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Caring in Action Plainfield Kiwanis Supports Local Students in Need

New Plan Elevates Hendricks County Tourism

TAKING THE LEAD

PLAINFIELD SCHOOLS WELCOMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT

JANUARY 2026

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TAKING THE LEAD

JANUARY 2026

Plainfield Schools Welcomes New Superintendent

GET TO KNOW THE NEW FACES OF THE PLAINFIELD CHAMBER

NEW PLAN ELEVATES HENDRICKS COUNTY TOURISM

4 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

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JANUARY EVENTS

CARING IN ACTION

Plainfield Kiwanis Supports Local Students in Need

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TAKING THE LEAD PLAINFIELD SCHOOLS WELCOMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne

Superintendent, Andy Allen

n Jan. 2, 2026, Plainfield School Corporation will welcome new superintendent Andy Allen, succeeding Scott Olinger, who served as superintendent for 17 years. “After an extensive search, we are confident that Mr. Allen brings the leadership experience, educational vision and commitment to excellence that will serve our students, families and community well,” says Jessica Elston, president of the Board of School

Trustees.“His proven track record of student achievement and innovative programming makes him the ideal candidate to lead Plainfield Schools into the future.”

degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.

He also serves as the president of the Indiana Association of School Principals and was a member of the Indiana Aspiring Allen brings 26 years of educational experience to the position, including his Superintendent Academy Cohort from current role as principal at Batesville High the Indiana Association of Public School School, where he has served since 2013. Superintendents. He holds a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from In fact, education runs in his family. Both Butler University, an education specialist of Allen’s parents and his sister served TownePost.com | January 2026 | 7

as educators in Lebanon, Indiana. His wife, Kathy, works in special education in Batesville, one daughter is teaching at South Decatur Elementary and another is pursuing her education degree at Taylor University. Even with the excitement of a new superintendent in the mix, Allen hopes things run so smoothly many won’t even notice the change. “My hope is that Dec. 19 and Jan. 5 (the start and end of Christmas break) will be very similar,” Allen says. “There’s going to be a lot of listening on my part to understand where we are going, and I’m excited to work with building leaders, central office staff, the board and the community. Scott has been there a long time and has done a tremendous job, so I look forward to keeping that momentum going.” Under Allen’s leadership, Batesville High School has achieved significant success connecting students with post-secondary opportunities, whether that be college, 8 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

“BEING NAMED SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PLAINFIELD SCHOOL CORPORATION IS AN EXTREME HONOR AND A WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU SOON HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.”

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military service, technical certifications or other credentials and licenses. He hopes to share what he’s learned with Plainfield Community School Corporation as well. “I’m going into a school corporation that is achieving at very high levels,” he says. “There is close community involvement and great opportunities for our students. We want to look at where we can expand as far as career experience and awareness is concerned. Let’s look at what opportunities exist within our own community, and we want students to know what’s right here in Plainfield.”

Avon Plainfield (317) 271-7760 (317) 839-4886 10791 E. US Hwy 36 2687 E. Main St. Chick-fil-A.com/Avon Chick-fil-A.com/Plainfield Older generations were often taught a Allen referred to one program he helped launch in Batesville — a partnership with community members to share opportunities with students, while also sharing the skills students are learning in the classroom with the community.

four-year college degree was the only way to go. However, that’s no longer the case.

TownePost.com | January 2026 | 9

“Opportunities are shifting to the student and their families,” he says. “It’s not necessarily a system that says you have to do it this way anymore. We’re developing transcripts in different ways that include technical certificates, associate degrees, and as a school corporation we want to look at what relevant skills our students will walk out of high school with to be gainfully employed.” Allen says it’s clear that Plainfield has provided similar preparation in the past, and he’s excited to take things a step further. “About 25% of our staff are Plainfield graduates,” he adds. “People want to come back to this area, and we’re going to continue to develop environments where we can recruit students back to the education profession. A lot of people would tell you, ‘I’m here because of the experience I had when I was a student,’

