Ball State University recently welcomed five new alumni to its Foundation Board of Directors. Charley Barth, Bob Kaspar, and Keith Robinson have each been elected to serve three-year terms, starting November 10, 2023. In June, Kelli Lawrence completed her service as an Alumni Council representative to the Foundation Board and was elected to continue service as a Foundation Board Director.  The Ball State University Alumni Association elected Mike Earley to serve as one of its two representatives to the Foundation Board with a term beginning in July 2023.

Jean Kramer Crosby, expressed her excitement about the new appointments and looks forward to working with these accomplished alumni to further support the university.  “As a fellow alumna and President of the Foundation and Alumni Association, I am honored to have these highly engaged and professionally successful alumni join the Foundation Board of Directors particularly as we further our comprehensive campaign Our Call to Beneficence: The Campaign for Ball State University,” Jean Kramer Crosby said. “I look forward to working with Bob, Keith, and Charley and I am pleased to continue working with Mike and Kelli.”

The Foundation Board also re-elected Patrick Alderdice ‘92, Thomas Bryan ‘77, Don Dumoulin ‘82, Julie Griffith ‘79, Dave Heeter ‘83, Marla Templeton ‘81, Jim Williams, and Kyle Williams ’00, each for another three-year term. These members will continue to serve on the board, bringing their expertise and dedication to the organization.

Additionally, the Foundation Board acknowledged the service of departing director Marsha Casey ‘79 by granting Casey the honor of Director Emerita for her twelve years of outstanding service to the organization. The Board recognized her contributions and expressed their gratitude for her commitment to the Foundation and the University.

As a result of these changes, the Foundation Board is well-positioned to continue its important work, supporting the mission of the Ball State University and making a difference in the lives of those it serves.

About the new board members:

Charley Barth ’92

Charley is a notable leader in the field of Enterprise Content Management (ECM), serving as the 1st Global leader in this capacity for Cummins. His role is integral to the management of all information created within the company, including Information Asset Protection (IAP) Program, Corporate Policy, E-forms, Global Collaboration platforms, Cybersecurity compliance, and Legacy content migrations. Prior to his work at Cummins, Charley served as the Director of the United States Federal Register. In this role, he was responsible for providing access to the official text of Federal laws, Presidential documents, administrative regulations, Notices, and Descriptions of Federal Organizations. Charley has a wide range of experience in the United States Government, including positions with the United States Senate, the Department of Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. He has been recognized for his outstanding achievement in records management with the Archivist Achievement award by the National Archives and the Harvard University bright idea award for innovative achievement with the Federal Register website. Charley attended Ball State University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Military Science. He also holds a Master of Management degree in Procurement and Acquisitions Management from Webster University. Charley is a Senior Fellow at Ball State University, on the board of directors for the Cardinal Varsity Club, and a former owner of a vineyard in Virginia. He and his wife Julie reside in Zionsville, IN and have two sons and one daughter.

Michael Earley ’78 MBA ‘84

Michael Earley is a highly experienced professional who has held several executive positions in small and large enterprises. Currently, he is the owner of Earley Group LLC, a Venture Partner with Sky Trace Ventures, and an Elevate Ventures Advisor. He has also served on the board of Zig Therapeutics, Advisory Board for Thrive 365 and RX-Platform, and as a partner in Dental Care Solutions LLC and Daily Ding LLC. Mike is well-versed in P&L leadership, operations, sales, and marketing. He has completed capital raises for start-ups and early-stage companies and has been involved in strategic acquisitions.

Mike obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting Management in ’78 from Ball State’s Miller College of Business.  He then went on to complete an MBA at Butler University in 1984. He is the past President of Ball State University’s Miller College of Business Alumni Board and was awarded the College’s Award of Distinction in 2014. Currently, he serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Ball State Alumni Council. Mike is passionate about networking and mentoring.  He recently published “Connecting for Success, A Student’s Guide to Networking.”

Bob Kaspar ’81

Bob Kaspar is a well-known name in the wealth management industry. He has been serving as the Managing Principal of Windsor Wealth Management since 2000, where he provides comprehensive wealth management services to his clients. In addition to this, Bob also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the National Advisors Trust Company, located in Overland Park, KS. The company has over $12 billion in assets under administration, serving the trust and custody needs of approximately 180 independent registered investment advisors across the United States.

Bob’s career in the wealth management industry spans over three decades, during which he has held various leadership roles. He started his career as a Senior Accountant at Ernst & Young, where he worked from 1981 to 1984. Later, he served as the President of Irwin Union Investor Services from 1984 to 1996 and the President of Somerset Wealth Management from 1997 to 1999.

Apart from his professional endeavors, Bob is also actively involved in philanthropic work. He serves as a trustee of University High School of Indiana and The Lacy Foundation. He is also a member of the MusicCrossroads Steering Committee. Bob has held several leadership positions in various organizations, including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, where he served as the past Chairman, overseeing a $28 million annual budget and $20 million in qualified plan assets. He has also served as the President of the United Methodist Foundation of Indiana and the Chair of the statewide Indiana Humanities Council and The Learning Collaborative.

Kelli Lawrence ’01

As the CEO of Onyx + East, Lawrence is responsible for developing the strategic vision for the company. Her focus is on expanding the reach and breadth of Onyx + East in Indiana, Florida, and other new markets. She is a proponent of innovation, culture, and execution within the organization. Lawrence has extensive experience in the development and construction of institutional quality multi-family communities throughout the Midwest. She has helped grow companies’ project portfolios and market reach, having been involved in the development of approximately 4,500 multi-family, for-sale, and rental residential units, valued at over $600 million, in many markets across the Midwest.

Lawrence began her career in the public sector as the Long-Range Planner for the city of Carmel, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University, with a double major in economics. Lawrence then pursued a Master of Business Administration degree with a major in marketing from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. She has served as a volunteer leader in numerous organizations, including as Chair for the Indiana District Council of the Urban Land Institute, Chair of the Riley Children’s Foundation Riley Society Board, and Chair of the Ball State University Alumni Council. Her leadership and expertise have been critical to the growth and success of Onyx + East.

Keith Robinson ’95

Dr. Keith A. Robinson is an accomplished educator from Gary, IN who has spent his career inspiring and guiding young minds. He holds an impressive educational background, including a B.A. in Secondary English Education from Ball State University, a Master’s in Education Administration and Supervision from Roosevelt University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from National Louis University.

Keith has been acknowledged with honors such as the BSU G.O.L.D Winner and Teacher’s College Distinguished Service Award Winner in 2019. He’s also a member and past Board President of Foundation65, a local Evanston organization supporting Arts and Literacy programming in the elementary school district. Furthermore, he serves on the boards of FAN (Family Action Network), Ball State University Foundation, Teacher’s College Advisory Council at Ball State University, and is a Trustee for the Village of Skokie. He’s an active participant in numerous professional education organizations and a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Throughout his career, Keith has demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of education as a tool for personal and societal growth. He has consistently worked to create positive and supportive learning environments, and his impact on his students has been immeasurable. Keith’s contributions to the field of education have been invaluable.