Who Is YMI?

Meet Our Staff

Alison Gatz

Executive Director

A little bit about me, I’m a self-proclaimed “Jack-of-all-trades”; however, I do have a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Ball State University in Criminal Justice and Political Science. I held positions in Adult Probation and Youth Detention before changing gears and heading into Corporate America to enjoy a successful career in sales. After our third daughter was born, my job became full-time Mom and the high heels were traded in for sneakers and messy buns. I continued to stay connected through volunteering, as well as working part-time at the Fishers Y, helping launch Livestrong at the YMCA, an exerise program for cancer survivors. I live in Fishers with my three daughters; Bailey, Sydney and Mia, my hubby Bryant and crazy Great Dane Blu.

alison@ymionline.org

Jennifer Kimble

Director of Mentor Development

I’m very excited to be with YMI.  Over the past twenty years I have worked as a youth leader in two different churches, a youth worker in a group home and with the Foster Care system. I’ve worked on several different research projects mandated by Congress to better improve the child welfare system. I attended Crossroads Bible College with my Biblical Counseling degree.  Ten years ago I focused on staying home with my kids but also volunteered and served as the Troop Coordinator for 8 years with American Heritage Girls.  I share life with my husband, Garry and our four blessings. Cassidy, Annalee, Colton, and Addison.  I love the outdoors, music and camping with my family.

jennifer@ymionline.org

 

Terri Schicker

YMI Administrator

Born and raised in the greater Chicago land area, I have a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University in Orland Park, IL. I’ve worn many hats, including Administrative Assistant, Sales Manager, Case Associate, Wife, Mom and Volunteer. My husband and I moved to Fishers with our two children (Madison and Hudson) just over five years ago. I am thrilled to be joining an organization and group of people that serve the community in such a positive way!

terri@ymionline.org

Hope Matthews

Campus Coordinator

I am excited to be on this journey with YMI. I have been working with teens in various capacities for over 25 years including teen mom support groups, church youth groups and missions. I received my M.Ed in School Counseling in 2010 and worked in both an International and private Christian school. I currently volunteer with Outreach Inc, working with homeless teens and Child Advocates, working with children in foster care. I have 5 children and a grandson, whom I adore. Besides hanging out with them, I enjoy yoga, swimming, travel and serving God however He leads.

hope@ymionline.org

Jessica Christianson

Campus Coordinator

My name is Jessica Christianson and I’m thrilled to be joining the YMI family! I’ve held various job titles over the years, but my number one passion has stayed the same: developing people and creating environments where they grow and thrive. I currently live out this passion as the Campus Coordinator at Sand Creek Intermediate and Fishers Junior High.

jessica@ymionline.org

Jeanna Evans

Campus Coordinator

Over the past twenty years, I have held positions serving youth as a substitute teacher, behavioral specialist, life coach, and family coordinator. At my church, I serve as a youth advisor and I oversee our youth dance team. I truly believe that mentorship is one of the most effective catalyst that fosters personal enrichment in the lives of our youth. This is why I am so excited to be a part of this movement towards positive change through the YMI program as a Campus Coordinator.

jeanna@ymionline.org

Laura Brisben

Campus Coordinator

I have been working with youth as a teacher , school counselor and track/cross-country coach for 27 years. I am beyond excited and and feel very blessed to start this journey with YMI. The staff and community mentors have an incredible opportunity and responsibility to help serve and enrich the lives of youth in Fishers, Indiana. I live in Fishers with my husband Jeff and our two boys, A.J. and Ryan. Our dogs Josie and Baylee help complete our active family!

laura@ymionline.org

Board of Directors

STEVE ORUSA

Board President

Steven Orusa is Fire Chief for the Fishers Department of Fire and Emergency Services since 2011. He has served over 33 years in law enforcement and fire service positions. He serves on the following non for profit boards: City of Fishers Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), Hamilton County Humane Society, Leslie Anne Hulse Foundation (Human Trafficking), and the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS) board of directors.

