The 1828 Project is one of our signature programs at IndyHub and each year it’s full of incredible leaders between the ages of 18 and 28. Joe is a part of 1828’s Class VII. We sent him some questions and he responded. Keep reading to learn more about Joe!
How do you spend your days?
I am the Public Relations and Events Manager for the Indianapolis City Market.
Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised a Buckeye in Columbus, Ohio.
So, what made you lay your roots here in Indianapolis?
In early fall 2010, when looking at colleges I got a letter from Butler University. After visiting that October I was sold; I moved to Indy in August 2011. I left for a year after graduating, living in Austin, Texas, but found my way back.
If you had to choose one mode of transportation to get around our city, which would you choose and why?
It’d be nice if we had light rail (looking at you Indiana General Assembly), but realistically either bus or an electric vehicle.
Which local coffee joint is your favorite? What’s your go-to order?
With my job I should say Mile Square Coffee, which I do enjoy quite a bit, but it’s a really tough three-way tie between Calvin Fletchers’ Coffee, Coat Check, or The Thirsty Scholar.
What are you most excited for with 1828 and who has been your favorite speaker thus far?
The best part of 1828, as with most things I do, is making new friends and connections. I’ve gotten to know some of the other members pretty well, and it’s always encouraging to see such smart, driven people doing good work in our city.
Also, Brian Payne at CICF has probably been the speaker I’ve enjoyed the most so far. His vision and belief in Indy is infectious, and I hope I can inspire that same passion for this city in others.
What are you most excited about when thinking about the future of our city?
I can’t pick one thing, or even a small list. There are things happening here that are so exciting, like mass transit, and there’s the right energy and talent pool here to make incredible things happen. As long as we remember the importance of diversity, inclusive growth, intelligent and transit-oriented development, and what Hoosier hospitality is really about, Indy will be one of the best cities in the whole country.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever received?
I worry all the time that I ask too much of people – for favors and for help – without giving and helping in return, and when I told a friend about that concern recently they were shocked. They told me that they always saw me as a very selfless person, and I think that was honestly one of the nicest things someone’s ever told me.
What book has impacted you the most to date?
After watching the movie dozens of times I finally recently read John Krakauer’s Into the Wild, and it was incredible. From a more in-depth telling of the transient life and travels of Chris McCandless to Krakauer’s insight into the importance of family and the struggles of relationships, that book means a lot to me.
Truthfully, what gets you fired up?
When I see people litter I get incredibly angry. It’s really not that hard to throw away or recycle your trash like a responsible human being. Seeing a planter or flower bed full of cigarette butts is the worst.
What’s your dream adventure vacation?
Either sitting on a lakeshore in northern Michigan in mid-summer, or backpacking around Ireland.
