The Conexus Team

Jordin Alexander
Director, Industry Development
Email: jalexander@conexusindiana.com

As Director of Industry Development, Jordin Alexander is focused on growing Conexus Indiana’s industry council partnerships while supporting industry partners to better engage with the organization. Jordin also is responsible for driving economic development activity within Indiana’s AML sectors through partnerships with public sector agencies, company targeting and recruitment support efforts.  

Prior to Conexus, Jordin served as the Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Fishers where she managed internal and external special projects for the mayor’s office including those related to regional and state policy research, economic development, the launch of accelerators such as the Fishers Test Kitchen and strategic planning for a new $22 million Arts & Municipal Complex in the city. Jordin also served as Economic Development Specialist for the City of Fishers and as a Graduate Planner for Waldrop Engineering in Bonita Springs, Florida.  

Jordin was a Division-1 athlete at Brown University and Florida Gulf Coast University where she played basketball while earning a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a master’s degree in Public Administration and Environmental Policy. 

Bryce Carpenter
Senior Vice President, Industry Engagement
Email: bcarpenter@conexusindiana.com

As Senior Vice President of Industry Engagement, Bryce supports the organization’s robust network of industry, public-sector and higher education stakeholders as they identify and activate the most impactful projects for industry growth.

Prior to joining Conexus Indiana, Bryce spent more than 10 years in business development, fundraising, marketing and communications for the Marion County Republican Central Committee (MCRCC). He most recently worked as the Executive Director for the MCRCC in Indianapolis, creating and executing individually tailored campaign platforms and grassroots strategies, and partnering with the Indianapolis City-County Council, State Legislature, and Mayor’s office on advance issues and legislation. Within the Committee, he previously held the position of Communication and Political Director where he managed press relations and volunteer programs.

Bryce holds a Bachelor of Arts from Centre College, Danville, Ky., where he majored in Government and minored in History.

Guillermo Guillen
Manager, Adult Programs
Email: gguillen@conexusindiana.com

A 28-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps with additional experience in the private sector, Guillermo has spent much of his career focused on training and process improvement.

Joining Conexus Indiana in July of 2021, Guillermo came from the manufacturing and orientation training department at Subaru of Indiana (SIA), where he helped employees gain basic skills and learn about standard work and safety processes in the manufacturing environment. Previously, the fluent Spanish speaker led and trained employees at two Nevada aircraft-maintenance firms, DynCorp International and L3 Vertex.

Guillermo holds a number of certifications, including a Green Belt in Process Improvement Management in Lean and Six Sigma and Theory of Constraints, as has undertaken extensive training in supply chain management. While with the Marine Corps, he put his expertise to work as lead maintenance production supervisor of a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron, an aircraft component repair facility supporting seven fixed-wing squadrons and processing more than 900 components each month. In that role, he implemented Theory of Constraint/Lean Six Sigma methodologies to produce an 80% reduction in awaiting parts and component runaround time.

Nikki Jagow
Sr. Manager, Talent Programs
Email: njagow@conexusindiana.com

Nikki, Sr. Manager of Talent Programs, spent more than 15 years in K-12 education. At Conexus, she uses that experience to support of K-12 talent initiatives with particular emphasis on the Modern Apprenticeship Program creating connections between high school students, educators and employers to establish comprehensive career pathways in advanced manufacturing.

Prior to joining Conexus, Nikki was the Work Based Learning Coordinator for the J. Everett Light Career Center (JELCC) where she was responsible for creating opportunities for students to learn in the workplace by facilitating and coordinating internships, apprenticeships and career exposure projects focused on student pathway goals. In this position she assisted students and families in successful transitions to postsecondary programs or career placements. The most meaningful moments were seeing students realize the powerful potential their future holds when their pathway is made clear.

Prior to JELCC, Nikki was a Parent and Community Coordinator for Indianapolis Public Schools. In this role she coordinated the efforts to establish the school as a centralized hub and resource to the students and families that attended. She was responsible for developing parent workshops to increase student academic performance, creating a viable parent/teacher organization, developing and sustaining community involvement, and organizing school-wide tutoring programs. It was in this role that she discovered a genuine talent and passion for seeing student growth and achievement.

Nikki attended Indiana State University and University of Southern Indiana with a major in Community and Public Health.

Mitch Landess
Vice President, Innovation and Digital Transformation

Email: mlandess@conexusindiana.com

Mitch Landess serves as Conexus Indiana’s Vice President of Innovation and Digital Transformation. Mitch joined Conexus after more than 17 years as a member of the leadership team at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Rose-Hulman Ventures – the institute’s revenue-generating enterprise that serves engineering clients and provides student internships and real-world work experiences. Mitch started his career as a control systems engineer and operations team member for the startup of the $438-million Wabash River Gasification Repowering Project.

