Columbian Business Network

Our Purpose

The Columbian Business Network capitalizes on its diverse member community to create a powerful networking, referral, and education group. We engage our community with private and public events, speaker series, board engagement, a Gala to raise money for the community, and many other opportunities to connect with Indy professionals.

Karla Bledsoe

Karla Bledsoe is a journalist from Brazil and a partner at OneWorld International Partners, with extensive experience in global networks. Her main focus is to guide her clients towards implementing international solutions, identifying and attracting international investment opportunities. She was born in Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and graduated in Communication / Journalism from the Higher Education Institute of Brasilia (IESB). She worked in Brazil as a TV reporter for two years before immigrating to the United States in 2003. Before becoming a partner, she worked in International Intellectual Property Investigations, Immigration and the import and export business. Karla is responsive to Portuguese, English and Spanish speaking customers, which is essential for acting as the bridge between clients and international agencies. " I am excited to be part of the CBN and I hope to bring International value to our committee and members of the club". Karla Bledsoe  

Theresa Goodwin

Theresa Goodwin is the founder and CEO of Boldthink, a strategic brand advisory and consulting firm in Indianapolis. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Theresa has developed a keen eye for identifying market opportunities, crafting compelling messages, and executing effective marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

Throughout her career, Theresa has worked with a diverse range of clients and organizations, from leading corporate institutions to cutting-edge technology companies. Her ability to understand her client's unique needs and develop tailored brand strategies has earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor and partner.

Her strategic approach to brand building is based on a deep understanding of the customer journey. She understands that building a successful brand requires more than just catchy slogans and eye-catching logos. It requires a deep understanding of the customer's needs, motivations, and pain points, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape.

Theresa is well-versed in conducting market research and using data-driven insights to inform her brand strategies. She knows how to distill complex data into actionable insights that drive results and help her clients achieve their business objectives.

Debbie Evans

As the Head of Integrated Business Planning at Elanco Animal Health, I lead the global implementation of IBP processes across Elanco’s business segments, including U.S. Pet Health, U.S. Farm Animal, and International business segments. My role is focused on driving alignment across commercial, financial, and operational functions to enhance decision-making, improve financial performance, and prepare for the successful launch of IBP capabilities by 2025.

Elanco, a global leader in animal health, is dedicated to innovating, developing, and delivering products and services to prevent and treat diseases in pets and livestock. With a mission to enrich the lives of animals and those who care for them, Elanco operates in over 90 countries and is at the forefront of advancing sustainable food and companion animal care solutions.

Prior to joining Elanco, I built a 22-year career at Cummins Inc., a global leader in power solutions, where I gained extensive experience in manufacturing, quality, and supply chain functions. Over the last 13 years of my tenure, I played a pivotal role in implementing Integrated Business Planning processes across various business units, transforming operational planning and driving cross-functional alignment. My experience spans critical areas such as end-to-end supply chain management, manufacturing excellence, and quality systems.

With a career marked by leadership in operational transformations and process improvement, I have cultivated a deep expertise in IBP and supply chain strategy, underpinned by a commitment to driving value creation and organizational success.

Key Competencies:

Integrated Business Planning

Cross-Functional Leadership

Supply Chain Management

Manufacturing Excellence

Strategic Planning & Execution

I am passionate about building processes that empower organizations to achieve their strategic goals and foster collaboration across all levels of the business. My current role at Elanco represents the culmination of two decades of experience driving transformative initiatives in dynamic and complex industries.

Jon Canter

Jon Canter is an accomplished leader and the Vice President of Franchising at ClusterTruck, driving the brand’s franchise strategy and building the foundation for a high-performing franchise network. Jon is responsible for developing scalable systems and cultivating a culture of operational excellence, focusing on delivering the exceptional customer experiences that define ClusterTruck. With extensive expertise in customer service, operations, and food technology, Jon has advanced through key roles at ClusterTruck, including Director of Customer Experience and Operations Manager, giving him unique insights into nurturing customer loyalty and brand advocacy. A dedicated advocate of data-driven strategy, Jon utilizes analytics to enhance customer satisfaction, refine marketing approaches, and accelerate growth for ClusterTruck’s expanding footprint. Jon lives in the Lockerbie Square neighborhood in downtown Indianapolis with his newlywed wife, Holly, their two cats, Hans and Berns, and their newly adopted dog, Huck. You‘ll often find him at the Club where he enjoys working from the co-working space, having dinner with his wife, and drinks with the CBN Committee in the Harrison Grill.

Eli Miller

Jon Paquette

Jon Paquette is a Senior Account Executive with Lucid Services Group, a locally owned and operated WBE that offers IT consulting services and solutions that enable clients to better serve their customers and operate more efficiently. Practice areas include strategic data management, AI readiness, organizational change management, application architecture and integration, and process/project lifecycle management in addition to staff augmentation and talent recruitment services for technical and techno-functional skill sets.

Throughout his career, Jon has successfully delivered consulting and talent solutions for a diverse range of clients including areas such pharma/med-device, manufacturing, retail, insurance, clinical research, healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations. Jon takes the time to dive deep and develop a true understanding of his clients business, goals, and challenges, which enables him to craft creative and effective IT and talent solutions that enable clients to achieve success through technology.

Jim Martin