Carmel Monthly-January 2024

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Meet Carmel’s First Mayor’s Chief of Staff

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James Crider, Chief of Staff, Outlines Vision and Purpose for City Leadership This month, Carmel Monthly is proud to feature the first-ever City of Carmel Chief of Staff James Crider on our cover. Mayor Sue Finkam appointed James “Jim” Crider, formerly the Director of Administration for the City of Carmel since 2017, to a pivotal leadership position as the Chief of Staff. Praised by Finkam for his exceptional qualifications, Crider is recognized as a servant leader with a keen understanding of the city’s vision and priorities.

Cover Story Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photo // Laura Arick

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CARMEL MONTHLY

Paul Davis of Northwest Indy: The Experts in Water, Fire and Mold Cleanup and Restoration

PUBLISHER / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803

10 Center Presents: Bruce Hornsby and yMusic present BrhyM 12 Immerse Yourself in Musical Excellence with the Carmel Symphony

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Orchestra in 2024!

14 The Civic Presents: Romeo and Juliet 18 World Champions Kathleen Ilo and Jonas Kazlauskas Are

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Demystifying Ballroom Dancing

22 Rebecca Carl Appointed as Director of Marketing & Community Relations for the City

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JANUARY 2024

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CARMEL MONTHLY

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JANUARY 2024

COMMERCIAL RESTORATION AND DISASTER PLANNING SERVICES Trust Paul Davis of Northwest Indianapolis for swift and effective restoration services to protect your commercial property portfolio from various hazards. Paul Davis of Northwest Indianapolis’ expertise in managing complex losses ensures minimal disruption, and their commercial services division is dedicated to a prompt response. Beyond restoration, Paul Davis of Northwest Indianapolis offers disaster planning services to fortify your property. With 24/7 availability, Paul Davis of Northwest Indianapolis is your go-to solution for prompt and effective restoration in the face of damage from water, fire, smoke, mold, storms and other disasters.

A WOMAN-OWNED SERVICE AND COMMUNITY-MINDED COMPANY General Manager Kate Thoe, Vice President Andrew Thoe, and Vice President

Chris Jacobson, whose wife Heather grew up in Zionsville, transcend their roles as business owners and restoration specialists. As residents of the east Zionsville and west Carmel areas, they are not only deeply rooted in these communities but also profoundly committed to serving them in both a professional and philanthropic capacity.

Their dedication extends beyond the realm of business, reflecting a genuine investment in the well-being and prosperity of local residents.

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PAUL DAVIS OF NORTHWEST INDIANAPOLIS EPITOMIZES CUSTOMER ADVOCACY

nent of the industry. Paul Davis of Northwest Indianapolis has just partnered with the Red Cross as of January 1, 2024, so we’ve reached out to our local Red Cross branch to see how we can collaborate and assist with their community efforts.”

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CARMEL MONTHLY

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Chris added, “There’s a whole lot of data that has to be aggregated and transferred over to the insurance provider to keep all three parties on the same page—the three parties being the homeowner or the insured, the insurance provider, and us. We are the entity that is the glue between everything throughout the process. From a technology standpoint, we continue to invest [in having] the best and most effective equipment to do the project.

There [are] a lot of guidelines that are industry-wide on how we deal with every specific situation, and there [are] enhancement guidelines that we follow internally to make sure that we’re doing

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JANUARY 2024

what’s best for the customer, making sure that we’re articulating [everything] to the [insurance] provider so that we can ensure that everyone is on the same page.”

At the start of each project, Andy, Kate and Chris expressed the significance of instilling confidence in their customers and ensuring that the homes or commercial buildings will be expertly restored. The Paul Davis of Northwest Indianapolis team aims to eliminate potential issues with the property and safeguard resale values.

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CENTER PRESENTS:

BRUCE HORNSBY AND yMUSIC PRESENT BrhyM THE PALLADIUM // SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 8 P.M. ET

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Sarah Walor, Kat Fisher, Graham Tolbert

Bruce Hornsby, the eclectic singer-songwriter and pianist, gained fame with his Grammy-winning debut album, “The Way It Is,” and its title track, the most-played song on U.S. radio in 1987. With 24 albums as a leader, this 3x GRAMMY winner and songwriting legend toured with the Grateful Dead and contributed to over 100 records for artists like Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Sting, Mavis Staples and Willie Nelson. Currently, Hornsby is touring with the classicalpop ensemble yMusic, known for original compositions and collaborations with artists like Ben Folds, John Legend, Paul Simon and St. Vincent.