10 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

and we want to continue that.” His new role will also involve working with staff and the school board, and he looks forward to leading the adults in a direction that embraces the changes we see in the community and across the country. In fact, Allen has already met with each of the building leaders and is learning how each guides their own staff and students. And while he’s impressed by the passion and commitment of each Plainfield staff member, he also recognizes the need to stay on top of new advancements and the ever-changing world of technology. “I am old enough to remember when the internet was going to eliminate all teaching,” Allen says. “I’ve been privileged to lead technology or new

process training, and we often forget to train the staff first. We want to help train but also help develop ideas on how to teach our students best practices. We want to be the model for them when we utilize new technologies, but also put up these guardrails so they’re aware of the challenges that come with new technology.” Allen says Plainfield is home to young staff and experienced staff, and he hopes to bridge the generations of leaders. “We want people to be able to step in and lead school buildings, as well as inspire leaders at the central office and the school board for the development of our school system,” he says. “How can we meet the desires of our community but at the same time recognize that students

are coming through the school system differently today than they did 10 or 20 years ago?” Most of all, Allen is looking forward to joining the community with his family and embracing all that is Plainfield Community School Corporation. “Being named superintendent of the Plainfield School Corporation is an extreme honor and a humbling experience,” Allen says. “The current Plainfield Community School Corporation leadership team under the direction of Mr. Olinger has exceeded expectations as we begin this transition process. I’m looking forward to intentional and consistent learning ahead as I prepare.” TownePost.com | January 2026 | 11

GET TO KNOW THE NEW FACES OF THE PLAINFIELD CHAMBER Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Ik Sotomayor

It’s been a good year for the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce, and they’re just getting started. Earlier this year, the Chamber’s 33rd annual golf outing was their most successful of all time. They plan to expand their sponsorship and marketing opportunities for 2026, and they will continue with their full schedule of monthly member meetings, network opportunities, and other events to offer ways members can stay engaged all year. There are new faces on the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce staff this year who will be heading up this busy schedule. In the spirit of getting to know the Chamber’s new staff, they have answered some icebreaker questions to introduce themselves to the community. Without further ado, here’s introducing the new Plainfield Chamber of Commerce staff.

12 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

TIM WEIGEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR What is your favorite thing to do to relieve stress? “Taking my Golden Retriever for a walk in my neighborhood with my wife.” What’s your game plan in a zombie apocalypse? “I don’t believe in zombies but probably in prayer.”

How many hours early do you get to the airport and why? “Whatever MyTSA app tells me!” What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

snuggle monster. They’ve given my kids both joy and plenty of responsibility. Character building at its finest!” What makes you laugh the most? “My “porch time” with my friend and (lucky for me) next door neighbor Robyn. I enjoy talking with her about all the things, which always leads to us laughing until our sides hurt.”

“I’m too boring – very little is done spontaneously.” What does your perfect Saturday look like? “Spending it with my family and friends.”

NICHOLE SCHMITT, EVENTS MANAGER What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?

RILEY TROSPER, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT MANAGER What is your favorite holiday tradition? “I’ve started taking my kids on a “Tour of Christmas” where we find 10-12 family holiday events to attend between Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

“My family’s first trip out West to explore the National Parks was unforgettable. Going from the green forests of Rocky Mountain National Park to the red-orange desert of Monument Valley where you feel like you’ve landed on Mars was surreal.”

“I went on a weekend trip to Florida with my husband, and we swam in the ocean at Cocoa Beach.”

What is a skill you’ve always wanted to learn and why?

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

“Playing wooden spoons. I have no idea why, but I think they would be fun to know how to play around a campfire!”

“Find and restock Little Free libraries around town (and grab a few good reads for myself!)”

What is the best decade for music in your opinion?

What is your favorite season and why?

“The ’70s, no contest! Give me Kenny Loggins, the Allman Brothers, Steely Dan, Blue Öyster Cult, and the Cars any day. I love classic rock, though I guess it might be considered “oldies” now — and especially anything Yacht Rock. I even have a super sweet captain’s hat that I break out for those concerts!” Are you a dog or cat person and why?

Where did you go on your last vacation and what did you do?

