Martin Bott
was born in Giessen, Germany. He studied business
administration in Germany with majors in Finance and Marketing
and earned his Masters Degree in International Business from
the University of South Carolina. He has been working for Eli
Lilly and Company since 1988 in various roles and locations,
including Indianapolis, Boston, Switzerland, England, and
Germany. He currently is Vice President of Manufacturing
Finance. He and his wife, Angelia Barnes, have two children:
Maximilian (2015) and Georgia (2019).
Traci Caldwell
just completed serving as the 2009-10 President of the SSA,
Sycamore School's parent-teacher organization. She graduated
from Indiana University with degrees in both elementary and
special education. Traci has experience in teaching at both
the elementary and middle school levels and has worked with
students having a variety of exceptional needs. She earned her
Master's Degree from Butler University in Administration and
Supervision. Traci and her husband, Michael, have two children
currently attending Sycamore, Ethan (2016) and Lauren (2018).
Laura Conder
joined a predecessor of Chase Bank in 1992. Today,
continuing to build on a career in consumer lending, she runs
the student lending operations for Chase. Laura is a
native of Arlington Heights, Illinois. She moved to the
Indianapolis area in 1991, after completing her studies at the
Krannert School of Management at Purdue University with
degrees in accounting and finance. She met her husband,
Dan, at Purdue. Laura and Dan have two daughters,
Catherine (2018) and her younger sister, Elizabeth.
Laura is an active member of Second Presbyterian Church where
she teaches Sunday School, and she enjoys travelling.
Pawel Fludzinski
joined Lilly in 1984 as a Research Chemist after completing an
NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. He earned
a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Rochester. Pawel has
spent the majority of his Lilly career in R&D management,
including 4 years living in England and 4 years in
Japan. Outside of Lilly, he has served on the Board of the
Indianapolis Zoo since 1996, including a term as Chair
(2006-08). He joined the board of the Japan America Society of
Indiana in 2003, and currently serves as Board President. He
has also served on the Board of the Indiana Chapter of the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (2007-09), including one
year as Vice President for Development. Pawel and his wife Lou
are parents of current Sycamore student Nya (2020). Pawel has
a strong interest in large format photography.
Marc Gerdisch
is Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Francis Heart Center
in Indianapolis. Dr. Gerdisch co-directs the Heart Valve
Center, and his practice focus is surgical treatment of
complex heart valve disease. Marc is a partner at Cardiac
Surgery Associates, the largest cardiac surgery group in the
country. He trained at Loyola University Medical Center in
Chicago, where he is an Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic
Surgery. Dr. Gerdisch is active in the development of novel
surgical techniques and research. He presents his work
internationally. Marc and his wife Lori Ann are parents of
current Sycamore students, Robert (2011) and Matthew (2013).
Jeff Hagerman
is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a graduate of North Side
High School and Purdue University's CEM Engineering
program. He is the President of The Hagerman Group, a
commercial construction company which delivers construction
services via general contract, construction management,
design-build, and program management. Jeff's external
involvement includes the Fisher's Chamber of Commerce Board,
the Indiana Construction Round Table Board, the United Way
Success By 6 Leadership Board, the United Way Childcare
Ministries Task Force, the CEM Advisory Committee for Purdue,
Trustee for the Indiana Carpenters Pension Fund, past board
member of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, and Godparent
for the St. Mary's Childcare Center. Jeff is the proud father
of Drake (2018).
Paul Helft is
a native of Indianapolis, and completed his undergraduate
degree in general studies in the humanities and his medical
degree at the University of Chicago. He then went on to
complete his internship and residency in internal medicine,
and fellowships in hematology/oncology and clinical medical
ethics at the University of Chicago. Dr. Helft joined the
faculty of the Indiana University School of Medicine in
Indianapolis in 2001, where he is currently an Associate
Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology.
His clinical work is based in the Gastrointestinal Oncology
Program at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer
Center. In 2004, he became the first director of the Charles
Warren Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics at Clarian Health
in Indianapolis. Paul and his wife Melissa Cavaghan have two
children at Sycamore School: Graham (2015) and Margot (2017).
Phil Johnson
is an Executive Director of Investor Relations for Eli Lilly
and Company. At Lilly, he has held various finance positions
in Indianapolis, Puerto Rico and Spain. Prior to joining
Lilly, Phil worked as a management consultant with McKinsey in
Italy and as an investment banker with various firms in both
Italy and Chicago. He received a BS degree in Finance from the
University of Illinois and a Masters of Management degree from
Northwestern University. Phil and his wife, Irma, have both of
their children, Nicholas (2009) and Michael (2013), enrolled
as Sycamore students.
Bill Klenk and
his wife, Becky, are the proud parents of two Sycamore
graduates, Alison ('90) and Ellen ('92). He was involved
with the school in 1985 when it was founded. Today, two
grandchildren, Abby and Alex Cheng, attend school at Sycamore.
As a graduate of Purdue University ('78), Bill has worked in
various assignments at Allison Transmission for the past
forty-one years. Today, he is the executive director of the
off-highway and hybrid electric business segments. Interested
in education, Bill also serves on the Boards of the Krannert
School at Purdue University, West Lafayette and the Dean's
Industrial Advisory Council of Purdue's Engineering School in
Indianapolis.
Cecelia McDonnell
is finishing her 3rd year as treasurer of the SSA, Sycamores
parent-teacher organization. Cecelia graduated with a BS in
Accounting from Marian College and received her CPA license in
1995. Cecelias professional career included time at Browning
Day Mullins Dierdorf architecture firm as the accountant for
the joint venture for the Circle Centre Mall. Following that
position, she spent nine years as the controller of Young &
Laramore, a local advertising agency. After the birth of
her daughter, she has been able to use her many skills as a
mom, wife and an extremely involved volunteer at school,
church and many other community activities.
