The Board of Directors
Sue Lucas – President of the Board of Directors
For the last thirty years, Sue has served West Central Indiana in several faith-based groups, facilitating healthy local initiatives by coordinating with civic, ministry and marketplace leaders.
New to sustainability interests herself, Sue believes green living choices are fundamentally moral decisions, not political or partisan. She wants to encourage a cooperative vision of human/environmental stewardship through education and genuine social interaction. The goal is to see this vision realized in a revitalized community identity that strongly reflects an ecological responsibility. Sue and her husband Jeffrey have raised four children in their Crawfordsville home – which is now being transformed from landscape to foodscape one shrub at a time.
John Easton - Founding Member of Sustainable Indiana
John Easton and his family currently homestead on 20 acres in rural Montgomery County, Indiana. John spent his youth in this community and graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. After graduation he traveled extensively, including a solo bicycle tour of central Europe and several months exploring the United States before settling for a few years in the Pacific Northwest. It was there that he became passionate about sustainable living practices, organic farming principles, and Permaculture.
John currently works as a program manager for a global manufacturing company. He enjoys spending his spare time with his family as they continue to work towards creating a homestead grounded in sustainable living practices. John is a Master Gardener and one of the founders of Sustainable Indiana.
Jessica Madsen
Jessica’s interest in sustainable living has grown over the years. She grew up in southern California where her family always had a garden and fruit trees. Jessica was working as a chemist when some friends introduced her to the wildlife habitat and prairie reseeding projects that were being conducted on the site. She also enjoys the fiber arts of spinning and weaving and is fascinated by the tactile processes that create cloth. Jessica and her family reside in Crawfordsville. Jessica is also the President of the Master Gardeners in Montgomery County.
Brad Uebinger
Brad has a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology & Guidance (from Eastern Illinois University), with a focus on Community Mental Health Counseling and a Master’s Degree in Social Work, with a focus on developing and running social service programs. This degree was granted from the University of Illinois. Brad is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and works in a private practice with offices in Illinois and Indiana. He is a resident of Crawfordsville.
Brad has always been a concerned citizen when it comes to environmental issues. Brad is also a singer/performing artist, a published songwriter, a producer, etc.... His music can be heard at ReverbNation/BradUebinger. Brad is a former President of Sustainable Indiana, and continues to run the website. He may be reached at: brad@sustainableindiana.org
Susan Smith
Susan has been married for 24 years, and is the mother of two teenaged boys. Susan moved to Crawfordsville four years ago, from Lake Villa, Illinois. She has a degree in Natural Areas Management from Lake County, Illinois, and holds several certificates in the field of horticulture. She has been a Master Gardener since 2000 and serves as the Vice President of the Master Gardeners of Montgomery County. Susan started a greenhouse/nursery (Golden Creek Gardens) that focuses on educating the public about plants and the environment. In June of 08 she opened a second business, a bulk food store (Golden Creek Specialty Foods and Gifts) featuring fresh Cheeses from Wisconsin. Susan also has a variety of animals that entertain her customers when they stop to see her. Golden Creek Gardens and Specialty Foods and Gifts are located one mile South of Crawfordsville High School on U.S. 47.
James L. Fruits
Jim was born and raised on a farm in Montgomery County. Graduated from Indiana University and most of his working career was in the insurance industry. He obtained a Fellowship in the Life Management Institute as well as a Charted Life Underwriter Degree. He managed insurance agencies in Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. Now retired and living at Lake Holiday with his wife Reni. They have four children and eight grandchildren.