The collaborative project BryhM, featuring Bruce Hornsby and yMusic, announced their album, “Deep Sea Vents,” set to release on March 1 via Zappo Productions/Thirty Tigers.

To celebrate, they released the single “Deep Blue,” a funky, meditative strut featuring electric sitar. yMusic, a prominent American chamber ensemble in its 16th year, consists of Rob Moose, CJ Camerieri, Nadia Sirota, Gabriel Cabezas, Hideaki Aomori and Alex Sopp. They explore both classical and popular music, contributing their recognizable sound to projects by various artists, including Andrew Norman, Anohni, Missy Mazzoli, John Legend, Paul Simon and Caroline Shaw.

Bruce Hornsby remains an inspiration for young artists and a dedicated collaborator.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see this concert! Get your tickets at thecenterpresents.org!

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that way, spoke to me. Then, as songwriters, I always felt that they were underrated. I think they have one of the greatest corpuses, bodies of work, in the history of popular music. I always said that those 40 to 50 Grateful Dead songs that make up the hymnal of the Grateful Dead are a religious experience for Dead Heads.

It’s ecstatic. You talk about the chills…the chills abound in Grateful Dead music.

Janelle Morrison: I think the ‘80s was one of the greatest times in the history of [American] music because there is such a variety of genres and sounds that came out in that decade. How were you able to find your voice in all of that, with so many different genres hitting the charts?

Bruce Hornsby: Well, it was a singular personal pursuit for me. I was in pursuit of myself, of finding my voice that was unique to me. And so, in my case, it was about following the goosebumps…following the chills. It’s still about that, frankly.

JM: Who were some of your early influences, and how did they impact you as a singer/songwriter and pianist?

BH: Your influences become that because these people move you deeply, and they give you chills. People like everyone from Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, the [Grateful] Dead, and on and on. Those are some real luminaries for me. I just put all of those influences together into a pot and stirred them up and came out with this thing that was most instant and sort of quickly represented by the song “The Way It Is” in the sense that it was the only song on that first record that had improvised piano solos. That was something that I was really about then, and so it was just a wonderful accident that it broke in England, and that became our calling card.

JM: You said that the flagbearers of American music at that time were artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and John Mellencamp, and then there was you…an acoustic musician, topping the charts.

BH: I was just a piano version of that, lyrically and musically, although I didn’t have the power that they had because I was an acoustic musician. So, I couldn’t turn my amp up to 10 and reach the back of the arena with my sound. But I think I resided in that sort of Americana rootsy world—“Mandolin Rain,” for instance, using the accordion and the mandolin, having the great David Mansfield and the Range band originally playing all of this, and they are multi-instrumentalists in that way.

JM: All of your collaborations stand the test of time. I can go back and listen to any of your songs, including your most recent work, and they hit the same.

You spoke about the chills, and I still get them—that’s a testament to you and the artists you work with. I read a while back an interview where you were talking about touring with the Grateful Dead. I imagine you could write a book on those experiences themselves.

BH: I could write a pretty good chapter, that’s for sure. I ended up getting my degree in jazz music from the University of Miami, so I was deeply involved in spontaneity, and so the Dead’s music, in

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JM: The way that you command the keys and work the piano is pure brilliance. I can hear every single keystroke in my head. It’s amazing how you bring such life to it.

BH: Why, thank you. This gig that I’m going to do with yMusic will showcase that. yMusic is a chamber music group from NYC, and they are incredibly adept, very malleable. They have some of the greatest rhythmic precision of any classical musical group that I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with a bunch of orchestras through the years. They are top drawer, top of the heap, in that way.

JM: “Deep Sea Vents” is set to release on March 1. This collaborative project features you and yMusic. You shared that you first saw yMusic perform at Bon Iver’s Eaux Claires festival in 2016, then asked them to perform at your festival, Funhouse Fest, the next year. yMusic first appeared on your 2019 album, “Absolute Zero,” and then you toured together in late February and early March 2020.

You and Rob Moose [yMusic multi-instrumentalist] kept on writing throughout the shutdown, and your collaboration produced this latest album, “Deep Sea Vents.”

BH: We had all this time on our hands, and we used it wisely. About every six weeks, they would send me a new track, and I would write a song and send it back to them. That resulted in this record that’s coming out. We had nothing but time, so why not take that deep dive and try to be really creative? So, I feel that this music is very creative, and I feel like we carved out our own stylistic area that is unique to us.

That is something I’ve always been interested in throughout my entire career.

