Robert Vane
Co-Host of Leaders and Legends
Robert, who has been hailed as “the great communicator” by influential and award-winning Indianapolis Star columnist Matt Tully, is the principal of Veteran Strategies. He served his country in the United States Army as a public affairs specialist and broadcast journalist and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
As deputy chief of staff and communications director for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard (2008 to 2010), Robert coordinated messaging, briefed the media and led community outreach for numerous high-profile projects, issues and events. Among these was the successful $2 billion initiative by the mayor’s office to transfer the water and wastewater utilities to Citizens Energy Group. The plan and its execution earned endorsements from The Indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis Business Journal and Engineering News Record.
In 2014, Robert planned and executed a successful media strategy for the $160 million partnership between the city of Indianapolis, the Capital Improvement Board, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment. In 2018, Veteran Strategies directed the $272 million referenda effort on behalf of Indianapolis Public Schools. Voters passed each referendum with more than 70 percent of the vote.
Current and past clients of Veteran Strategies include Greg Ballard, LLC, Anthem, Ricker’s, The Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Indy Eleven NASL soccer, Develop Indy, Mike Pence for Indiana, Marian University, the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, Charter Schools USA, Denison Parking, the Capital Improvement Board, Flaherty and Collins, Shiel Sexton Co., Stand for Children, and Indianapolis Public Schools.
Robert’s columns and opinion pieces have appeared in both The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis Business Journal. Additionally, Robert has provided on-air commentary for radio stations such as WIBC and the local ABC, CBS, PBS, and FOX television affiliates.
Robert Vane has hosted 97 Episodes.
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33: Susan Brooks, Indiana Congresswoman for the 5th District
Episode | September 23rd, 2019 | 1 hr 2 mins
Congresswoman Susan Brooks is exactly what you want in a public servant—genuine, honest, kind, and someone not afraid to speak her mind. We are fortunate to have this former deputy mayor and United States Attorney on the podcast.
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32: Jim Morris, Vice Chairman of Pacers Sports and Entertainment
Episode | September 16th, 2019 | 1 hr 7 mins
Jim Morris’ impact on Indianapolis is simply immeasurable. From chief of staff to Mayor Richard Lugar to vice chairman of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, Jim’s been involved in so many of the wonderful events of the last fifty years. Please listen as Jim talks about Indy and also his philanthropic work helping feed kids from around the world.
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31: Richard Hall, Former Hostage of Tony Kiritsis
Episode | September 9th, 2019 | 58 mins 2 secs
On February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis took Richard Hall hostage. In a multi-day drama, Hall was threatened and paraded in front of a captivated and horrified Indianapolis—all captured on live television. Our “Leaders and Legends” podcast this week is with Dick Hall and it's a riveting conversation.
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30: Eric Holcomb, Governor of Indiana
Episode | September 2nd, 2019 | 50 mins 48 secs
Eric Holcomb is rightly regarded as one of the most genuine people in politics. He loves being a Hoosier and it shows every day as he compiles a phenomenal record of success as governor. We talk about his career up to being elected in 2018. Nobody knows more about Indiana diners and Indiana’s future than Eric.
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29: Sammy Davis, Medal of Honor Recipient
Episode | August 26th, 2019 | 1 hr 7 mins
The life of SFC Sammy Davis is one without equal in Hoosier history. On the “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we are honored to present the story of this incomparably selfless patriot and Medal of Honor recipient.
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28: Suzanne Crouch, Lt. Governor of Indiana
Episode | August 19th, 2019 | 53 mins 37 secs
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch is one of the most accomplished leaders in Indiana. She joins the “Leaders and Legends” podcast this week to discuss her role as LG and the path that brought her to the State House. We are very grateful to her for the hour she spent with us. We hope you will enjoy the discussion.
