Speakers

Alan K. Bacon, Jr. is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of GANGGANG, where he works as a passionate thought leader to innovate and amplify culture, creating more equitable opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs. In addition to serving as co-founder for BUTTER Fine Art Fair and curator for We. The Culture at Newfields in Indianapolis, Bacon helped spearhead the curation of arts and culture initiatives that transformed Indianapolis during the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee weekend-long celebration, working alongside local artists and community partners to showcase the city's vibrant creative community on a global stage. Bacon is also the co-founder behind the “I Made Rock N' Roll” festival, which has garnered national attention and been featured in prominent publications including People magazine and Essence. His impact on Indiana's creative economy through GANGGANG has led to unprecedented investment in local artists, earning him recognition as one of the Top 250 most influential Business Leaders in Indiana. Bacon's career journey began at Harrison College, where he built a 12-year network of relationships in business and education, eventually serving as president of their northwest campus. Following this, he worked for a Johannesburg-based technology company, where his exposure to global poverty led him to the United Way of Indianapolis, where he led a million-dollar social innovation fund focused on addressing poverty in central Indiana. A graduate of Indiana University, the 2024 Neal-Marshall Alumni Rising Star Award recipient, and member of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Bacon has consistently demonstrated his ability to unify and transform communities, both in the American Midwest and in Johannesburg, SA. Beyond his professional achievements, he is an accomplished artist, writer, musician, and style icon. Known for his unique mind and disposition, Bacon approaches his work with a deep love for humankind and serves as a proud father and husband.

Amy Lynch is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer specializing in Midwestern food and travel content. An Active member of the Midwest Travel Journalists Association and the Bourbon Women’s Association, she enjoys road trips, books, live music and breakfast all day. (Find her on Instagram @mostlymidwestern23.)

Carrie Lambert is the Executive Director of the Indiana Tourism Association. 

David Pierce, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Tourism, Event, and Sport Management at IU Indianapolis, where he has also served as the Director of the Sports Innovation Institute. He currently serves as an applied research analyst for the Center for Sports Transformation, and he has been actively involved in sports tech start-ups in youth sports, including RefReps, a sports officiating education platform currently serving 30,000 high school and college students in the United States.

Erin Hedges, President of Hedges

Since founding Hedges in 2002, Erin has become a trusted thought leader within the nonprofit community. She excels at strategic visioning, developing dynamic partnerships, and helping organizations plan for the future. She has continued to grow the company’s deep knowledge of the interconnected roles of Indiana nonprofits, philanthropic institutions, corporations, and government entities in solving complex social and economic issues.

Internally, Erin leads the Hedges team by example. She creates an environment that fosters social innovation and professional growth, inspiring members of our team to do their best work, every time.

Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Butler University, and a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and is a BoardSource Certified Nonprofit Board Consultant.

Erin has served as President of the Board of Directors for Dove House, the Alumni Board for Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and Joy’s House, where she also serves as a Director’s Council member

As Chief Advocacy Officer, Jack Johnson manages the overall public policy operations at Destinations International including member advocacy education and training, development of destination tools and best practices, coalition work with peer organizations, industry research and related public affairs activities. He also oversees the board governance, the Destination Management Accreditation Program (DMAP) and the DestinationNEXT (Assessments and Planning) Program. Johnson brings unrivaled experience developing innovative strategies, policy solutions and civic consensus for government, not-for-profits and small businesses.

Johnson has received numerous accolades including being named as one of Successful Meetings’ 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry in 2018 for his work on opposing travel boycotts and bans. Currently, his work around positioning destination organizations as a shared value in each of their communities and speaking with a new lexicon based on the emotion-driven by those values has made him one of the leading voices of the travel industry.

During his previous tenure with Choose Chicago, Johnson played a leading role in the extensive reforms of the McCormick Place Convention Center and the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, resulting in a new convention center operating model with both a travel industry and a citywide civic perspective. Johnson was integrally involved in the merger of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau and the Chicago Office of Tourism, resulting in maximizing their resources, unifying the message and embedding the organization into the city’s economic development strategy

Jaime Bohler Smith is the Executive Director of Visit Hendricks County and the Past President of the Indiana Tourism Association. 

Janet Korn

Senior Vice President, Experience Grand Rapids

All of Janet’s career has been in the hospitality industry. She managed a restaurant in the Chicago suburbs and was an adjunct instructor at Grand Rapids Community College with the culinary arts program. Janet has spent three decades working with Experience Grand Rapids. Currently as Senior Vice President. Janet calls this “the career of a lifetime”. Her current role involves organizational strategy, advocacy, destination marketing, communications, and public relations. Janet is a Michigan State University graduate with a BA in Hospitality Business. Janet serves the community by volunteering with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., parks planning, as a board member with Grand Rapids Whitewater and as a Board Member of the Michigan Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. Janet is also a fan of craft beer, outdoor walking, and a mother of two grown children.

