Indiana Academy’s 53rd Annual Gala
The Indiana Academy hosted its 53rd annual gala at the Carmichael Hotel on Tuesday, October 15. The four members of the Class of 2024 honored at this year’s gala are featured below. Learn more about the Indiana Academy here.
Indiana Academy Class of 2024
Carl A. Cook
Chief Executive Officer, Cook Group
Nominated by: Robert A. Coons, President, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Read about Carl A. Cook
Carl A. Cook is the CEO of Cook Group, Inc. Mr. Cook has worked for the Cook Group companies in a variety of roles since 1988 when he started out by setting up computers in the company’s European sales offices. Once he returned to the U.S., Mr. Cook worked at Cook Pacemaker (now Cook Vandergrift) in Pennsylvania and at Cook Endoscopy in North Carolina before returning to Bloomington. He has worked directly on several Cook products. Prior to his promotion to CEO, Mr. Cook served as the president of MyoSite and vice chair of the board.
Mr. Cook has a love for historic restoration and, in 2013, the Tivoli Theater in Spencer, Ind., was fully restored on behalf of all employees of Cook Spencer.
Mr. Cook has also exhibited philanthropic support to the Rose-Human Institute of Technology, restored the Lions Club office building in Newport, Ind., and Indiana Landmarks to name a few organizations.
Mr. Cook has served as the board chair for Indiana Landmarks; executive advisory council member for the Sisters of Saint Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana; and co-chaired Harmony School’s building restoration campaign in 2004. Mr. Cook earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the Tippie School of Management at the University of Iowa.
Rex D. Shrader, II
President, Shrader Real Estate and Auction Company Inc.
Nominated by: Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, President, Huntington University & Dr. Drew Flamm, President, Grace College
Read about Rex D. Schrader, II
Mr. Rex (RD) Schrader, II is the president of Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company, a family-owned business established in 1944, located in Northeast Indiana. Under his leadership, Schrader Auction has grown into a leading auction and real estate company, with an annual sales volume exceeding $250 million.
A graduate of Grace College, Mr. Schrader has strong ties to Indiana’s independent colleges. He serves on Huntington University’s Board of Trustees, advises Grace College and Seminary, and lectures at Taylor University.
His contributions to Huntington University include his key involvement with the development of the Institute for Agricultural Studies in 2017, fostering a partnership with Purdue University. In 2023, Mr. Schrader and his wife, Holly, funded a veterinary nursing position for a joint degree program between Huntington and Purdue, set to double enrollment in 2024.
At Grace College, Mr. Schrader serves on the Business Advisory Council, helping reshape its curriculum and expand the business program. He also assists the college with farm sales and student job opportunities through his leadership at Schrader Auction.
Mr. Schrader earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Grace College and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University.
Anne Nobles
Board Chair, Citizens Energy Group
Nominated by: Anne Shane, Indiana Academy Member
Read about Anne Nobles
Anne Nobles retired from Eli Lilly and Company in December 2012 after a distinguished 22-year career, where she served as senior VP of enterprise risk management and chief ethics and compliance officer. She currently chairs the board of Citizens Energy Group and is president of the Board of Trustees for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. Since 2019, she has co-chaired The Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation.
Since 2008, Ms. Nobles has provided strategic counsel to Notre Dame University as a member of its Graduate Studies and Research Council. Her work focuses on priority areas such as global engagement on environmental issues, democracy studies, and fostering connections with corporate and sector leaders in Indiana’s thriving life sciences industry.
Ms. Nobles has held numerous leadership roles. Notably, she has been active at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, where she has served as an Elder and played a key role in strategic planning. Her leadership has also allowed her to strongly support Hanover College and its historic ties to the Presbyterian Church.
Ms. Nobles holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Anthropology from Harvard College. She’s also a gradaute of the Georgetown University Law School, where she also served as an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal.
Dr. David W. Wantz
President Emeritus, Independent Colleges of Indiana
Nominated by: Kerry Prather, President, Franklin College
Read about Dr. David W. Wantz
Dr. David Wantz retired in June 2022 after serving five years as president and CEO of Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), where he distinguished himself as a tireless advocate for Indiana’s private higher education institutions. Under his leadership, ICI’s 29 member institutions, serving more than 100,000 students, benefited from his strategic vision and collaborative approach, particularly during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his role at ICI, Dr. Wantz devoted 35 years to the University of Indianapolis, holding various key administrative roles, including interim executive vice president and provost, special assistant to the president for community and government relations, director of corporate and foundation giving, dean of students, and full-time professor.
Dr. Wantz’s leadership extended beyond academia, as he engaged in numerous public service roles, including having chaired the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees, served on the Indianapolis Police Department Merit Board, and contributed to the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Board. In recognition of his many contributions, Dr. Wantz received the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award twice, in 2014 and 2017.
Dr. Wantz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Milligan College, two master’s degrees in Business (University of Indianapolis) and Education (Indiana University), and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University.
Independent Colleges of Indiana
During the Indiana Academy’s 53rd annual gala, Dr. Dottie L. King, president & CEO of ICI, presented this video highlighting four campuses singing “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
The following campuses were featured:
Marian University Combined Choirs, Director Joey Garcia
Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale, Director Davy Chinn
Taylor University Chorale, Director Dr. Reed Spencer
Wabash College Men’s Glee Club, Director Dr. Juan Hernandez