About Hoosier Women Forward

Our Mission

Hoosier Women Forward is a political and civic leadership training program designed to empower Democratic women to become more active participants in politics and leaders in their communities.

 

Our Goals

  • Empower Democratic women to become more active, confident and valuable participants in politics and community leadership;
  • Grow a powerful network of engaged Democratic women across Indiana;
  • Develop Democratic women to run for office at the local, state and federal levels;
  • Increase the number of Hoosier Democratic women of influence in every level of government, and in seats at the tables where decisions are made.

What we do

Each year, a group of outstanding Democratic women will be selected through a competitive application process to participate in a nine-month leadership training program. Applications go live each year in May and we accept no more than 24 women.

Democratic women with a demonstrated ability to take initiative in their communities or places of work and are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have an interest in public policy, advancing Indiana forward with progressive ideas, and be committed to increasing women’s influence in the political process.

Through a combination of study, field experience, and networking, Hoosier Women Forward participants will gain valuable political leadership training that will prepare them to become more informed, active and mindful public servants.

Board of Directors

Elise Shrock, Chair

Elise Shrock, Chair

Elise Shrock is the Director of Communications at Christ Church Cathedral Indianapolis. Prior to this role, Shrock was the Director of Operations at Tamm Capital Group where she led the firm’s association management program and served on their government affairs team....

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Andrea Scott, Vice Chair

Andrea Scott, Vice Chair

A native of Indianapolis, IN, Andrea Scott is a graduate of Ben Davis High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana State University. Currently she serves as Community Outreach Director for the Office of Congressman André Carson. Her 18-year career in...

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Cynthia Johnson, Secretary

Cynthia Johnson, Secretary

Cynthia Johnson is currently the Fifth District Congressional Chair for the Indiana Democratic Party. Most recently, she was the Political Director for the fifth district Congressional candidate, Christina Hale. In 2019, Cynthia was Campaign Manager for Miles Nelson’s...

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Crystal Melton, Treasurer

Crystal Melton, Treasurer

Crystal G. Melton, a native of Hammond, IN, is a wife and mother of 4 children. She attended Donald E. Gavit Jr./ Sr. High School where she graduated valedictorian. She obtained her B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University in 2004. In 2013, she went back...

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Katie Blair

Katie Blair

Katie Blair is the Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at the ACLU of Indiana where she spearheads the organization’s coalition and legislative work on issues including privacy and surveillance, LGBTQ rights, criminal legal reform, immigrant rights, reproductive...

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Camille Blunt

Camille Blunt

Camille has over 15 years of legislative lobbying experience at the local, state, and federal levels. She represents clients in a wide range of policy matters before state legislative and executive agencies and is regularly called upon to advocate the interests of clients on government contracts, grant and incentive programs, and legislative and regulatory matters.

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Arielle Brandy

Arielle Brandy

A native Hoosier, Arielle Brandy was born and raised in the Rust Belt city of South Bend, IN, where she resides. A graduate of Indiana State University, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies. A proud Afro-Latina...

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Sujata Barai Chugh

Sujata Barai Chugh

Sujata Barai Chugh is an attorney, political consultant and civic leader who applies her multi-faceted skills to pressing issues facing organizations and communities. Sujata Chugh has wide-ranging experience counseling domestic and international financial...

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Stephanie Crandall

Stephanie Crandall

Stephanie Crandall has served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Fort Wayne since 2013. As a member of the Mayor’s cabinet, she provides strategic counsel on matters related to all levels of government—local, state and federal—to achieve legislative, administrative and community goals benefiting the people of Fort Wayne.

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Annette Craycraft

Annette Craycraft

Annette Craycraft grew up in Selma and is a current resident of Yorktown. She is the daughter of former State Senator Allie and Juanita Craycraft. Ms. Craycraft is currently the Executive Director of East Central Indiana CASA, Inc., a non-profit agency serving...

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Emily Gurwitz

Emily Gurwitz

A political fundraiser for over a decade, Emily began her career at the Democratic Leadership Council and Progressive Policy Institute in Washington, DC where she worked for three and a half years under CEO Al From, raising both Corporate and Individual national...

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Carey Hamilton

Carey Hamilton

State Representative Carey Hamilton was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2016 to represent Indiana House District 87. She serves as Assistant Democratic Leader in the Indiana House of Representatives.

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Heather Harris

Heather Harris

Heather Harris advises clients in the areas of government services, government finance, and education and healthcare law. Practical and analytical, Heather is an ardent team player who is able to create synergy among even the most diverse parties, working through...

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Shannon Mears

Shannon Mears

Shannon Mears is an attorney in Indianapolis. She grew up in Indianapolis, and attended Hanover College. After college, she moved to Washington DC, where she lived for six years. While in DC, she served as a finance director for Senator John Kerry’s Presidential...

