

Saluting Women in Business in the Valley
October is National Women’s Small Business Month and we’re celebrating by highlighting ladies in leadership all across the Wabash Valley.
After all, Women Mean Business.
Tune in as we shine a light on these hard working women all month long. Listen below to hear how these women – in their own words – have navigated the highs and lows of leadership.
2026 Spotlight
Indiana State University

Dr. Carrie Ball
Dr. Carrie Ball is the Interim Dean of Indiana State University’s Bayh College of Education, where her leadership prioritizes student success, faculty and staff development, community partnerships, and workforce development initiatives. A nationally recognized school psychologist, professor, and higher education leader, Dr. Ball has spent more than 15 years at Indiana State University fostering innovation and building strong collaborations with schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders across the Wabash Valley and Indiana.
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Her leadership has helped drive enrollment growth, secure significant external funding, and strengthen educator preparation programs that support Indiana’s future workforce. Beyond the university, Dr. Ball has served in professional leadership positions as an appointee to the Indiana State Psychology Board and as a member of the Indiana Association of School Psychologists Executive Board. A recipient of Indiana State University’s President’s Medal for Exemplary Contributions and Dedication, Dr. Ball is passionate about developing people, creating opportunities, and supporting the economic and educational vitality of the Terre Haute community.
Indiana State University

Dr. Kelley Woods-Johnson
Dr. Kelley Woods-Johnson knew early on that she would spend her life teaching, learning, and working in education. What started as a love for school and playing teacher for her siblings transformed into nearly 30 years as a student of and leader in higher education. Kelley serves as Indiana State University’s Associate Provost for Student Success and Advising, where she guides efforts to create supportive environments that promote student success in and beyond the classroom.
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Her professional portfolio spans institutional functions from academic affairs to student development, and she continues to engage her love of teaching as an affiliated adjunct faculty member in the departments of Educational Leadership and Teaching and Learning at Indiana State. Kelley earned her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Virginia Tech and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in education from the University of Cincinnati. She lives in Terre Haute with her husband, Jason, and their two cats, Fox and Oliver, and enjoys working her plots in the ISU Community Garden in her free time.
Indiana State University

Jennifer Mullen
Jennifer Mullen is a Senior Instructor of Marketing in the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University, bringing over 20 years of experience in higher education, student leadership, and academic administration. Throughout her career, Jennifer has focused on preparing future business leaders through hands-on marketing education and directing high-impact professional development programs.
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A passionate advocate for female leadership and civic investment, Jennifer also serves as President Emeritus of 12 Points Revitalization, Inc., leads local economic development initiatives, and co-owns a property business with her twin sister. Outside of her work in business and academia, she is an avid traveler and dog mom to her 15-year-old chiweenie, Pearl. She enjoys spending time on the lake with her fiancé, Bill Berry. Her favorite places she’s been include Vietnam and the Canadian Rockies in Banff.
Western Indiana Builders Association (WIBA)

Christina Crist
Christina Crist is a community leader, advocate, and nonprofit professional serving the Wabash Valley and Western Indiana communities. She currently serves as Executive Officer of the Western Indiana Builders Association (WIBA), where she works to strengthen the building industry, support affordable housing initiatives, and foster meaningful partnerships throughout the region.
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Christina also serves as President of the Vigo County Drug-Free Coalition and as a member of the Vigo County School Corporation Board of Trustees. Prior to joining WIBA, she spent more than 13 years leading Team of Mercy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families impacted by suicide, grief, and mental health challenges.
Known for her servant leadership, resilience, and passion for community engagement, Christina remains committed to building stronger communities through collaboration, advocacy, and service to others.
Simple to Elegant

Jeanette Winchester
Jeanette Winchester began her vision of owning a wedding, event and party planning business in October of 1998 – now in her 28th year, she and her staff of Simple to Elegant have done thousands of weddings and events! Simple to Elegant has the largest wedding and event rental inventory in the Wabash Valley.
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Jeanette has received many awards including “Women of Distinction”, “Women of Influence” and as a member of “The Knot” named “The Best of the Best” for five consecutive years earning Simple to Elegant lifetime membership in “The Knot Hall of Fame” as one of the top 1% worldwide in the wedding industry. Simple to Elegant is also a member of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and the Wabash Valley Bridal Society as well as active in many boards and charities throughout the community.
Team of Mercy

