The Conexus Indiana Board of Directors announced today that J. Mark Howell, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana, has decided to step down from the organization effective June 2021.

“The work that Mark has accomplished in the past three years as president and CEO of Conexus Indiana is nothing short of remarkable,” said Dennis Oklak, chairman of the Conexus Indiana Board of Directors. “Mark came to Conexus and quickly created a strategic plan for the organization, which has served as an effective roadmap for Conexus Indiana’s current work and that will sustain the organization’s efforts for years to come.”

Howell joined Conexus Indiana in January 2018 with a focus on preparing Indiana’s  advanced manufacturing and logistics industries for Industry 4.0, defined by the use of advanced technology, automation and data to increase competitiveness, productivity and profitability, and building talent to succeed in this new economy.

“I am grateful for the rewarding opportunity to have led Conexus Indiana and serve the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries – two industry sectors that are critically important to Indiana and the state’s residents,” Howell said. ”I am proud of our team’s efforts and progress in attracting and developing talent for rewarding career pathways and creating platforms and programs for industry adoption of smart technologies. The industries’ criticality to keeping the world moving became abundantly clear during COVID-19, and I am especially proud of the role Conexus and our industries played in making and delivering vital products and services during the global pandemic.”

An industry leader and a long-time Conexus Indiana board member, Howell will devote his time to his volunteer, service and philanthropic endeavors.

Howell is chairman of the Indianapolis Host Committee for the 2022 College Football Playoff Championship, is a board chair and executive committee member of the 2022 Indy College Football Playoff Inc. and is a board member of Indy Championships Fund. He is a board and finance committee member of Eskenazi Health Foundation and board and executive committee member of Visit Indy and Ascend Indiana. He also serves as a board member of KAR Global.

His philanthropic interests include faith-based education organizations and health and wellness programs focused on youth.

A search for the new Conexus Indiana CEO is underway.