NAME: John Herbst
TITLE: President and CEO FOR: Indiana Historical Society
SINCE: August 2006
ORIGINALLY FROM? Haledon, New Jersey
YOU WORK HOW MANY HOURS WEEKLY? 60 hours
PROJECT/S YOU ARE MOST PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF? Projects involving students and teachers; creating several new museums; enhancing and creating vital and engaging programming; raising nearly $90 million during my career in public history
OTHER PROJECTS WE MIGHT RECOGNIZE? I was the lead professional and first CEO of the Heinz Pittsburgh History Center.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? Helping connect people to their personal and collective history and seeing the powerful effect of knowing who you are
HOW DO YOU DEFINE PERSONAL SUCCESS? Doing my best and working hard to give good value to the institutions I serve
ADVICE TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO WHAT YOU DO? Think it over.
IF YOU WERE GRANTED ONE WISH RELATING TO YOUR JOB/CAREER/ORGANIZATION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? That the preservation of history and heritage would be a priority for governments, foundations and individuals
WOULDN’T HAVE MADE IT TO WHERE YOU ARE WITHOUT? The love, guidance and example provided to me by my paternal grandparents
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? The need to do a good job at whatever I turn my hand to
WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN HISTORY? My grandparents who were great storytellers about family history and a 4th grade teacher who loved local and state history
YOU CAN HAVE DINNER WITH ANYONE FROM INDIANAPOLIS PAST? WHO & WHY? Eli Lilly, grandson of Col. Lilly because his generosity shaped all of the institutions I have served in Indiana
YOUR CAREER IN AN ALTERNATE LIFE? Gardener
ANY INTERESTING FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO INDIANA PAST? My great grandfather had two cousins (sisters) who immigrated to and died in La Porte, Indiana.
FAVORITE VIEW IN THE CITY? The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center at night from the canal
FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN INDIANAPOLIS? Binkley’s and Oh Yumm! Bistro
FAVORITE CITY: Indianapolis, of course!
FAVORITE HISTORY RELATED BOOK OR MOVIE?
Book: Bless this House, by Nora Lofts
Movie: Joyeux Noël
ULTIMATE BEVERAGE: Family-made wine from Baden, Germany
COLLECT ANYTHING? Indoor and outdoor plants; Royal Bayreuth Porcelain
IF YOUR LIFE HAD A THEME SONG, IT’D BE?
“Dream” by Tuck & Patti or” Seasons of Love” from Rent
