Keepers of the Vision

We shape gifted students into gifted humans – people who are comfortable in their own skin, who think clearly and potently, and who engage the gifts they’ve received with humility and a determination to make the most of their lives.

Bob Brody

Bob Brody is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Franciscan St. Francis Health. Bob has been active in many community organizations, including the Catholic Community Foundation, Inc., The Children’s Museum, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, and the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Brody received his undergraduate degree at Boston College and his Master’s degree from Duke University. Bob, and his wife Helen, are parents of two Sycamore Alums, Scott (2002) and Mary (2006) and current student, Courtney (2013).

Traci Caldwell

Traci Caldwell served as the 2009-10 President of the SSA, Sycamore School’s parent-teacher organization. She graduated from Indiana University with degrees in both elementary and special education. Traci has experience in teaching at both the elementary and middle school levels and has worked with students having a variety of exceptional needs. She earned her Master’s Degree from Butler University in Administration and Supervision. Traci and her husband, Michael, have two children currently attending Sycamore, Ethan (2016) and Lauren (2018).

Laura Conder

Laura Conder joined a predecessor of Chase Bank in 1992. Today, continuing to build on a career in consumer lending, she runs the student lending operations for Chase. Laura is a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois. She moved to the Indianapolis area in 1991, after completing her studies at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University with degrees in accounting and finance. She met her husband, Dan, at Purdue. Laura and Dan have two daughters, Catherine (2018) and her younger sister, Elizabeth. Laura is an active member of Second Presbyterian Church where she teaches Sunday School, and she enjoys travelling.

Pawel Fludzinski

Pawel Fludzinski joined Lilly in 1984 as a Research Chemist after completing an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. He earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Rochester. Pawel has spent the majority of his Lilly career in R&D management, including 4 years living in England and 4 years in Japan. Outside of Lilly, he has served on the Board of the Indianapolis Zoo since 1996, including a term as Chair (2006-08). He joined the board of the Japan America Society of Indiana in 2003, and currently serves as Board President. He has also served on the Board of the Indiana Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (2007-09), including one year as Vice President for Development. Pawel and his wife Lou are parents of current Sycamore student Nya (2020). Pawel has a strong interest in large format photography.

Marc Gerdisch

Marc Gerdisch is Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Francis Heart Center in Indianapolis. Dr. Gerdisch co-directs the Heart Valve Center, and his practice focus is surgical treatment of complex heart valve disease. Marc is a partner at Cardiac Surgery Associates, the largest cardiac surgery group in the country. He trained at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, where he is an Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Gerdisch is active in the development of novel surgical techniques and research. He presents his work internationally. Marc and his wife Lori Ann are parents of current Sycamore students, Robert (2011) and Matthew (2013).

Jeff Hagerman

Jeff Hagerman is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a graduate of North Side High School and Purdue University’s CEM Engineering program. He is the President of The Hagerman Group, a commercial construction company which delivers construction services via general contract, construction management, design-build, and program management. Jeff’s external involvement includes the Fisher’s Chamber of Commerce Board, the Indiana Construction Round Table Board, the United Way Success By 6 Leadership Board, the United Way Childcare Ministries Task Force, the CEM Advisory Committee for Purdue, Trustee for the Indiana Carpenters Pension Fund, past board member of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization, and Godparent for the St. Mary’s Childcare Center. Jeff is the proud father of Drake (2018).

Paul Helft

Paul Helft is a native of Indianapolis, and completed his undergraduate degree in general studies in humanities and his medical degree at the University of Chicago. He then went on to complete his internship and residency in internal medicine, and fellowships in hematology/oncology and clinical medical ethics at the University of Chicago. Dr. Helft joined the faculty of the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis in 2001, where he is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. His clinical work is based in the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. In 2004, he became the first director of the Charles Warren Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics at Clarian Health in Indianapolis. Paul and his wife Melissa Cavaghan have two children at Sycamore School: Graham (2015) and Margot (2017).

Bill Klenk

Bill Klenk and his wife, Becky, are the proud parents of two Sycamore graduates, Alison (’90) and Ellen (’92). He was involved with the school in 1985 when it was founded. Today, two grandchildren, Abby and Alex Cheng, attend school at Sycamore. As a graduate of Purdue University (’78), Bill has worked in various assignments at Allison Transmission for the past forty-one years. Today, he is the executive director of the off-highway and hybrid electric business segments. Interested in education, Bill also serves on the Boards of the Krannert School at Purdue University, West Lafayette and the Dean’s Industrial Advisory Council of Purdue’s Engineering School in Indianapolis.

Susan Loftus

Susan Loftus is the incoming president of SSA, Sycamore School’s parent-teacher organization. She graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a BA in Communications. She moved to Indianapolis in 1993 and worked for former Mayor Stephen Goldsmith for several years. In 2000, she became Executive Director of the Indiana Education Savings Authority, the quasi-state agency that governs Indiana’s 529 college savings plan. She worked for the IESA for seven years before deciding to stay home with her children. Susan and her husband, Joe, have two children currently attending Sycamore, Kate (2017) and Will (2020).