At Conexus Indiana, Mitch uses that experience to develop pathways to digital transformation for advanced manufacturing and logistics firms.

Mitch holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Kyle Marshall
Senior Director of K-16 Education
Email: kmarshall@conexusindiana.com

Kyle joined the team at Conexus Indiana in January 2020 and is the Senior Director of K-16 Education. He is responsible for managing talent initiatives and creating CTE programming that cultivates connectivity between industry, education and state leadership partners. This includes Conexus Student Industries, Education Readiness Grants, dual credit oversight and work-based learning programs.

Kyle started his career as a project manager for Wynright Corporation where he implemented logistics solutions and supported site training for customers throughout North America. When Kyle decided to take his industry knowledge to the classroom, he chose Teach For America as a transitional program to earn his teaching license. He taught at-risk youth as a middle school math and science teacher and then found his passion in career and technical education. He has served as an engineering and advanced manufacturing instructor for J. Everett Light Career Center and an adjunct professor for Ivy Tech Community College.

Kyle holds a masters degree in Teaching from Marian University and degrees in Organizational Leadership and Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University.

Laura Miller
Vice President, Communications
Email: lmiller@conexusindiana.com

Laura Miller is a 35+-year marketing communications veteran with a passion for crafting and delivering compelling messages that support the growth of Indiana’s economy and Hoosier career opportunities.

As Vice President of Communications, Laura is responsible for developing Conexus Indiana’s strategic communications plan and working with its network of partners to increase the awareness of Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. She leads Conexus Indiana’s statewide public awareness campaign to inspire young Hoosier adults to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing and logistics as well as content development, creative design and social and digital strategies.

Laura began her career as a journalist, first as part-owner of a community newspaper then as a general assignment reporter for a weekly business journal.

After 11 years as a journalist, she joined a small marketing communications agency in Indianapolis as public relations director. She later joined Eli Lilly and Company as a corporate Public Relations Senior Associate where she gained experience working in the medical field and communicating complex issues to consumer audiences.

Laura stepped back into the agency environment after nearly four years at Eli Lilly and Company, serving in leadership roles at various global and small public relations and advertising agencies in Indianapolis. Her last agency position was as Vice President, Director of Public Relations for Caldwell VanRiper.

Brad Rhorer
COO and Chief Talent Officer
Email: brhorer@conexusindiana.com

Brad is a long-time industry professional recognized in both the public sector and manufacturing industry for his expertise in talent development. As COO and Chief Talent Officer, Brad oversees Conexus Indiana’s operations and uses his years of workforce development experience to develop and direct programs that support secondary and post-secondary students and adult workers.

Brad joined Conexus Indiana after a 25-year career at Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. (SIA), starting with experience on the production assembly line. He held positions of increasing leadership during his time at Subaru and became a key figure in the company’s Human Resources operations where he served as manufacturing liaison for more than 5,000 employees at the Lafayette, Ind., plant. He was instrumental in developing major programs to address talent needs at SIA. He is also a member of the Indiana Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, a group created during the 2018 legislative session to assess and realign Indiana’s workforce development programs and services.

Brad holds a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University, a bachelor’s degree in management of human resources from Bellevue University and an associate’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision from Purdue University.

Chana Sweeney
Director, Operations
Email: csweeney@conexusindiana.com

As Director of Operations, Chana is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Conexus Indiana, including contracts, invoices, budgeting, and grant reports. She also oversees information technology.

Chana previously worked as the Account Manager for Anthony Travel onsite at Purdue University where she was charged with starting and growing a travel program for the staff and faculty.  She also held positions with Conexus as Executive Assistant & Office Manager, College Park Church as the Executive Assistant & Resource Coordinator, Aramark Harrison Lodging in Hospitality Management and was a Corporate Travel Counselor for organizations such as Honeywell and Adidas, Inc.

Chana is currently serving as a mentor to women in topics related to health and wellness as well as teaching local group fitness classes.

Molly Zentz
Director, Communications
Email: mzentz@Conexusindiana.com

Molly Zentz serves as Conexus Indiana’s Director of Communication. In this role, she works to promote Conexus Indiana, its industry sector and the organization’s objectives by executing strategic marketing and communications strategies and tactics. As a Director, Molly helps manage the many internal and external communications channels across the organization to drive engagement, participation, retention, and positive brand recognition.

Prior to joining Conexus, Molly served as Head of Marketing for agriculture technology company, Solinftec. In that role, she led an international team of marketing and communications professionals to increase the company’s brand awareness, build trust with key stakeholders and refine the company’s brand narrative.

Molly has a diverse background in communications, having managed public relations for national corporations, non-profits and agencies. Her prior work experience includes Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., Angie’s List, BLASTmedia and Raybourn Group International.

Molly holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Indianapolis and is accredited in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America.