery that is quickly becoming an agritourism destination.