Meet YPCI’s Hardworking Board Members
Executive
Jak Kramer
Jak Kramer, President of YPCI for 2025, is a Risk Advisor for Gibson where he specializes in property & casualty insurance. After graduating from THE Indiana State University in 2019 with a degree in Insurance and Risk Management, Jak moved to South Bend, IN for a year before returning home to Indianapolis. When Jak isn’t talking about insurance, you will find him promoting downtown Indy life, visiting the best local coffee shops, and finding any excuse to pack his bag for a weekend trip.
Mallah Heeter
Mallah Heeter, VP of YPCI for 2025, is a sales representative for a liquor distributor in Indianapolis, IN. She has a passion for connecting with clients and introducing them to new and exciting products. In her free time, Mallah enjoys tending to her garden, finding inner peace through yoga, and exploring new recipes in the kitchen. Her love for food and drink extends beyond her work, as she is always eager to try new flavors and cooking techniques. Mallah is known among her friends and colleagues for her adventurous palate and her ability to create delicious meals from scratch.
Ellie Margulis
Ellie Margulis is in her second year on the board of YPCI, serving as secretary this year. She graduated from DePauw in 2022 with a double major in English and Communication and was a member of the cross country team. She has lived in Indianapolis for three years and works as a content marketing strategist at Your Money Line. Outside of work, she enjoys training for triathlons, spending time outdoors, and getting lost in a good book.
Lisa Cantú
Lisa Cantu is on her second year as Treasurer of the YPCI board. She graduated from Marian University with a B.S. in Finance and Business Analytics. Now, Lisa works at Goelzer Investment Management as a Portfolio Specialist, managing and investing client portfolios. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active so you’ll find her riding her bike or working out at the gym. She also loves to travel and trying new restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.
Matthew Fajt
Matthew Fajt is a second-year Board Member and Treasurer for YPCI. In his professional role, he serves as a Senior Revenue Intelligence Analyst at Genesys, where he forecasts revenue, plans for growth, and contributes to the company's strategic vision. A Hoosier native, he graduated from Wabash College with a B.A. in Economics. Following graduation, Matt joined the Orr Fellowship, where he served as Director of Finance, managing budgeting, accounts payable, and long-term growth initiatives. He gained diverse experience through a rotational program at Jobvite, contributing to various departments including Revenue Operations, Customer Success, and Technical Project Management. Outside of work, Matt enjoys running on the Monon Trail, playing golf, and cheering on the Colts and Pacers.
Marketing
Katelyn munoz
Katelyn Munoz is a passionate and dedicated Indy native. As the Marketing Chair for YPCI, currently serving her second year on the board, she channels her commitment to community service and leadership. In her role as a Career Readiness Specialist, at IndyPendence Job Corps, Katelyn empowers individuals by enhancing their interview techniques and resume-building skills, equipping them for career success. Passionate about workforce development and community engagement, Katelyn values meaningful connections and enjoys spending quality time with family, friends, and her community. Her multifaceted dedication to service, personal growth, and collaboration underscores her belief in the transformative power of positive engagement.
Bryce bettag
Bryce Bettag serves as YPCI’s videographer for the Marketing team. He’s the owner and founder of BB Focus Visuals, a versatile videography business focused on creativity and fun. Bryce graduated from Indiana State University in 2018 with a B.S. in Marketing, Sales Management. At ISU he was in a few different organizations, including the Sigma Chi fraternity, where he lead an effort to raise over $25k for cancer research and was awarded a trip out to Salt Lake City, UT to meet Jon Huntsman, Sr. (the founder of the Huntsman Cancer Institute) and various Sigma Chi members from across the state leading similar efforts at their schools. Mr. Bettag enjoys partaking in an array of physical activities throughout the year, including snowboarding, running, lifting weights, and sand volleyball. Weird fact: he collects nutcrackers. Go Colts.
Membership
Matt Rhoad
Matt Rhoad is a second-year Board Member and the Membership Chair for YPCI. Matt is currently a CPA and Senior Consultant at CBIZ. Matt performs due diligence and risk advisory engagements pertaining to structured finance including seuciritization transactions and asset-based lending. Outside of work Matt enjoys staying active in the gym, playing golf and basketball and hanging out with friends.
Navdeep Singh
Navdeep Singh is a Business Analyst Consultant at OneAmerica, specializing in Digital Strategy. In this role, he works on implementing and conducting Proofs of Concept (POCs) for modern technologies within the company. With a background in Computer Science from Purdue University, Navdeep has a strong foundation in both business and technology.
Outside of work, Navdeep enjoys staying active with volleyball, diving into video games, and exploring new destinations through travel. This year marks his first term serving on the YPCI Board as a member of the Membership Committee, where he is dedicated to fostering an inclusive community where everyone can be their authentic selves.
Brant Gingerich
Brant Gingerich is a first year board member on YPCI’s membership committee. After growing up near Goshen, Indiana, Brant attended IU’s Kelley School of Business in Bloomington where he studied Information Systems and Business Analytics. Brant began his career in management consulting where he focused primarily on healthcare corporate strategy, before pivoting into a commercial strategy role at health tech startup Cohere Health. In his free time, Brant likes to read, hit the gym, practice yoga, make smoothies, knit and hang out with friends. He lives in downtown with his partner, two cats, and many houseplants.