“I love autumn because the falling leaves remind me of the verse, ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven.’” What is your favorite movie of all time? “Angel Has Fallen”

“I’m 100% a dog person, especially when it comes to big breeds. My Cane Corso and English Mastiff are part watchdog, part

TownePost.com | January 2026 | 13

LESLI KOTTKAMP, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT What’s your best childhood memory? “I was raised on a farm where we had cattle, and we raised corn and beans. My fondest memory is being able to ride in the combines during harvest or ride on the hay wagons while bailing hay.” What’s something that’s on your bucket list? “I would love to be able to take an Alaskan cruise.”

What is something interesting about you most people do not know? “Something interesting that not a lot of people know about me is that I live on a farm where we raise Hereford cattle, and if I needed to, I can still help out giving vaccinations, washing the cattle, etc. Honestly, I now leave that up to my kids and husband! And I love mowing grass.” Do you have a hidden talent and what is it? “I can still twirl a baton. I competed as a child and would also twirl at halftime during our football games when I was in high school.” What is the best concert you’ve been to and why? “Even though it’s been a while since I’ve been to an actual concert, I would have to say Garth Brooks when he was in Indianapolis.”

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NEW PLAN ELEVATES HENDRICKS COUNTY TOURISM Writer / Ashley Watters

Hendricks County is a beautiful place to live and a wonderful destination to visit. No one knows that more than the group over at Visit Hendricks County, a team whose sole focus is to demonstrate to others that the county is a visit-worthy destination. They also strive to make sure that Hendricks County residents

are happy and thriving. That’s exactly what they’re hard at work doing with their bold new strategic plan. An organization with roots dating back to 1998, Visit Hendricks County is solely funded by a pass-through visitor tax. The

group is given funds from a hotel tax enacted in 1996, creating a model specifically designed to keep visitors funneling into Hendricks County. But mostly, the group’s love of Hendricks County drives their passion for bringing people in to see what the county has to offer. TownePost.com | January 2026 | 15

Longtime employees Jaime Bohler Smith, executive director and CEO, Josh Duke, senior communications manager, and the rest of the staff spend their days strategically planning how they will bring tourists into Hendricks County and help support local businesses and residents. “We are heavily invested in locally owned businesses that need support,” Duke says. “Everything we do is geared towards helping those businesses thrive and giving them what they need to succeed.” A recent overhaul of the organization’s strategic plan includes four new areas of focus, based on community feedback, staff and industry input, and — for the first time — resident sentiment. Those include organizational excellence, destination development, awareness and marketing, and connectivity of industry and community. This roadmap means Visit Hendricks County has some exciting new things coming in the new year. “Our goal is to bring value to our community, vitalize the places that we live and enhance the visit for anyone traveling to see us,” Smith says. The resident sentiment data revealed that the top key priorities were fun, connectivity, inclusivity and managed growth. Residents indicated they want more events, outdoor experiences and a broader culinary scene. 16 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

Visit Hendricks County is developing programs to support those initiatives. The group also plans to provide enhanced support for local businesses, helping boost their marketing efforts and connecting them to affordable resources. Strides in destination development have also been made through additional investments such as accessibility — in partnership with Wheel the World — to make it easier for visitors and residents to get around Hendricks County. “We’re evaluating the physical accessibility of locations and will provide recommendations for how businesses can make improvements, not just for wheelchairs, but also for moms with strollers and those with sight, hearing or sensory issues,” Smith says. To help bring all of these new initiatives to life, the group has expanded its team to add three new roles, including a director of destination development, a senior research and data manager, and a partner services coordinator, bringing its total team to 11. “We’re transforming what it means to be a destination leadership organization,” Smith adds. “We’ve been Visit Hendricks County for 14 years, but we really wanted to put some weight to those words and provide more value. Now, instead of just marketing to visitors, we have new initiatives to communicate locally and keep residents informed of what’s going on. We really want to lean into our residents and help improve their quality of life by bringing in more tourism.” The group is certainly a leader in the destination industry. Over time, they turned what was originally a trifold brochure into a robust 40-page magazine that outlines all Hendricks County has to offer. This magazine won them the award for Best Visitors Guide in 2024. As a result of their hard work, visitor spending has risen from $228.9M in 2013 to $370.3M in 2023 — a nearly $150M increase over a decade. Alongside those efforts, Duke devotes much of his time to the Insider blog, an undertaking that has been wildly successful

