A transformational human capital leader, Mellissa Boggs, EVP, Employee Experience at Kite Realty Group (KRG) has more than 25 years of management, operations, and human resources experience. Well-known for elevating transactional human resource functions into strategic human capital business drivers, she is a proven hands-on professional leader. Her track record for attracting and developing top talent has led her to become recognized as an adaptive advisor who guides executives and organizations through high-growth, M&A, and mature business life cycles.

Additionally, Ms. Boggs has co-led the development of KRG’s Kite Cares initiative – a charitable outreach platform that allows KRG to be an active citizen of the communities it serves.

Ms. Boggs is personally dedicated to several community efforts, serving as an Advisory Board Member and HR Committee Member at the Indianapolis Zoo, a 500 Circle Member for Pass the Torch for Women, and a noted speaker with the DePauw University for Management Fellows Program & Women Leadership Program. Ms. Boggs is also committed to utilizing her knowledge and experience in a professional mentorship capacity.

Fun Facts:
• I love to cook with my husband.
• Love to travel with my husband and friends to explore new cultures and food.
• Love all types of music. It is my relaxation.
Hobbies?
Travel around the world. Favorite places: Barcelona, Spain; London, England; Paris, France; Tokyo, Japan
Advice for women to live their best life?
Know who you are; know where you want to be; determine what you need to be who you are and go where you want to go; surround yourself with
people who will help you achieve your goals; Don’t let anyone or anything keep you from being who you were meant to be.
Your passion and how did you find it?
Helping others find their path in life through mentoring. I have been so lucky in my life to have mentors come alongside me when I needed their
advice, wisdom, and courage most. I found the strength I needed to be my best for my family, friends, and self.
Why is giving back important to you?
Giving back is the most rewarding way I know to pay it forward to all those who have given time and talent to help me to succeed.

Kimberly was born in Texas and was introduced to music and the piano at an early age.  Growing up in Minnesota, she enjoyed art and piano through the years.  Kimberly attended college at the University of Minnesota and while working to support her education, developed an interest in jewelry and design. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Art History, Kimberly moved to Colorado.  There she built her office skills, made and sold jewelry, and worked for several jewelers and a jewelry boutique. Kimberly later moved to Indianapolis for family reasons.  Taking a break from jewelry, she resumed her musical interests and taught piano for seven years at a music academy in Fishers. Since 2013, Kimberly has been working at a Civil Engineering company, Triad Associates.  She wears many hats, including purchasing, coordinating office and marketing events, and providing support for engineering projects. Kimberly’s latest creative/artistic expressions includes acrylic pour painting and singing. Stay tuned for details on a future Etsy store for Kimberly’s new jewelry designs.

Fun Facts:
• I love winter, snow, and winter sports.
• I started learning piano when I was 3 years of age.
• I took a trip to Italy to view Italian Renaissance Art and Architecture.
Hobbies, what do you do in your free time?
Play piano.
What brings you joy?
Singing in the church choir
Other roles?
I taught piano for seven years and had up to 40 students.
Career advice?
Realize your job may have nothing to do with what you studied in college.
Moment you felt most empowered?
Paid off all my debt and started saving money for a house.
Unique Talent/Skill?
I can instinctively recognize if someone has brought chocolate or ice cream into the home.

Sophea Chhun is an IT Analyst at Allison Transmission (Infosys). She enjoys applying her IT skills to contribute to the exciting technological advance that happens every day. She had a duty to be responsible for coaching other employees on using the progressive system and applications related to work responsibility. Sophea is a powerful woman in the workplace who uses her positive attitude to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sophea is pursuing a Bachelors’ Degree in Computer Information and Technology – Information Security at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Sophea is originally from Cambodia and was brought to the United States to get through her life with the inspiration of her husband and two daughters.

Fun Facts:
• If I had to eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would be seafood. I know it’s crazy, but I love to eat
• If I could have any superpower it would be to speak any language, so I could connect with anyone in the world

What makes you, you?
Self-determination
What did you want to be when you grew up?
My dream when I was a kid was to be a flight attendant
Your first job?
My first job was in airline ticketing
Empowering advice for women?
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide NOT to be reduced by them
What’s your advice for women to live their best life?
Surround yourself with people who understand you, or at least make the effort to understand you

Gretchen Gutman, a veteran of legislative and government policy, is VP Public Policy for Cook Group Inc. Bloomington, Indiana, the parent company of companies worldwide involved in the research, development, manufacturing and sale of medical devices, products and components for radiology, neuro-radiology, cardiology, urology, obstetrics/gynecology, gastroenterology and critical care. Before joining Cook in 2013, Gretchen served as the AVP for Government Relations at Ball State University. Prior to joining Ball State University, she was a partner at the law firm of Taft, Stettinius and Hollister LLP in Indianapolis. Gretchen’s law practice included property tax assessment appeals, public finance school finance and representing clients before the Department of Revenue as well as governmental affairs.
Gretchen spent eight years as the Chief Fiscal Advisor to the Senate Finance . Gretchen received a bachelor’s degree in history and an MPA from Indiana University, as well as a law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis.