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27: Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University and Former Governor of Indiana
Episode | August 12th, 2019 | 59 mins 34 secs
Mitch Daniels’ career is without parallel in modern Indiana history. An advisor to Senator Richard Lugar, President Ronald Reagan, and President George W. Bush, Daniels’ path to the governor’s office was shaped by his previous experiences. He talks about these leaders, some famous Hoosiers, and answers our ‘Five Questions’. He also invited us back for another podcast to discuss his time as governor.
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26: Nate Feltman, Businessman and Co-Owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal
Episode | July 29th, 2019 | 1 hr 1 min
Nate Feltman is one of the most successful young leaders in our state. From heading the IEDC, to being an entrepreneur, and now a part-owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal, Nate is making his mark. He joins “Leaders and Legends” to discuss his career, what it is like to work with Mitch Daniels, and how much fun he had living in the Soviet Union.
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25: Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech and former Lt. Governor of Indiana
Episode | July 22nd, 2019 | 59 mins 23 secs
Sue Ellspermann is this week’s guest on our “Leaders and Legends” podcast. A former lieutenant governor and now president of Ivy Tech, Sue’s career is one dedicated to education, workforce development, and public service. We hope you enjoy spending your next hour with us, and we thank Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, for co-hosting.
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24: Dan Elsener, President of Marian University
Episode | July 15th, 2019 | 1 hr 6 mins
Dan Elsener is one of the pre-eminent leaders and education thought drivers in our city and our country. Dan’s drive for excellence and unparalleled strategic thinking has catapulted Marian University into the national conversation when it comes to educating young people and training classroom leaders. Dan joins us on “Leaders and Legends” to discuss his career, the importance of diversity at the head of the classroom, and why Marian is poised for further growth.
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23: Rob Kendall of WIBC and Chris Spangle of We Are Libertarians
Episode | July 8th, 2019 | 1 hr 6 mins
Rob Kendall and Chris Spangle are political (and romantic) rivals who don’t take themselves too seriously, yet still bring an incredible amount of smarts to what they do. “Leaders and Legends” doesn’t make present-day political discourse a part of its mission—there are plenty of places to find that—but when friends want to have a reasonable chat, we are all about it.
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22: Peter Carmichael, Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College
Episode | July 1st, 2019 | 1 hr 13 mins
Professor Peter Carmichael went from being at Pike High School with Eric Holcomb to being the Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. Listen to Peter talk about growing up in Indy, history’s controversies, why the American Civil War still resonates, and his favorite leaders and battles from the watershed conflict in our nation’s history.
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21: Mickey Maurer, Chairman of the board at IBJ Corp. and The National Bank of Indianapolis
Episode | June 24th, 2019 | 59 mins 17 secs
Mickey Maurer is an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal, and now he’s a guest on the “Leaders and Legends” podcast. Mickey takes us through his career, what led him to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, and take a job working for Mitch Daniels.
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20: David Frick, Former Deputy Mayor to Bill Hudnut
Episode | June 17th, 2019 | 1 hr 3 mins
Are you a Colts fan? If so, you will want to listen to this edition of the “Leaders and Legends” podcast as our friend David Frick discusses leading the negotiations to bring the Colts here from Baltimore. He’s a Southport grad who went to Harvard Law School and became deputy mayor under Bill Hudnut. He was in the mayor’s office for the Blizzard of ’78, the Kiritsis drama, the Pacers telethon, and much more.
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19: Remembering Senator Birch Bayh
Episode | June 10th, 2019 | 1 hr 6 mins
Birch Bayh was a titan of modern Indiana politics and an exemplar of public service. Sadly, as we did Senator Richard Lugar, we lost Senator Bayh earlier this year. On today’s “Leaders and Legends” podcast we talk with former Bayh staffers Louis Mahern, Bob Blaemire, and Nancy Papas about the life, times, and career of an unforgettable Hoosier statesman.
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18: Terry Curry, Marion County Prosecutor
Episode | June 3rd, 2019 | 1 hr 4 mins
Terry Curry served in the military, worked as a journalist, and is in his third term as Marion County prosecutor. He details his love of both the law and his Butler Bulldogs in the latest “Leaders and Legends” podcast.