Event Series: Masterworks

Bohemian Delight & The Firebird March 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of CSO, Dubbie Buckler, Moonbug Photography and IBC

Prepare to be captivated by the soul-stirring masterpieces of Antonín Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8,” Bedřich Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride,” and Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” on an unforgettable evening taking place on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Palladium.

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ith Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8: A Joyful Celebration of Life,” get ready to experience the sheer exuberance and jubilation of this masterpiece that exudes warmth, charm and boundless energy.

The second half of the evening starts with Smetana’s festive overture, “The Bartered Bride.”

Next, experience a world of mythical creatures and magical landscapes while listening to the spell-binding power of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird.” Inspired by Russian folklore, this lush and evocative ballet uses vibrant, soaring melodies to envelop you in the firebird’s mystical journey.

The Palladium for the Performing Arts, renowned for its acoustics and grandeur, provides the perfect setting for this symphonic extravaganza. The Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s exceptional musicians will give you a night to remember.

Buy your tickets at thecenterpresents.org.

CSO Maestro David Commanday and Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain shared how the organization continues to raise the bar and showcase its exceptionalism in exciting ways this season!

“It is a matter of balancing the flow and timing of this March program,” Commanday shared. “We have the overture to ‘The Bartered Bride’ from Smetana, which is a

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delightful piece, and [Dvorak’s] ‘Symphony No. 8,’ which is one of my favorites. There are so many wonderful things in it, and it also features gorgeous cello solos, which is always fun—the wonderful cello section of CSO will do beautifully with that. ‘The Bartered Bride’ overture is a tour de force; there’s a lot of notes. But the symphony can do it, and I’m looking forward to that.

Then we have ‘The Firebird’ suite, which I’ve done quite a number of times, and with ballet. It is magical, and not that he ever went crazy in a bad way, but it’s Stravinsky before some people think he went crazy.”

CSO Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain spoke about the collaboration between CSO and Carmel’s Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IBC) for this upcoming concert, tipping us off that CSO continues to seek out collaborations with Carmel organizations such as the Carmel Clay Public Library.

“We’ve been working on a lot of great things this year,” Chastain stated. “Indiana Ballet Conservatory is dancing with us for ‘The Firebird.’ That’s going to be super cool and fun! And we’re working on a leadership program with the library.

We’re going to have two panels at the library in March with women leaders talking about mental health in the workplace, mentoring and other topics affecting women. We will have chamber music by some women musicians representing CSO, who will be playing female composers for about 20 minutes.”

Look for more information about this exciting collaboration with CCPL to be released soon!

Bringing another layer of exceptional artistic talent to the upcoming BOHEMIAN DELIGHT & THE FIREBIRD concert are IBC’s Chris Lingner and Clara Crane.

Lingner has been a featured guest artist with Midwest Repertory Ballet, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, New Albany Ballet, Peoria Ballet, the Young Stars of Ballet

Gala (presented by Indianapolis City Ballet), Dayton Ballet, Ballet Virginia, and Chamber Dance Project in Washington D.C. Lingner also helped found Indianapolis Ballet as an original company member.

He is currently an instructor and the Business Operations Manager at IBC. Lingner looks forward to continuing to share his love for the art form by helping cultivate

the next generation of dancers with IBC. Crane, 15, is a freshman at Westfield High School. She has been training at IBC in Carmel, IN for over 12 years. At the age of nine, Clara participated in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) ballet competition for the first time and has since been awarded 2nd, 3rd (twice) and Top 12 in Classical and placed in the Top 12 in

contemporary solos. Clara has also been invited as a soloist to the YAGP Finals in Tampa, FL in the past three years. She has been awarded scholarships from the Next Generation Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet NY/CT and the John Cranko School NY/ CT. Outside of dance, Clara enjoys playing flute in the Westfield High School Wind Symphony Orchestra and piano.

IBC Founding Artistic Director Alyona Yakovleva commented on working with Chastain and CSO on what will be their second collaborative project.

“I love Anne Marie, and I love to collaborate with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra,” Yakovleva said. “I think our first collaboration with CSO’s Holiday Pops was successful, and based on that experience, I’m really looking forward to ‘[The] Firebird.’ It is my dream to give opportunities to my students to perform with a live symphony orchestra; that’s how ballet was [historically] performed, and it’s an unforgettable experience for the performers and the audience.”