Steven grew up in Chicago, Illinois, receiving his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in 1983. His graduate work is in Human Resource Management. He is a published author and frequently invited speaker on public safety leadership and development techniques. He has provided analysis on public safety response for USA Today, Fire Chief Magazine, Fire Engineering Magazine, and has also appeared on BBC, MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN to provide expert analysis on disaster response.

Joe Eaton

Joe Eaton has been a resident of Fishers since 1990. He and his wife Florie have raised two children, both graduates of Fishers High School, and have been actively involved in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations in Fishers. Joe served eight years as member of the board of directors of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation, including a term as President, and helped co-found the HSSF Advisory Council. Joe also is the past founder and president of TigerONE, a non-profit organization serving all student athletes at Fishers High School. Joe participated in the Town of Fishers Reorganization Committee in 2010 and the City/Town Study Committee. Joe is currently a member of the board of directors of Launch Fishers, serves on the sponsorship committee of SPARK!Fishers and is a member of the Fifty Club of Fishers. He is a graduate of Butler University and the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Joe has worked at Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Indianapolis office since 1991 as a litigation attorney, defending industrial and chemical manufacturers and medical device manufacturers in product liability cases in state and federal courts across the country.

Joe joined the YMI board in August 2019 and looks forward to advancing YMI’s mission of providing specialized mentor programs for all students.

Matt Kegley

Matt Kegley is in his 13th year working in Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  Matt currently serves the district as the Director of Secondary Education.  With almost a quarter century of public education expereince, Matt has taught and served in administration in schools of various secondary grade configurations.  Matt has worked in Waldron and Huntington before coming to the HSE School District.  Matt is married to his wife Jennifer and they have three children; Olivia, Sophia, and Isaiah.

 

CRYSTAL MURFF THORPE

Crystal Murff Thorpe is the very proud principal at Fishers Junior High School in the Hamilton Southeastern School District and has served in this position for ten years. She began her career as a high school English teacher and later served as an assistant principal in both MSD Perry Township and MSD Wayne Township. She earned her undergraduate degree from Indiana University, her master’s degree from Butler University, and is currently completing her PhD at Indiana State University in educational leadership. She is also the Principal-in-Residence at the University of Indianapolis where she trains future school leaders. Crystal has been featured in the Fishers Current newspaper, received the Ford Motor Company Unsung Hero Award, and was honored in Who’s Who in Black Indianapolis for Academia. She has provided professional development to HSE schools on fundamental classroom conditions and has been a guest speaker at Ball State University.

Betsy Block

Betsy Block has been a resident of Fishers since 1992.  She and her husband, city councilman Rich Block, have raised four children here and have served the youth of our community in many different ways.  Betsy has worked on the PTO of several Hamilton Southeastern Schools, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis guild, St. Vincent Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Hero project, participated in Oprah’s Big Give for Third Phase Women’s Shelter and has served on various church boards and committees. Professionally, she works as a healthcare consultant for IBM Watson Health and has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare marketing and strategic planning.  She works with hospitals to design business development strategy for optimal performance under value-based care.  Betsy is starting her second year as a YMI mentor and has experienced the incredible impact these relationships can have on a child’s life.

Ashley elrod

Ashley leads the communications strategy and media relations for the City of Fishers as its public relations director. With over a decade of communications experience in the non-profit and public sectors, she directs strategy for major projects including the Fishers Mental Health Initiative and the city’s partnership with Hamilton Southeastern Schools, CurioCity. Ashley holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Indiana University and lives in Fishers with her husband and two children. 

Corby Thompson

In addition to YMI, Corby serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations, including the Hamilton County Community Foundation, Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation, as well as the Fishers Rotary Club. Corby holds a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana University. Corby lives in Fishers with his wife, Julie and they have twin boys, Cole and Cooper.