Fun Facts:
• I was a camp counselor and water ski instructor at Culver Summer School
• My first business was selling balloon bouquets and delivering them while dressed as Raggedy Ann
• I have gone without an operating Stove/oven for more than 5 years.
Three words to describe yourself?
Political Junkie, Over Optimistic Golfer, Family Oriented
What brings you joy?
Decorating my Christmas Tree
What makes you, you?
Growing up in a family and extended family of all boys.
Empowering advice you’d give women?
Look for opportunities. Don’t hesitate. Always take the risk. Good things will happen. Be passionate about what you do.
Important “life lessons” you’ve learned?
Always make your bed in the morning. That way no matter how bad the day is you have at least accomplished one thing.
Why is giving back important to you?
I live in this community and make my living in this community. I give back because I want to strengthen the community to the extent that I can. A lot of people helped me along the way, therefore I want to turn around and help someone who is coming up behind me.

Originally from Boston, Nina Klemm moved to Carmel, Indiana in 2007. Shortly after her move, Nina became a licensed realtor and quickly made a name for herself by selling a $2.2 million home as her first sale. She was awarded Rookie of the Year in both sales and units and became part of the Presidents Club. In 2015, Nina started flipping houses with her ex-boyfriend in the Indianapolis area, which gained interest from Bravo TV. Their show, Flipping Exes, aired in the summer of 2019. Nina is now an agent with FC Tucker and leads the Nina Klemm Team. She is ranked in the top 1% of realtors in the country. Design is truly a passion of Nina’s. While working in real estate, she quickly learned that her love of fashion was easily translatable to interior design. Her a talents for color, pattern, and proportion has made her a staple for many investors in Indianapolis from flipping to commercial spaces. Those talents have also led Nina to design for many interesting clients, including television personalities, NFL Stars, & business moguls. This led Nina to start “Sleek by Nina K”, which offers a full range of interior design solutions from staging and styling to floor plans & new builds.

Fun Facts:
• Had a reality show on Bravo TV
• From Boston
• Prior to moving to Indy, I was a fashion stylist and had a clothing line called C-REALITY that custom made clothing for professional athletes and entertainers.
Motto?
Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world
First job?
My first job was a model when I was 12 years old. It taught me how to be versatile, how to carry myself, and how to walk in a heels
Career advice?
Do what you have a passion for and success will follow. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith, God will provide a way.
Characteristics your friends/family admire?
My positive energy. I can change the energy in a room when I walk in.
Power piece?
A great pair of shoes and some gold hoop earrings.

Dr. Indy Lane was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but has called Indianapolis home since 1988. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame after which she attended Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Vincent Hospital and Health Services before starting at Community Health Network as an OB/Gyn in 2004. In 2018, Dr. Lane became the Physician Executive for the Women’s Product Line at Community Health Network. She maintains a gynecology practice with a special interest in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. As the Physician Executive, she works with a team of people dedicated to delivering innovative and quality care to all women across Community Health Network’s five Central Indiana campuses. In April 2020, she was named the Medical Director of the Fishers Health Department. She is extremely honored to work alongside the Fishers Health Department team to help serve the public health needs of the community where she lives and works. In the fall of 2021, she started the Indiana University Kelley School of Business’ Business of Medicine MBA program. By furthering her education, she hopes she can make a greater impact on healthcare delivery in Indiana and beyond.

In her spare time, Dr. Lane loves to spend time with her husband of 21 years, Chris Lane, and their three children Mary Claire (age 18), Gloria (age 16), and Michael (age 14). They love to travel to major cities as well as areas of the country like the Pacific Northwest where they can enjoy hiking and outdoor cycling. Dr. Lane also enjoys reading, Broadway plays and musicals (she saw the original cast of Hamilton in NYC twice), and indoor cycling.