UPCOMING CONCERTS AT THE CARMEL SYMPHONY BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY

3.16.24

Bohemian Masterpieces & The Firebird

4.13.24

Drama & Opera: Verdi’s Requiem

4.21.24

Antonia Bennett in Concert, conducted by Joel Smirnoff

5.4.24

Carmel Young Talent Showcase, conducted by Joel Smirnoff

www.carmelsymphony.org COME HEAR THE CARMEL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LIVE IN CONCERT | AT THE PALLADIUM 13

THE CIVIC PRESENTS:

ROMEO AND JULIET

marginalized by the adults…not being heard is extremely relevant right now. Another thing that is awesome about the story underneath the story is there are two factions against each other. Again, I feel like we’re not so far away from that being a relevant topic. Sadly, [Romeo and Juliet] is still timely, and like all of Shakespeare’s tragedies, it still resonates with people. I feel like the character of Lady Capulet, she’s kind of awful, but she’s of her time. Women were expected to live a certain way, make a good match, and marry well. Being “comfortable” gives you access and ease of life. She couldn’t imagine not wanting that, so the idea that Juliet’s “in love” is foreign to her. It’s been interesting delving into that because I’m very much about my kids and am involved in their lives. This [role] is a way of exploring the “mean mom,” and it’s always fun to play a villain.

EMILY ROGGE TZUCKER – DIRECTOR

FEBRUARY 9 - 24, 2024 SHOWTIMES: THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS @ 7:00 P.M. SUNDAYS @ 2:00 P.M. STUDENT MATINEES: 2/14, 2/15, 2/16, 2/21, 2/22, 2/23 @ 10:30 A.M. *Please contact Group Sales at groups@civictheatre.org for more information on bringing your student group.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Civic and Joshua Hasty Photography

In this 90-minute version of the Shakespearean classic, you’ll be transported to fair Verona, where we lay our scene. In this new interpretation, adapted especially for the Civic stage by director Emily Rogge Tzucker, you can expect the romantic tale of star-crossed love with an extra dash of energy and excitement. Dark, contemporary and just a little bit rock-and-roll, Civic’s production promises the best of the old while breathing new life into a classic tale of love and loss.

PURCHASE TICKETS AT THECENTERPRESENTS.ORG.

STEVE KRUZE – FRIAR LAURENCE Shakespeare is my spouse’s [Christine Kruze] favorite. We met during Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” back in college 30 years ago. For me, [performing in this production] is a chance for me to watch [Christine] do her thing. As far as the part of the friar, I think it’s about understanding the history of what was going on at the time when this play was written, 50-plus years after the [Catholic] Reformation began. Shakespeare places a Catholic priest in a pretty pivotal part, and it doesn’t always go well. I think of my character as the “road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” My character doesn’t want bad things to happen…he wants good

things to happen. But by interjecting himself into these things without being able to see the whole picture, it causes some chaos.

CHRISTINE KRUZE – LADY CAPULET Any opportunity that we [Christine and Steve] get to do a show together is great! Shakespeare, especially in this story, wrote quintessential stories about people. I love the idea and the opportunity to expand on what people think they know about Romeo and Juliet. I feel like there are depths to the relationships that can really be explored beyond, “Oh, they’re so in love and can’t be together so they kill themselves.” How the family treats Juliet contributes to the idea of isolation and being

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I think [Civic] chose [Romeo and Juliet] because out of all of Shakespeare’s plays, it’s the one a lot of people know, and because we have the wonderful opportunity to do student matinees that will bring in somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 students to see this production.

When you see [Romeo and Juliet] live, it’s a whole different experience. These plays were not written to only be studied…they were ultimately written to be performed. It’s really exciting to see the characters brought to life.

I’ve adapted it and took it from 3 ½ hours down to a solid 90 minutes. It’s going to be a very clean, sparse set, but it’s kind of out of time…it’s not in one particular time period because it is a timeless story. We’ve set it in a timeless way, and you’ll see the costumes in a fun combination of Renaissance elements with jeans and combat boots. You’ll see a Renaissance jacket made of denim and leather. We’ve got some solid sword fighting and have a wonderful fight choreographer who’s doing all of that work for us.

REBECCA PIÑERO – JULIET CAPULET I think so much of [the character] is just Juliet being a teenage girl and being allowed to feel everything that she feels and start to be more in tune with the world around her. At the beginning of the play, she has been sheltered and doesn’t really connect with anyone other than her nurse. But

when she meets Romeo, she discovers more about herself, and she sees the world in such a beautiful way and expresses how she sees the world, so it’s really beautiful to see that character arc throughout the show.

