ICRC Commissioners
Barry Baynard
Barry Baynard, has served as a Greencastle, Indiana, city councilman since 1995 and serves on the city's planning commission. Before becoming a councilman, he was vice president for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Cement Division Local D39 for Lone Star Industries where he has been employed for more than 22 years as a certified industrial electronics technician.
A graduate of Greencastle High School, Mr. Baynard continued his undergraduate studies at IUPUI, receiving certification in industrial electronics and electricity.
Mr. Baynard is a member of the Indiana Democratic African-American Caucus, and has served as mentor for Greencastle's summer enrichment program of disadvantage/at risk youth. Mr. Baynard served as president for the Greencastle Branch of the NAACP for five years.
Mr. Baynard was appointed by Governor Frank O'Bannon to serve as Indiana Civil Rights Commissioner on July 1, 1997.
Alpha Blackburn
Alpha Blackburn is a national award winning designer, a distinguished civic leader and a former television talk show host. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. Ms. Blackburn's honors and accomplishments include being the recipient of the 1992 Prodigy of Indianapolis Award for outstanding commitment to nonprofit organizations and charitable causes, and the recipient of the 1983 Harvey's Bristol Cream Tribute to the Black Designer. She was chosen as One of Five Indiana "Renaissance Women" by the Julian Center for Contributions to the Arts of Indiana; she was the subject of Hoosier Profile by Greg Todd of WRTV, Channel 6, and of "Women at the Top" by Debbie Knox of WISH-TV, Channel 8; and, she has designed performing uniforms for both the Indiana Pacers and the Indianapolis Colts. She is the 1997 recipient of the Master Scholars Humanitarian Award and serves as Chairman of the Board of Healthnet Foundation.
Ms. Blackburn is a graduate of Howard University and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She is President of Alpha, Inc.-Designer Products.
David C. Carter
David C. Carter has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Yale University, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Chicago, a degree in French from the Sorbonne (Paris), and has taught English. Although he grew up in the Northeast, he has lived in south-central Indiana since 1966. Since 1975, Mr. Carter has used a wheelchair for mobility because of a spinal cord injury, and is active in several Bloomington-area organizations concerned with people with disabilities and accessibility issues.
Mr. Carter owned and operated a book store in Spencer for 12 years, and continues to do freelance bookselling. He has served as a Commissioner for the Indiana Civil Rights Commission since 1991.
Tehiji G. Crenshaw
Commissioner Tehiji Crenshaw is a resident and public servant in Evansville, Indiana. Currently, she is a customer services coordinator for Community Action Program of Evansville, where she has been employed since February 2002. Ms. Crenshaw received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Evansville. Ms. Crenshaw is actively involved in the community and served on the executive board of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation from September 2004 - June 2006. Ms. Crenshaw was appointed to serve on Indiana Civil Rights Commission in July 2006.
John Garcia
John is from the Northwestern Indiana Region. He is a graduate of Purdue University Calumet, B. S. in Construction Technology. He has worked in engineering and construction for over 25 years since graduation. His experience includes design and management of public works, commercial projects, and private land development. He has also served as City Engineer and member of the Board of Public Works for the City of East Chicago. John has been self-employed for the last 11 years and is the President of an engineering consulting firm which has evolved into Garcia Consulting. The company is currently a consultant to several Northwest Indiana communities and Midwestern private development clients. The company currently has a staff of fifteen employees.
John was reappointed Commissioner by then Governor Frank O' Bannon in 2001 and has served since July 1, 1997.
Charles D. Gidney
Commissioner Charles Gidney teaches public speaking and interpersonal communication at both the Richmond and Connersville campuses of Ivy Tech Community College. A native of Chicago, he received his formal education in the Chicago Public Schools and graduated from Westinghouse Vocational High School. From there he went on to attend Grambling State University. After graduating from Grambling, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications, he returned to Chicago. There he worked in the Chicago Public Schools while working part time at WGN-TV. He later joined the teaching staff of South Central Community Services, one of Chicago's alternative schools. It was there that he taught classes and coordinated the school's vocational education program. After receiving his Masters of Arts degree from Governors State University he began teaching at Olive Harvey College in Chicago. He also worked as a weekend assignment editor at WFLD-TV, the Fox affiliate in Chicago. In October of 2003 he moved to Indianapolis where he worked as a News Assignment Editor at the Fox sister station, WXIN-TV. Some of the major stories of local interest that broke under his watch included the Connersville paint factory fire, the shooting death of IPD officer Jake Laird, the arrival of President Bush during the 2005 Black Expo and the infamous Pistons-Pacers Brawl. Another career achievement for Gidney was being featured as part of the 2005 "Spread the Word" exhibit at the Indiana State Museum. This exhibit highlighted African Americans who have worked in news throughout Indiana. In August of 2005 he left the world of TV news and returned to teaching full-time at Ivy Tech Community College. Outside of teaching, Gidney serves as a state appointee to the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. His other civic affiliations include being a member of Light of the World Christian Church of Indianapolis, The National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also a supporter of Richmond's Townsend Community Center. Commissioner Gidney was appointed by Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. to serve as an Indiana Civil Rights commissioner in July 2006.
Steven A. Ramos
Mr. Ramos has spent the last 27 years with the IBM corporation in numerous management and leadership positions in world wide strategy, sales support and customer relationship management. He is currently on IBM Headquarters staff as leader for World Wide Business Transformation and World Wide Technical Support Customer Satisfaction.
Mr. Ramos completed his undergraduate degree in 1978 from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and received his MBA in 1998, from the University of Illinois Executive MBA program.
Mr. Ramos is actively involved in the Indianapolis community. He co-found the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) an organization whose mission is to foster Hispanic leadership through education. He currently serves as President. Besides NSHMBA, Mr. Ramos serves on several boards in the Indianapolis community:
Board of Directors for the Indianapolis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors for Easter Seals Crossroads Rehabilitation
Ivy Tech College Technology Board
Indiana University / Purdue University Indianapolis Diversity Council
Greater Indianapolis Chamber Diversity Council
Mr. Ramos was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to serve as Indiana Civil Rights Commissioner on August 10, 2005.
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