INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Sports Corp on Thursday announced the first class of W.E. ARE NEXT, a groundbreaking leadership initiative designed to accelerate the next 100 W(omen) E(xecutives) across the sports industry. This inaugural 22-member cohort reflects Indiana’s commitment to building the global epicenter of sport by 2050 where events, technology, academia, business, and women’s sports converge to create sustainable impact.

W.E. ARE NEXT will be facilitated entirely by Bloombase, a values-driven, high-impact team of master-level facilitators and executive coaches who guide clients to reach their whole leader potential. The W.E. ARE NEXT program is a nine-month, high-impact leadership experience grounded in neuroscience, organizational psychology, and real-world performance pressure. Participants engage in immersive labs, receive executive coaching, and connect with C-suite faculty and industry leaders. The program culminates during the 2026 NCAAÒ Men’s Final FourÒ in Indianapolis, with each graduate tied to legacy projects that extend their impact far beyond the classroom.

“Indianapolis has a long history of crowning champions. Now we’re creating them —starting with the leaders orchestrating the world’s biggest sporting moments,” said Julie Roe Lach, Board Chair of Indiana Sports Corp and Commissioner of the Horizon League.

“This is a pipeline, not an event. We’re focused on fueling influence, impact, and the future of sports for decades to come,” said Sheri Fella, Founder & CEO, Bloombase.

In 2023, Indiana Sports Corp unveiled its 2050 Vision, a bold plan to cement Indiana as the global epicenter of sport. A key pillar of that vision is making Indiana the capital of women’s sports, not only through events and teams, but also by building a leadership pipeline that ensures women are at the forefront of the industry.

“W.E. ARE NEXT isn’t hype—it’s infrastructure,” added Sarah Myer, Chief of Staff & Strategy at Indiana Sports Corp. “Our vision for the next 25 years of the sports strategy in Indiana is bold and we need bold leaders to fuel that vision.”

W.E. ARE NEXT directly fuels this strategy by investing in women leaders who will power the events, organizations, and innovations shaping the next generation of sports. This initiative was made possible in part through legacy support from the 2025 WNBA All-Star Indy Host Committee and the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four, in addition to partner support from Horizon League, and WISE Indianapolis. Lastly, thanks to our partner Bloombase for fueling the experience with their expertise and resources.

The Inaugural JoAn Scott Cohort

The class is named in honor of JoAn Scott, NCAA Vice President of Men’s Basketball, whose leadership has shaped championship excellence. Members of the inaugural cohort represent a wide range of organizations central to sports in Indiana and beyond:

  • Emily Barker – Content Producer, USA Gymnastics
  • Amy Begley – General Manager of High Performance, USA Track & Field
  • Beth Belange-Hood – Director, Indianapolis Indians Charities
  • Kate Carlstedt Henderson – Director, Guest Experience, Group 1001
  • Megan Carrico – Sr. Director of Public Affairs, Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
  • Donisha Carter – Assistant Director of Championships & Alliances, NCAA
  • Erin Dlouhy – VP, Guest and Culinary Experience, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
  • Kristin Fasbender – Director of Championships and Alliances, NCAA
  • Rachel Frank – Director, Statewide Initiatives & External Affairs, Indiana Sports Corp
  • Alexis Hurley – Senior Director, Events & Experiences, INDYCAR
  • Julie Kimmons – Director of Broadcast, Championships and Strategic Partners, NCAA
  • Jessica Kumke – Associate Commissioner for Governance, Compliance and Legal Strategies, Horizon League
  • Marcie Lapehn – Owner, Fan Favorite Productions, LLC
  • Ellen Lucey – Director, Championships Engagement, NCAA
  • Halston Mavrick – Vice President of Brand Partnerships and Fan Engagement, Indy Fuel
  • Katie Mulcahy – Event Manager, Lucas Oil Stadium
  • Meaghan Pusha – Senior Director, Premium Experience, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
  • Kacy Ray – Director, Sports Partnerships, Salesforce
  • Taylor Sidwell – Manager of Events, Indianapolis Colts
  • Katie Voelz – Director of Ticket Sales, Indy Ignite
  • Melissa Weseli – Vice President, ConferenceDirect
  • Jazmin Zavala – Sports Sales Manager, Visit Fort Wayne