Three Butler University alumni were appointed to the Board of Trustees during the February meeting. Joy Mason MS ’94, Mark Minner ’12, and Chad Pingel ’16 were each elected to three-year terms. Minner has served as a young alumni representative over the past two years and was approved for a regular appointment to the board. Pingel has been appointed as a young alumni representative. They will all officially begin serving their terms on June 2, 2023.
“Over the course of my career at Butler, I have been incredibly honored to work with such a truly wonderful group of people–each bringing a wealth of knowledge, passion, and expertise to our University,” Butler President James Danko said. “It is a testament to our University that so many of our highly successful alumni return to serve their alma mater in this capacity. Chad, Joy, and Mark epitomize what it means to be stewards of the Butler Way, and I look forward to seeing the incredible things they accomplish as trustees.”
The University also recognizes retiring trustees Katie Betley, who recently completed her 41st year of service, and Tonya Combs. The Board and the University are beyond grateful for their service and generosity.
The Board also would like to thank outgoing Board Chair, Keith Faller ’71, MBA ’78, for his incredible leadership and service during the University’s largest capital fundraising campaign, Butler Beyond. Faller will remain a trustee on the Board. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Board of Trustees and Butler University in this capacity,” Faller said. “I am grateful for the relationships and friendships I have formed during my time as Chair, and I look forward to continuing to serve Butler as a trustee.”
Jeff Blade ’83 will serve as the next Chair of the Board. Amy Wierenga ’01 will serve as Vice Chair. “I have truly enjoyed my tenure on the Board so far, and I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the Board. There are many exciting things on the horizon for Butler University, and I am eager to see the impact our trustees will continue to make,” Blade said.
About the new board members:
Joy Mason is President of Optimist Business Solutions, a training and consultancy practice she founded following her successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. Optimist specializes in change management, project management, and six sigma methodologies to help their clients find ways to maximize effectiveness and optimize their processes. Previously, Mason spent 20 years with Eli Lilly and Company, serving in several positions including as a Quality Consultant.
Mason earned a B.S. in Microbiology from Miami (Ohio) University in 1989 before earning her M.S. in Pharmacy from Butler University in 1994. In addition, she is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Mason served as a member of Butler’s Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2018 to 2022 and is a member of the Hub for Black Affairs Community Engagement Advisory Group.
As a 1983 alumna of the Center for Leadership Development, Mason received its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017. She is the Program Chair for the American Society of Quality, a member of the Women Enterprise National Council, and serves on the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board at Miami (Ohio) University.
Mark Minner, a 2012 graduate with dual degrees in both Marketing and Electronic Journalism, currently serves as Senior Vice President for NFP. Prior to the 2021 acquisition of the Indianapolis-based consulting firm, FirstPerson, he was the President and Chief Strategy Officer.
Additionally, since 2013 Minner has served as the play-by-play “Voice of the Butler Bulldogs” for men’s basketball broadcasts on the PNC Butler Radio Network. He has called other sporting events for Fox Sports and the Big East Digital Network, as well as NCAA championships for Turner Sports.
In 2019, Minner was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s prestigious Forty Under 40 list. In 2016, he was awarded Employee Benefit Advisors “Rising Star in Advising” honor. He was also named a finalist for Junior Achievement of Central Indiana’s “Best and Brightest.” In the community, Minner is an active member of the Penrod Society, volunteers as a mentor with Exodus Refugee, served on the executive committee for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” event, and is one of the founding board members of the non-profit organization Stay Positive.
Chad Pingel is a 2016 Butler graduate from the Lacy School of Business (LSB) with a degree in Finance and Marketing. He has spent more than seven years with Google, rotating to multiple office locations, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Dublin, Ireland, and most recently, Chicago.
Pingel’s primary work has focused on large data management, analytics, and reporting, with an emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. He is the Sustainability Measurement Lead in Google’s Procurement Organization, helping to drive Net Zero carbon emissions reductions across the supply chain.
Pingel’s volunteer work currently includes the LSB Dean’s Advisory Council, and he has previously served as a former member and co-creator of the LSB Young Alumni Advisory Council, former Digital Skills Coach for the Grow With Google program, and the Butler University Bay Area Community Steering Committee. In his free time, he enjoys long-distance running, traveling to new places, and playing piano.