The 500 Festival Board of Directors recently elected its 2012-2013 officers and welcomed five new civic leaders to serve on its board.

NEWLY-ELECTED OFFICERS

• Chairman of the Board: Ted Dickman, CEO, BKD, LLP
• Vice Chairman of the Board: John Crisp, Senior Vice President/Principal, Cassidy Turley
• Secretary: Paul Sinclair, Partner, Ice Miller

NEWLY-ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS

• Bob Brody, CEO, Central Indiana Region, Franciscan Alliance, Inc. & President, Franciscan St. Francis Health
• Karen Crotchfelt, President & Publisher, Star Media
• Rob Hillman, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana
• Susan Massela, Vice President, Human Resources, Simon Property Group
• David Pentzien, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Operations, ProLiance Energy

Ted Dickman is Chief Executive Officer of BKD, LLP, a national CPA and advisory firm. He has nearly 30 years of public accounting experience with a varied background in tax, accounting and business consulting. Prior to being elected 500 Festival Chairman of the Board, Dickman’s 500 Festival service included chairing the Mini-Marathon and Memorial Service Committees. He was a member of the 500 Festival Finance, Nominating and Track Liaison Committees, as well.

Dickman serves on the boards of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Catholic Charities of Indianapolis. He is a trustee for the Beechwood Educational Foundation, a council member of the Central Indiana United Way Tocqueville Society and financial advisory board member for Phi Gamma Delta international fraternity.

A native of Richmond, Ind., Dickman graduated from Indiana University with a degree in accounting. He and his wife, Kim, reside in Indianapolis and have five children.

*Editor’s Note – A photo of Ted Dickman, Chairman of the Board, is available by clicking here.

The mission of the 500 Festival is to advocate and celebrate the spirit, heritage and legacy of the Indianapolis 500®. Through social, cultural and educational events and programs, the 500 Festival enhances the quality of life for all citizens of our community.

The 500 Festival, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the greatest race in the world. Over the past 56 years, the 500 Festival has grown to become one of the largest festivals in the nation.

Last year, more than 500,000 Hoosiers and visitors participated in nearly 50 events and programs throughout the month of May. Whether they were athletes running the Mini-Marathon, fourth grade students participating in the Education Program, families enjoying the state’s largest festival for kids or spectators being dazzled by one of the nation’s premier parades, they were there, celebrating the legacy.