Fun Fact:
Despite having the name Indy, I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. My family relocated here when I was a freshman in high school.
Hobbies?
I enjoy traveling with my husband or family; we love taking tours of new cities we visit. I love theatre. Before the pandemic, my best friend and I would go to NYC every year to see Broadway musicals/plays. I love to watch dramatic movies. I LOVE fancy hotels with a great spa!
Most daring/brave thing you’ve ever done?
Ziplining in Los Cabos Mexico. I am afraid of heights but I don’t want my children to be paralyzed by phobias so I did it with them… I survived!
Your first job and what important lessons did it teach you?
My first job was at TCBY, the frozen yogurt store. It was important to me that I made the yogurt treats look like they do on the displays. The way the treat looked impacted the customer experience. That job taught me the importance of pride in the work you do no matter if you are the server at TCBY or a physician.
The moment in life it became clear what career path you wanted to pursue?
My Ob/Gyn rotation at Wishard as a third-year medical student changed my path in medicine. There was nothing more incredible in my medical training than delivering a baby.
What are you doing to help make life better in all ways for all women?
With respect to healthcare delivery, I believe women deserve healthcare providers that listen to them and seek to understand what matters most to THEM. Women deserve multiple ways to access care and when they seek care, they should be provided a range of treatment options with the associated risks and benefits of each. Ultimately, they should choose what is best for them.

I joined PNC in 2003 as a Relationship Manager in Business Banking and transitioned to the Commercial Team in 2016. Before joining PNC, I worked at Huntington Bank for 16 years in various capacities in Operations, Credit, and Sales.

While working at Huntington Bank, I continued my education by attending classes at The University of Indianapolis and completed the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at IUPUI.

I have lived on the Eastside of Indianapolis my entire life. My husband and I reside in New Palestine and will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in November. We have three children, twins, Katie and Michael who are 27, and Kara, 22.

I’ve had a passion for fitness most of my adult life and have taught Group Exercise classes for over 30 years. I currently teach Group Exercise Classes at Hancock Wellness Center, New Palestine.

Fun Facts:
• I have taught group exercise fitness classes for over 30 years.
• I’m related to a former WNBA player who played for the Indiana Fever and was on the team when they won their first-ever WNBA Championship.
• My first job was as a paper carrier for the Indianapolis Star and News at the age of 13.
Favorite thing to do with your family or friends?
Attend the Indy 500 each year.
Three words to describe yourself?
Caring, Compassionate, Loyal
The moment you felt most empowered?
When I gave birth to my children.
Career advice?
Own your career.
Why is giving back important to you?
It gives me a sense of purpose.

Monica Newhouse-Rodriguez is a Senior Aviation Executive with more than 25 years of experience in both the private and public sectors.

Monica currently serves as Managing Principal of Newhouse and Associates, LLC, a woman-owned Airport Consulting firm providing a wide range of expertise and experience in airport planning, environmental planning, and capital programming and management. She serves on the Airports Council International – North America Board of Directors and is the immediate past Chair of their World Business Partners and Associates Board of Directors.

Monica has been named by Governor, Eric Holcomb to the Indiana Ports Commission, serves on the Hamilton County Community Corrections Board, served on the Burbank Arts for All Foundation Executive Board, and has served in much other community and charitable organizations.

Monica holds a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace and Computer Information Systems and a master’s degree in Business Administration specializing in Information Decision Sciences.

Monica is married to the love of her life, Mario Rodriguez. The two share four children, Mario, Christian, Ava, and Mason, and their beloved beagle, Ray.

Fun Facts:
• I can fly an airplane
• I scuba dive – I have even been diving in a shark cage.
• I could pilot my father’s houseboat by the time I was 8 – so he could fish. He also taught me to drive his drag car, drive heavy equipment, etc.
Favorite thing to do with your family or friends?
Eat – Friendsgiving is my favorite thing all year!
Favorite musician?
ELVIS – Have you heard him sing “The Impossible Dream”?
Career advice?
Take your seat at the table, do not sit along the wall!
Most daring/brave thing you’ve ever done?
Went on a trip to Italy on my own and drove all over the country – did not speak one word of Italian.
Qualities your friends/family admire most about you?
• Monica has REAL southern hospitality, she’s very loyal even when it is not convenient.
• Monica’s patriotism and love of justice!
• Monica’s love of life and infectious FUN spirit! And her badass, strong leadership, girl boss-ness.