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Cherrish Pryor

Cherrish Pryor

State Representative Cherrish Pryor has served as a legislator in the Indiana House of Representatives since November 4, 2008. She is currently the Indiana House Democratic Caucus Floor Leader and is a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. Pryor is also a...

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Veena Rao-Mirmira

Veena Rao-Mirmira

As an experienced corporate manager, Veena has spent her career working in high tech and med tech areas. Veena currently works at Eli Lilly in the medical device group where she can bring her passions for technology and healthcare together to serve the needs of people...

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Teryna Van Cleave

Teryna Van Cleave

Teryna L. Van Cleave is the Change Management Lead at AES Indiana and has been a part of the team for 13 years. Prior to her new role, she was a Team Leader in Customer Care. She is a dedicated community advocate and servant leader. Born and raised in Indianapolis,...

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Adrienne Watson

Adrienne Watson

Adrienne Watson serves as the Communications Director of the Democratic National Committee, where she previously served as War Room Director and National Press Secretary. Prior to that, she served as a rapid response spokesperson for Hilary for America. She began...

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Patricia Yount

Patricia Yount

Patti has worked 15 years for Lochmueller Group Inc., a civil engineering firm. She is an owner, a Senior Associate and Jeffersonville Branch Manager. She works on a wide range of locally and federally funded projects with clients solving their infrastructure problems...

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Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors:

Cynthia Simon Skjodt
Deborah Simon

Platinum Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Michele Janin

Rachel Simon
John & Lisa Gregg
EDUCATION & AWARDS

Education

  • Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana (M.P.A., 2005)
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (B.S., 1997)

Awards

  • Sagamore of the Wabash, Awarded by Governor O’Bannon in 2003
  • Sagamore of the Wabash, Awarded by Governor Kernan in 2004
Professional & Civic Associations
  • Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Series, Class XLII
  • Hoosier Women Forward, Founding Member
  • Hope Academy, Board of Directors – Past President and current Vice President
  • Old North Side Board of Directors, Treasurer (former)
  • Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky Board of Directors (former)
  • Government Affairs Society of Indiana
  • Marion County Democrat Party Chairman’s Club
  • Volunteer for numerous legislative and statewide candidates and elected officials

Executive Director

Amy Levander is the Chair of Krieg DeVault’s Government Affairs and Public Advocacy Practice Group. She is one of very few females appointed to serve as the chair of a government affairs practice group for a major law firm. Prior to joining Krieg DeVault’s Governmental Affairs team, Amy Levander served as Governor Kernan and Governor O’Bannon’s Deputy Legislative Director. In that role, she negotiated legislation on behalf of the Governor with House and Senate Leadership, approved all agency legislation and made recommendations to the Governor. Prior to this role, she served three and a half years on the Indiana House of Representatives Democrat Staff.

Amy has over 20 years of government experience serving both the executive and legislative branches. She is a founding board member of Hoosier Women Forward and in the spring of 2018 became the organization’s Executive Director.

Amy Schwarz is a member of Krieg DeVault’s Governmental Affairs & Public Advocacy Practice Group, where she serves as the Director of Association Management and Strategic Initiatives. She has experience working with the state legislature and executive branch agencies in various roles within state government. Amy also works with associations in various sectors, providing management services and expertise in trade associations and other nonprofits.

Prior to joining Krieg DeVault, she interned at an Indianapolis public affairs firm; served as the legislative intern for the Minority Leader at the Indiana State Senate; and worked in the legislative and communications offices at the Indiana Department of Education. In addition to her work in state government, she serves as Program Director for Hoosier Women Forward and has prior experience as a political campaign manager.

Program Director

Board of Advisors

Evan Bayh

Fmr. United States Senator

Julie Berry

Fmr. Jefferson Co. Commissioner

Ann Bochnowski

Community Leader, Munster, IN

André Carson

U.S. Representative, Indiana’s 7th Congressional District

Pamela Carter

Fmr. Attorney General and VP of Cummins, Inc. 

Betty Cockrum, (in memoriam)

Former State Budget Director & CEO of PPINK

Ann DeLaney

Standing Chapter 13 Trustee, Fmr. State Party Chair

Joe Donnelly

Fmr. United States Senator

John Gregg

 Fmr. Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives

Christina Hale

Fmr. State Representative

 

Lee Hamilton

Fmr. United States Representative

Tom Henry

Mayor, Fort Wayne

Joe Hogsett

Mayor, Indianapolis

Dawn Johnsen

Professor, IU Mauer School of Law

Una Osili

Director of Research, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy 

Bart Peterson

Fmr. Indianapolis Mayor

Glenda Ritz

Fmr. State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Pete Visclosky

Fmr. U.S. Representative, Indiana’s 1st Congressional District

Shelli Yoder

State Senator, Bloomington

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Hoosier Women Forward is a stellar program for Democratic women who want to step up their leadership in local and state politics. I value each participant, alumnae and speaker I met, as well as the informative and timely programs and networking activities. I look forward to staying involved with this amazing organization
— Faith V.