Troy Woodruff

 As RQAW’s President, Troy along with Brad Battin were instrumental in moving their corporate headquarters to Downtown Fishers. He also heads up and co-owns BW Construction and BW Development. He formerly served as INDOT Chief of Staff, COO, and Vincennes District Director, during both Governor Daniels’ and Governor Pence’s administrations. Prior to his work at INDOT, Troy worked for Anthem as the Director of Indiana State Sponsored Business helping administer Anthem’s role in the Healthy Indiana Plan. He has previously been an Indiana State Representative for District 64, President and CEO of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, and Group Homes Manager at the Southwest IN Regional Youth Village. He is married to Melissa, with two sons Evan and Austin. They live in Fishers, IN and attend Northview Church, Fishers Campus.

Ex-Officio Board Members

John Wechsler

Founder & CEO of Launch Fishers and The Indiana IoT Lab

John has founded, co-founded, or served in C-level roles in several venture-backed startups including Formstack, Formspring, DeveloperTown, Vontoo, Wishoo and beenz. In 2012, John founded Launch Fishers, a 52,000 square foot launch pad for startups and high-potential enterprises. In 2014, John founded the statewide entrepreneurial mentorship initiative, Launch Indiana, and continues to serve as an active advisor to entrepreneurs.

In 2017 John founded The Indiana IoT Lab in Fishers, a 24,000 square foot innovation hub for Internet of Things (IoT)-related enterprises. John received the 2018 Trailblazer Award from Techpoint, recognizing a “visionary whose contributions have had a significant impact on our technology ecosystem and state.”

John has been a lifelong volunteer with community organizations, currently serving on the Boards of Directors of several organizations including the Indiana State Museum, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the Indiana Technology and Innovation Association.

John started his career at IBM, achieving membership in the Golden Circle recognizing the top 1.5% of the IBM sales force. Prior to joining IBM, John earned a marketing degree from Indiana University. John served in the US Army where he learned the art of rappelling from helicopters as an Air Assault-Qualified Combat Engineer at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Pastor Darryn Scheske

Senior Pastor of Heartland Church

Darryn Scheske is the founding Senior Pastor of Heartland Church, a multiethnic church in Indianapolis. Darryn is a third-generation pastor who inherited his love for people in the islands of the Caribbean where he was raised. The church began in the Scheske’s living room in 2001 with 17 people. Today, Heartland Church attended by 4,500 people in greater Indianapolis

Pastor Scheske also serves as the Chairman of Converge, a church planting network of over 1,300 churches, “starting and strengthening churches together worldwide.” He is a passionate advocate for people to live purposeful, fulfilled lives of compassion and generosity. He is an activator for sustainable transformation in developing countries like Haiti and Sierra Leone. India. A member of the Fishers Rotary Club, Darryn is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, and the 2010 Rotarian of the Year.

Pastor Scheske holds a Master’s degree in Leadership from Southeastern University, and In 2018, Pastor Scheske received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Darryn and his wife, Loree have been married for 28 years and are blessed with one married son, two daughters, and a long-haired dachshund. Darryn is a certified Rescue Diver. He also enjoys hiking in national parks all across America.

John DeLucia

If you’re a business owner who needs financial advice, it would be hard to find anyone more qualified to talk with than John. He started his banking career more than 25 years ago, after his discharge from the Navy. He has always focused on working with businesses, and specializes in maximizing cash flow through the use of technology, financing, account structure, business lines of credit, equipment financing, payroll processing, and merchant services. Over the years he has earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation from the Association of Financial Professionals.

John is the epitome of a Community Banker – his nickname of “Mr. Fishers” is well earned. It would be hard to find an event in the Fishers area that he isn’t actively involved with, especially if it involves the OneZone Chamber or Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation. If you have a question about Fishers or the Nickel Plate District, John’s your man; and if you’re looking for someone to volunteer for a good cause, look no further.
Contact John today to discuss your business’ financial needs. (He even speaks Arabic!)