and a resource for those inside and outside Hendricks County. Insider blogs are written by residents, for residents, and serve as a forum for communicating about local events, restaurants, new attractions and upcoming things to know. All contributors are local and many have businesses or work full time within the community. The Insider program has since expanded to include short-form video, and five new Insiders joined the team in December. “The Insider has been extremely successful,” Duke says. “We’ve found that people don’t want to watch videos or hear from Visit Hendricks County. They want organic, authentic people talking about where they live.” The groundbreaking Insider blog has even led to speaking engagements for Duke and has helped set the standard for Midwest tourism blogging. In addition to these new initiatives, Visit Hendricks County also distributes a holiday

gift guide, summer and fall campaigns with things to do, and two monthly newsletters — one for visitors and locals and another for industry partners to keep everyone keyed into what’s going on and upcoming opportunities. To further sharpen their focus on the community, the organization is undergoing a rebrand scheduled to launch in February 2026. Smith and the team are highly engaged in that project and excited to unveil an allnew look for Visit Hendricks County that demonstrates their reinvigorated dedication to the area. “I’m excited about the future and where we’re headed,” Duke says. “Jaime and the leadership team found all the right people to fit what was needed to make our strategic plan a success. It’s like all the pieces to a puzzle. We all complement each other really well and play to our strengths and weaknesses. It’s going to be an exciting year.” To learn more, email the team at info@ visithendrickscounty.com or visit them online at visithendrickscounty.com. TownePost.com | January 2026 | 17

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

16–17

THE 3 MEXICAN TENORS

JANUARY

AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2026

Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. 11 a.m. (Jan. 16), 7:30 p.m. (Jan. 16–17)

Submit Your Events!

16–17, 31 6

INDIANA PACERS VS. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. 7 p.m.

CANDLELIGHT: QUEEN VS. ABBA TRIBUTE

Scottish Rite Performing Arts Center, 650 N Meridian St. 8:45 p.m.

INDIANA PACERS VS. MIAMI HEAT

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.. 7 p.m.

INDIANA PACERS VS. BOSTON CELTICS

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.. 7:30 p.m.

AZIZ ANSARI: HYPOTHETICAL TOUR

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Avenue. 8 p.m. (Jan. 16), 7 p.m. (Jan. 17)

16–17, 31

BEST OF SECOND CITY

Shelton Auditorium, 1000 W 42nd St. 8 p.m. (Jan. 16), 7 p.m. (Jan. 17)

INDIANA PACERS VS. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.. 7 p.m.

16–25

INDIANAPOLIS HOME SHOW

Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th St.

16–17, 31

PAULA POUNDSTONE

Shelton Auditorium, 1000 W 42nd St. 8 p.m. (Jan. 16), 7 p.m. (Jan. 17)

13–18

MJ - THE MUSICAL

Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. 7 p.m. (Jan. 13–16), 2 p.m. (Jan. 17), 7:30 p.m. (Jan. 17), 1 p.m. (Jan. 18), 6:30 p.m. (Jan. 18)

INDIANA PACERS VS. TORONTO RAPTORS Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.. 7 p.m.

18 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 100 YEAR TOUR

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. 2 p.m.

INDIANA PACERS VS. CHICAGO BULLS Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.. 7 p.m.

BATMAN IN CONCERT

FREE ADMISSION - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

White River State Park, 801 W. Washington Street. FREE White River State Park attraction admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19th! Explore White River State Park attractions for FREE on January 19th to celebrate MLK Day!

FREE DAY: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

(all ages) Indiana State Museum, 650 W Washington St. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Enjoy free museum admission as we honor the legacy and contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FREE DAY Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 West Washington St. 3–10 p.m. Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Eiteljorg Museum with FREE admission for all visitors! Honor Dr. King’s legacy through art, culture, and community engagement.

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Avenue. 7:30 p.m. Experience the caped crusader like never before.

