Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation Honors Mickey Maurer with Daniels Prize Award
INDIANAPOLIS – The Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MDLF) will present business leader, attorney, and civic visionary Mickey Maurer with the Daniels Prize Award on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the MDLF Annual Event at the Indiana State Museum. The Daniels Prize recognizes Hoosiers whose life’s work has “lifted the State to a new plane of thought, aspiration, expectation, and action,” in the spirit of Mitch Daniels’ own leadership.
Maurer joins an esteemed group of past honorees including John Mutz, Teresa Lubbers, the late Bill Oesterle, Scott Dorsey, the late James Morris, and Tim Solso.
MDLF Board Chair, Steve Schultz, shared, “Mickey Maurer’s resume could fill a book, but it’s the impact he’s made in so many spheres that sets him apart. Whether through entrepreneurship, journalism, government service, or philanthropy, he’s moved Indiana forward in everything he’s done. His work embodies the spirit of the Daniels Prize, and we are thrilled to recognize his extraordinary legacy.”
Maurer’s five-decade career spans law, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. He has launched and led ventures in cable TV, real estate, radio, banking, film, and publishing, most notably as Chairman of IBJ Corporation, publisher of the Indianapolis Business Journal and The Indiana Lawyer. A proud North Central alum and graduate of IU’s School of Law, Maurer is a licensed attorney in Indiana and New York and a CPA. He served as Indiana’s Secretary of Commerce and led the Indiana Economic Development Corporation under Governor Daniels - for just one dollar a year. He also founded The National Bank of Indianapolis, the city’s largest locally owned bank.
A passionate philanthropist, Maurer has chaired or served on boards from the Indianapolis Zoo to United Way, and founded Mickey’s Camp, which has raised over $3 million for Indiana nonprofits. A testament to his lasting commitment to education and leadership, the IU law school now bears his name.
Beyond business, he’s an Emmy-winning TV host, published author, crossword puzzle creator, woodworker, underwater photographer, and even summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. Maurer has received more than 40 major honors and awards, including three Sagamore of the Wabash distinctions from Governors Evan Bayh, Mitch Daniels, and Mike Pence.
“I am beyond honored to be associated with the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation in this way - in every way,” said Maurer. “We share Hoosier values and pride in the work we do and the lives we lead.”
Also being honored at the September 11 event:
Dr. Patrick Jones, Managing Director of the CEO Leadership Practice at the Charter School Growth Fund, will receive the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation’s Driving Change Award, recognizing a member of the MDLF Fellowship who is putting ideas into motion to shape a better Indiana through their Capstone project.
As a Class VII Fellow, Dr. Jones leads the MathWays initiative through Exponentia Prime, expanding equitable access to advanced math opportunities, academic support, mentorship, and leadership development for youth of color in Indianapolis and beyond.
“Patrick is pursuing an ambitious strategy to tackle the pervasive challenge of lagging math achievement,” said Fellowship Chair Maureen Weber. “He’s creating tangible, generational change for young people while improving our state’s competitiveness.”
Anne Fuchs, Director of Communications for the Court of Appeals of Indiana, will be recognized as the MDLF Class VII Outstanding Fellow.
“In addition to admiring the high bar that she has exceeded in her many professional, creative and community service endeavors, Anne’s peers recognized her gift for championing others’ contributions,” said Weber.” Anne’s example is clearly a source of inspiration for her Fellowship classmates.”
All three award recipients will be honored at the MDLF Annual Event on September 11, 2025, at the Indiana State Museum, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.
About the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation
The Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation strives to enable leaders and drive change in Indiana, just as Mitch Daniels did as the state’s 49th Governor. MDLF’s vision is to build a statewide network of bold, pragmatic leaders working to make Indiana the best place to build a future.
For more information, visit www.mdlfindiana.org or plan to attend the MDLF Annual Event on September 11, 2025, at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.