Heather Michael
Heather Michael is the Executive Director of Team of Mercy and founder of The District, bringing 17 years of experience building businesses, programs, and meaningful connections within the Terre Haute community.
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Her journey began in fitness, where she created Pulse Fitness and grew The District into a community built around movement and connection. Today, The District is evolving into a community wellness center with a much broader purpose — supporting the whole person through physical, mental, emotional, and social wellness.
While The District maintains its own identity, its next chapter is being intentionally built alongside the mission of Team of Mercy. The programs, partnerships, events, and community created within its walls will help strengthen and support Team of Mercy’s work and its impact throughout the community.
Heather’s primary focus moving forward is leading Team of Mercy, expanding its reach, strengthening partnerships, and creating spaces where connection, support, education, wellness, and hope all come together.
Roehm Refrigeration Heating & Cooling

Beth D’Amico
HVAC Queen, obviously.
You might think you know Beth D’Amico. You’ve seen the TV commercials. You’ve heard the voice on the radio. You’ve seen the RED. But this? This is the behind-the-scenes, slightly unfiltered, definitely louder version. Yes, red is everywhere at Roehm Heating & Cooling. The trucks. The shirts. The brand. The attitude. So naturally, everyone assumes it’s her favorite color. Plot twist: it’s actually pink. (Also loves diamonds, Louis Vuitton bags, and yes, her lucky number is 13 — because of course it is.)
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Beth is a lifelong Terre Haute resident. TH North Vigo High School, Class of ’96. Then off to Indiana State University where she played Division-1 softball and earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2000.
That competitive spirit? It didn’t retire with the softball cleats. Now it shows up in business, in leadership, and occasionally in conversations she plans on winning. She’s a proud cheer mom. A chronic volunteer. The type who says “I’ll just help a little” and somehow ends up running the whole thing.
At home, life is loud, blended, and beautifully chaotic. She and her amazing husband Joe have perfected the ultimate “His, Mine & Ours” roster with 5 kids…plus her 2 favorite littles – a grandson and a granddaughter. Family is everything to her.
Sunday Fundays. A house full of friends. Watching Joe cook. Hosting everything and every holiday. Keeping traditions alive — especially her annual Christmas craft days with her favorite people, that somehow require glitter in places glitter should never be.
She can army crawl through the nastiest crawlspace full of spiders without blinking…
…but will absolutely lose her mind over dirty dishes in the sink, clutter on the counter and trash sitting in the trash can.
Most importantly? She loves her TEAM. Fiercely. Because being the Queen is fun…but building an empire with your people? That’s the real HVAC crown!
Prospect Bank

Tamra Inman
A Terre Haute native, Tamra is a proud graduate of St. Mary of the Woods College with a BS in Paralegal Studies and obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis, Indiana. Before joining Prospect Bank, she served as Vice President and Wealth Advisor for Old National Wealth Management and as Vice President and Trust Officer for First Financial Bank in Terre Haute, Indiana.
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Currently, Tamra serves as the Manager of the Wealth Division and Senior Trust Officer. She is responsible for growth in the Wealth Management Division and oversees the daily operations. Tamra joined the bank in early 2023 and is committed to assisting customers with their investment and estate planning needs. Outside of work Tamra enjoys spending time with her husband, Dave; children, Kelsie and Davie; and grandchildren, Azlyn, Axyl, Maverick, Acetyn, and one more (Oakley) on the way.
Cooper’s Residential Improvement

Angela Cooper
Angela Cooper serves as the managing partner and public face of Cooper’s Residential Improvement, a family-owned enterprise established in 2023. Seamlessly balancing her career as a hospital Lab Tech with her entrepreneurial leadership, Angela manages customer relations, invoicing, and quality assurance.
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Her professional journey is defined by mutual support — a partnership that began with her husband’s encouragement during her medical studies and has evolved into their shared commitment to building a premier home improvement company. Together, they combine a dedication to excellence with a passion for community service on every project. Looking to the future, Angela and her husband are focused on building a legacy that spans generations, aiming to establish Cooper’s Residential Improvement as a deeply trusted and recognized name in their community.
McGuire & Leitgabel Custom Floral Designs

