Michael Huber
#HaveYouHerd: Today’s #FridayFeature is someone who has been elevating Indianapolis businesses. Michael Huber is the President & CEO of the Indy Chamber where he takes the lead on local business development. To learn about how Michael is elevating Indianapolis, keep reading.
As the President & CEO of the Indy Chamber since 2013, Michael takes the lead on the organization of over 2,000 member businesses from the Indianapolis region. Under his leadership, the Indy Chamber has led Indianapolis’ regional economic development strategy, the coalition supporting mass transit expansion (including the successful November 2016 referendum), and in response to the coronavirus, a $22M small business lending and grants program. On top of all that, he has also composed and produced music for over 30 years and regularly plays in Indianapolis with his seven-piece pop and R&B band, Chamber Music. Truly a jack of all trades!
We asked Michael what elevating Indianapolis looks like to him, and he said, “Indianapolis could be the next ‘hot’ city like Denver, Atlanta, or Austin while preserving everything that is uniquely Indianapolis. There are a lot of things that we need to do better to achieve that. First, embrace a more inclusive city and region, do a better job celebrating the diversity that already exists in Indianapolis, AND create more career pipelines for people who live here, especially in the areas of professional growth and small business development in low-income communities. Second, we need to create a more unified Indianapolis region: half of the regional population now lives outside Indianapolis-Marion County, so collaborating on talent, infrastructure, and other needs has never been more important. Third, we need to do a better job telling the Indianapolis story around the country and the world.”
Some advice Michael has for those who are wanting to elevate the community is to “Get out and meet people, take a genuine interest in what people do, and offer to serve. You’ll find your role – it’s only a matter of time. Indianapolis is not perfect, but it’s one of the easiest cities to get connected if you’re a collaborative person.”
Currently, Michael is working on the Indy Chamber’s next regional economic development strategy, Accelerate Indy, and producing new songs with Chamber Music and other musical artists.
Having a leader such as Michael, who believes in their community, is reassuring, and we can see the future is bright. To keep up with Michael, you can follow him on Facebook (@indychamber), Twitter (@IndyChamber), Instagram (@indychamber), LinkedIn (@IndyChamber), or at https://indychamber.com/.