CLUE: THE MOVIE WITH LESLEY ANN WARREN

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Avenue. 7:30 p.m.

30–31

INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE IN CONCERT Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. 7 p.m.

INDIANA PACERS VS. ATLANTA HAWKS

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.. 7 p.m.

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS

Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. 7:30 p.m. In this life, very few friendships withstand the test of time. Naturally, people go their separate ways and chase their own dreams.

HENDRICKS COUNTY WOMEN CONNECT - AVON CHAMBER

MONSTER JAM - DAY 1

Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 South Capitol Avenue. 8–10 a.m. Experience Monster Jam® live and become a fan for life with an ultimate day of family fun at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 31.

Cooper&’s Hawk Winery, 8696 E US Hwy 36. 5–7 p.m.

TownePost.com | January 2026 | 19

CARING IN ACTION

PLAINFIELD KIWANIS SUPPORTS LOCAL STUDENTS IN NEED Writer / Ashley Watters

chool can be challenging, and the last thing any student needs is to worry about basic necessities. For Plainfield students, there is a dedicated group that has made it their mission to see that no child goes without. That group is the Plainfield Kiwanis Comfort Closet, and they’re stocking schools with critical supplies across Hendricks County. Kiwanis operates worldwide, with more than 7,300 clubs in more than 70 countries. Their primary purpose is to help children throughout the world. Although the Indiana Kiwanis chapter does service projects to primarily help support Riley Hospital, the Plainfield Kiwanis chapter decided to keep a hyperlocal focus, in particular serving local-area students.

20 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

The group formed a committee late last year that focuses on gathering needed supplies for local schools. Currently, they support seven Plainfield schools and four Mill Creek Community schools. This committee is locally known as Plainfield Kiwanis Comfort Closet. “We decided we’d like to stay local. We have a chairperson assigned to each school who serves as liaison between the school counselors and Kiwanis to inform us of any individual needs each school might have,” says Lori Lee, Kiwanis president. To launch the program, Dick’s Sporting Goods Warehouse donated more than 200 winter coats, hats, gloves, tennis shoes and boots

to be disseminated to students in need. Additionally, community member Nelda Keltner donated handmade knitted hats, and a new Plainfield business owner, John Hall, stepped up to help Plainfield Kiwanis obtain a storage unit to house the items until they could be delivered to schools. Since then, Plainfield Kiwanis Comfort Closet has helped support schools by donating items such as toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant, clothing and school supplies. “It’s completely up to each school to tell us what they need,” Lee says. “Sometimes they need storage bins, clothing racks or shelves

to store items. We try to buy whatever’s on their list.” One school even requested water bottles to make sure all students could have access to water throughout the day when they forget to bring one from home. Plainfield Kiwanis swung into action and provided a class full of brand-new water bottles. Plainfield High School found such success that they have dedicated office space with available items that they’ve dubbed the Hopeful Threads Comfort Closet. Plainfield Kiwanis procured dressers, clothing racks, shoe storage, and hat and shoe racks to get their program up and running.

TownePost.com | January 2026 | 21

Kiwanis Plainfield was also recently awarded a grant by the Hendricks County Community Foundation in the amount of $5,000 to help them continue their work with Comfort Closet into 2026. In addition to their work as Kiwanis Plainfield Comfort Closet, the group plans to award four scholarships this year to be used on college or trade schools in the amount of $1,500. The scholarships are generated by fundraising events organized by Plainfield Kiwanis. These events have included their annual Golf Fore the Kids outing, a scavenger hunt and a local bingo gathering.

YOU ARE INVITED! We meet to improve the world one child & one community at a time. Have lunch with other professionals - 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 11:30 at The Fraternal Order of Eagles (5556 E US 40). Contact us at kiwanis@plainfieldkiwanis.org

22 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

“Many school principals have reached out to thank us for our assistance with their students, many of whom need these donated items on a regular basis,” Lee adds. “We plan to keep funding the project and expanding our impact within the community.” Currently, Plainfield Kiwanis has 90 members as part of their philanthropic group, but they are always seeking more. If you have any interest in becoming a part of this local group, visit their website at plainfieldkiwanis.org.

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