Governor Mike Pence today named Hoosier business leaders Dominic Grote and Mark Neal to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Board of Directors.
“I am pleased to welcome Dominic and Mark to our team as we work to create more quality jobs for hardworking Hoosiers across the state,†said Governor Pence. “The state and the IEDC have worked tirelessly to create a top-ranked, business-friendly climate that supports continued growth and job creation while attracting new investment from around the globe. Their breadth of experience along with their commitment and service to the state of Indiana will be invaluable to our continued economic development efforts and to the Hoosiers we serve statewide.â€
Dominic Grote, of Madison, serves as president and chief executive officer of Grote Industries, leading the company’s global operations since 2009. Grote joined the fourth-generation, family-owned business which manufactures and markets vehicle lighting and safety systems in 1993 and previously served as vice president of sales and marketing.
Grote is actively involved in industry associations, serving as past president and board member of the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute and former chairman of the associates for the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association. He is a member of the Conexus Indiana Logistics Council and is active in Madison and Jefferson County economic and community development initiatives.
Grote is a graduate of Wharton’s advanced management program and earned an MBA from George Washington University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and resides in Madison with his wife, Patti, and their five children.
Mark Neal, of South Bend, is the chief operating officer of Bradley Company, a commercial real estate solutions provider in Northern Indiana and Western Michigan. Prior to joining the company in January, Neal served as city controller for South Bend and as deputy mayor during Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2014.
Prior to joining Mayor Buttigieg’s administration, Neal led his own executive and financial management consulting firm, KRS Financial, and previously served as vice president and chief financial officer for Press Ganey Associates in South Bend.
Neal graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned an MBA from George Washington University. He serves on the board of directors of the YMCA of Michiana and is the incoming 2016 chief volunteer officer. He is also president of the Michiana chapter of Financial Executives International and serves on the board of directors of the South Bend Parks Department. Neal lives in South Bend with his wife, Kathleen, and their three children.
These appointments will be effective tomorrow, Dec. 15, following the Board’s vote on state matching funds for regional development plans through the Indiana Regional Cities Initiative. The appointment terms will expire in March 2017.