I think it’s really easy to see the other characters as villains through the lens that we have now, but if we look at their relationships and their economic statuses, we’re really similar to the way things are now. Parents now are similar to parents then, trying to do the very best possible things they can for their families. In this play, part of that was making everything kind of transactional, getting rid of emotions, and that was [the Capulets’] way of taking care of Juliet, and it may not seem like that through the lens we have now. I think part of it was written as a cautionary tale of overbearing and overprotectiveness and the effects of trying to control and limit what [young people] are capable of.

KENDRELL STIFF – ROMEO MONTAGUE At the start, Romeo is this really bold guy who isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. He does whatever he wants, pretty

much, and that is very different from how I live my life. I like to let other people talk; I don’t like to be outspoken. But once he meets Juliet, you start to see his layers. You see he is just a regular person. He’s not this guy that has this bravado that can’t be touched.

He’s just a teenage boy…he’s got hormones flowing. He just wants to be loved, and he wants someone that he can love. I think that’s something that I can definitely relate to, and that’s something that everyone can relate to, really.

In our production, Romeo’s dad is dead.

That automatically adds a completely new dynamic to Romeo. His dad is gone, and all of his titles are gone, and with that, all of his money. I think he’s sort of acting out, in a way, and his mom really wants to try to get through to him, but she’s also trying to figure things out. She wants Romeo to be the head of the house and to be the head of everything, but that’s not really what he wants.

He wants to live his own life. I think anyone who has dealt with that kind of loss, that’s a really big thing that they can connect with.

I think as tragic as this story is, in reality, there’s a story of hope. Even with Romeo and Juliet’s death…and Mercutio and Tybalt’s death, and, well…a lot of people die, but even

with all of that tragedy, there is, in the end, a union of the two households. They finally see that all of this turmoil was stupid, and it caused all of this hurt. The message of hope in that all of that tragedy is if you keep going, there is a light at the end of it.

CAST LIST Romeo Montague................. Kendrell Stiff Juliet Capulet....................Rebecca Piñero Lord Capulet....................Parrish Williams Lady Capulet..................... Christine Kruze Lady Montague...................Carrie Reiberg The Nurse.................................Angi Parks Mercutio.............................. Shelby Myers Tybalt................................. Nicholas Gibbs Count Paris........................Jeffrey Weimer Prince Escalus............... Evangeline Bouw Friar Laurence........................Steve Kruze Benvolio............................Ryan Moskalick Chorus (Brother John, Apothecary, Watch, Servant)......................... Kelsey VanVoorst Sampson/Various............ Nolan Daugherty Gregory.................................. Kyarah Love

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World Professional 10-Dance Champions 2021 5x Undefeated United States Professional 10-Dance Champions 2017-2022 5x Undefeated United Kingdom Professional 10-Dance Champions 2017-2022 World Professional Classic Showdance Bronze Medalist 2017 Blackpool China Rising Star Latin Champions 2018

World Champions

Kathleen Ilo and Jonas Kazlauskas

Are Demystifying Ballroom Dancing Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

How many times have you been inspired by a classic movie ballroom dance scene and thought, “I wish I could do that”? Carmel residents, 2021 World Professional 10-Dance Champions, and 5x United States Professional 10-Dance Champions [2017-2022] Jonas Kazlauskas and Kathleen Ilo are demystifying ballroom dancing and are making this intricate art form cool again!

A Timeless and Purposeful Art Form

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allroom dancing is not just a rhythmic interplay of steps and movements; it is also a profound connection between dance partners. Beyond the graceful twirls and precise footwork lies a silent dialogue where communication transcends words.

The dance floor becomes a canvas for mutual understanding, requiring synchronization, responsiveness and trust. As partners move in harmony, they develop a unique nonverbal language, enhancing their ability to connect on a deeper level.

Moreover, the physical aspects of ballroom dancing contribute significantly to

overall well-being. The deliberate movements improve balance, flexibility and cardiovascular health, making it a delightful and effective form of exercise. Confidence naturally blossoms as dancers master the artistry of their movements, creating a positive feedback loop that extends beyond the dance floor into everyday life. Thus, the art of ballroom dancing becomes a holistic experience, enriching both the body and the communication skills that form the foundation of any successful partnership.

Partners On and Off the Dance Floor Jonas Kazlauskas and Kathleen Ilo shared their remarkable journey in the

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world of ballroom dancing that extends beyond national acclaim to international success. They are also the proud parents of two children and competitive ballroom dancing instructors. This year, the duo is excited to share they are instructing beginner classes held every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Meeting House in the center of the Village of West Clay.

