Kyleigh Hublar
January 23
Kyleigh Hublar is a proud graduate of Ball State’s Entrepreneurship program (2017), MBA (2019), and proud former Charlie Cardinal. After her MBA, Kyleigh joined the East Central ISBDC, first as an intern and then as a Business Advisor. She loved supporting and guiding others through business decisions to help see their dreams become a reality. She then served as Assistant Director for the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at BSU and gained new insights, certifications, and skills. Today she serves as the Executive Director for a local nonprofit and makerspace in her hometown, Maker13, where she utilizes her background in theater, business education, and the skills she developed through her time at Ball State.
*This session will be in SC Cardinal Hall
Felix Medina
January 30
Born and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Felix studied a B.A. in Hispanic Literature & Linguistics at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez. He moved to Indiana in 2007 and founded Vedia Global in 2014, a translation company that he later sold in 2020. From 2020-23, he taught Hispanic Literature at the International School of Indiana. He then decided to go back to corporate America by joining the team of R1 - Radio One. R1 is a huge marketing company based in Indianapolis. When he’s not working, you can find Felix traveling, drinking a cup of coffee, hiking, playing tennis, or listening to Bad Bunny. As a language aficionado Felix is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portugese. He is currently studying Turkish, French, and Italian. Felix is passionate about Higher Education, especially when it comes to inspiring a new generation of leaders.
Meeka Jennings
February 20
Meeka Jennings is the CEO of TLC Equities and a licensed real estate agent dedicated to community transformation. A Ball State University alum from the Class of 2021, she has been recognized as a finalist for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the Spirit of Small Business awards. Soon to be a mom, Meeka continues to inspire with her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence.
James "JP" Payne
February 27
Although the third in the line of James Payne’s, he tops the charts at Number 1 when it comes to his skills and experience in creating world class guest experiences. He developed fundamentals in Marketing and Public Relations from Ball State University, as well as Adult Training and Consulting from North Carolina State University. He harnessed veteran customer service skills acquired at Disney Institute Training. He works around people, with people, and for people. He earned a Hospitality Certification from IUPUI, venturing into positions with small and large organizations alike. In February 2011, he worked as the Chief Concierge and Hospitality Training Specialist during Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. James has developed a trained team of hospitality professionals to create memorable Game Day/Fan Experiences for the Indianapolis Colts, resulting in club and suite renewals.
Steve Hall
March 25
Steve Hall is the Co-Founder of Tinker Coffee Co., a specialty coffee roaster in Indianapolis, IN. Steve holds a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and a MBA from Case Western Reserve University. After spending several years in the wine industry, Steve discovered his passion for specialty coffee and founded Tinker Coffee Co. with his brother-in-law, Jeff Johnson, in 2014. Tinker Coffee Co. now operates five cafes in Indianapolis, two cafes at the Indianapolis International Airport, and has a robust ecommerce and wholesale coffee roasting presence in the midwest.
James Rooney
April 8
For more than 20 years James has developed, launched, and led social impact and sustainability strategies and initiatives for domestic and international companies. James currently serves as the first head of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy for Olo, a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform for the restaurant industry. Prior to that, James was the first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) leader for Dick’s Sporting Goods, the first Executive Director for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, and spent nearly a decade with Microsoft Philanthropies where he lead a variety of global technology, humanitarian response, and community programs. James graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelors of Arts in English & a minor in Journalism and earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. He also holds a Sustainable Business Certificate from Presidio Graduate School and an Impact Reporting & Measurement for the SDGs Certificate from Duke University.
Jennifer Wiese
April 15
Jennifer Wiese is a mother of four boys with dietary needs. When her eldest son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 8, she discovered that following a gluten- and casein-free diet helped him be a happier, thriving little boy. The hitch was that the gluten-free foods available on grocery store shelves were dry, bland, and very expensive. Jennifer started BeeFree in January 2010 from the desire to feed her kids foods that fit their dietary needs and still tasted great. BeeFree is committed to bringing great tasting treats to anyone while sticking to their gluten, grain, and dairy-free standards. BeeFree is owned and operated in Noblesville, IN and can now be found on Amazon and in grocery stores around the nation.
Michael Shebek
April 22
Michael Shebek is a Ball State graduate and former standout pitcher for the school's baseball team. Leveraging the skills and discipline he learned at Ball State, Michael went on to become the CEO of multiple U.S.-based companies, including Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. and Cover Care, LLC. In 2000, he acquired Automatic Pool Covers and spearheaded a transformative strategic change that resulted in a remarkable 30-fold revenue increase over the next 25 years, and revolutionized the industry in the process. Michael is a firm believer that when you identify a problem, you might be the first to discover a solution. He shares his approach to problem-solving with a solution-oriented mindset, demonstrating how entrepreneurs can seize opportunities and drive innovation.