Doneisha Posey is a civil rights attorney, thought leader and consultant on Diversity, Equity and Belonging. After a successful career as an immigration and anti-discrimination attorney, Posey returned to her advocacy roots and has spent the last few years of her career in higher education ensuring all students, faculty and staff have access and opportunity to be successful. Above all, Posey works to catalyze a change in mindset to mitigate bias, harness power and privilege, and create a culture of belonging for all. She is regularly consulted on matters of higher education diversity, workforce equity and inclusion, civil rights, housing discrimination, race and the law, leadership, and multicultural competency. Posey received her BA from Marian University and her Juris Doctorate from IU McKinney School of Law. She has returned to IU McKinney as an Adjunct Professor of Law, teaching Social and Racial Justice courses. Doneisha is a 2021 recipient of the Leadership in the Latino Community by the Indy Chamber. A 2020 IBJ Forty Under 40 awardee, Indy’s Best and Brightest in Education/Nonprofit winner and Golden Laurel Rising Star and many more awards for her commitment to the community

Interesting Facts:
• I passed the bar when my daughter was 8 months old and I was 6 months pregnant with my son
• I started a nonprofit organization when I was in undergrad and raised over $60,000 to build a school for a small community in the Dominican Republic at the age of 19
• I love so many genres of music. My Apple Music shuffle may go from Luther Vandross to Cardi B to Juan Luis Guerra to Adele to Bad Bunny Thrilling experience?
Earlier this year, I went to Puerto Rico and hiked El Yunque Rainforest and jumped into several waterfalls.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. I didn’t know any lawyers growing up nor did I ever step into a courtroom until I was actually in law school. But I knew from an early age that I could help people through the law — plus I loved to always argue my point! (sorry mom)
Advice for women to live their best life?
1. Find your purpose – Look inwardly and operate in your gift. The world becomes clearer, you become less worried about what’s next, and your happiness is abundant.
2. Serve others – Extrinsically find out how you best serve others – your family, your friends, and the broader community. Be the best mother, sister, daughter, friend, volunteer, etc. you can be.
3. Put you first — create healthy boundaries and put your own mental, physical, emotional health first.
What impact do you want to have on the world?
I want to create a more equitable, civil, and inclusive world wherever I am. I see myself as a bridge builder and advocate for those who don’t have the same access and opportunity that I am privileged to have. One of my favorite quotes that I live by is from Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first Black candidate for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States. “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”

Alexis is a Murrow and Emmy Award Winning Storyteller. She is an Evening Anchor and All Indiana co-host for WISH-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana. She began her broadcasting career as an anchor and reporter at KOMU, in Columbia, Missouri.

She later reported for KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas then moved to Cincinnati where she reported and helped create and anchored a news magazine show called, “Let’s Talk Cincy” on WLWT.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Alexis is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, and the National Association of Black Journalists. She is also the founder of Lisa’s Girls, a mentoring program for young women.

Fun Facts:
• I am a two-time junior Olympic volleyball champion! I was a middle hitter. Don’t let my height fool you, I had hops!
• It is a dream of mine to be a voice of a cartoon one day! My Stich voice from Lilo and Stich is pretty great!
• I taught preschool in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I love music and theatre! I am also an organization queen. I help a lot of my friends and family get organized and color-coded.
Some wardrobe pieces make women feel confident/powerful. What’s your “power piece”?
A good power suit in a bright color! I love a good cape too!
The moment it became clear what career you wanted to pursue?
Watching the news with my parents every night! My dad even humored me and took me down to city hall to interview the mayor with his camcorder when I was in the 3rd grade.
Obstacles you’ve overcome on your career path, or life in general?
My mother passed during my first year of college. 5 days after I turned 19. All of a sudden a primary caretaker alongside my dad of my sisters while holding multiple jobs to break into the industry and still do well, as school really tested my ability to endure. I am a woman of faith, God showed and keeps showing me so much about having grace with myself and others. We all have a responsibility to make each other better which is what led me to create my girls leadership and mentorship program Lisa’s Girls. (Named after my mom)
What’s your advice for women to live their best life?
Don’t strive for balance. Sometimes balance is unattainable. Strive for harmony. Harmony allows you to find joy during your journey to fulfillment.

Clara is a life saver. She works for the Indianapolis Fire Department and is also a certified public educator, car seat technician, and a youth firesetter intervention specialist. Everyday she and her team work to save lives by teaching classes to school age children at our Survive Alive Village, working with adults through the OurFlame( Fire Life A Mature Education) program, and installing smoke alarms.  Clara loves helping people and she also loves DFS Indianapolis. She proclaims “Safety first. I am a life saver today, tomorrow and yesterday.”

Fun Facts:
• Was on QVC… I met Suze Orman, Bobbi Brown, and Chaz Dean
• First couple to be married by Mayor Ballard
• 316 years is the combined age of the 4 members that live in our household
Thrilling experience?
I zip-lined at the Indiana School for the Deaf
Motto you try to live by?
Fall down 7 times, get up 8. You must do the thing you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt
Your first job and what important lessons did it teach you?
I worked at the City Market for a produce/fruit stand. Taught me to treat everyone with respect and to listen to what they are saying.
Most daring/brave thing you’ve ever done?
Being able to dress in fire gear and being Fire Pup (the mascot for the Indianapolis Fire Department).
How are you a trailblazer or role model?
Lead by example by being a caregiver for my parents.