Cindy McGuire and Lisa Leitgabel
For Cindy and Lisa, McGuire & Leitgabel Custom Floral Designs has always been about more than flowers. It is about being trusted with the moments in people’s lives that matter. Together, they have built a local business around creativity, personal relationships, and the belief that floral design should feel as individual as the person receiving it. Their work puts them alongside customers during some of life’s happiest moments, from weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and new beginnings, as well as some of the hardest, when flowers can say what words sometimes cannot.
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That personal approach has become a defining part of McGuire & Leitgabel. Rather than simply choosing something off a shelf, customers can work with them to create custom designs built around a particular person, occasion, color palette, or idea. The shop has become especially known for custom floral work and weddings, serving Terre Haute and the surrounding Wabash Valley.
Behind every arrangement is the work that comes with running a small local business: long days, changing seasons, last-minute requests, weddings, holidays, deliveries, and the responsibility of knowing that customers are trusting them with important moments. Cindy and Lisa have turned that responsibility into the heart of what they do.
Their story is one of creativity becoming a business, relationships becoming loyal customers, and two local women using their talents to build something that has a place in their community.
Today, Cindy and Lisa continue to put their personal touch into McGuire & Leitgabel Custom Floral Designs, helping people celebrate, remember, comfort, and connect, one arrangement at a time.
Ocelli Aesthetics
Ashtin Stuckey
Hi, I’m Ashtin Stuckey, a registered nurse and Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist at Ocelli Aesthetics. I began working in healthcare as a CNA in high school and became an RN in 2012. After spending much of my nursing career in the Cath Lab, I followed my interest in aesthetics in 2021, becoming a licensed esthetician and earning certification in injectables.
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Aesthetics lets me bring together my love of science, beauty, and connecting with people. I love helping patients feel confident, but the relationships I’ve built with them mean just as much to me. I’m always learning and refining my techniques so I can give each person thoughtful, informed care.
Outside the treatment room, I’m spending time with my husband, Zach, our blended family, and our two Frenchies. Our location may have changed, but our commitment to the people we serve hasn’t. The Ocelli Aesthetics team is here to support you through your aesthetics and wellness journey, and I’m grateful for the trust our patients place in us.
Century 21 Elite

Amy Gordon
Since 2012, Amy Gordon from Century 21 Elite has served the Wabash Valley community with her real estate expertise. Amy took her interest in real estate and turned it into a career. She has experienced several home purchases and sales herself and is taking that practical knowledge and passing it on to her clients.
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Amy is also a mother and a long-term volunteer for many organizations and will work tirelessly to ensure that her clients have a great experience in either buying or selling their home. Amy’s philosophy…trust, integrity, community! Amy Gordon of Century 21 Elite.
Stadler and Company

Lori Carpenter
After raising 5 children and enjoying a rewarding career as music teacher in Terre Haute, Lori accepted an internship to do taxes at Stadler and Company. This opportunity blossomed into a new career as an Enrolled Agent. After becoming a fellow of NAEA’s National Tax Practice Institute, she has dedicated her time to tax preparation, tax planning with her clients, and representing clients before the IRS when they have tax issues.
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More recently she is engaged in mentoring new preparers and Enrolled Agents. She has been active with state and national non-profits who work to educate and protect taxpayers. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, home remodeling, and travelling.
Women Mean Business – Powered by Indiana State University Scott College of Business
30 N 7th St, Terre Haute, IN 47809
(812) 237-2000
Meet some of the leading ladies from the Indiana State University Scott College of Business!

Dr. Kelley Woods-Johnson

Dr. Carrie Ball

Jennifer Mullen
Listen to the Women Mean Business Podcast
National Women’s Small Business Month Fast Facts
This month, we’re talking about all of the different ways women small business owners and leaders benefit our community and the world around us. Did you know…
- There are over 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States, employing 9.4 million workers and generating revenue of $1.9 trillion.
- There are 116 Women’s Business Centers that supported 150,000 women last year, helping their businesses make 1.7 billion dollars and creating 17,000 jobs.
- 50 percent of women small business owners are women of color.
- In 2012, 44 percent of women small business owners also had children under the age of 18 in their household. That means, by supporting women-owned businesses, you’re also supporting families.
- In 1972, women only owned 4.6% of all businesses in the United States. Now women own 42% of businesses in the United States.
- There are 114% more women entrepreneurs than there were 20 years ago.
- October 1988 marks the anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s signing of H.R. 5050, which is the Women’s Business Ownership Act. This legislation increased federal support of women-owned businesses and made it easier for female entrepreneurs to get working capital, business training, and assistance.
- Prior to this bill being signed into law, some states required women to have a male family member co-sign on their business loan applications.