Jonas, hailing from Lithuania, began his dance career at the age of seven and moved to England at 14 to further pursue ballroom dancing and Latin. Between the ages of 18 and 21, he and his partner held the number-one spot in England, representing the country in major competitions worldwide.

At 22, Jonas relocated to the United States, eventually connecting with Kathleen in Boston. After a successful tryout, he moved to Indiana to join forces with Kathleen, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a degree in performing arts from Bournemouth University.

Kathleen, originally from Estonia, has a rich dancing heritage from her parents and grandparents. Her family migrated to America when she was three, eventually settling in Carmel, Indiana. Kathleen, a biology graduate from Indiana University, has seamlessly blended her passion for dance with her academic achievements.

As a dynamic 10-dance couple, Jonas and Kathleen specialize in both ballroom (waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep) and Latin dances (cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, jive). The two have competed together in over 25 countries and achieved their long-term goals of becoming world champions and 5-time U.S. champions after years of intense work, commitment, sacrifice, childbirth, fatigue, and a global pandemic.

They have not only competed and trained globally but also dedicated themselves to pushing boundaries and inspiring their students to achieve greater heights.

The Power of the Human Connection Jonas and Kathleen bring a sense of ease and fun into their classes. Each month, they teach a different style of ballroom dancing, and it is their goal to engage more people in the area and introduce them to the physical, mental and social benefits of ballroom dancing.

“We are demystifying ballroom dancing,” Kathleen said. “Ballroom and couple dancing has always been a ‘thing’ throughout history.

It’s only now that, somehow, we’ve lost the art and enjoyment of dancing with anoth-

er human, whether it’s a spouse, friend or whomever. We’re hoping to take the intimidation out of [ballroom] dancing and introduce it to more people so that they can incorporate the benefits of it into their lives.”

The couple shared that they hope to have the opportunity to bring this art form into local schools’ gym classes to teach young children and make it socially acceptable again. “[Ballroom] dancing teaches so many things about manners, posture and confidence,” Kathleen emphasized. “It connects the brain to the body, and it’s really good for mental cognitive ability. In the age of social media and the Internet, we have lost the ability to connect with another person face to face. How many times have you gone to a restaurant and looked at the number of people [who] are on their phones…just nonstop? People are not talking to each other anymore, and they are just connecting on socials. While that’s great to keep up with long-distance relationships, we are not communicating with one another anymore.

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We’re not looking at each other in the eyes, holding hands and doing those kinds of things. You can’t have your phone on you while you dance—it doesn’t work. You need both hands.”

Jonas added, “We have this space for the whole year, and we wanted a way to meet the neighbors and introduce this class for the social and health benefits of learning. You can walk up and pay on the spot [before class on Thursdays], or we are working on our website, JonasandKathleen.com, and there will be an option to prepay for one class or the whole month. For me, this is about personal growth.

When I wake up in the morning, I want to be better. So, if I can do something that will make a change for myself, Kathleen, my children and in my community, then that will create a chain reaction. Through dance, I can grow for sure, and be healthier and more patient.

If you want your children to be happy, then you have to be happy. So, if you’re searching for growth for yourself, I think through dancing, there’s such a fun way to do it.”

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Jim Crider, Chief of Staff, Outlines Vision and Purpose for City Leadership Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick and submitted

This month, Carmel Monthly is proud to feature the first-ever City of Carmel Chief of Staff James Crider on our cover.

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n January 1, Mayor Sue Finkam appointed James “Jim” Crider, formerly the Director of Administration for the City of Carmel since 2017, to a pivotal leadership position as the Chief of Staff.

Praised by Finkam for his exceptional qualifications, Crider is recognized as a servant leader with a keen understanding of the city’s vision and priorities. Finkam emphasizes Crider’s capability to lead from day one, citing his commitment to world-class public safety, enhanced transparency, and the efficient delivery of government services to maintain Carmel’s status as a premier place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

An Honorable Resume After retiring from a distinguished 29-year military career as a colonel in the U.S. Army, Crider joined the city’s administration. Crider’s last command position

was as a brigade commander for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA, where he was responsible for 3,500 soldiers.

Armed with a master’s degree in human resource management from Troy University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kentucky, Crider completed the Center for Creative Leadership program in Greensboro, NC. Reflecting on his tenure, Crider expresses gratitude for the opportunity to contribute during a phase of unique and innovative initiatives for Carmel.

He acknowledges the ongoing work and significant opportunities that lie ahead.

Humbled by the invitation to assume a larger leadership role, he is committed to executing Finkam’s vision, building on past successes, and recognizing the responsibility to continually improve services for the citizens of Carmel.