Cecelia and her husband Brian are parents of current student
Emily (2013).
Monique Hunt
McWilliams is a native of Indianapolis and received her
law degree and B.A. in chemistry from Indiana University in
Bloomington, Indiana. She is currently Assistant General
Counsel in corporate litigation at Eli Lilly and Company where
she has been employed since 1998. Her litigation
practice includes pharmaceutical product liability litigation,
commercial litigation, and human resources litigation.
Prior to joining Lilly, she was a litigator in private
practice. Monique is very involved in community and
legal activities focused on increasing the diversity of
students interested in the practice of law. Monique and
her husband, Terrence, have two children currently attending
Sycamore, Jasmine (2016) and Terrence, Jr (2019).
Ann Merkel is
the First Vice President and Manager of Nonprofit Services for
The National Bank of Indianapolis. She is a graduate of
Purdue Universitys Krannert School of Management, the United
Way Executive Leadership Series and the Stanley K. Lacy
Leadership Development Series. Her banking career
encompasses more than 25 years of serving the financial needs
of Commercial, Private Banking and Nonprofit clients located
in our community. Ann has also enjoyed serving on the
boards of numerous nonprofit boards, including Little Red Door
Cancer Agency, Teachers Treasures, Inc. and Volunteers of
America, Inc. Ann and her husband, Mike, are the proud
parents of three young adult children.
Seema Mernitz
was the 2008-09 President of the SSA, Sycamore School's
parent-teacher organization. She graduated with an BA in
Microbiology from University of Texas at Austin. Seema
completed her M.D. at Indiana University School of Medicine in
1996 and pediatric residency at Riley Hospital for Children in
1999. She served as Chief Resident at Riley Hospital from
1999-2000, and was very active in resident/medical school
student teaching and training. After that, she was in private
practice at St. Vincent Hospital for a few years before making
the decision to stay home to raise her daughters. Seema and
her husband Chris are parents of current Sycamore students:
Kaya (2013), and twins, Kendrick (2016) and Sophie (2016). She
loves to travel and read.
Travis Morgan
is a serial entrepreneur, having owned and operated a number
of businesses in widely varied industries during the last 18
years. He is currently managing member of Caravel Ventures, a
local private equity firm whose primary portfolio companies
include a leading forensic DNA company and a DNA related
biotech start-up. Travis serves on the boards and is in an
active day-to-day executive management role for both
companies. His expertise includes venture creation, mergers
and acquisitions, and change management in rapidly growing
enterprises. Travis received undergraduate degrees in
accounting and finance from Indiana University, is a CPA and
holds an MBA from Babson. His daughters Marina (2016) and
Maris (2018) have each attended Sycamore since preschool. His
wife, April also is an active volunteer with Sycamore School.
Chris Obeime
is a dermatologist with Doctors Skin Care PC here in
Indianapolis. Originally from Nigeria, Chris attended Indiana
University. After earning his BS, MPA, OD and MD degrees Chris
did his dermatology training in Wisconsin before returning to
practice in Indianapolis. He is the current President of the
Indiana Academy of Dermatology. He serves on several community
boards including the Mercy Foundation and the Martin Center.
Chris and his wife Mercy have three children: Ivie, Jerne and
Jalu, who is an alumni of Sycamore.
Mike Rosiello
is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, where he is co-chair
of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He received
his B.A. from Columbia University in economics and his J.D.
from Stanford University. Mike and his wife, Patty, are
the parents of two Sycamore alumni, Nick (Class of 2001) and
Chris (Class of 2002). He was a member of the Sycamore
Board from 1995 to 2003, serving as President from 2000 to
2003. Mike is currently a member of the Board of the
Hope Academy, an Indianapolis charter high school for students
recovering from substance abuse, and the Board of the United
Way of Central Indiana.
Madeleine
(Briscoe) Smith 96 is a proud alumna of Sycamore School.
She went on to attend Brebeuf Jesuit and earned a B.A. in
Spanish from Butler University. Madeleine works as Director of
Annual Fund at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and is
currently pursuing her M.B.A. at Butler University with a
Finance focus. Madeleine and her husband, Justin, live in
Broad Ripple and enjoy long walks on the Monon with their two
dogs.
Tracy Swearingen
is Vice President of Taxation for Duke Realty Corporation,
where she has worked since 1987. She is an Indianapolis native
and a graduate of DePauw University. Tracy is a Certified
Public Accountant. Tracy and Jim Swearingen are parents of two
daughters, Rebecca (Class of 2005) and Jada. Tracy and Jim
assisted in the capital campaign in 1998 and in the Annual
Fund drives in 1999 and 2000. Tracy's interests include
reading, music, gardening, and horseback riding. She
previously served on the Sycamore Board of Trustees from 2001
to 2007, chairing the Educational Policy and Technology
Committees.
Jack Tanselle
is a Director in the Healthcare Disputes, Compliance and
Investigations practice at Navigant Consulting, Inc. Jack
received a B.S. degree in Communications from Miami University
(Ohio) and an M.B.A. in Management & Strategy and Marketing
from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern
University (Illinois). Jack has been a commissioner and coach
for Carmel Dads' Club basketball for the past two years, and
is the President of the local chapter of the Kellogg Alumni
Association. Jack and his wife Laurie are the parents of
Thomas (2015) and Mary Kate (2018). Jack enjoys
tournament and leisure golf, traveling with his family and
reading.