Jeff Mohler is the President & CEO for Special Olympics Indiana and has been in this role since January 2018. Before that, he served 11 years as Vice President of Programs & COO, providing leadership and oversight for a wide range of operations, including sports management, Summer Games director, and one of the founders of Champions Together, SOIN’s partnership with the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Jeff’s sports passion is track & field as a former competitor, former coach, and 23-year veteran official. Jeff has been married to Lisa for 25 years. Daughter Lydia is a nurse at an Indianapolis children's hospital. Son Owen is a senior at Westfield High School.

Executive Director, Muncie Sports Commission 

 Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Hamilton County Tourism 

Katie Utken is an Account Executive at The Basement, a full-service ad agency in Indianapolis. She largely focuses on the agency’s tourism and hospitality clients, which include Discover Southern Indiana, the Indianapolis International Airport, Visit Columbus, Visit South Bend Mishawaka, and more.

Prior to joining The Basement, Katie worked for Hamilton County Tourism as the Marketing and Communications Manager, where she managed social media, digital marketing and public relations efforts. She was recognized as an Emerging Tourism Star by eTourism Summit and MMGY Global in 2021.

Outside of work, you can find Katie practicing yoga, reading on her Kindle, and listening to Taylor Swift on repeat.

Electric Works 

Lisa Trudell has been in the tourism and content creation space since 2011, sharing stories with her husband, Tim Trudell, through their blog, The Walking Tourists. Together, they've co-authored six local interest books, including 100 Things to Do in Omaha Before You Die, 100 Things to Do in Nebraska Before You Die, Unique Eats and Eateries of Omaha, and Lost Treasures of Omaha. Their collaborations with other Midwest travel writers led to the creation of Midwest State Park Adventures and Midwest Road Trip Adventures, further solidifying their expertise in showcasing the region's unique destinations and experiences.

Lisa is also the co-founder of the Midwest Travel Network, a platform built along with partner Sara Broers to connect content creators with destinations. Their work includes coordinating and leading FAM trips with vetted creators, holding annual pitch and writer's workshops, and organizing an annual conference in unique destinations that inspire collaboration and growth. 

In addition to her work in tourism, Lisa applies her storytelling expertise as an online marketing specialist for an in-home care company, empowering franchisees to connect with their communities through impactful narratives. Passionate about building connections, Lisa is a trusted advocate for inspiring travelers and elevating the voices of destinations and creators alike. 

Malina "Mali" Simone Bacon is a visionary cultural entrepreneur, and activist. A 2004 Ball State University graduate, Mali has dedicated her career to the economic and social viability of working artists. Mali's professional journey includes pivotal roles at the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the Madame Walker Legacy Center, where she orchestrated public art exhibitions, revitalized historic venues, and honored Indiana Avenue's rich cultural tapestry. Her authentic work in community engagement, civic pride, and arts and culture led to her leadership roles in two major initiatives: Plan 2020, Indianapolis' bicentennial planning agenda, and the $1.3B Waterside urban development project in downtown Indianapolis. In 2020, Mali co-founded GANGGANG with her husband, Alan Bacon, aiming to center beauty, equity, and culture in cities by activating the creative economy. Inc. magazine praised GANGGANG as "a model for cultural entrepreneurship in mid-sized cities," and Fast Company highlighted the organization's "unique blend of creativity and social impact." As Creative Director, Mali has raised millions to strengthen the city's cultural sector and break down barriers for artists. GANGGANG's flagship project, BUTTER Fine Art Fair, is a multi-day art fair that, according to Forbes, is "transforming the art world" and exemplifies Mali's commitment to economic justice in the arts. Other nationally visible projects by GANGGANG include "I Made Rock 'N' Roll," which honors Black artists' contributions to the genre. Mali played a significant role in the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee, shaping the arts and culture initiatives for the weekend-long event in Indianapolis. In recognition of her transformative work, GANGGANG received the 2024 Downtown Indy Arts Award and the President's Award from the Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce. As a multigenerational leader, Mali was recently honored with the Trailblazer Award from University High School. Mali serves on multiple boards, including Visit Indy and Big Car, and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Series, TedX speaker, and one of the Top 250 most influential business leaders in Indiana, Mali Bacon continues to redefine what it means to be a catalyst for change in the creative economy. Mali is active and finds joy in her church community, as a writer, wife, daughter, and Mommy.