Joseph D. Barnette, Jr. and G. Frederick Glass receive highly esteemed Whistler Award
The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee presented Joseph D. Barnette, Jr. and G. Frederick Glass with the Charles L. Whistler Award. The annual award recognizes one or two individuals who, outside the regular duties of their chosen professions, have brought together the public and private sectors for civic improvement in Indianapolis.
More than a local banking icon and Indianapolis business leader, Joe Barnette has engaged the central Indiana community through a wide variety of civic and service organizations. Truly dedicated to the betterment of the Indianapolis community, Joe has involved himself with a wide breadth of networks, showing commitment to economic development the arts, minority groups and education.
Beyond serving as the President of The Sexton Companies, Joe has been at the forefront of regional economic development. When the Corporate Community Council looked to expand beyond Marion County, Joe worked with regional leaders for years to develop the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, an organization he went on to chair for a number of years. He also served as chair of both the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Indianapolis Economic Development Corporation.
In addition, Joe has served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Wabash College and on the boards of the Indianapolis Opera, Women’s Fund of Indiana, Arthur Jordan Foundation, Pacers Foundation, and the Executive Service Corps of Indiana. He has been honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash, the Whitney Young Award for contribution to the Indianapolis African-American community, and the Thomas W. Moses Good Scout Award for outstanding contributions to the caliber of life for citizens in Central Indiana.
With an unparalleled ability to bring focus on difficult problems, Fred Glass has a long history of bringing people together to solve problems facing the Indianapolis community. Prior to joining law firm Baker & Daniels, Fred served in Indiana Governor Evan Bayh’s office, including as Chief of Staff. He served as Chairperson of Mayor Bart Peterson’s Transition Team before going on to serve as President of the Capital Improvement Board, where he worked to keep the Indianapolis Colts in town and land the NCAA Final Four. Fred has served on the boards of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, Indiana Sports Corp, the One Hundred Club, Indiana Regional Economic Development Partnership, and the Indiana Transportation Finance Authority among many more. He has been recognized by IBJ’s 20 Most Influential City Leaders and 40 Under Forty and by Indy Star’s 25 Most Influential People in Sports in Central Indiana.
