David is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis. He grew up in Fountain Square and attended Indianapolis Public Schools. He lived 2 miles south of the historic National Road.  

A decorated US Army veteran, serving overseas and Washington D.C. with Defense Intelligence Agency. David earned a B.S. in business economics & public policy (IU Indianapolis), and an MBA from Butler University. David enjoyed a successful career in business working as an executive in US and international companies during his career. 

David is an award-winning faculty member at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business (Indianapolis) where he taught for over 20 years. In addition to numerous teaching awards, David was selected by the Dean as the Keynote Commencement speaker at IU Kelley (Indianapolis) graduation in 2011. 

David has a deep love of history and has been successful in researching and receiving approval of six Indiana Historical Bureau Markers throughout Indianapolis. David has also authored the content and co-led the design and implementation of the T.C. Steele Historic Trail progressive web application, introduced on the world wide web in June of 2023. 

Married to the former Lynne Tarlton Jeck, the Steele’s enjoy road trips and have driven the Indiana National Road, Natchez Trace Parkway, and in 2021 Historic Route 66 from Chicago to LA.

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Dara is a lifelong learner with a diverse educational background. She holds four degrees, including an Associate of Science in Business from Ivy Tech Community College (2009), a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Business Education and Information Design and End-User Computing from Indiana State University (2011), a Master of Business Administration from Indiana State University (2016), and an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and Health Information from Lakeland Community College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2023.

With 14 years of experience in education and nearly as many in higher education advancement, Dara has built a career in institutional advancement. She currently leads the annual giving program at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she has worked for nearly seven years. Her commitment to her field extended to serving on the Independent College Advancement Association (ICAA) Board from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, she joined the Indiana National Road Association (INRA) in 2020, where she served as Secretary (2021–2023) and now holds the position of Vice President. Since 2025, she has been a proud member of the Worldwide Women’s Association.

Outside her professional life, Dara is a devoted wife, mother, and farmer. She and her husband live on a rural farm, where they raise pigs responsibly on pasture with minimal antibiotic intervention, often using feed derived from their farm’s crops. With 50–60 pigs at a time and a growing meat business, she takes pride in sustainable farming practices.

Her most cherished role is being a mother to six children; a set of quadruplets who are 6, a spunky 9-year-old, and a responsible 11-year-old. Whether she’s helping with farm chores, driving her kids to activities, or involving them in daily life, family is at the heart of everything she does. In her free time, she enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting, finding moments of peace amid her busy life.

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Greg has lived in the Indianapolis area since moving to Indiana in 1990 for an engineering job.  Greg’s interest in connecting communities with bicycling infrastructure inspired his long-term involvement in the National Road Heritage Trail. 

Greg has led the National Road Heritage Trail, Inc. for much of his time in Indiana.  This 501c3 not-for-profit has the vision of enabling the development of a 160-mile cross-state public multi-use trail from Terre Haute, IN to Indianapolis, IN to Richmond, IN. This multi-use trail will roughly follow the Historic National Road corridor.  

With Greg’s deep involvement in the National Road Heritage Trail, we are pleased to have his experience and knowledge on our board of directors. 

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Sam was born in Indianapolis and shortly after his family moved to Kouts, Indiana. Sam returned to Indianapolis to attend Indiana University Kelley School of Business where he obtained his B.S. in 2017, majoring in Finance & Accounting. During his undergraduate program, Sam participated in student immersion studies in key financial institutions of New York City and London, England.

Sam takes pride in his “Hoosier” roots and has a developing knowledge of Indiana history; often attending historical lectures and events at Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Historical Society. This interest, along with his commitment to community service, has led Sam to join the Indiana National Road Association.

Sam has worked for Decimal for the past five years. Decimal provides outsourced accounting and financial operations for small to medium-sized businesses. Sam’s work and expertise in accounting and finance provides a great fit for his fiduciary role as INRA Board Member & Treasurer.

Sam is a Member of the Economic Club of Indiana, Young Professionals of Central Indiana and Corporate Finance Institute.

In his free time, Sam enjoys travel, sports (especially FC Bayern, the German soccer team in Munich), and spending time with family.

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2028

Steve Barnett is a sixth generation Hoosier.  His family has resided from a few miles to a few blocks off the historic National Road since the highway was cut across the country.  Steve has been a member of the National Road Association board of directors since 2017.

Steve was born in Indianapolis and raised on the city’s east side in Irvington where he attended IPS Thomas Carr Howe High School.  He continued his education at Purdue University (Indianapolis), receiving a BA degree, and served in the Indiana National Guard.  Steve spent his career in the Indianapolis Congressional office as a special assistant handling military and VA constituent affairs for Representatives Andy Jacobs, Jr. and Julia Carson.  

After retiring, Steve volunteered as executive director of the Irvington Historical Society and while continuing in this capacity he was appointed Marion County Historian by the Indiana Historical Society/Indiana Historical Bureau.  Steve writes a weekly “100 years ago in Indianapolis” item and a monthly “Building Blocks” article of historical interest about Indianapolis and Marion County for The Weekly View, the eastside newspaper.  He has compiled data on the Irvington area homes and written numerous house histories.  Steve also wrote Walking in the Founders Footsteps: Sigma Gamma Rho (2022).  

Steve is the recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Joseph Kernan for service to Indiana and was named a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Wallace G. Wilkinson for service to veterans.  He has also received the Fadely History Award, Marion County Historical Society; the Beacon of Enduring Light for support of Sigma Gamma Rho Centennial Celebration; and the George S. Cottman Award for devotion to the preservation of Irvington History, Irvington Historical Society.  

Steve and his wife Sue enjoy time with their three children, ten grandchildren, and great grandson.   

