Aaron M. Renn is an opinion-leading urban analyst, consultant, speaker, and writer on a mission to help America’s cities and people thrive and find real success in the 21st century. He focuses on urban, economic development, and infrastructure policy in the greater American Midwest. He also regularly contributes to and is cited by national and global media outlets. He is a columnist for Governing magazine and his work has appeared in the The Guardian (UK), The New York Times, and The Washington Post, along with many others. Renn currently shares insight on Indianapolis for the Indy Chamber.

Jeff Robinson, Senior Director of Marketing for Visit Indy, leads the effort to promote and market the city of Indianapolis as a tourism and meetings destination. He believes that sharing the story of our buildings will help visitors and residents connect with the city in an unexpected way. He enjoys playing on the Central Canal with his family and cheering in the grandstands at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As Principal and CEO at Schmidt Associates, Hempstead is passionate about improving communities through purposeful, beautiful design—with a special love for creating transformational learning spaces of all kinds. She consider herself a life-long learner, which fuels a desire to create places where everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve their potential. Projects that help revitalize a community, breathe new life into an old structure, or light a spark in a young learner fulfill her as a designer and drive her firm’s mission. Fun Fact: Backpacked from Egypt to Ireland in 1997.

Fun Fact: Backpacked from Egypt to Ireland in 1997.

Megan Fernandez, Director of Editorial Operations at Indianapolis Monthly, traded her family's pickle farm in Southern Indiana for roots in downtown Indy. Fernandez often starts the day by biking to work past many of the sites on the Walking Indianapolis tour, slowing down to admire the majestic, fortress-like Birch Bayh U.S. Courthouse. She covers design, home and gardens, shopping, and other lifestyle topics for Indianapolis Monthly, plays tennis, and seeks out the city's best fried dill pickles.