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The chief of staff position is a novel addition to the city’s organizational structure, underscoring the administration’s commitment to effective governance, strong communications and strategic leadership.

“I’m originally from Mayfield, Kentucky,” Crider shared. “I went to college at the University of Kentucky, and three weeks after graduation, I went straight into the army [in 1989] and was at Fort Moore [formerly Benning], GA for active duty. [I] spent [the ]next 29 years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army.”

Crider spoke about his experiences in the U.S. Army, having been stationed in Berlin, Germany—where he witnessed the Berlin Wall as it started to come down on November 9, 1989—and his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11.

When asked how his military experiences will assist him in his current role and what skills/traits will be beneficial to the

chief of staff position, Crider replied, “My [experiences] gave me an opportunity to work with a multitude of different people.

Being in the U.S. Army, you work with people from all over the country with different backgrounds and [get] the opportunity to experience other cultures overseas. I was able to gather a great perspective of the world, and that was a tremendous experience that I bring with me today. Having to lead sometimes chaotic situations has also given me a good perspective of where I am today and what I am doing.”

Developing and Defining a New Position Once retired, Crider contemplated what he wanted to pursue as a civilian and reached out to his peers and friends for advice. One fateful call to a friend led Crider to meet with former Carmel mayor Jim Brainard, who hired Crider as Director of Administration at City Hall. Crider relocated to Carmel along with his son, who is an avid soccer player and a senior at Butler University.

Crider said, “I consider Carmel my adopted hometown, and having lived all over the country and in many different places, I think this is a remarkable city to live in.”

Through their interactions at City Hall, Crider and Mayor Sue Finkam became acquainted professionally. They also got to know each other more casually at local soccer fields through their sons, who both played soccer and graduated together at Carmel High School.

Crider spoke about his role and duties as the city’s first chief of staff.

“The biggest part of what I’m asked to do is to take the mayor’s guidance and her

vision and make sure that every director understands and acts on those,” Crider explained. “This position is a conduit between the staff and the mayor—not someone who’s in the way—but to serve as an advocate, often for the members of the staff, and to be the one person Mayor Finkam can turn to and delegate a task, knowing that it will get done. My job is to focus across the organization and down, which allows the mayor to focus up and out [on] the community and [on] other outside organizations. I make sure that things here continue to flow in an operational and synchronized way.”

Crider added, “The first word that comes to my mind when describing this position is ‘responsive.’ The chief of staff has to be responsive, and this office has to be the place where people know if it comes in this [office], it’s going to get acted on, and we will follow through until it’s done. As the mayor has said many times, there’s nothing going on here [at City Hall] that people can’t know about. So, for me, this office has to be responsive and transparent.”

When asked how he prioritizes the city’s internal and external communications, Crider replied, “Looking internally, first and foremost, my priority is that I get information to the mayor in a timely manner so she can make decisions. I am working with the transition team, which is coming up with recommendations to improve various processes that might work better for Mayor Finkam and her leadership style. We’ve been working on the hiring process for some key hires that we need to maintain momentum and are making sure we hire the right people for these positions.”

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Crider continued, “I’ve had discussions with our IT director about improving our [city] app. It is possible to create an app that will allow people to interact with the local government. For example, if someone found something to report, they could take a picture and send it in, then the app would generate a response and let that person know that we received it [and] a work order has been generated. Then, [the person] would eventually get feedback to say it has been completed. This is an example of ways technology-wise that we are looking at improving communications and processes. Internally, we are looking to restructure and formalize the director meetings, which I think is welcomed and helps us to make sure that we’re all seeing the same things and have access to the same information.”

Crider also mentioned that the community survey Mayor Finkam has shared is one of her priorities.

“We are putting the finishing touches on the [survey],” Crider stated. “We are working with some professionals who are helping us put together an effective survey.

Mayor Finkam has been clear that she’s going to be engaged with people and wants more feedback. Ultimately, she’s been elected as the executive, so the decisions rest with the mayor, but she absolutely wants to hear from everyone in the community as we continue moving forward.”

Crider concluded our conversation by sharing a more personal sentiment about his newest role with the City of Carmel.