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Pat Chase was raised in Knightstown, Indiana, which is located on the historic National Road. The town was named for Jonathan Knight in 1827, who was instrumental in the early civil engineering of the National Road and of the B&O Railroad.

Chase has degrees in history from Louisiana State University Baton Rouge and education from Southeastern Louisiana University. In addition to his careers in education and business, he has been a lifelong farmer and has been a breeder/trainer of Belgian draft horses. His love of horse transportation has furthered his understanding of the early transportation routes of American history.  

He has spent the last six years researching the life of Jonathan Knight and has rediscovered Knight’s substantial contribution to the development of the earliest days of the National Road and B&O Railroad. Chase has recently written the biography Jonathan Knight – Pathfinder of American Roads and the book is now available on Amazon.  In addition to Chase’s work on the Knight book he has published numerous articles and has lectured extensively on the histories of Indiana, Texas, Michigan, agriculture, sports and equine development.

Chase is very involved with Historic Knightstown Inc., the history museum that is located on the square in Knightstown in an historic 1895 building that is owned by Chase and his business partner.    

He and his wife Patricia Cade Chase reside in Sulphur Springs, Texas and Bay View, Michigan.  They have three daughters, Menzie, Carrie and Molly.

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Jim was born and raised in South Bend, where his love of old roads was born on the Lincoln and Dixie Highways that pass through the city. He first encountered the National Road as a student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, where he graduated in 1989 with a B.S. in Mathematics.

Jim’s passion for the National Road runs deep—it’s one of his favorite historic roads, and he has driven its entire length. His commitment to historic road preservation extends beyond the National Road. Jim is a co-founder and officer of the Historic Michigan Road Association, a group dedicated to protecting and promoting Indiana’s historic Michigan Road, built in the 1830s to connect the Ohio River to Lake Michigan.

Jim makes his living as a management consultant in the software industry, drawing on three decades of leadership experience in various Indiana software companies. His career has been built on helping organizations navigate complex technical and organizational challenges.

A writer and photographer, Jim is a longtime blogger who writes about old roads as well as several other topics. Through his photography and writing, Jim documents and shares the stories of Indiana’s historic roads and the communities they connect. You can visit Jim’s stories here “Down the Road”.

Jim and his wife Margaret have seven children between them, and four grandchildren. They make their home in Indianapolis.

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2028

Brian was born and raised in Zionsville, Indiana and moved back after receiving his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Dayton. Brian is a civil engineer specializing in land development and infrastructure, serving primarily private sector clients. Brian currently serves as the president of the Indianapolis Chapter of the University of Dayton Alumni Association. 

Brian’s interest in the National Road is centered around American history and how it has been shaped by the automobile. Brian joined the INRA board of directors in 2024 to promote economic development and preservation work along the Indiana corridor of the National Road. 

Brian spends his free time hiking and indulging in his love of history. 

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Donna is a long-time board member who began serving in 1988 and is a past president of the Indiana National Road Association. She has been involved in many not-for-profit public service organizations in Henry and Rush counties in eastern Indiana. 

Donna’s impressive leadership and community service contribution impact includes:

• Founder of the Henry County Cemetery Commission, serving a president since 2001, with a mission of hosting and conducting numerous cemetery restoration projects 
• Currently President of South Henry Regional Waste District
• President Board of Directors Henry County Heart Association
• Past President, Spiceland Public Library
• Past founding board member, Spiceland Preservation and Tourism Society
• Past President, Rush County Genealogical Society  
• Spiceland Township Trustee for 26 years

Donna’s interests outside her many community service roles include reading and genealogy. 

Term ends: Dec. 31, 2026

Emeritus Members

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Bob is a long-time board member and is a past president of the Indiana National Road Association. Retired from Eli Lilly, Bob also serves on the Board of the Hook’s Drugstore Museum in Indianapolis, and the American Association of Antique Advertising. 

Bob and his Wife, Beverly, rehabilitated a National Road building in Greenfield’s National Register District, The 1895 Masonic Temple Building in 2009. He has a lifelong interest in history, and passion for the historic communities, stories, and structures along the Indiana National Road corridor. Bob has appeared on Hoosier History Live providing subject matter expertise on the Indiana National Road.

In his spare time, Robert is an award-winning professional oil painter. He also enjoys traveling, and spending time with grandchildren.

Walt Prosser was instrumental in the formation and early years of establishing the Indiana National Road Association. His efforts with historic preservation in Indiana are distinguished.  A tireless worker and advocate, Walt served on the board for the National Road Alliance for all six states and started the National Road Merchant’s Coalition in Indiana. Statewide he was an advocate with Indiana Landmarks for the residential preservation tax credit which became a reality.

Walt is featured in the documentary Movers & Stakers: Stories along the Indiana National Road, produced by Ball State University and the Federal Highway Administration. Walt and his wife June’s home, Rising Hall, is featured in the documentary. 

In 1982, Walt and June Prosser purchased this structurally solid but very run-down property in Coatesville, Indiana and named it Rising Hall. Built in 1870, the brick, Italianate foursquare home and property restoration was arduous and lasted eight years. Located on the National Road, the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The home and its property have a rich history:

• Melville McHaffie, the original owner, bred mules on the property, and was recognized by President Lincoln for having provided the greatest number of livestock to the Union Army. 
• The home also has two areas specially constructed as hiding spaces for the underground railway, helping escaped and freed slaves travel north to safety. 
• The world champion harness racing horse Dan Patch was stabled four years on the property, near the barn where a one-mile track once existed.

A graduate of Indiana University, Walt was an Air Force B-25 bomber pilot in WW II. Flying was his life’s passion. He built two planes during his flying career, and his own Ultralite aircraft at age 70. Walt’s Hobbies included carpentry, gardening, golf, music, restoration and preservation.