Networking
Kenzie AnderS
Kenzie Anders is an Employee Benefits Consultant at Gibson. She is 2022 graduate of the Indiana State University Honors College where she majored in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning and minor(s) in Financial Services and Insurance & Risk Management. Originally from Northern Indiana, Kenzie and her husband decided to move to North Indy late 2022 and have been here ever since. As the Chair of the Networking Committee for YPCI this year, she looks forward to planning events at several new coffee shops and bars accross Indianapolis. When she isn’t working, you can catch her outside and under the sun, at a sporting event, enjoying cocktails and conversations at new resturants, and spending time with family and friends in general!
Jacinda Johnson
Jacinda Johnson is a first-year board member, serving on the Networking Committee. She is a Business Development Representative at August Mack Environmental in Downtown Indianapolis, where she specializes in supporting Commercial Real Estate clients with their environmental needs. Jacinda is an active member of several local organizations, including the Junior League of Indianapolis, Indy CREW, Economic Club of Indiana, Indianapolis Propylaeum, and the Urban Land Institute. She is passionate about advancing opportunities for women and fostering meaningful community connections. Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Jacinda enjoys staying active by walking, hiking, and running with her rescue dog, Poppy. She also loves exploring the city’s best new restaurants and catching up on reality TV—always for the plot, of course.
Alec Mason
Alec Mason is a 25-year-old father, real estate agent, and part-time life juggler. Born in St. Louis, Illinois (yes, that’s a real place!) but raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, I’ve made the Hoosier state my home and playground.
Fatherhood came knocking at 19 and let me tell you, balancing diapers and dreams wasn’t exactly what I imagined for my early twenties. But hey, challenge accepted.
Balancing fatherhood and school was no easy feat, and I eventually dropped out of college. So, I ventured out into the working world, trying my hand at various jobs—some interesting, some… let’s just say I learned what I didn’t want to do. Eventually, I found my passion: real estate. Now, as a licensed real estate agent with Lockstep Realty (under the eXp Realty umbrella), I’m turning that passion into a thriving career. I get to help people find their dream homes while staying motivated to provide for my son.
But life isn’t all work and no play. When I’m not closing deals, you’ll find me in full-on dad mode, working out, and spending quality time with family and friends. In the winter, I trade in my work shoes for a snowboard, and recently, I’ve added golf clubs to my arsenal —though I’m still figuring out how to stop losing balls. Oh, and if you spot a Handlebar Indy cruising through the city streets, there’s a good chance I’m the one driving it.
Special Events
angela cardwell
Angela Cardwell serves as the Special Events Chair for Young Professionals of Central Indiana (YPCI), where she helps create opportunities for young professionals to connect, thrive, and stay rooted in Indianapolis. By day, Angela is the Operations Director at Pack Away Hunger, a nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity locally and globally through meal packaging and education. Passionate about building meaningful connections, Angela’s work with YPCI aligns with her desire to serve others and make a lasting impact in the community. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Angela is an avid West Coast Swing dancer, finding joy and inspiration on the dance floor.
Devon Ngo
Devon Ngo is a first year board member, serving on the special events committee. He is a Notre Dame alumnus with a degree in Chemical Engineering and works as a Business Intelligence Analyst at Cox Automotive. Passionate about community engagement, he is actively involved with organizations like CreativeMornings and YPCI. Devon enjoys blending his creative and technical skills through photography and data visualization. In his free time, he enjoys reading and watching RuPaul's Drag Race.
Elise Carmichael
Elise Carmichael is a first year board member and serves on the special events committee. She was raised in Avon, IN and went to college in Tennessee where she played volleyball and aquired her bachelor's degree. She now connects with her community through real estate with Lockstep Realty and looks forward to growing her connections while making new ones. Elise likes to keep in touch with her love of the game through rec beach or indoor volleyball in her free time and try new resturants with friends and family!
Sponsorship
Devin Mendenhall
Devin Mendenhall is proudly serving her first year on the YPCI Board as part of the Sponsorship Committee. She is excited to contribute and eager to engage with the community.
A passionate event and community engagement professional, Devin currently works as a Community Relations Specialist for The City of Carmel, where she fosters meaningful connections and creates impactful experiences that bring people together.
Previously, she was the Events Manager at Elevate Ventures & RALLY, where she developed and executed statewide events that connected entrepreneurs, investors, and community stakeholders with key resources and networks.
Her background also includes marketing roles at Simon Property Group, where she played a key role in event strategy and brand engagement. A proud Ball State University alum, Devin holds a bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in entrepreneurship management. She began her career in event marketing at The Fashion Mall at Keystone, where she helped organize community-driven events like Caring Santa and #500 Fashion.
Outside of work, Devin is a committee member for Rev, loves exploring new local restaurants with friends, traveling with her fiancé, and spending quality time with her grandparents.
Fergus Washington-Smith
Fergus Washington-Smith is a first year board member as part of the sponsorship committee. He graduated from Marian University with a B.S. in Finance and Business Analytics. Now, Fergus works for a Real Estate Private Equity company Storie Co as a Senior Analyst, Buying, Rennovating and Managing Resorts and Hotels across the Midwest. Outside of work, he enjoys staying active racing his bike and training for triathlons.
Tech
craig pund
Craig Pund is a dedicated Network Engineer working for IU Health, playing a crucial role in ensuring that critical systems can access the internet to support the healthcare system. Outside of work, Craig is an avid adventurer who loves going on backpacking and camping trips. Last year he went on camping trips to Shenandoah Natl Park, roadtripped to Colorado and back, climbed a Via Ferrata in West Virginia, and more. When he's not out in nature, Craig enjoys exploring downtown areas on foot, discovering new bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. At home, he likes to unwind by cooking new recipes for friends and spending time with his cat, Ari.