Cecelia McDonnell

Cecelia McDonnell graduated with a BS in Accounting from Marian College and received her CPA license in 1995. Cecelias professional career included time at Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf architecture firm as the accountant for the joint venture for the Circle Centre Mall. Following that position, she spent nine years as the controller of Young & Laramore, a local advertising agency. After the birth of her daughter, she has been able to use her many skills as a mom, wife and an extremely involved volunteer at school, church and many other community activities. Cecelia and her husband Brian are parents of current student Emily (2013).

Monique Hunt McWilliams

Monique Hunt McWilliams is a native of Indianapolis and received her law degree and B.A. in chemistry from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She is currently Assistant General Counsel in corporate litigation at Eli Lilly and Company where she has been employed since 1998. Her litigation practice includes pharmaceutical product liability litigation, commercial litigation, and human resources litigation. Prior to joining Lilly, she was a litigator in private practice. Monique is very involved in community and legal activities focused on increasing the diversity of students interested in the practice of law. Monique and her husband, Terrence, have two children currently attending Sycamore, Jasmine (2016) and Terrence, Jr (2019).

Seema Mernitz

Seema Mernitz was the 2008-09 President of the SSA, Sycamore School’s parent-teacher organization. She graduated with an BA in Microbiology from University of Texas at Austin. Seema completed her M.D. at Indiana University School of Medicine in 1996 and pediatric residency at Riley Hospital for Children in 1999. She served as Chief Resident at Riley Hospital from 1999-2000, and was very active in resident/medical school student teaching and training. After that, she was in private practice at St. Vincent Hospital for a few years before making the decision to stay home to raise her daughters. Seema and her husband Chris are parents of current Sycamore students: Kaya (2013), and twins, Kendrick (2016) and Sophie (2016). She loves to travel and read.

Michael Mervis

Michael Mervis is a Director for Mervis Industries, a diversified family business with 18 divisions and affiliated companies that operate in four states. He and his wife, Julie, have four sons, Isaac (2011), Joseph (2013), Sam and Gabe (2018). A graduate of Indiana University, Michael was a physics teacher and coach for sixteen years before joining the family business. He was attracted to Sycamore School by the quality of Sycamore graduates. He has served on the Sycamore Board of Trustees as the chair of the Buildings and Grounds and Development committees, and is currently on the Board of Trustees for the Danville Area Community College Foundation, on numerous state and national boards and committees for the recycling industry, and is president of the Mervis Family Foundation.

Travis Morgan

Travis Morgan is a serial entrepreneur, having owned and operated a number of businesses in widely varied industries during the last 18 years. He is currently managing member of Caravel Ventures, a local private equity firm whose primary portfolio companies include a leading forensic DNA company and a DNA related biotech start-up. Travis serves on the boards and is in an active day-to-day executive management role for both companies. His expertise includes venture creation, mergers and acquisitions, and change management in rapidly growing enterprises. Travis received undergraduate degrees in accounting and finance from Indiana University, is a CPA and holds an MBA from Babson. His daughters Marina (2016) and Maris (2018) have each attended Sycamore since preschool. His wife, April also is an active volunteer with Sycamore School.

Mike Rosiello

Mike Rosiello is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, where he is co-chair of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He received his B.A. from Columbia University in economics and his J.D. from Stanford University. Mike and his wife, Patty, are the parents of two Sycamore alumni, Nick (Class of 2001) and Chris (Class of 2002). He was a member of the Sycamore Board from 1995 to 2003, serving as President from 2000 to 2003. Mike is currently a member of the Board of the Hope Academy, an Indianapolis charter high school for students recovering from substance abuse, and the Board of the United Way of Central Indiana.

Madeleine (Briscoe) Smith

Madeleine (Briscoe) Smith (’96) is a proud alumna of Sycamore School. She went on to attend Brebeuf Jesuit and earned a B.A. in Spanish from Butler University. Madeleine works as Director of Annual Fund at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and is currently pursuing her M.B.A. at Butler University with a Finance focus. Madeleine and her husband, Justin, live in Broad Ripple and enjoy long walks on the Monon with their two dogs.

Tracy Swearingen

Tracy Swearingen is Vice President of Taxation for Duke Realty Corporation, where she has worked since 1987. She is an Indianapolis native and a graduate of DePauw University. Tracy is a Certified Public Accountant. Tracy and Jim Swearingen are parents of two daughters, Rebecca (Class of 2005) and Jada. Tracy and Jim assisted in the capital campaign in 1998 and in the Annual Fund drives in 1999 and 2000. Tracy’s interests include reading, music, gardening, and horseback riding. She previously served on the Sycamore Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2007, chairing the Educational Policy and Technology Committees.

Jack Tanselle

Jack Tanselle is a Managing Director in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Disputes, Compliance and Investigations practice at Navigant Consulting, Inc. Jack received a B.S. degree in Communications from Miami University (Ohio) and an M.B.A. in Management & Strategy and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (Illinois). Jack was previously a commissioner and coach for Carmel Dads’ Club basketball for five years, and President of the local chapter of the Kellogg Alumni Association. Jack and his wife Laurie are the parents of Thomas (2015) and Mary Kate (2018). Jack enjoys tournament and leisure golf, traveling with his family and reading.