Charlotte Simpson, aka the Traveling Black Widow on Social Media, is a retired guidance counselor and special education teacher. After losing her husband of 31 years, she decided to make solo-world-travel a central part of her retirement life and has now been to all seven continents and the 50 states. She documents her journey on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as @TravelingBlackWidow where she currently has over 20,000 followers. Charlotte has been featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Essence, Forbes, and many other publications. When she is not traveling, she volunteers as a court appointed special advocate for children in foster care and to help high school students learn English as a Second Language.

Fun Facts:
After becoming a widow and finding friends often unavailable to travel, three years after losing my husband I tried going solo to Italy for 15 days on an organized group trip. My luggage was lost for the first 11 days of the trip. What a crash course in solo travel,
packing light and having a positive attitude while traveling. I’ve gone on to travel to over 60 countries by myself.
Favorite vacation spot?
There are so many extraordinarily beautiful places in the world. If money were no object I say the Amalfi Coast or Isle of Capri. But here in the states, any of the coastal cities in Southern California. Favorite country I’ve visited is hands down India. It’s so incredible on so many levels.
Thrilling experience or adventure?
Traveling solo has somehow caused me to be far more adventurous than when I’d just sit on the sideline and watch my husband experiencing the semi-scary things. After reprograming my thinking, I’ve recently ziplined, ridden a camel in the Sahara and kissed a dolphin. Negotiating with a TukTuk driver in Sri Lanka turned out to be an unexpected adventure that resulted in me crying and threatening to jump out of the moving TukTuk.
What makes you, you?
I set high standards for myself, not exactly perfectionistic, but high and follow them regardless to how different I may appear. I enjoy and feel I look better in makeup, consequently every day during the pandemic I wore makeup just around the house. It seemed to make the isolation a little more bearable.
Wardrobe Power Piece?
I love wearing a dress. A gorgeous dress in a bright color is definitely my personal style and my power piece. (I’m even known on Instagram for wearing bright colors). My style that tends to accidentally occur is overdressing. LOL. I don’t intend to, but I do like dresses and being coordinated, so it just happens. I’ve run into former students who comment on how I always had on a dress at school and was the only educator in the
building to do so. The kids also appreciated that I’d taken the time to wear glasses that were color coordinated to my outfit. They saw it as my caring about them enough to put forth the effort to look professional at school for them. That was exactly my goal. Educators are the one professional kids see daily, I wanted them to know we make a decent living and live comfortable and it’s an honorable profession.

Lynette Wilson was born & raised in Indiana & graduated from Indiana University Bloomington. She recently celebrated her 18 year anniversary with husband Will Wilson with whom she shares two beautiful children, Brandon & Brianna.

Lynette’s passion is in STEM & Information Technology. She mentors IU seniors & grad students who are interested in pursuing careers in IT fields. With her company, ConvergeOne, she is focused on being a trusted IT advisor to state & local agencies as well as educational entities in Indiana. She works to partner with these organizations to help them achieve their IT objectives in areas such as Cybersecurity, Cloud Migration & Digital Transformation. She believes “”it’s up to each of us, to use our God given talents, to make the world better for future generations.”” She received a congressional recognition in honor & appreciation for her services to our community from the 7th Congressional District in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has been a proud member of DFS Professional Women’s Group of Indianapolis since 2008. PWG is not only a networking career empowerment group, it’s an extension of her family. She says, “These phenomenal women are my Sisters.”

Fun Facts:
• I am the Grill Master in my family.
• I love to go “Glamping.”
• I was the Battalion Commander my senior year in high school and got to lead my school in the end of year performance for the US Secretary of Defense.
Thrilling experience?
Love rollercoasters, scary movies and haunted houses.
Unique talent/skill?
I have an uncanny ability to find an item that someone has lost.
Community roles?
I am a mentor through the Indiana University Center for Excellence and Mentor Collective Program to female IU seniors and grad students who have interest in STEM fields.
Obstacles you’ve overcome?
I pride myself on being independent, but I learned independent doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. A strong network is important.
Life lessons?
No one has the answers and your situation is unique to you. Listen to your inner voice and trust yourself. If something doesn’t work for you feel free to
pivot. Life is too short to stay or deal with something that doesn’t bring you joy.
Recognition you’re especially proud of?
I received a US Congressional recognition for my 10+ years as a volunteer Team Mom for my community’s little league football team. It is rewarding to
see young people grow and develop into lovely men and women, knowing the lessons and skills we taught them will carry on into their adult lives.