Indy's 15 people to watch in 2015

Here's a look at the movers and shakers of Indianapolis. Big things are expected from them in the new year.

1. Dave Lucas

Concert promoter Dave Lucas co-founded Hamilton County's Deer Creek Music Center in the late 1980s, spearheaded renovations of the Murat Theatre in the 1990s and established the Lawn at White River State Park as a music venue in 2004.

Lucas now plans to build a 15,000-capacity amphitheater across the street from the Indianapolis Zoo. The former president of Clear Channel Entertainment's live music division wants to break ground this spring on the eastern portion of the former General Motors stamping plant site, 340 S. White River Parkway West Drive. (The western part is expected to be devoted to a new Marion County Justice Complex).

Lucas said he's lining up financing for a $40 million amphitheater nicknamed "The Stamp." The venue's first performance likely will happen in 2016. — David Lindquist

2. Lori White

With police and community relations taking center stage in the wake of the Ferguson, Mo., shooting, the head of the Department of Public Safety's Citizens' Police Complaint office is under scrutiny as never before.

Lori White worked as a Department Public Safety project manager for 18 months before taking the job in August. She oversees a department that underwent extensive changes last year.

In July, the department finished rolling out a streamlined complaint process that allows citizens to file complaints online. — Jill Disis

3. Bill Oesterle





Can the CEO of Angie's List carry out a $40 million expansion plan, while endeavoring to put the online consumer ratings company on a profitable footing?

This may be the telling year. Angie's has promised to add 1,000 jobs in Indianapolis and renovate an old Ford warehouse on the Near Eastside. The work, which includes a 1,000-space parking garage, is supposed to start this year.

Oesterle also faces pressure from investors to turn a profit at publicly traded Angie's.

Since its founding in 1995, the company has yet to post a yearly profit, but some stock analysts think this could be the year Angie's finally swings into the black. — Jeff Swiatek





4. and 5. Justin Wade and Georgeanna Smith





Act Two? Who knows? But this has to be one of the more interesting power couples of the Indy arts scene.

Justin Wade is the executive artistic director of the Young Actors Theatre, which helps children develop life skills through theater. Georgeanna Smith is the executive artistic director of NoExit Performance, which produces a season of innovative theatrical productions.

The newlyweds performed on stage together for the first time last year, and 2015 promises more. — Star report

6. Mike Pence

Indiana's governor is pondering a White House run and, in the process, drawing national attention to his agenda during the 2015 legislative session.

That means his priorities — expansion of conservative education reforms and "simplifying" the tax code — are likely to get some added oomph this year. — Tom LoBianco





7. Kate Franzman

Fresh, local food and a healthy environment for Hoosiers keep her going. The founder of Bee Public is passionate and knowledgeable about beekeeping, urban farming and sustainability.

Two years ago, she left a job in marketing to work with Growing Places Indy, a local urban farm organization. Today she is responsible for a half-dozen bee hives at urban micro-farms throughout the Downtown area, operates a U-pick vegetable farm and teaches beekeeping classes out of a shipping container at the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center.

Her schedule for the year ahead includes participation in Earth Day Indiana, as well as working with the City-County Council on legislation about pesticides used in public spaces. — Leslie Bailey

8. Charles Harrison





There's rarely a public safety meeting in which the president of the Ten Point Coalition, a faith-based crime-prevention group, isn't mentioned.

The Rev. Charles Harrison has long been vocal about what he thinks is behind the violence in some of the city's most dangerous areas.

Expect his profile to rise this year: Harrison recently announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to consider a bid for mayor of Indianapolis. Although Harrison has not declared a party affiliation, expect crime to take center stage if he enters the race. Former U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett, a Democrat who is running, has touted his crime-fighting credentials. — Jill Disis

9. Tracy McDaniel

This advocate recently left her position as care coordinator for human trafficking at the Julian Center to focus on Restored.

McDaniel's organization provides services, outreach and education to girls and young women ages 11 to 24 who have been victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the United States.

She also serves on the Indiana Protection Against Abuse and Trafficked Humans task force, which is a collaboration among law enforcement agencies, government leaders and community advocates.

McDaniel will be advocating in the upcoming legislative session for harsher penalties for people who purchase sex from children. —Marisa Kwiatkowski

10. Ryan Vaughn









The 36-year-old former chief of staff to Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has a tough act to follow in his first full year as president of the Indiana Sports Corp.

In the year ahead, he'll take the lead if the city bids on hosting a College Football Playoff championship. He'll also be involved in events surrounding the 2015 men's basketball Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium.

He also is seen as someone with a bright political future, which can only be enhanced if he makes a mark at the Sports Corp. — Mark Alesia





11. Megan Robertson





This political operative has a knack for connecting with millennials using social media.

The former campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Luke Messer and Mayor Greg Ballard made a name for herself as campaign manager for Freedom Indiana, the effort to block a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

And she's far from finished. Expect to hear a good deal more from her company, FrontRunner Strategies. It already helped elect a reform-minded Indianapolis Public School Board.

Now it's running a campaign to legalize Sunday carryout alcohol sales — yet another issue sure to resonate with a younger audience. — Tony Cook





12. Robert Manuel





The University of Indianapolis president has been pushing UIndy to invest in and improve its campus and its Southside neighborhood, since he took office in 2012.

Manuel, 46, was one of the most prominent voices supporting the creation of an economic development corridor along Madison Avenue.

And the investments just keep coming. In 2013, UIndy donated University Heights Park to the public.

Last year, it launched a five-year plan to spend $50 million on building projects, including a $28 million Health Pavilion that will open in August. UIndy also is renovating its library and science labs, demolishing old apartments, building new townhouses and improving the overall look of Shelby Street. — Vic Ryckaert





13. Lewis Ferebee

The superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools has introduced the potential like never before to turn around one of the most struggling and disadvantaged school districts in the state, which could benefit tens of thousands of the city's poorest children.

Now in his second year of leadership, Ferebee has forged significant partnerships with Mayor Greg Ballard on pre-kindergarten classes, The Mind Trust on charter-like school improvement models and — in stark contrast to his predecessor — Charter Schools USA on schools under state takeover.

With the results of November's elections, he'll soon have a school board behind him that is pushing for big changes. — Stephanie Wang

14. Oliver Luck





The former NFL quarterback and father of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was named Mark Emmert's No. 2 man at the NCAA.

He could help implement sweeping changes in the way the NCAA operates.

The former West Virginia University athletic director's appointment comes as the NCAA grapples with the sticky issues of player unionization, payment of players and the rights of colleges to use athletes' images. — Zak Keefer

15. Peter Wilt





The Indy Eleven's president and general manager created a mini-marketing frenzy in 2014 by launching a minor league soccer team in Indy.

The Eleven sold out its home games and led its league in attendance. But the team's venue, IUPUI's Carroll Stadium, is small and cramped, and a push last year to get state funding for a new soccer stadium didn't gain much momentum.

Wilt will need to keep pulling in the fans for the team's 16 home games this year while he hunts for a stadium fix. — Jeff Swiatek