“My experiences in the military had purpose,” Crider said. “I was there to serve, ultimately. I feel the same way [about] serving in municipal government here in Carmel. I certainly feel purpose and an attitude of service. Mayor Brainard was a driven individual, and Mayor Finkam is also a very driven and exceptional leader, and we’re bringing this attitude of service and focusing on relationships with people. If you have an attitude of [service] and have positive relationships with people, whether they’re internal or local citizens, you’re going to get results because people will feel valued. If you are empowered to take initiative, then good things will continue to happen.”

cation to ensure the future success of Carmel. The appointment reflects the city’s commitment to a robust approach to community engagement and storytelling that will showcase Carmel’s narrative both locally and globally. Previously titled Community Relations & Economic Development, the department has evolved into Marketing & Community Relations under Carl’s leadership.

RELATABLE SERVICE INDUSTRIES

Rebecca Carl Appointed as Director of Marketing & Community Relations for the City Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of the City of Carmel

As Carmel City Hall continues to undergo a transition phase, Mayor Sue Finkam of Carmel announced that Rebecca Carl officially assumed the role of Director of Marketing & Community Relations for the City of Carmel, effective January 23. Having served as interim director since January 8, Carl brings over 25 years of marketing and communications experience in higher education and healthcare to her new position.

A CRITICAL ROLE AMID TRANSITION

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arl is an adjunct instructor at Butler University in the Andre B. Lacy School of Business, teaching international marketing. Carl received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Butler University.

Mayor Finkam voiced strong confidence in Carl’s abilities, underscoring her pivotal role in the transition team and her demonstrated leadership across various industries.

“Rebecca has provided critical expertise as a member of my transition team, and we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber join our executive team,” Finkam said. “She has led large complex marketing and communications teams in diverse industries and understands the importance of being inclusive, transparent and strategic, all of which our future success will require.”

Carl is poised to lead a dynamic marketing team in fostering inclusivity, transparency and strategic communi-

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Carl attributes her proficiency in serving Carmel’s citizens, visitors and businesses to her rich background in both the higher education and health industries. Drawing from her experiences in these diverse fields, she has cultivated a unique skill set that enables her to understand and address the complex needs of various stakeholders.

Carl articulated that her past roles closely parallel the nature of working for the city, as they all revolve around providing meaningful experiences. In both her prior fields and the current municipal setting, the focus has been on enhancing and enriching the experiences of individuals. This shared emphasis on creating positive and impactful interactions underscores the continuity of Carl’s commitment to fostering beneficial experiences, now directed toward the residents, visitors and businesses within the city.

“It’s our job as marketers and as a service industry that we make sure that the moment that interaction takes place is an optimal experience for that person,” Carl said. “I have deep experience in that service industry mentality.

When I think about marketing the city, of course I think about the events and the quality of life, but what I really think about is the ‘why.’ Why would someone want to raise a family here or relocate their business here versus somewhere else? There are a lot of reasons why— great amenities, great schools, a strong business community, and the arts. In terms of pure marketing, it is helping people get to that ‘why’ a little bit sooner and helping people understand why this is such a great city to move to, visit and build a business.”

AREAS OF FOCUS To align with the mayor’s initiatives and vision for a more citizen-centric approach, Carl’s department is strategically transitioning toward prioritizing customer service as a cornerstone of its operations. Their focus on customer service not only reflects a commitment to meeting residents’ needs but also contributes to the overall success of the mayor’s broader initiatives aimed at fostering a thriving, well-connected community.

“I’m taking my cues from Mayor Finkam,” Carl said. “She’s the number-one collaborator. In terms of what I do [in this role], I am building relationships both internally and externally, and I listen. That’s a skill I have to continually cultivate, but I do think that listening to others [who] have deep investment in their communities is the best way to understand what’s important to them.”

Carl continued, “I’m not a person who does things in a vacuum. I’m a collaborator, and I think doing good work together is the only way to move forward. I do

think it starts with listening, and it has to turn into action. The mayor talks a lot about transparency, and we talk about that at almost every meeting, internally.

That is a huge focus for her, so of course

that’s a focus for us as well. I’m fortunate to have inherited some really good people who work really hard for the city, and I want to have a service-focused team so that everything we produce or put on will be solely for the purpose of enhancing the city for every one of our customers.” Carl added, “Yes, I do call [members of the community] ‘customers’ because we exist to serve them. I want us to be outward-facing and hyper-focused on our customers [both external and internal]. I want to create a culture that is focused on service and transparency.”

When asked what Carl finds compelling about working for the city in this capacity, she replied, “Cities are like a living and breathing entity. I really admire how much people are emotionally invested in their city—especially in Carmel, which has a very engaged citizenship. To me, that emotional investment is what will keep people coming here and why they will stay here for generations to come. It is so impressive, and I find that compelling.”

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