RJL Solutions

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Matt is usually behind the scenes making sure the technology side of things is running smoothly, documenting every detail in his notes, and probably adding another item to a to-do list somewhere along the way. He’s always researching new technology, asking thoughtful questions, and figuring things out thoroughly before jumping in.

And naturally, there’s almost always a Star Wars reference mixed in somewhere too.

Hope you have a great day, Matt!

Our team enjoyed spending the evening in Jasper with industry leaders, business leaders, community leaders, and Governor Braun discussing opportunities and priorities for Southern Indiana.

One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is the opportunity to visit communities across all 92 counties of Indiana. Each community offers its own strengths, character, and vision for the future, and Jasper is an outstanding example of that spirit.

We also conducted some very important research while in town: the German chocolate pie at The Schnitzelbank is every bit as good as advertised.

This week, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Defense Council, chaired by Rachel Leslie, CEO of RJL Solutions, convened Indiana's first joint meeting of the Indiana Defense Council, Indiana Defense Caucus and the Governor's Indiana Defense Task Force.

The meeting brought together military leaders, state legislators, representatives from higher education institutions, economic development professionals and regional stakeholders from across Indiana to discuss opportunities to strengthen the state's defense economy and military assets.

Attendees heard updates from Commander Martinez of NWS Crane, as well as Josh Richardson, President of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, who shared perspectives on Indiana's continued investment in defense and innovation. Additional updates were provided by Representative Steve Bartels and Senator Greg Goode on behalf of the Indiana Defense Caucus; Jan Schuler-Hicks regarding the Indiana UAS (Drone) Corridor initiative; and Indiana University on its leadership in research, innovation and technology development.

Indiana is fortunate to have strong military installations, industry partners, research institutions and regional leaders working together to advance opportunities across the state. The collaboration demonstrated during this meeting reflects a shared commitment to strengthening military readiness, advancing innovation, developing talent and ensuring Indiana remains a national leader in defense.

Thank you to all who participated and contributed to a productive discussion focused on the future of Indiana's defense ecosystem.

We were proud to play a supporting role alongside the Wabash Valley Community Foundation and the City of Terre Haute in securing a $6.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to help bring this transformational project to life. A successful YMCA is an important asset to a thriving community.

This investment represents much more than a single project; it is an important step forward in the broader vision for the Wabash River corridor and the long-term Riverscape strategy. We are excited to see this momentum continue as the river becomes an even greater asset for the community and region.

A special thank you to Beth Tevlin, Lori Danielson, and Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun for their leadership, partnership, and commitment to making this vision a reality. We are grateful to be part of a team that continues to turn big ideas into meaningful investments for the future of the community.